Friday, July 13, 2012

God Truly Works in Mysterious Ways


Today, we welcome one of Hope Tour's charter sponsors, author Staci Stallings.

When I say that God directs my writing, I mean just that. He decides what I write when I write it and how I write it. Sometimes that's very comforting, and sometimes it makes an author just a little ...

Well, here's the story. You tell me what it would make you!

It all started when I got a fabulous idea for a book. We'll call this one "Original Story."  Now, when I write, I try to immerse myself in the characters--what they are like, how they look, what they love, the kind of music they listen to. In doing so, I download pictures off the Internet and make a soundtrack for the book.

I had started all of that, and "Original Story" was going quite well. I had a great soundtrack because the hero was actually a member of a boy band at the time.

Pictures were going quite well also because there were lots of them available.

The glitch I didn't see coming (but know God orchestrated) came in the form of the young lady who was my newest and most fascinated fan at the time. She was the babysitter for my kids, and she had recently read several of my books. So when "Original Story" started being written, she was interested. I mean, coming in here to see the pictures, how many pages had I written, how was it going, when would it be finished interested.

Then a funny thing happened. As she looked at the pictures, she started "falling for" one of the other guys in the band. She kept asking me, "Yes, but what is this guy's story?"  I gently told her that it didn't work that way, and that I was working on "Original Story" and didn't have time for anything else.

Well, she kept it up until just to shut her up, one day, I said, "Okay, God, if I was to write this other guy's story, what would it be?" Now, I had assumed God would be quiet on the matter and I could work on the story I was already working on. I assumed wrong!

Upon asking the question, the story "To Protect & Serve" dropped into my lap--nearly fully formed. I was not the picture of happiness. Now what? I was already writing a story, and it was good. But, I've learned, when God shows up, you don't argue.

Within a few days I was standing in our fire department that's only a couple miles from my house, learning all kinds of new things like the best way to cut roof-vents on houses that are burning down under you and where the pickax is stored on the truck, how turnout gear is stored so you can get in it quickly and the importance of a little thing called a PASS.

That story, "To Protect & Serve" became the first of the three stories in The Courage Series (followed by "White Knight" and then "For Real.")

I'm hoping someday I will finish "Original Story." It's now been 11 years, and I'm still working on it. Don't ask me. I'm just along for the ride!


Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a Contemporary Christian author and the founder of Grace & Faith Author Connection. You can check out one of Staci's Best-Selling Christian Romances ...



To Protect & Serve
~ The Courage Series~ 


Book 1
"Courage, love, and sacrifice..."

"Prepare to cry, laugh, wish, love and maybe even cry again as you become enveloped in the hopes and feelings of Lisa and Jeff."
-Amazon Reviewer, Cindy


 To save others' lives, they will risk their own... 


Buy your copy today for:
Kindle Ebook


A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from.  Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again.  Every title is a new adventure!  That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading.  Staci touches the lives of people across the globe every week with her various Internet endeavors including:

Spirit Light Books--The Blog

Facebook Author Page

Staci's Ebook Romance Stories

Or...

Follow Staci on Twitter @StaciStallings

Come on over for a visit…

You’ll feel better for the experience!



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Thursday, July 12, 2012

Magnificent Hope in Sparkles, Taffeta, and a Relay!


Today's Mission Event is written by author Sheryl Holmes.

The sky darkened and it was inevitable as the rumble of thunder came slowly like a growl.  Lightening and an immediate down pour nipped furiously on the heels of another bellow of thunder.  Meanwhile, Magnificent Hope was eagerly slipping into her sparkles and taffeta readying herself for her place alongside me as I prepared to walk my first Survivor’s Lap around the track at the local Relay for Life event.  We both exchanged quizzical and questioning looks between us as we wondered if the event would be canceled due to the foreboding weather upon us.  But, true to New England weather, the rain suddenly stopped and gentle white clouds appeared and the sky returned to a soft blue hue and the early evening sky looked promising.




