September New Releases

Liana's Dance by Rosanne Hawke (Rhiza Press, 1 August 2017) 

Sixteen-year-old Liana Bedford lives in constant fear. Political tensions in Pakistan are rising and terrorist attacks are becoming an everyday norm.

As a Pakistani-Australian, she could be the next target. When her school friends are taken hostage by terrorists, Liana’s world disappears overnight.

Alongside her new teacher, Mr Kimberley, she must journey through rural Pakistan in a bid to find them and bring them home. But Mr Kimberley has a secret, and to save him and her friends, Liana must overcome her fears.

And dance for her life.

An unforgettable story about one Pakistani-Australian’s will to survive.

Liana’s Dance is a stand alone novel from Rosanne Hawke, inspired by a character from Rosanne’s Beyond Borders series.

Website

Lizzy's Fragon by Melissa Gijsbers (Stone Table Books, 7 September 2017) 

When she finds an odd looking egg in the forest behind her house she decides to hide it in her bedroom in the hope that it will hatch into a lizard.  What she gets is ‘Bubbles’, the oddest, fastest growing lizard she has ever seen. It doesn’t take long for her annoying little brother to discover her secret pet. It also doesn’t take long for Bubbles to grow out of her room. Lizzy begins to wonder whether Bubbles is a lizard at all, or something even more amazing. But how will Lizzy keep Bubbles a secret? And what will happen to Bubbles if anyone finds out about him?

Where to buy.

The Warrior Lord's Trumph by Ray Hawkins

Fourth in the Warrior Lord series, this 31 day devotional leads us to an appreciation of the wonder associated with Christ's return.

As our world becomes more chaotic, confusing and being on the edge of catastrophe, these devotions offer Biblical insights birthing hope. History's climax has been outlined. We see the scenarios taking shape. Knowing Christ's return in Triumph as the Warrior Lord and King breathes peace into our soul.

Daily themes such as 'When God Sings Solo' gives us a sense of His joy for His people. Another insight is 'Heaven's Hallelujah chorus' highlight the music and songs in Revelation.

R.R.P is $11:95 (Aus.) paper back. Ebook price to be determined
Available in Christians books such as Amazon in Australia and overseas countries.

Website

Jewel of the Stars by Adam David Collings (Tamar Publications, 31 August 2017)

The Cruise is Over

Haylee was more confident designing starships than raising an autistic child. She just wants a relaxing holiday with her family. But when Earth falls to an alien armada, she knows life will never be the same again.

Les was just a cruise ship captain. Now, he must rise up and become something greater, if he is to keep his crew and passengers alive.

Braxton never wanted to leave the space navy, but now, taking a cruise is the only way to feel the stars around him. This crisis may be his ticket to regaining the life he thought was gone forever.

Can they overcome their differences and save everyone on the ship?

If they reach unexplored space, they might yet survive, but an unstoppable enemy stands in their way…

Amazon link 

Behind the Words on my Page

By Ray Hawkins

When I first decided to write I had some hard lessons to learn! Would-be writers are told ‘write what you know. Write what you like to read the most!’ Great advice. As I reflected upon it however, I felt short-changed. I liked to read westerns and war stories. Could I write them? No! I hadn’t experienced what I liked to read. That was depressive. Good-bye fame and fortune.

Life took a dramatic turn when the Lord Jesus stepped on my toes and my heart opened to His presence. I loved His Word. Now, I’m far from being a scholar or theologian but I wanted to share my Lord and His teachings. But how? Not being a novelist and being ignorant of Point of View and unimaginative in dialogue there was no best seller poised on my fingertips. Once, I sent a short, very short story to a magazine competition with some money for the contest fee. Sometime later both were returned accompanied by a note. In brief, it said ‘hopeless, don’t send anymore!’ I wanted to write. I had something to say even though others had said the same things their way. What burned in the ‘fireplace of the soul’? Devotional teaching! 

