Mistletoe Mission releases today, and I open my hands to hold loose this story God placed on my heart. It is my offering to Him.
As a writer, I long to worship God with my words. Carefully chosen, and purposefully crafted, they are my offering of praise. Today, as book two set in Mistletoe Meadows hits the market, I’m avoiding Amazon stats and download numbers. Instead, I linger in the Psalms. This is the prayer of my heart:
Give ear to my words, O Lord. Draw me up from the water, out from the darkened pit. Spread your protection over me, cover me with favour as with a shield. Hide me in your shelter.
You remember me. You lead me. You restore me. You are the stronghold of life. I respond in a stillness that knows You are God.
So, I fret not, waiting patiently, forsaking anxiety. You cause broken bones to rejoice and grant dry and fainting flesh satisfaction. My mouth overflows with reverent praise. I will not fear. With lifted hands, I praise your name.
The heavens declare your glory. The sky proclaims your handiwork. I sing. You are the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
As Mistletoe Mission releases, exposing my heart and making me vulnerable, I am choosing to be still. I will not fear. I lift my hands and praise the God who has gifted me this passion to write for His glory and fame.
Order your copy of Mistletoe Mission and rediscover the God of Christmas miracles.
In one week, you can return to Mistletoe Meadows and visit Quentin, Melody and Janie. This Christmas, Melody’s good friend, Emily, is planning Travis and Leah’s wedding in Mistletoe Mission. You might remember Emily from her brief appearance in the FREE micro-read Under the Summer Mistletoe where she organizes Quentin and Melody’s July wedding. (Download links are at the bottom of this post.)
What you don’t know, is that much in Mistletoe Misson is inspired by real people and organizations. For example, the small start-up business in Mistletoe Mission is based on this AMAZING organization.
Little by Little, founded by Isabel Stigge, is a business as mission organization, through Crossworld, committed to keeping families together in Haiti. Before starting Little by Little six years ago, Isabel worked as a volunteer in a Haitian orphanage, where she learned that about 80% of children in orphanages have families who need a way to generate income to keep their families together.
Unfortunately, 1 in 4 children in Haiti do not live with their families, and they are vulnerable to working in servitude, child-trafficking, or being sent to orphanages. Little by Little is working actively to improve this statistic and keep families together!
The goal of Little by Little is to create a self-sustaining business for caregivers in Haiti, by training them as artisans so they can generate income and keep their families together. The artisans create beautiful products in an environment that gives them a sense of dignity. The beautiful jewelry and home decor items produced in Haiti are sold in Haiti, Canada and the USA.
Product revenue financially sustains Little by Little, but they are also very dependent on the Lord’s provision through financial partners who help carry the cost burden of operating in two countries. Little by Little currently supports 22 families and has kept 150 children out of orphanages and with their families, and it continues to stay on mission to see these numbers grow!
In Mistletoe Mission, Luca brings these beautiful Morse code bracelets home from his trip to Haiti, and they play an important role in the story. But you’ll have to read to story to find out how. As a fun bonus, I’m giving away a Morse Code bracelet on my Celebrate Lit blog tour (Dec 20-Jan 2). Entry details and links will come in a later post.
While her own relationships always end up doomed, Emily Colt is still determined to create happily-ever-afters through her wedding and event planning business. In hopes of expanding, she enters her latest project–staging the Christmas wedding of the year–into a town-wide contest. But between crossing paths with the first man to break her heart and dodging a saboteur, she doubts success is within her grasp.
Jilted pastor, Luca Wilson, fled to the mission field to escape a broken heart. All the hurt rushes back when he returns home to officiate his cousin’s wedding, and he finds Emily–the girl to whom he once promised forever–organizing the celebration.
Despite Luca’s lost faith in love, their unforeseen reunion rekindles a spark, and Luca vows to help Emily save her struggling business. But to succeed, they will have to learn what it means to trust each other and believe in the God of Christmas miracles.
Friends in Canada can pre-order Mistletoe Mission on Amazon.ca
Don’t miss the FREE micro-read Under the Summer Mistletoe. Links for Canadian, American and UK friends are below. I hope you enjoy this free short story as my early Christmas gift to you.
Anne Dutton lived from 1692-1765, a time when women were discouraged from being authors, something I find curious, as a female author. Amidst this tension, Anne wrote, “not for fame but for only the glory of God, and the good of souls.”[1] She published 50 plus books over her lifetime, all the while wrestling with whether it was biblical for a woman to be an author. She argued that since her books were intended for private reading of believers, she was not in violation 1 Timothy 2:12.[2]
Anne’s life and ministry are chronicled in chapter three of the book, 8 Women of Faith, by Michael A.G. Haykin. Her story is a warm hug from a kindred spirit because I know this struggle. I’ve wondered if I grappled alone or if other women in ministry, other authors, have wrestled with when and where to speak and when and where to remain quiet. I’ve spent much time these past few months studying the Word, praying, and examining my heart. What motivates me to write? Am I teachable when corrected? Do I truly desire to lift the name of Christ higher than the name on the cover of my books?
