Trusting Him to Multiply

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
"Bring them here to me," he (Jesus) said. (Matthew 14:17-18 NIV)
 
I sit in my little office, sighing over my two small fish and rather dry loaves of barley bread, feeling the futility of the offering in the face of the world's needs. Do you ever feel that way? 

We do the work in front of us, 
love the people around us, 
stay alert for tiny ways to help someone, 
sing an off-key melody of praise . . . 

. . . and wonder if we are making a difference.
 
We often don't glimpse the results. All the better. We walk by faith. Called to serve--not necessarily to succeed. God is producing fruit, "fruit that will last," but it is often growing in secret. It's not for us to tally.

I like to imagine there will be a time in heaven when God will page through a scrapbook with us, and He will trace the impact of some of the simple acts of love we offered. Remind us of the hours of closet prayer we weren't sure He heard. Show us the second act of the story. How He breathed power and life into a word, a prayer, a gift - and multiplied it until baskets were needed for the leftovers.

It's a recurring theme in all my novels. God can make a difference through our lives. Not because of our greatness--relying on our own resources would lead to stinky fish and moldy bread. But because of His ability to multiply. To imbue our simple lives with His grace so that we can tear off a piece of barley loaf and pass it to a friend. And they can break the bread and hand it to another. And somehow it doesn't run out.

Can you sing Him a chorus of praise today, even if your throat is hoarse from tears?

Can you listen to a friend, even if you can't solve her problem?

Can you pray one more time over a need, even when it seems your prayers bounce off the ceiling?

Can you do the simple act of love that no one sees and no one appreciates?

"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.
"Bring them here to me," he (Jesus) said. (Matthew 14:17-18 NIV)

Jesus may be planning a miracle. Let's trust Him to multiply.

(adapted from Sharon's Book Buddy Newsletter, 10/07)

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

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Congratulations to the Winners!

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog during the Scavenger Hunt!

The grand prize of a Kindle and 31 books goes to: Jennifer Friedley

The 2nd and 3rd prize $50 gift certificates go to: Laura McEwen and Gretchen Michels Garrison

The BONUS prize of four of my contemporary fiction titles goes to: Betti Mace

But EVERYONE who participated is a winner because we all got to find out about new releases by terrific Christian authors in a variety of genres.

Thanks for participating!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck
...stories for the hero in all of us

SCAVENGER HUNT STOP #24

Welcome to the Fall Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt!

Follow the clues in red on each post, beginning from Stop #1. Along the way you’ll have the fun of getting to know the 31 participating Christian authors, and reading unique articles found nowhere else. And I’m offering a SHARON'S BLOG BONUS PRIZE, as well – with details at the end of this blog post.

When you reach the final stop, you can enter for a grand prize: the featured new novels from each of the 31 authors! PLUS a new Kindle Fire! 2^nd & 3^rd Prizes: $50 Amazon, B&N, CBD or BookDepository.com gift certificate.

3 vital details:

·       * Contest is open to international entrants. If the winner lives outside the United States, they shall win the equivalent in gift certificate funds to the prize in US dollars.

·      * The Hunt begins 10/25 at noon MDT and ends 10/28 at midnight MDT
     * Be ready to provide the completed clue quote, gathered from all 31 stops, within 24 hours of email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn. No need to email/submit it, unless you are notified on 10/29/12.

My guest - Mary Lu Tyndall:

I’m delighted to be hosting the lovely Mary Lu Tyndall. A Christy Award finalist and best-selling author, MaryLu Tyndall dreamt of tall ships and swashbuckling pirates during her childhood years on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. Now, while writing her twelfth novel, she manages a home, husband, and six kids while battling three cats who have decided that her keyboard is the best place to sleep!  She believes that without popcorn and chocolate, life would not be worth living, and her sole motivation in life is to bring others closer to God.

 About Veil of Pearls:

 

 She thought she could outrun her past. . .