I had words and I had a pen. That’s a dangerous combination. But I was determined to ‘build a book.’ However, as I tried to bring construction out of chaos the finished work was lifeless. In the pleasure of God He had to take me from theory to reality through learning the art. Then from learning by listening I had to wrestle with lessons learnt. This involved assembling words coherently on paper without presuming the reader would know what I meant, even if left unstated. Many a tree has been sacrificed in the form of crumpled paper on the floor in my effort to be readable, understandable and marketable! But even then one thing was missing.

I had the framework. I had the longing to inform. I had contacts. What didn’t I have? I didn’t have Passion! The words on the page had been chipped out of the freezer of my mind. Cold, correct, calculating and conceited. The Lord needed to replace the ‘freezer’ with the ‘fireplace’ of personal discovery birthing passionate conviction. Much to my frustration this took time. But it was essential if ever I was to have something worthwhile to say. Without passion writing will not attract, hold and transform. It has taken years of being shaped, crushed, rebuilt, pruned and proven before finding expression in print. I’m not young anymore and how many words will flow only the Lord knows. Still, His taking me through life’s experiences and discovering His faithfulness gave substance to my words.

I’ll never be a best seller in Devotionals. That is not why I write. I’ll never recoup the costs in time, effort or promotion. That’s not why I write. I’ll never be on the morning chat shows lauding my recent creation. That’s not why I write. I write because I have a passion. It’s the fire of conviction about Jesus and his word. It’s the flames of His grace within which wants others to meet Him. It’s a blaze fed by devotion more than emotion and a sense of calling which cannot be extinguished!

Those are what lie behind the words which I write.    

©Ray Hawkins December 7^th 2016.

Ray is the author of themed devotionals, a book of poems and numerous articles.

http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

Married to Mary for 52 years. Mary is a writer of Christian Romance and suspense novels.

Words within a Word

 Playing with words is an enjoyment to me. Scrabble (sometimes win) Boggle (my daughter always wins) and those words to unravel in the paper always appeal. I was writing a sentence the other day and wrote the word saviour (English spelling not American). As I looked at it I wondered what words it held within it. So, guess what, I went looking.

After I found all that I could I was impressed by some of their implications for my spiritual life and wellbeing. So I went to the Word and found a few verses to validate my thinking. Then I decided why be selfish and not share this enjoyable past-time. Hope there might be something in the following which blesses you, at least for a moment in your busy day.

Saviour, the English spelling of the word, gave me the following words. Each single letter isn’t be used to spell out something. Rather, I looked for words I could make out of the existing letters. You may be able to discover more (I didn’t include ‘is, us, as.’)

Air. Our. Savour. Sir. Soar. Via. Vis. Visa. Visor. VOR.

I found these to be so appropriate for my spiritual life. When Jesus became my Saviour I knew that in Him I was saved and kept. Across the years I also found the truth the words listed above express about my/our relationship with Jesus.

Air: I was spiritually dead until Jesus breathed the breath of life into me.

Our: As Lord He has allowed me and you to say “Our Father who is in Heaven…”

Savour: In my natural and godless state I was foul. Jesus cleansed me and gave me His fragrance. He has made me/us a sweet smelling savour to our Heavenly Father.

Sir: A knighthood term I’d like to apply to all who have made Jesus their Lord. He has commissioned us to royal service and to walk worthy of our high calling.

Soar: Many references tell us that in God’s sight and by His grace we ca soar like an eagle within and above our circumstance. (Isaiah 40:31)

Via: This reminds me that there is only one way to Heaven’s glory. That is via Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, the Life. (John14:6)

Vis: is Latin for ‘force/power’. Jesus calls us to be His witnesses. To do that we need His power. The Holy Spirit and His word is the source of power we need to be faithful and true witnesses.

Visa: To enter into another country we need its permission. Only when our proof of eligibility to entry is determined can the visa be granted. When I/you enter into the presence of our Almighty God and His eternal territory what proof of acceptance do we have? The seal given to us when we trusted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. (Ephesians 1:13-14,)

Visor: Protection for our eyes and therefore for our mind and spirit. We look at life through the visor of his Word. Our Worldview is dictated by how Jesus looks at it.