Gathering in front of the DJ’s podium, Magnificent Hope caught the eye of everyone; she  was dazzling!  People stared and made friendly comments.  Fifty or so of us stood in our purple “survivor” t-shirts – many of us with our caregivers and supporters.  Maggie Hope, as I heard was her nickname, remained by my side, hand in hand with me as we made our way around the track.  I was delighted to display the personification of  the HOPE that sparkles in my heart as a believer and follower of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It was just this HOPE that spurred me on and uplifted me through many a dark day as I battled cancer last year.  Joy filled my soul as I reminisced with the many others walking in front and in back of me in celebration that we are survivors.  Side liners cheered and gave out winsome smiles and good words for all of us.  I cheered inside my heart as I praised my Father in Heaven for the healing hand He had upon me as I endured cancer, allowing me to survive.  My life was sustained. Magnificent Hope prevailed.

Following the walk, Maggie Hope and I greeted people who passed by my table with vivacious “hello’s” as we offered my book Towdah: A Cancer Survivor’s Song of Hope for sale.  Proceeds went to the fundraising efforts of the Relay; this was our mission. Relay for Life is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society.



It began in 1985 as an oncologist in Tacoma WA decided to run and walk a track for 24 hours in order to raise money for research – through the night to symbolize the fact that cancer never sleeps; he raised $27,000 as people supported and watched  his 24 hr. marathon.  Since then, teams walk in relay style to raise money and support those who have battled cancer and have survived, those who are battling, and those who lost the battle - lighting luminaries in memory of those loved ones.

Magnificent Hope and I are HOPEFUL that those who purchased my book will be encouraged and find that Magnificent Hope is available to all who earnestly seek after and follow our Savior Jesus Christ – doing His will.


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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Bubble Gum, Stickers, and Boogers - A Mission?


Today's Mission Post comes from author Vicki Tiede.

On June 16th, my family and Magnificent Hope served the Lord and our community with more than 1000 volunteers on 60 sites through our city, Rochester, Minnesota, and the surrounding community. This is the seventh year of this event, which we call CareFest.

 Apparently, CareFest began in Little Rock, Arkansas, when a group inspired by the great biblical leader, Nehemiah, set out to identify and impact the most significant social needs and problems that occur in their community with the purpose of having the faith community respond and meet those needs collaboratively. Similar events take place in Danbury, CT; Austin, TX; and Atlanta, GA.

Oh, friends, there is nothing glamorous about CareFest. This year my husband was a site coordinator at one of the elementary schools, so he left the house before 6 a.m. to meet with all of the other site coordinators for final instructions and to receive t-shirts for their CareFest team. By 8 a.m. our two boys and I were hauling our cooler into a hot, un-air-conditioned school. After our team of 20 kids and adults assembled and donned our maroon CareFest shirts, we set to work. We cleaned every locker in the school … and by “cleaned” I mean we used special cleaners that required the use of plastic gloves and putty knives to remove gum, stickers, and boogers (Come on, people! This is an elementary school!).  Then we moved into every classroom where we scrubbed every chair and desk (top and bottom) to remove glue, pencil marks, markers, stickers, scotch tape, and … yes, more boogers. We also washed all the windows that could safely be reached and counter tops. Glamour? No. The humidity and heat were high that day, but not enough to dampen the equally high spirits of those serving the Lord. What a blessing to pray for the teachers and students as we washed the places where those little hands and feet will go about the business of learning come fall!

That’s what our group tackled this year. At about 60 other sites they were painting, cleaning, repairing, and landscaping. We served organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club, public schools, city parks, crisis pregnancy center, the Bible college, various outreach centers, foster homes for the elderly and those with special needs, a Christian daycare, and needy single women and families from local churches. Two years ago a local Buddhist temple was damaged when vandals painted “Jesus saves” on the temple ground’s concrete. We wanted the Buddhists to know that real followers of Jesus desire to help and not hurt people or their property. Jesus said the adversary Satan came to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give people abundant life through the Gospel. So, the weekend after CareFest a team went to the temple to help clean up the damage. In addition, they installed a handicapped access ramp and did some landscaping at the temple.