It is 1811, and the prosperous port city of Charleston is bustling with plantation owners, slaves, and immigrants. Immigrants such as the raven-haired Adalia Winston. But Adalia has a secret: her light skin belies that she is part black and a runaway slave from Barbados. Skilled in herbal remedies, Adalia finds employment with a local doctor and settles into a quiet life, thankful for her freedom but still fearful that her owner will find her.

Born into one of Charleston's prominent families, Morgan Rutledge is handsome, bored—and enamored of the beautiful Adalia, who spurns his advances. Morgan's persistence, however, finally wins, and Adalia is swept into the glamorous world of Charleston high society.

But Adalia's new life comes at a high price—that of denying her heritage and her zeal for God. How far is she willing to go to win the heart of the man she loves? And when her secret is revealed, will that love be enough, or will the truth ruin Morgan and send Adalia back into slavery?

(A note from Sharon: When I get lost in a novel, I love learning more about the actual history of the period. Mary is here today to share Ten Fascinating Facts about Charleston, South Carolina.)

An Exclusive from Mary Lu Tyndall:

The entire city of Colonial Charleston (then known as Charles Town) was surrounded by a wall  like a castle, complete with a moat and draw bridges, until 1718 when the town grew too big.

On September 14^th, 1752, a powerful hurricane struck Charleston, flooding it with a 17 foot storm surge that left most of down town under 9 feet of water.

 The notorious pirate, Blackbeard, held the city hostage for 3 days by blockading the port, forbidding ships to go in or out. What did he want? Gold, Silver? No. A chest of medical supplies!

In 1886, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Charleston, killing 60 people and costing the city 6 million dollars’ worth of damage.

During the first 25 years of Charleston’s existence, pirates were welcome in the city!

Charleston changed its name from Charles Town to Charleston after the Revolutionary War in order to rid the name of any reference to the British monarchy.

Charleston was dubbed “The Holy City” due to the vast number of churches lining its streets as well as its long tolerance of all types of religions, including Roman Catholic and Judaism.

George Washington visited Charleston in 1791 and commended the city for its commitment to institutional care of city’s orphans through the “The Orphan House” designed by Thomas Bennet.

The bloodiest slave revolt in Colonial America occurred in 1739 at the Stono River Bridge twenty miles south of Charles Town. A group of slaves murdered  over a dozen whites, looted a store, burned houses and set out for Spanish Florida.

One of the most famous women pirates, Anne Bonny, came from Charleston where she married a local sailor and set sail for the Caribbean. Once there, she abandoned her husband and took up with the famous pirate, Calico Jack Rackam.

You can find Mary Lu’s Veil of Pearls at

Her Website
Purchase at
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
ChristianBook

THE SCAVENGER HUNT BASICS:

Before you go, write down this STOP #24 clue: FINISH BY

Your next stop is Mary Lu’s own blog!

BEFORE YOU GO:

SHARON'S BONUS PRIZE - FOUR BOOKS !!!

I’m excited about my new release, TheRestorer’s Journey-Expanded Edition. I’m asking for help in letting people know that the book has released. EVEN IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOK YET, YOU CAN HELP LET PEOPLE KNOW IT EXISTS. If you let others know about The Restorer’s Journey-ExpandedEdition in some way ("like" the book page at amazon, "like" a post about RJEE on facebook, email a friend to tell them to check out the book, mention it on Goodreads, tweet, request your local library to order the book, blogging, etc.) leave a note in the comments telling me how you spread the word, along with an email where I can reach you if you win. At the end of the scavenger hunt, I’ll draw one name and the winner will receive ALL my general fiction novels (The Secret Life of Becky Miller, Renovating Becky Miller, Symphony of Secrets and Stepping into Sunlight). Feel free to look at past blog posts about The Restorer’sJourney-Expanded Edition to help you share the info. Have fun!

The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition Now Available

My copies arrived! I love the smell of ink and the feel of crisp new pages. Holding a new release is always an exciting day, but especially for this book. You see, the past several years, working on the new expanded editions of the Sword of Lyric series has been my labor of love.