VOR: This word stands for ‘very high frequency omnidirectional range giving bearing.’ How fortunate we are that our Lord ad His word can reach us, guide us and hear us wherever we are. As the Psalmist put it ‘He will guide us with His eye.’ However, we must be on the same frequency to hear or sense His presence. Be aware of that which causes interference and remove it quickly.

There is just so much bound up in our relationship with Jesus Christ we should be constantly amazed. I guess that’s why I enjoy not simply playing word games, but searching God’s Word. It tells me more and more about what He has in store for you and me which is waiting to be discovered.

©Ray Hawkins July 2016.

Author of seven (7) ‘31 Day Biblically themed Devotionals’. The new one is ‘The Warrior Lord’s Sword.’

ACRBA Tour The Warrior Lord's Sword by Ray Hawkins

4 - 8 July

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is introducing

The Warrior Lord's Sword

(April 2016)

by  Ray Hawkins

About the Book:

'The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword ...'That is one of the ways the Bible defines itself. This Devotional takes you into 30 other of its definitions. Your confidence in and appreciation of God's word will be strengthened as you understand its claims.The author's hope is that this book will enrich your love for and understanding of God's unchanging scriptures. For God has expressed Himself within them so you will know Him in a personal way.Scripture is God's breath in print with power to declare His glory. It is His sword to strike against ungodliness. He has given it to us also to guide, guard and govern our relationship of faith in Him.

About the Author

Ray Hawkins, retired after over 40 years as a Churches of Christ minister, enjoys sharing themes from the Scriptures through Devotional writing. Married to Mary, multi-published inspirational romance author, they have three children and five grandchildren. Ray shares his insights in his first two books on Marriage and Children with more ideas to come about ministry and much more. Living in Beauty Point Tasmania Ray heads up a new Christian Fellowship as well as doing relief preaching, community work and writing.

Book Signing and Ethical Praying.

Book selling and Ethical praying

                                On my book signing days
                                Is it ethical to pray?
                                  “God, please sway
                               That ‘book looker’ to pay
                               Without debate or delay
                               For that book I wrote
                               As, I’m nearly broke!”

                              With my book display I sit,
                              Waiting for someone to pick
                                                               Just one book and discover
                                                                   What’s behind the cover?
                                                                   I’ve done my best to write
                                                                  This genre with life’s insight
                                                                  For people's reading delight!

  Too late now for prayer.

                                                               Sitting here as people stare
                                                              And wonder if they’ll bother
                                                              To go, meet the author
                                                              Or be safe and stay away.
                                                              So, I get tempted to pray,
                                                              “Lord, drag them my way!”

As this silent prayer I utter,

                                                            I fear it’s a wrongful matter.
                                                            God won’t hear this chatter.
                                                             “Son”, I sense His reply
                                                               “I cannot let you try
                                                               And use me to coerce
                                                              People to fill your purse.”

Not all, I admit, tho’ stricken,

                                                          Will like the genre written.
                                                           I, not God, am the salesman
                                                           And He is not my talisman.
                                                          My attitude about how to pray

Must surround my book display,

"Lord, let me honour you today!"

©Ray Hawkins Dec 2015.

The Original writer is God!

God is the artist extra-ordinary and unrivalled.  When it is stated He created humankind in His image, the Lord imparted aspects of Himself. As writers, I believe our Lord planted this ability within us as a seed which would need to grow, blossom and bring glory to Him with blessings to others. That is for another day to consider. This piece aims to highlight what God Himself wrote.

The Scriptures specifically state the Almighty wrote a number of items. I would like to quote the second article, as I see it, and finish with what, again to me, is His first. When the Lord called Moses up into the Mount He gave him two stone tablets. ‘The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the Tablets’ (Exodus 32:16). This was done by His finger.