Now, it’s hard not to share all of this and not feel like we’re giving ourselves a pat on the back – or looking for one from you. Oh, how I wish you could be in the fairground arena with us at 5:00 when we all gather together – covered in paint, dirt, grime, and heaven only knows what else – to break bread and worship together. The pictures tell the story … it’s not about us. As the back of our shirts announce, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve …” (Mark 10:45).

** Now, truth be told, in the early hour as we tried to get all of our supplies, lunches, and kids ready to go, I inadvertently left Magnificent Hope on the kitchen table. However, we took some creative license with our pictures of CareFest and planted her creatively in our midst.  It is our prayer that through the consistent presence of the faith community serving as Jesus served, that Rochester residents will become increasingly aware that Jesus is alive and that they will personally see and feel His lifesaving, restoring love and magnificent hope through us.


About Vicki: Vicki Tiede is an inspiring Bible teacher, conference speaker, and author. Her passion is to open the Scriptures with women in order to share God's grace and enduring faithfulness. She transparently relates life experiences that resonate and draw others into a lifelong pursuit of knowing God.

Vicki's candor and humor are a delight to her audiences, who feel like they've met a new friend moments after she begins to share a glimpse into her life. She consistently points her audiences back to God's Word and presents fresh insights into the Scriptures.

Living in Rochester, Minnesota, Vicki is a wife, homeschooling mom, and the coordinator of women's ministries in her local church. Vicki holds Master's degrees in Ministry and in Education.

Vicki is the author of:

Parenting On Your Knees ... Prayers and Practical Guidance for Parents of Preschoolers 

(FREE on Kindle January 31-February 3, 2013)

Strap on your sense of humor and don some knee pads as you prepare to be equipped for/by Parenting on Your Knees: Prayers and Practical Guidance for the Preschool Years. Vicki Tiede provides parents of preschoolers tools and strategies for parenting and praying when sleep and alone time are at a minimum. You will find hope and encouragement to nurture and pray for your child’s character, behavior, social skills, development, and spiritual growth.






  • When Your Husband is Addicted to Pornography ... Healing Your Wounded Heart (October 2012)


  • Plug Me In and Let Me Charge Overnight (2009)


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Tuesday, July 10, 2012

What's So Important About Hope?


Hope.

Hope!

Hope?

Since we started the Hope Tour, several folks have asked why I’m so focused on Hope. I’ve struggled with the right words to explain, but – at the halfway point in our tour – I realize I must try.

As a publisher, it’s my job to produce books. But I don’t want to just publish any book. I feel called to do more. So much more. This year, and for as many years as the Lord calls me to do it, my task is to solicit and produce books that offer hope.

Here are just a few of my reasons:

  • The 20-something single mom grieving over the loss of her father and now summoning the courage to fight cancer for all she’s worth.
  • The homeless man beat up by teen punks in my own neighborhood – and the other one spit upon by other teen punks in another town.
  • The middle-aged divorced woman with thoughts of suicide.
  • The elderly woman, once an independent career woman, now forced to depend on her relatives for daily survival and care.
  • The retired couple forced to sell their only vehicle to keep a roof over their heads.
  • A young man fighting for a better life for himself and his family, against enormous odds.
  • A business executive faced with downsizing his company.
  • A weary mom with bruised knees and wounded heart caused by years of dealing with wayward children.
  • Widows and widowers who feel they are – or who really are – all alone in this world.
  • Families dealing with mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction. 
  • An AIDS patient.
  • Teenagers coping with dysfunctional families, gender crises, date rape, bullying, peer pressure, hormones, and more.
  • Families who lose their babies due to birth defects, disease, SIDS, or crime.
  • A man on death row. Guilty on all counts.
  • The woman in line at the food bank – not wanting to be there, but with an empty fridge and even emptier pantry – she has no choice.
  • A 30-something who is disillusioned by the religion of his parents, who hasn’t yet determined his own religion. He’s being swept off his feet by all the exciting New Age junk filling bookshelves by the millions.
  • Fire victims who lost all their possessions and the roof over their heads.
  • Storm victims forced to rebuild their homes, their lives.
  • Children who go to bed hungry.
  • Families on the verge of bankruptcy and those already in the midst of it, who have no clue what tomorrow brings.


