September's Painting: Fisherman's House-Greenwood Lake ~ Jasper Cropsey
Each month, one of the beautiful paintings by an artist of the Hudson River School will be featured on the American Historical Christian Fiction blog.
American Historical Christian Fiction
Have we spent too much time in the reality of the here and now, and forgotten our Ideals, both personal and national? The early artists and writers of this nation once dwelt on forging this country's ideals; so with the help of God, let us do the same. Let us make every attempt to dwell on our ideals.
~Pat Iacuzzi~
Welcome to American Historical Christian Fiction, where the Cross and Quill come together to create a sampler of faith, folklore, and our country's early history. Please be sure to check the links for more information about early American life and colonial history, too.
By Cross and Quill
The Am His blog hi-lights books by Christian authors who are led by the Lord to write about characters and stories set in America's past. They are exciting stories of romance, adventure and suspense, written to inspire and encourage.
If you're looking for a book for yourself, a loved one, or those who may need an uplifting message woven through an entertaining story, please consider new monthly releases in inspirational historical fiction found here--the kind that take you on a journey into our country's past (from early colonial times to WWII) and illuminates the trials, beauty and blessings of our great nation.
Now it's my pleasure to welcome a neighbor from the north, Canadian Lynn Squire, with her book Joab's Fire to be released this week....September 15th!
Lynn Squire
What’s Your Perspective?
By Lynn Squire
Our perspective tends to be limited to this present life, but God’s perspective encompasses all of eternity.
Consider the Israelites. God told Abraham that his seed would be “a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;” Genesis 15:13. Abraham’s children would obtain the land God promised him. Abraham wouldn’t live to see it, but he believed God’s word to be true.
We know things happened just as God said.
Yes, the Israelites would suffer at the hands of the Egyptians, but in the end God would be glorified and they would have their promised land. And God was glorified among the nations.
We must not only grasp but embrace that we are here to bring God glory. If it is through affliction, so be it. It isn’t about us. It is about God. And if we think even the very least that it ought to be about us then we’ve got it all wrong.
Does that mean God doesn’t care for us, doesn’t want to bless us?
• Absolutely not. He created us. He loves us enough even to suffer and die for us, but if we think for even one moment that we have a right to the good things of this earth then we have stepped out of line, and we will not react in a manner that is glorifying to God—thereby messing up the very purpose of our lives.
• Of course He wants to bless us. Sometimes the best blessings come after a period of suffering.
How can we prepare ourselves for the trouble that will come our way?
• Have a right relationship with God. Keep Him the center of your life moment by moment. Don’t let one moment pass where you let your affection turn to the things of this world. Are our possessions evil? No. But if we let them get in the way of our relationship with God we need to push them aside so that our line of vision is directly on the Lord.
• Continue in prayer and praise moment by moment. How do you do this when you must work? Consider the yoyo. It goes up and down the string, but as long as its energy is coming from the hand, it returns to the hand. Let your energy, the well-spring of your life, come from God so that while you might be at the end of the string when you’re working, your thoughts immediately spring back to Him when you pause from your work. So, when tragedy strikes, you roll right up the string into the Father’s hand.
When you keep that connection with God, like the string that connects the yoyo to its master’s hand, we can keep that eternal perspective and resist the temptation to let our present situation stop our ‘roll’.
Thanks so much for stopping in Lynn, and for your wonderful devotional. I hope it encourages others to consider their perspectives on their lives in relation to our God and King. If you'd like to get in touch with Lynn, you can find her at: http://www.lynnsquire.com
And for September's Book of the Month, Am His presents C.J. Chase and her latest release, Redeeming the Rogue.
Title:Redeeming the Rogue
Author: C.J. Chase
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical
Her Ally…or Her Enemy?
With a chip on her shoulder and a pistol in her pocket, Mattie Fraser comes to London determined to find answers. What fate befell her brother after he was forced to join the British navy? Military official Kit DeChambelle knows something, she's sure. But can she trust him—or anyone— as a conspiracy of silence surrounds her?
Kit knows altogether too much—about the guilt that drives Mattie, and the peril she faces. The battle against Napoleon is over, but for Kit, peace is elusive. In helping this brave, stubborn woman, he may be endangering her further. Especially if she learns about the orders he's received, placing them on opposite sides…
Where you can get in touch with C.J....
http://www.cjchasebooks.com/
New Christian Movie out this week!
If you leave a comment this week to win Susan Page Davis' book Christmas at Barncastle Inn, your name will also be included in a drawing at the end of the month for Redeeming the Rogue by C.J. Chase, plus a chance to win a lovely blue silk fan pictured above. When you leave your comments, make sure you include your e-mail address. Thank you for stopping in, and....
"May the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: may the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." Num.6:25-26 (KJV)