Jeremiah is often called the prophet with tears. True. However, even in the book of Lamentations is that most wonderful promise of chapter 3:22-23 ‘The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ How could Jeremiah say that? Israel was shattered with many of the people taken to captivity. Because of a promise Yahweh, who sees the restoration of the Nation. At some period known only to Him the Lord promised to write His law on the hearts of Israel (Jeremiah 31:33). God keeps His word! That is where hope is born, nurtured and grows.

The next time the Lord God of Hosts writes on a wall. Is He the classic graffiti artist? However, what He wrote was ‘mene, mene,tekel, parsin’ (Daniel 5:5,24). Babylon was judged and would be thrown down that very night. God again keeps His word. He had said the captivity would last 70 years and it was fulfilled. God is not only redeemer He is Sovereign and He is the Judge.

Time passes and the Lord of Glory enters our realm as the Babe of Bethlehem, Emmanuel. Jesus is recorded, only once that I can see as writing. John 8 says He wrote twice in the dirt. What was written is unknown (but that hasn’t stopped speculation). Whatever it was, those would be stone throwers took fright and left the woman to the mercy of the Lord.

Our digital age helps me understand the storage of God’s book He has compiled. My computer holds so much which appears at a touch. How the Lord keeps His ‘files’ isn’t mentioned, but if it was on paper, wow! Imagine what sized storage facility would be needed. This final insight into Yahweh’s writing is three fold, but is actually the first He wrote. In many ways it is controversial and for some fatalistic. For me, it is awesome for it stresses the omniscience of our Redeemer.

In Psalm 139:16 the Psalmist claimed God wrote a book about his life even before the man was born. Does that mean God determines our life? Or that He sees and records for some future accounting with Yahweh as the rewarder of faithfulness? Another group of people have a special inscription from the hand of God. Revelation 14:1 calls the ‘one hundred and forty-four thousand’ brigade. They wear His mark on their forehead. As such they have a special ministry and at the end of their service have a new and special song to sing. Did Christ Jesus write the song? I wonder!

In conclusion, we are confronted with the spine-tingling, but also frightening grace of God’s foreknowledge. He has this other book called ‘The book of Life.’ Everyone ever born (and may I respectfully include those still-born) have been recorded. It was from this book that Moses was willing to be scrubbed off to save the Nation (Exodus 32:32). Unfortunately, there will be those, who, because of unbelief and rejection of Christ have been blotted out (Revelation 20:11-15).

Why can you and I have a sense of confidence that this doesn’t apply to us? Simply and only because we belong to Christ Jesus by faith in who He is, what He has done and that He keeps us in His hand. Jesus is the Lamb of God who has inscribed our name in His book Revelation 13:8. (Romans 8:1-39 expresses what He has done, is doing for us because of Calvary and our surrender to His authority).

How humbled we should be to know God has written our names with His own ‘finger’ in His book of life. As followers of Christ to whom He has given the gift of writing we have much to say about His grace. Whatever genre is ours and however we weave the story, it is our honour to declare His story and grace through the words we write.

©Ray Hawkins September 2015.

Author of 6 Biblical themed 31 day devotionals. View on http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

What Precedes Us As Writers When We Write

I was going to put words together with high concentration of spiritual notation. To my Young’s concordance I did go. My eyes roamed the section of ‘write’ and ‘writing’ plus ‘writer.’ Overwhelmed, I retreated. Then I glanced at words that led up to the one I was considering and this less spiritual devotional post was ‘born’. Hopefully, God in His mercy may use it to encourage we writers. For the price paid can be high to make our words mean something to someone and do something in their heart, mind and lifestyle.

Here’s the words preceding ‘Write’.

Would.

Do you really want to put fingers to the keyboard and begin the agony of a writer? Would you not rather be reading, gardening, watching a DVD? You would, but you cannot. For there is something inside which would not be denied.

Wound.

This is always a writer’s reality. We experience the wounding of time that might have been spent doing other things. The wounds are caused by priorities, timetables and conviction motivating compulsion. Many do not see them but our heart and mind wear them.

Woven.

As with needle and thread so our mind takes words and ideas mixed with experience to weave into sentences. Once the process has started it is relentless. The process goes on and on from bathroom to boardroom, unseen but unrelenting.

