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Hey, new and old friends! So glad to see you here at InspyRomance, and so glad to be a part of this wonderful group of authors!
As Valentine Day approaches, our hearts and minds naturally turn to romance, don’t they? Candlelight dinners, roses, chocolate, and especially alone-time with those we love. While our earthly romances are special, nothing compares to our love affair with Christ, so I’d like to use this time to talk about His relentless love for each of us. Why? Because He is the inspiration behind my stories.
My romance with Him began as a child. I vividly remember sitting beside my grandmother in church, with a pen and her typical dime-store writing pad in hand, copying the words to the verse “God is love.” All around me the congregation sang familiar hymns while I contemplated His love. Blessed memories of happy times.
While everyone’s call to relationship with Him is individualized and unique, I was pulled to Him through His ever-relentless love, pursued by the One who made me, who loves me first and best. What a grand blessing to know He will never let me go! (Romans 8:38-39) To know that “I am my Beloved’s and He is mine.” ~Song of Solomon 6:3
Just as in any love story, my time with Him has experienced the typical highs and lows—times when I feel His wings above me and His strong hands below, and also the times when my prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, causing me to wonder if He’s forgotten my address. But He has never left me or forsaken me. Any distance between us is the result of my leaving, not Him. Through His gentle guiding and gracious care, my baby steps, blunders, and devastating falls have only served to draw me closer to Him.
Here is just a small part of all He is to me:
JESUS.
Christ.
Messiah.
Redeemer.
Bright and Morning Star.
Rose of Sharon. Prince of Peace.
King of kings. Lord of lords.
Counselor.
Immanuel.
Mercy.
Grace.
Truth.
Life.
Love.
GOD.
Blessed by His immeasurable, unconditional, unchangeable, all-consuming, and relentless love,
P.S. Leave a comment to enter the following book drawing. If you don’t mind, would you share the following Tweet to let others know about the giveaway? Thanks so much! :)
#Book #giveaway of PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE (4.9 stars) #Christian #LoveStory by @Cathy_Bryant http://t.co/559cyPggc6
— Cathy Bryant (@Cathy_Bryant) February 13, 2014
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SPECIAL
NOTE: A Path Less Traveled (book 2 in the Miller’s Creek novels) by Cathy Bryant is free February 13-17, 2014 for Kindle readers. Click HERE to go to the book’s Amazon page.
AND I’m offering an autographed print copy of Pilgrimage of Promise (book 4 in the Miller’s Creek novels) to one lucky commenter (US/Canada residents only); I’ll also offer a PDF copy for all others who live outside the US/Canada. Just leave a comment with your name, favorite promise from the Bible, and e-mail addy (so I can contact you if you’re the winner). The winner will be chosen via random.org and announced on Sunday, March 2, 2014. (Please feel free to share these giveaways on social media sites and with your friends.)
Miller’s Creek, Texas…where folks are friendly, the iced tea sweet, and Mama Beth’s front porch beckons…
A Texas gal by birth, Cathy enjoys spinning tales set in the fictional town of Miller's Creek, Texas, where the folks are friendly, the iced tea is sweet, and Mama Beth's front porch beckons. When she's not writing heart-stirring stories about God's life-changing grace, you'll find her feeding her reality TV addiction or working on yet another home improvement project in the mountain cabin she shares with her minister husband of over thirty years. Her latest novel, A BRIDGE UNBROKEN, is available at Amazon. You can find out more about Cathy and her books at www.CatBryant.com.
My favorite Bible promise is: Philippians 4:13 King James Version (KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
In response to your above words; I have gotten a little lost along the way. Lost my relationship with God and I need to find it again. I had such child-like love and trust when I was a wee one. Over the years I let various life experiences pull me away from a relationship with Him and begin to distrust God. I need to find that relationship again.
Thank you for the reminder that I can find my way back to Him.