It's been a gift to have this project to work on, and a true miracle of God's provision as each of the three has been completed and put back into print. I put my heart into the new devotional guide (included in the back of each book), and put my love into each bonus scene. Much like my characters experience, the road has felt difficult, but the One has revealed His goodness in many ways along this adventure.

Places to find The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition (Book 3 of the Sword of Lyric series):

Marcher Lord Press (paperback and ebook)
Barnes and Noble Nook
Amazon Kindle
Kobo ebook

About the book:

The Restorer’s Journey-Expanded Edition

His choices have the power to save or destroy.

With a loved one’s life at stake, Jake charges through the portal into Lyric to stage a dramatic rescue, trusting that the signs that mark him as Restorer will guarantee success. But everything familiar in Lyric has vanished, swept away by deadly lies and a corrupt king. As inexorable forces conspire to turn him from his purpose, Jake finds his path leading to places beyond his courage.

While he confronts the temptation to flee his calling, Susan struggles in brutal captivity. Can she gain freedom before the enemy destroys her spirit, and will Jake choose to follow his destiny before everything is lost?

(Book three in the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer’s Journey won a Carol Award for speculative fiction. This new expanded edition includes bonus scenes, a ten week devotional guide, and links to audio and video extras.) 

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Scavenger Hunt!

Hooray! The Fall Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt begins at noon on October 25th. I'm jazzed to be participating again. You can read about the hunt here, and mark your calendar. We did this event last spring and it was a blast.

As a BONUS treat, I'm giving away a set of ALL my general fiction paperback novels (The Secret Life of Becky Miller, Renovating Becky Miller, Symphony of Secrets, and Stepping Into Sunlight) with a drawing from THIS post.

Here's how to enter for my personal bonus prize.

I'm looking for folks to help create Book Buzz for my new release, The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition. You can tweet to let your friends know about the book's release, or post on facebook, or blog, or ask your local library to order the book. OR you can get extra creative and think of other fun ways to let your friends know about the book's release.

Just leave a comment to this post from now until the scavenger hunt ends on October 28, telling me how you created buzz for The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition, and you'll be entered in the drawing. Extra creative and enthusiastic ideas will be entered twice - doubling your odds. Please also leave an email where I can reach you if you win. Thanks!

I hope you'll have fun with both these contests, and enjoy discovering new Christian fiction!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

Bookshelf Wednesday: Raft, River, Robot

Normally on Bookshelf Wednesday, I share a favorite treasure sitting on my shelf. I'm cheating a bit this week, since I don't have this one yet - but I know this will one I'll WANT on my shelf.

Some of you will remember that I've done some book tours with other Christian fantasy authors. One of the wonderful writers I was privileged to get to know on a west coast tour was L. B. Graham. Here's some info about his new release.

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“The Raft, The River, and The Robot”

Travel for two young groundlings is dangerous. Hunters from the hives patrol the skies and sadistic packs roam the cities and the roads. But Jim, compelled by his father’s mysterious dying words to go to the Caretaker and find Florence sets out anyway, taking with him HF, his friend and companion since childhood. Their hope lies on the river, and the raft that will carry them through the long nights ahead and toward their destiny.

While ‘The Raft, The River, and The Robot’ pays homage to Twain's immortal classic, ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,’ it is original and compelling in its own right. So come along, the future awaits.

Hi, L.B.! It's fun to catch up with you. Thanks for visiting my blog today.

 You’ve referred to R3 (“The Raft, The River, and The Robot”) elsewhere as a ‘futuristic Huck Finn story,’ and yet Huck Finn seems so rooted in our past – where did you get the idea for this?

I always find questions about where ideas come from really hard. Creativity can be such a difficult thing to explain. Somewhere, somehow, I got the image of a boy and a robot on a raft stuck in my head. So, I went in search of a story to explain that image, and R3 is what I found.

The description of R3 makes the future sound pretty frightening, would it be fair to call this book dystopian?