Wrap.

This could be the writer’s desire to wrap themselves up and forget the pain. Or it might be the person wraps their story up into a nice ‘edible’ bite. Then you find that the wrap gives way and out spills all that seemed enclosed, controlled.

Wrath.

If you have never felt this, lucky you. Whether it is unco-operative words, self-thinking computers or out of ink pens, all are capable of stirring this emotion. Then I could list many other facets over which my emotions can run riot as I face the next stage of my build up to being a writer who has written.

Wrestle.

As I enter this contest it usually follows on from ‘wrath.’ Words taunt me. What I want to see on the page, when I put it there doesn’t look right. Nor does it sound right in dialogue or description and punctuation, O dear no! To pen sentences or concepts or some other issue can exhaust. But the writer must not give in to accepting the third-rate. The struggle must be won!

Wretched.

When you arise from the wrestling match (knowing others are in the clubhouse waiting their turn) the toll is emotionally high. Sometimes it is even physical. Hopefully, we are spared the relational price of making others feel like that, or they adding pain to our existing state.

Wring

There are times when I’ve felt like Gideon’s fleece – all wrung out. It is as though the waters of inspiration have gone and I’m exhausted. Do you feel like that at any time? Then, it occurs to me that I should wring out of my writing either the unwanted, unnecessary so that my readers are not distracted. Or maybe I need to wring out of my heart the refreshing ‘words of water’ that will quench the readers thirst. Determining what the wringing is meant to accomplish is the difficult part of the process.

Wrinkle.

The furrowed brow can produce wrinkles on the soul. We can age as we engage with our manuscript. When we look at the emerging masterpiece we may feel like Job ‘You have filled me with wrinkles’ (Job 16:8). However, for a writer wrinkles on the soul are a testimony of honour, perseverance and ultimately of joy.

Write.

When we realise that being a writer can, and more than likely will, have all those ‘W’s’ why would we bother? Ultimately it comes down to being another ‘W’ word. That is, a witness. Our stories, articles, poems become our way of sharing the wonderful news about Christ Jesus. A Christian writer isn’t in it for the acclaim or the money (though few of us would knock them back). We are called, motivated, compelled through our words and all the pain of the ‘W’ words to confront readers with the grace of our Lord.

Mary experiencing the 'W' phenomenon

So cheer up, your suffering is never in vain in the Lord’s service.

 

©Ray Hawkins July 2015.
http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au
Author of 6 themed devotionals
1 book of poems.

 

If books could think

Writers give their books a voice. Anyone who gazes upon the cover blurb or opens to a page hears the ‘voice.’ The way it speaks through the person’s eyes to their mind and heart will have various impacts. We all hope the voice will motivate the individual to buy it.

Our house has many books, and I have no doubt so does yours. Old favourites have pride of place on bookshelves. As I looked at our shelves I wondered if those books were looking at me, and thinking thoughts only books could think. The following poem arose from such wondering.

 

A Good Old Book Reflects

 

I see them

As they pass by,

All types, ages.

 Some linger,

Look

While others

See me not at all.

 

Those who pause to touch,

Gaze upon my faded cover,

Rekindle

Fond memories

Of days

When I was well read.

 

I hear them

Wanting to know

‘What can I show?’

To help them

Time

To spend

As with a true friend.

 

Those who unlock my story

Are taken upon a journey,

Unbounded

Across genres

To realms

That create dreams.

 

I miss them

When they’ve finished

Claiming

My mysteries.

For

A new book

Seduces their eyes.

 

Those who spend time with me,

And my worthy paper friends,

Discover

Stored treasures

And pleasures,

Our gift to readers.

©Ray Hawkins April 19 2015.

 

Ray Hawkins has written 6 Devotional meditations of specific Biblical themes: Children, God’s Special Interest. From Eden with Love (The Majesty and Mystery of Marriage. Bethlehem’s Warrior Babe. Captured by Calvary. Dynamic Ageing. Signposts to Happiness.