Oh Cathy! Great post!!! I contribute my decision to accept Christ as my Savior on the witness of my parents and grandparents. My Mom’s dad was a Southern Baptist minister in the deep South. I loved that man a bunch! One of my favorite “discoveries” about God was when a pastor told us during a sermon that in the original Hebrew, there was no comma between Wonderful and Counselor in the verse that said…Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, The Everlasting Father…At the time, I was in need of Wonderful Counselor. Yes, God is wonderful, yes, He is a counselor, but the revelation that He is the “Wonderful Counselor”, the best of the best was exactly the encouragement I needed that day.
I’m loving this blog, and the new friends I’m meeting.
That’s what I love about the Bible story of the prodigal son, Mippy. The father waited for his child and ran to meet him with open arms. He’s done it for me and thousands of others, too. That is the definition of “relentless love” in my humble estimation. Thanks so much for dropping by! HUGS!
Thanks so much for sharing that wonderful memory and “discovery.” That’s a new discovery for me, and I, for one, always need a Wonderful Counselor. My grandparent’s played a huge role in my life as well, and I’ve often wondered just how my life would’ve turned out had it not been for the prayers of my grandmothers and my Mom. I can’t think of a better inheritance to leave our children and grandchildren than the legacy of faith. Thank you for stopping by! :)
Beautiful reminders, Cathy. I’ve always loved the visual of God’s pursuit of us – our Lover racing after us for our rescue. Oh what love! Thanks for sharing this message this morning.
My pleasure, Pepper. It IS a great visual, isn’t it?
Beautiful post!
Thank you, Linda. And thanks for taking the time to drop by! :)
Thank you for sharing your beautiful post, Cathy! One of my favorite scriptures is Hebrews 13:5-6. “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
That verse blesses me from head to toe, Britney. What comfort and reassurance to that He won’t leave us and that He’s our helper. I constantly fight fear of some kind or another. (And the enemy know the chinks in my armor.) This is a great verse to use as a reminder! Thanks for leaving your e-mail addy so I can contact you if you’re the winner! :)
Wonderful post! Each one of your books has really touched me. My favorite promise is Jeremiah 29:11, that verse has got me through some tough times
One of my personal favorites, too, Sharon. A friend of ours gave us a framed piece of artwork with that verse. It sits on a table in the hall so I can be reminded every day that His plans and purposes will be accomplished. “If God is for us who can be against us?”
Beautiful post, Cathy. And I love the imagery of the cross formed by His names. I think I need to post that where I’ll see it every day.
Hi Cathy, my favorite promise is from Genesis 50:20, what the enemy meant to harm me God will use for good :)
Thank you, Stacy. It was fun to create and meaningful at the same time!
Love, love, LOVE Joseph’s story, Melissa! I guess it’s because I can relate. Not that I’ve spent years in slavery because of jealous siblings, but we’ve all felt the sting of betrayal and injustice. It’s only afterward that we can look back and see how not one hurt was wasted in God’s economy. He uses it for our good and His glory! Thanks so much for stopping by! :)
My favorite promise from the Bible is I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Martha, you and Mippy, our first commenter for the day, have that favorite promise in common. I have many favorites (or life verses, as I call them), and this one definitely lands in that category. I’ve been a Christ-follower for a long time, and have read the Bible through many times. But it was only recently that I realized the context of contentment that leads up to that verse. I get goose-bumps just thinking how the secret to contentment is in realizing where our true strength lies. Once we have that truth firmly planted in our hearts, everything else is gravy. Thanks so much for sharing your favorite verse with us, and for taking the time to leave a comment! Blessings!
Loved your beautiful words of the beginnings of your relationship with Jesus. I want to share my story also, but it takes a little different turn! You have heard people say that God would have to hit them with a 2 X 4 to get their attention? This is similar.
When I was about 8 or so, I was riding my brother’s bicycle one Sunday afternoon after church. I was pondering if all I had heard could be true. In my head, I kept going back and forth thinking if God was real or not. I would think yes, then no, then yes again because the thought of God seemed to extraordinary for my young brain to comprehend. Finally, I decided that I was going to decide once and for all. My decision was no, there couldn’t possibly be so great a God.