I’ve learned from Anne that speaking up might be necessary no matter how uncomfortable it may make me feel. She boldly critiqued theological positions of her day that threatened the integrity of the gospel. She corresponded with many leaders, gently challenging them while remaining respectful. Her final days on earth have been said to illustrate Ps 92:12-14 and Gal 5:22. Anne flourished like the palm tree, bringing forth fruit in her old age of seventy-four, exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.[3]
O Lord, I pray it may it be said of me that when my days are done and all that remains is the legacy of my words that every written word and every spoken word has been for the glory and fame of Jesus Christ. May I be remembered for a teachable spirit, for speaking in gentleness, correcting in love, and always respectful of the authority placed over me. When I quiver on the precipice of eternity, may there still be much fruit, much evidence that anything good that came from my life was and is the work of the Spirit in me.
[1] Michael A. G. Haykin, 8 Women of Faith, (Wheaton, Il: Crossway 2016), 58.
Disney’s animated film, Toy Story, made Randy Newman’s song, You’ve Got a Friend in Me, famous. The catchy lyrics croon traits we long for in a friendship. When the road is rough, and we are far from home, we want a friend. We want someone who understands our troubles, has our best interests in mind, and who will support us forever.
Paul was that kind of friend to the Philippian Church. He was a friend who sharpened others. He was a friend who said hard things and refused to tickle itching ears. His love stirred actions empowered by the Holy Spirit, and heavy burdens were lifted together proving two are better than one.
There is nothing like the encouraging words of a #friend to lift a weary heart and remind you of God’s goodness. It is a gift. Download your #FREE short study: You’ve Got a Friend in Me at staceyweeks.com
I am blessed with friends who admonish, encourage, and help me. I am blessed with friends filled with patience and kindness. I want to be like them because they want to be like Jesus, and more than anything, I want to be like Jesus.
Maybe you don’t yet have a friend like that. Perhaps you are praying for the Lord to bring that kind of friend into your life. While you wait, be that friend to someone else. Be the friend who rejoices in the Lord in good and hard times. Be a friend who speaks life and sees God’s mighty hand at work even in the trial. What does that look like? Download my free short study on Philippians 1:1-18 and learn from Paul’s example.
She was raised in the hills of Virginia and spent years exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. She married young and enjoys an exciting fast-paced life with her hubby that sometimes rivals the suspense in her books (thanks to all her mostly grown children and a couple grandkids). Welcome, Erin!
I love how God can speak through writers to the readers. Sometimes writers aren’t even aware of the messages they are putting in their novels, but God loves to work in wondrous ways through books. It’s always been important to me to show how my characters learn and grow spiritually in every story. I love to put a biblical message in every book, and Fateful Fall is no different.
The main character, Ava Worthington, is facing uncertain times where she thinks she can work to prove her worth. It’s a trap into which we often fall, and it can be deadly to our spiritual growth.
It’s interesting how we try to work our way to get everything—including God’s blessings and favor. It happens so fast we often don’t even realize it. One minute we’re trusting our heavenly Father and the next we’re off on our own trying to prove to everyone that we are valuable—that what we do matters. But the harder we work, the further away our goal seems to drift.
God is good at reminding us we have to look to Him for our true worth. No number of people, metals, or commendations removes our feelings of inadequacy. Christ removes those feelings when we turn to Him, and He makes it clear how valuable we are to Him
“We have to look to God for our true worth. No number of people, metals, or commendations removes our feelings of inadequacy.” – Erin Unger
Luke 12:7, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:24, “Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the bird?”
New King James Version
I love how God gives me a gentle prod when I head down the road of works. He turns me back around and reminds me that I don’t need to do this or that to feel worthy. He has called me worthwhile.
I hope reading Fateful Fall encourages you to stop trying to work your way to favor, and instead, I hope it reminds you to put your focus on Christ. Let Him show you just how much worth you have in His eyes. When He does, an amazing peace will replace all feelings of inadequacy.
Order your copy through Pelican Book Group or through Amazon. After reading, be sure to leave a review!
Enter for your chance to win a copy of Fateful Fall
Answer the question below to be entered into a giveaway to receive an eBook copy of Fateful Fall, a Worthington Investigations Romantic Suspense.
What works do you find yourself falling into to gain worth?
CONTEST RULES:
Comments must be posted in the comment section of the blog post. Those receving this via email will need to navigate to Stacey’s blog and comment for a valid entry.
Contest opens on Wednesday, August 14, 2019 and closes Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 at midnight.
Chances of winning is dependant upon the number of entries. Winner will be chosen by random draw and notified by email within one week of the contest close.
About Fateful Fall:
Private Investigator Ava Worthington and her partners head to the mountains to solve the death of a farmer owner’s son who was discovered murdered in an outhouse on the property. Without local cowboy Cory’s protection, Ava won’t get the chance to follow leads as the killer tries to stop her investigation. But Ava’s falling for Cory against her better judgment. She should be working and not pining after a cowboy. And Cory doesn’t want a relationship. His successful career was destroyed by a woman he trusted, and he won’t make the same mistake twice.
One suspect after another is cleared from Ava’s list until she’s sure she has the real killer targeted in her sights, but he’s hunting her, too. How will Ava and Cory find the killer and admit their love before they are buried under a mountain of secrets?
You can find Erin online at: www.erinungerwrites.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter under the handle: ErinUngerWrites