He also has one book of poems: We Love Because…

See them and read about him on http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

ACRBA Tour Dynamic Ageing by Ray Hawkins

18th - 22nd August 2014

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

Is Introducing

Dynamic Ageing
(Even Before 1 February 2014)

By

Ray Hawkins

About the Book

Discover how to make the ageing experience into an adventure. Join the Lord's plan for ageing dynamically. Understand why God's seniors are priceless. God's grace for dynamic ageing more than compensates for physical limitations.

About the Author

Ray Hawkins, retired after over 40 years as a Churches of Christ minister, enjoys sharing themes from the Scriptures through Devotional writing. Married to Mary, multi-published inspirational romance author, they have three children and five grandchildren. Ray shares his insights in his first two books on Marriage and Children with more ideas to come about ministry and much more. Living in Beauty Point Tasmania Ray heads up a new Christian Fellowship as well as doing relief preaching, community work and writing.

I'm in a Love./Hate relationship

I’m in a love/hate relationship. To break free is no option. I’m too dependent. I have my high moments but then, suddenly it comes crashing down. Sometimes I wonder, who is the slave and who is the master? It draws me to itself and I see it flicker. Was that a smile? I grimace.

The computer with its WWW (or whatever) is supposed to be at my beck and call. Why then do I sometimes feel as though I am its toy? Things don’t always go smoothly when I google, email, search, post or browse. It is so frustrating. Frustration’s tears whelm up when the most simple of procedure turns into a nightmare. I’m tortured! Blood pressure rises and fingers twitch. Suddenly, the machine co-operates. Then a weather storm or a power failure hits. O joy! O rapture! Why do I have a passion to write?

That’s the hate side of the relationship.

Now for the Love side.

As I write and save there is a real sense of freedom. I can ‘cut and paste’ or add and maybe delete without a whole rewrite of a page. When the article is complete I can schedule it (hopefully, correctly). After all that I can ‘gate crash’ friend and stranger’s Face Book announcing, “It’s done!”

However, what I really love about my computer and its WWW is how it affords me a global arena. I know I’m but a grain of sand in the beach of WWW users. But, I stand amazed and humbled by the statistics from so many different countries indicating someone has looked at some aspect of my blog. I’ve gasped at the fact that something I wrote a few years ago comes up in the records as being viewed.

Cyber-space is filled with and littered by so much material. It will range from the putrid and pathetic to the glorious and God honouring. This is why I love my computer. (Or one of the reasons). I can penetrate Cyber-space to the best of my ability and give it some G and G (God and glory). This is the arena open to us as Christians who write in whatever genre and set it free over the Web. I realise we are but grains of sands but by God’s grace and power, we become a handful. Who knows what God will do with a grain of sand and He drops its contents into the heart and mind of a ‘surfer of the Net? Only God knows the result.

The fact that He might choose some words of mine is a strong motivation to write. So maybe you can understand why this grey-haired old fellow keeps writing, even when his computer is being rebellious. I have one major regret. When I secured my computer I had done some intensive training on how to handle ‘the beast’ more skilfully. Out in Cyber-space is a mission field. It is in desperate need for God’s grace and Gospel. As Christian writers let us go and penetrate it for Christ’s glory and the blessing of any who read our posts. I’m but a grain of sand but I’m motivated to spread it in Cyber-space. My unsung and unconscious theme could well be ‘Watch out world God has this grain of sand in His hand to drop into your life.’ The Lord bless all you fellow ‘grains of sand!’

My Writing Process #2.

Mary and I with 2 grandchildren
and 3 books.

by Ray Hawkins

Last week I shared a little on the discipline which I needed to write. This time I was asked what motivated me to write what I write. To be honest I’m very conservative in my theology and strongly convinced about the inspiration and relevance of Scripture. So I need to share my conscious, sub-conscious and unconscious convictions which undergird and influence my writing.

What makes Devotional writing Christian? The following definitions explain the framework in which my thinking takes place on this subject.