Literally, no, but kind of. A typical dystopian book envisions a bleak world for most, while some are usually living large at their expense (see for instance, “The Hunger Games.”) In R3, the future is actually pretty good for the vast majority of people who live in cities that stretch ‘up’ into the sky called Hives, rather than ‘out’ across the landscape. Those who live outside the Hives, called groundlings – well, they can face some pretty terrifying circumstances.

That doesn’t sound a whole lot like Huck Finn. Is the raft/river motif the only connection?

Not at all. I’m a huge fan of Twain’s story, and there are names, characters, plot events, even images, lines and word choices that draw upon the original. I’ve taken great pains to connect the stories in ways that are distinct and creative. I think any reader familiar with “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” will be able to see the connections and appreciate them, while also appreciating that R3 is very much its own story.

What would you say the story is about – other than a raft and a river and a robot?

At the most basic level of plot, the story is a quest to fulfill a dying father’s last request. On a thematic level, I would say it is about friendship and identity, much like the original that inspired it. One of the really beautiful things about Huck Finn is the friendship forged between Huck and Jim on the river, and I’d say that definitely influenced me as I conceived of R3. And also like the original, my main character goes on both a literal journey and a journey of discovery to figure out who he is.

Where can interested readers get the book?

Paperback and Kindle at Amazon

Thanks so much for visiting, L.B. and blessings on your new release!

Sharon Hinck

"The long passage stretched into a forever of lines, diminishing to a point in the future that could never be reached."

(The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition by Sharon Hinck, Marcher Lord Press, 2012)

Hmmm. That's how my "To Do" list makes me feel some days. :-)

Hope your journey today is eased by God's grace!

Blessings,
Sharon

Devotional Classics

Bookshelf Wednesday: Devotional Classics

 What could Christians of the 1100's, 1300's, 1600's, or even 1930's have to share that would be relevant to our current daily challenges of living for Christ in modern society? Turns out they have quite a bit to say.

I'm constantly amazed when I find my own questions, journeys and struggles reflected in the writing of Christians whose era and life situations are so different from my own.

This volume of Devotional Classics edited by Richard Foster and James Smith gives a rich sampling of Christian thinkers through the ages. The chapters create groupings by themes such as "The Prayer-Filled Life" or "The Word-Centered Life." In addition to selections from the writings of great men and women of faith, each section includes Scripture, reflection questions, and suggested exercises.

The copy from my shelf is a bit dog-eared, but as I paged through it today to write my recommendation, I decided I'd like to dog-ear it even more. As much as I love the work of contemporary authors, there is a wealth of blessing to be discovered from Christian writers of past generations.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

Book Release Day

Hooray!
The Restorer's Journey-Expanded Edition releases today in paperback.
(Kindle/Nook/Kobo versions to follow soon)

Creating the expanded editions of the first three Sword of Lyric books has been a labor of love for me over the last several years...love for the stories, the characters, and love for the readers who have told me how much the books have meant to them.

But until I was proofreading the galleys last week, I didn't even realize there were over 60 pages of new content in RJEE. Wow! Deleted scenes, an alternate opening, bonus scenes, a devotion guide, links to a professional audio interview, bonus articles, music, and more. I hope you enjoy returning to Lyric with Jake and Susan!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Restorer’s Journey-Expanded Edition

  by Sharon Hinck

His choices have the power to save or destroy.

With a loved one’s life at stake, Jake charges through the portal into Lyric to stage a dramatic rescue, trusting that the signs that mark him as Restorer will guarantee success. But everything familiar in Lyric has vanished, swept away by deadly lies and a corrupt king. As inexorable forces conspire to turn him from his purpose, Jake finds his path leading to places beyond his courage.

While he confronts the temptation to flee his calling, Susan struggles in brutal captivity. Can she gain freedom before the enemy destroys her spirit, and will Jake choose to follow his destiny before everything is lost?

(Book three in the groundbreaking Sword of Lyric series, The Restorer’s Journey won a Carol Award for speculative fiction. This new expanded edition includes bonus scenes, a ten week devotional guide, and links to audio and video extras.) 

Blessings!

Sharon Hinck