As you’ve probably already guessed, the list is endless. Does your heart break for friends and family who are suffering? Mine does. So much so that almost daily, I retreat for awhile to cry out to Almighty God, asking prayer for so many. At times, I wake in the middle of the night, my heart burdened by the needs I discovered during the day.

I can’t solve the world’s problems. I can’t even solve my own family’s problems. Thankfully, I know Who can, but not everyone knows – and that’s where our books come in.

Solomon wrote,

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24 NASB).

Think on that. Our words can be sweet to the soul. And healing to the bones. In a dry, parched world, our words can bring comfort and relief.

Solomon also said,

“The right word at the right time
   is like a custom-made piece of jewelry ...” 
(Proverbs 25:11 The Message)

The right word at the right time. I've experienced God's hand many times when He placed the right word at just the right time into my own path. He can and will do the same with YOUR words for someone too. 

Our books NEED to give HOPE. The words YOU write may be the very words – perhaps the ONLY words – that a particular person may read that could change his or her life – or even impact the lives of children or grandchildren – forever. Your book could introduce someone to Jesus, or detail a situation for someone who faces the same circumstances – and until she read your book, she thought she was all alone.

Your words MATTER. Your words can give MAGNIFICENT, LIFE-GIVING, BONE-HEALING, SOUL-SOOTHING HOPE to a hopeless world. And I want to help make that happen.

The finalists are already hard at work on their manuscripts for the Books of Hope Contest. But we have two other contests still open. Have you submitted your entry for our “One Hope” contest? Or your Christmas-themed manuscript for our “Christmas Hope” contest? 

What are you waiting for? Someone needs to hear YOUR message of HOPE.


For anyone who's just joining us, follow along with the Hope Tour! We have a contest for readers, too - you could win a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet, a $100 gift card, and a whole bunch of books!

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Monday, July 9, 2012

Contest Week 7: Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?


Magnificent Hope has been spending some time with author Sheryl Holmes. We'll share all her adventures in the coming weeks, but today, Sheryl has written a post for the "Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?" contest! Readers, submit your best guess for a chance to win a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet, a $100 gift card, and a bunch of books! Directions for how to enter are below Sheryl's post.


While Magnificent Hope was visiting me in my New England hometown, we gathered for a picnic lunch at a very well known relaxing spot to enjoy the beauty of God’s Creation amidst a very man-made creation meant to serve a great many people about sixty five miles away.


This is a place to be quiet and take in the gentle music of nature and read a book.

Many often fancy this as a place to take a walk and take in the view, remembering that four towns were disincorporated in 1938 and flooded to create this breathtaking view that serves such an essential purpose.  I understand this is the largest body of water in my state.

My friends and I shared a lovely afternoon together as we each revealed the Magnificent Hope living inside each one of us. You may notice, that Magnificent Hope has multiplied ... it is because she lives in each of us who follow Jesus.  She is not a one-dimensional entity, but a multifaceted essence that is Spirit-driven and given by the One who redeemed us.  Dear Maggie Hope is alive and well and was in full exuberance at this outing!


Where in the world are we?



So, readers, can you guess where Magnificent Hope is this week? 

Answer the question correctly to be entered to win a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet.

