I am so excited to release the trailer for The Builder’s Reluctant Bride. As I move into the final month before the book release, I’m asking for your prayers.
It would be easy to get swept up in the promotion and fun of releasing my first novel, and some of that is great. In fact, much of that is great. But my heart, at its core, is so sinful and prideful that I know I need your prayers to navigate this stretch well, to pursue humility in these upcoming weeks, and to direct all praise and glory to the Lord.
I’m asking you, my readers, friends, and family, to commit to praying that my heart and mind remain centred on Christ, and that no matter how big or little a splash this book makes in the ocean of literature available to the public, that God would use my offering bring glory and fame to His name. This is my desire.
I hope you enjoy the contests in July and take part for the chance to win some special items made especially for this release, but above all that, know that more than following me on social networks, more than buying my book, more than anything else, I covet your prayers and would be encouraged to know you are interceding on my behalf. Thanks for reading, praying, and watching the super trailer made by my favourite brother-in-law.
July 08, 2016 celebrates the release of The Builder’s Reluctant Bride and one lucky reader will win this beautiful handmade bracelet! Follow Stacey on social media to be sure you receive the contest details, made available in July.
This bracelet required a few simple supplies from the craft store:
I designed the order of the trinkets in a meaningful way, and when you read my story in The Builder’s Reluctant Bride, you’ll understand why love, hope, and faith matter to me.
Stacey is busy writing her third novel, so she made me the new host of Makeover Monday. I reside in the fictional town of Bayview, Michigan, and Pelican Book Group is releasing my story, The Builder’s Reluctant Bride, on July 08, 2016.
Make sure you follow Stacey on all her social media sites. When my story is released in July, Stacey is hosting a MONTH of giveaways. You won’t want to miss out on these great prizes.
It’s been the kind of week that didn’t allow for writing because it required more praying. What joy is found in praying Scripture and depending on the words of God.
Hear our prayers, O Lord. Give ear to our pleas for mercy. In your faithfulness, answer us. The enemy is pursuing us, distracting us, and trying to crush life to the ground. He is trying to force us to sit in darkness like those long dead. He wants our spirit faint. He wants us to forget Your goodness and be fearful.
But, we remember. We remember what You have done before and know You can do it again. You created us. You have brought us from death to life. We meditate on Your provision and ponder the works of Your hands. We stretch out our hands to You asking, begging for Your mercy on our families, our church, and our lives. Answer us quickly, O Lord. Hide not Your face from us. For Your name’s sake, provide for our needs and teach us to let go of our wants. Go before us. Remain beside us. Be our God in such a powerful way we will know You are with us and, as a result, we will turn toward You in our time of need, trusting in You.
Hear our prayers, O Lord. Let our cry come to You. Do not hide your face from us in the day of distress. Incline Your ear to us and answer us speedily. Nothing is impossible for You. You set the earth on its foundations so it should never be moved. The waters stood above the mountains and at Your rebuke they fled; at the sound of Your thunder they took flight. The mountains rose and the valleys sank down to the place that You appointed for them. You made springs gush forth. The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
You made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and Your outstretched arm. O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to our deeds. We know we are not worthy to ask anything of You, but because of Christ, we can boldly approach Your throne and plead for grace and mercy. Show Your power and might in marvellous ways.
Sometimes life unfolds in crushing ways. Trials can challenge everything we’ve ever called good and if our faith is not built on the solid foundation of the absolute goodness and sovereignty of God, these trials will shatter us.
Trials may sever the limb, but a solid foundation knows it cannot sever hope. Trials might fold the car like tinfoil, but a solid foundation knows God remains on His throne. The enemy uses trials to try his bloody best to tear apart what the Lord has joined together, but a solid foundation knows, by the power of the Holy Spirit, love can prevail. Trials may manifest though a diagnosis, through a lack of funds, or through government-sanctioned persecution. However it presents, build your faith on the solid foundation of Jesus and these trials will not destroy your faith.
Every life will experience pain and loss.
The storm is certain. A storm has either just blown over, it rages now, or it is forecasted for tomorrow. I have never lived a year a life that has proven those words truer than this current one. The storm is certain. There is no avoiding the falling rain, the rising floods, or the blowing winds that beat against our house of faith. The storm is certain, but there is one foundation capable of upholding your house of faith—Jesus.
The foundation matters.
Be wise and build your house on the rock.
Hears what words? The previous verses in Matthew are known as the sermon on the Mount and go way back to chapter 5. It is where Jesus tells us what kind of person is blessed. He tell us we are salt and light. He explains He has come to fulfill the law. He speaks on anger, lust, divorce, oaths, revenge, loving our enemies, giving generously to those in need, prayer, fasting, storing our treasures in heaven, anxiety, judging others, approaching God with boldness, how we should treat others, discernment, and how the road that leads to eternal life is narrow.
We’ve heard the words, now we must do them. This is the hard part. It is hard to be salt and light in a tasteless and dark world. Every cell in my body opposes the commands of the Lord but in humility I must pursue the narrow road because I want to build my house on the rock. I want my house of faith to remain after the storm.
When we hear the words of Christ and live the words of Christ our house is built on the rock of Christ. Then, circumstance will not dictate the depth of our love for Him.
“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
It is a delight to introduce Christine Hoover who blogs over at Grace Covers Me. Christine has graciously allowed me to share her post about her son.
Christine: Ten years ago I was crying different tears over this boy. They were bitter, desperate, pleading tears that soaked and salted my entire life. Like a broken faucet, I couldn’t restrain their constant dripping. I cried throughout worship at church, unable to sing the words and mean them. I cried while driving the car with my son in the backseat and another in my womb. I cried in my bed, clinging to my husband, broken at the sight of his tears mirroring my own. Always, I cried after interacting with other people’s children whose affront to me was simply being typical, everyday kids who were hitting all their milestones.
If you’ve cried similar tears for your children you’ll want to click here and read the rest of Christine’s story where she shares how God helped and healed not only her son, but also her own heart.
Author Christine Hoover: The grace of Christ upended my legalistic life over a decade ago and ever since, I’ve been passionate about exploring and sharing about how that grace impacts every inch of life. In addition to my blog and books, I regularly contribute to Desiring God, Flourish (an online resource for ministry wives), and For The Church. My work has also appeared on The Gospel Coalition, New Churches, Christianity Today, and Outreach.