I immediately fell, and remember, I was riding a boys bike. Ouch! At that moment I decided God was speaking to me, that He was real, and I am a believer to this day! I am so thankful that God did not give up on me!
Oh, Sherlee, I loved your story. What’s really funny is that something similar happened to me, though I’d been a Christian for many years. I was finishing up a shower and praying at the same time. (I take the “pray continuously” thing to the extreme sometimes.) Anyway, I don’t remember the specifics of what I was praying about, but I remember saying to the Lord. “If this isn’t what You want, just whack me upside the head with a board.” About that time the phone rang. In my haste to answer it, I stepped out of the shower a little too quickly, slipped, and whacked my head up against the baseboard. Last time I prayed that prayer! :D Thanks so much for stopping by, sweet friend!
Cathy, thanks for the beautiful post. I’ve never associated Valentine’s Day with our relationship with God before, but it makes perfect sense to do so.
I’m terrible at remembering exactly WHERE I’ve read the specific verses, but one of my favorite promises from the Bible is that God will work everything out for our good. When life turns disastrous, holding on to the promise that God’s good will is sure to come through by the end, God lends me strength to suffer silently, joyfully even. I’ve discovered that there surely is joy in pain. Ironic, I know; but very true.
Blessings,
Andrea Cox
andrearenee2004@yahoo.com
I love your post. My favorite bible verse is: 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. It was my parents’ favorite.
Dawn
sunrise970@aol.com
Andrea, I agree. At least it’s been this way for me, where you’re going through something awful, but you sense Him there with you and you know that no matter what happens it will be okay in the end. Hard times can become the best times in that sense. And the verse you mentioned is one of my favorites–in Romans 8, I think–He causes all things to work together for the good of those who are called according to His purposes. Even the wording is beautiful and poetic to me. Thank so much from dropping by! Nice to chat with you! :)
Dawn, my hubby and I used those verses in our wedding ceremony along with the traditional verse from the book of Ruth, so the verse have meaning for me/us as well. Thanks so much for sharing them! :)
Cathy, Thanks for sharing your beautiful post with us :)
You summed it up so beautifully! That’s exactly what I was meaning, it just didn’t come out that way. :) Thanks for the chapter reference. It’s fun chatting with you, too, along with all the other ladies. I’m having fun getting to know all of y’all.
I think it came out just fine, Andrea! I think I can speak for all of us here at InspyRomance when I say that we enjoy getting to know you, too! :)
My pleasure, Narelle! I look forward to getting to know you here at InspyRomance! :)
Loved your blog today. Christ is my first love and second is my husband. Thanks for all your inspiration.
I will tweet it also for you <3
Blessings
Diana
Thank you for not only stopping by and tweeting the post, Diana, but for sharing Christ’s priority in your life. :)
I love your books, and I’d love to have a print copy of Pilgrimage of Promise to add to my church library!
You are a blessing!
Thank you, sweet Valita! And thank you for sharing the books with your church library! :)
My love of Christian Fiction is how i came across your books. It is with the three virtues of Faith, Hope and Love help me to understand the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. In turn he is my rock and I wholeheartledly agree that when there is a distance it is us who moved. I enjoy your books.
Thank you, Bridget. Glad you enjoy the Miller’s Creek Novels. Thanks so much for dropping by and for entering the drawing for a copy of Pilgrimage of Promise. :)
Steve found those bible verses in a beautiful frame at a garage sale and got it for me!
My favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
I love reading and would love to read one of your books.
I love that verse, too, Kris! In fact, that was the theme verse in the second Miller’s Creek Novel, with the theme of trusting God even when it doesn’t make logical sense to us. I can’t tell you how many times God has used the verse and the story in my life since I wrote the book in 2010. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Kris, your name was drawn in the giveaway. Please contact me at catbry1 at yahoo dot com with your mailing address, so I can send your book. (You might want to put Pilgrimage of Promise in the subject line so I can be on the lookout for it!) :)