Here's how to play:


Each week, we’ll post a photo of Magnificent Hope near a landmark. If you know “Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?” send us an e-mail with the subject line CONTEST WEEK 1, CONTEST WEEK 2, CONTEST WEEK 3, etc. The person with the MOST correct entries and bonus entries at the end of the contest will win their choice of either a Kindle Fire or a Nook Tablet, a $100 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card (depending on which reader your choose), and a copy of all our WIP and PNP books published any time during this year!

Bonus entries may be earned three ways:
  1.  By “liking” all three Facebook pages – Write Integrity, Pix-N-Pens, and Magnificent Hope – just be sure to let us know you liked us in your first contest entry, and we’ll add the bonus points.
  2. Bonus entries will also be given for anyone submitting by e-mail one or more photos taken with Magnificent Hope AND at least one of our books anywhere on her journey. One photo per location, please. (For example, if you bump into Magnificent Hope at a Jennifer Fromke event in North Carolina and take ten photos with her at that same event, only one photo will count. But if you bump into Magnificent Hope at Jennifer’s event, and then again at an event with Dianne E. Butts, you can take photos both places and get two bonus entries!) Send your photos in .jpeg format, attached to an email, and we may use them in blog posts or perhaps even a book.
  3. Telling your family and friends about Magnificent Hope, Hope Tour 2012, and our books and authors – through Facebook, Twitter, blog posts, interviews with our authors or Magnificent Hope, or other ways. One share per week gets you an extra entry, so send us your links by e-mail so we can tally your points.

(If you have trouble using the links, the e-mail address to send entries to is: magnificenthope [at] yahoo [dot] com.)

For those of you coming on board in the middle of the contest, you can go back and enter the previous weeks whenever you wish. Just find the "Where in the World is Magnificent Hope?" contest links in the list below and submit your best guess for each week. 

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Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Magnificent Hope Visits Kentucky Conference


Magnificent Hope has been traipsing around the country with Stan and Ann Knowles—NC, VA, WV, KY—on her way to the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference in Elizabethtown, KY. Look, there she is on Ann’s book table and I spy books published by Write Integrity Press and Pix-N-Pens Publishing.

Hope especially enjoyed the scenery along the way, but her favorite parts were the endless white fences, beautiful stallions, and lush bluegrass. Near Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, she saw an amazing life-sized mural that served as a backdrop for  grazing horses and several statues of horses. Being the traveler that she is, Hope wanted to stop and visit every historic site and learn all about the folks who made Kentucky famous—from Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace at Hodgeskinville to Bardstown where Stephen Foster composed “My Old Kentucky Home.” On the way to the Renfrow Valley Barn Dance in Renfrow Valley, famous for country music, they passed by Colonel Sanders’ first KFC in Corbin. She found Kentucky a fascinating place to visit and wants to go back again when there is more time to enjoy the scenic ride and participate in some of the local events—especially the Barn Dance.

During the conference, Hope graced the book table as Stan stood nearby to help anyone who needed a helping hand or a listening ear. They had an opportunity to meet almost every person at the conference because everyone scouts out the book tables. She and Stan kept their ears open for anyone who needed a word of encouragement or HOPE. After all, that was their job—to offer HOPE! Believe me, there were plenty of writers who needed a message of HOPE and they were  grateful for a listening ear and a word of encouragement.

When Ann arrived home and discovered her keys were missing, she was the one who needed HOPE! Now, keys are important, but those pictures of her grandchildren on that key ring were what mattered most. She called the Holiday Inn Express and received the word of HOPE she desperately needed. “Yes. The housekeeping ladies found the keys and turned them in to the front desk. Yes, we will mail them to you. And no, there is no charge for mailing them. We always do that for our customers.” What a great place to stay if you’re ever in E-town, KY.

Back in NC Stan and Ann sent HOPE off on her next excursion. Where will HOPE go next?


About Ann: Ann Knowles has been an educator for thirty-three years (teaching and curriculum development through community college level). 

Ann began writing in 1990 and launched her freelance editing business in 2005. Her stories appear in Life Lessons from Dads and Life Lessons from Grandparents.



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