Christian = being in agreement with, honouring too and possessed by Jesus Christ and His Scriptures. Outside of that definition the writing may be moral or wear the Denominational imprimatur it will undoubtedly be helpful. However that doesn’t necessarily mean it is a Christian Devotional.

Devotion = Charam. This Hebrew word is an important religious expression. It speaks of something chosen for destruction or sacred use. It is specifically given to God. Eg. Jericho in Joshua 6. How can you give something to God? It must either be offered as a sacrifice or placed into the hands and keeping of His servants. They in turn must use it as directed for His purposes and glory.

How can a person devoted to God the Father?

We undergo a ‘death experience’ in the spiritual realm, initiated by faith in Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice. According to, Galatians 2:20 Romans 6 believers shared in His death, burial and resurrection. Therefore, we have had our old nature put to death and have been made alive by the power and grace of Christ Jesus. Part of our new life means we have been set apart for special purposes (sanctified). Being writers, that means being ‘devoted’ encompasses our writing. In the N.T. only one word is translated as ‘devotion.’ In the KJV it is ‘sebasma’ and means the object of worship (Acts 17:23). Therefore, when we write ‘devotionals’, it is an expression of our worship!

Could we say therefore that Christian writing needs to bear the marks of ‘death?’ That is, our writing is a sacrificial offering to the Lord God, a fragrant offering. Such writing is our subconscious attitude of the heart colouring the mind to frame words so that others are blest and our Lord honoured.

I first began writing devotional material for my local church paper. I didn’t have any idea of writing a book of devotions. The articles were short and parochial, but they were God honouring and Bible saturated. Not merely quoting verses but drawing out their word pictures and purposes. Then the opportunity came to send a submission to Upper Room which was accepted. Over the years others followed. I guess in an unconscious way these and some other opportunities refined, sharpened and prepared me for the discipline of writing Devotional books.

As a preacher I like presenting expository sermons in series form. Looking back I guess it was a natural way for me to go in considering a devotional book. It had to be a series. The book had to grounded in and flavoured by what God’s word said on the subject matter. So, when I was challenged by Mary Ellen Hawkins to create words for a devotional book, two things came into play. Both were strong passions. What passionate themes do I have? Plenty! What to choose. Being a new grandad made that an easy choice. ‘Children: God’s Special Interest’ was born. I also settled on 31 days as the length. Could be boring to others to do it any longer! Being deliriously happily married for nigh on 50 years made the next one a must. ‘From Eden with Love’ sought to make God’s purpose in marriage clear, from Bible passages. Because of the confusion within society today on this subject this book puts the Christian view of marriage simply, clearly and spiritually.



Book signing

My publisher, ‘Even Before Publishing’ (now Rhiza publishing, a division of Wombat books) allowed me to put four other 31 day Devotionals together. Bethlehem Warrior Baby; Captured by Calvary; Dynamic Ageing and Signposts to Happiness. Each book closes with a poem on the theme (does that make it 32 days?) Hopefully, what I’ve shared provides a glimpse into my way of and motivation for writing. Are there still passions needing to be ‘birthed’? Yes! Will they be enclosed in an attractive cover? Time will tell. However, could I leave the following challenge:

Your generation needs you to speak to its heart and help them handle their struggles with the freshness of Christ in and through you. You need to develop your skill, style and presentation and let it loose. This isn’t easy. It can be disheartening. If you have a fire in your spirit, keep it fuelled by conviction and endeavour. Such fuel is ‘pumped in’ to your being through prayer, ‘feeding’ your spirit from God’s word, like minded fellowship and worship. Taking your writing seriously will mean you by-pass pious phrases and mere interesting anecdotes. You will choose to confront your readers by life enriching, life changing, life nourishing and life challenging insights. These will be of more lasting value than mere warm fuzzy feelings. Your writing will liberate your readers’ spirit, enlarge their vision, discipline their soul, deepen their faith and refresh their grace.

Thanks for letting me share with you the above thoughts. I long for you to know the joy of writing under the smile of the Lord.