Jocelyn Green is an award-winning author, freelance writer, and editor. The wife of a former member of the Coast Guard, she has written dozens of articles and several books to provide hope, support, and resources for military wives worldwide.

Her books Faith Deployed and Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan received the 2010 Bronze and Gold Medal Award, respectively, from the Military Writers Society of America (WWSA). She also edited and contributed to Battlefields & Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage from World War II, which received the MWSA Silver Medal in 2009.

River North Fiction, an imprint of Moody Publishers, recently released Jocelyn’s Civil War historical fiction debut, Wedded to War. She, her husband, and their two children reside in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

What sparked your fiction-writing journey?

Inspiration + Opportunity.

But let me back up for a moment. Before my fiction-writing journey was sparked, I had already been a freelance journalist for several years, and had multiple award-winning nonfiction books under my belt. I have always loved fiction, but never thought it was something I could do.

Then in the fall of 2010, I was doing research in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for a nonfiction project called Stories for Faith and Courage from the Home Front (just released in June 2012, AMG Publishers). As I read the diaries, letters, and journals from the women who lived during the Civil War, the drama just came to life for me. I kept thinking, “This would make great historical fiction. Someone should write this novel.” I didn’t dream then that it would be me.

That was the inspiration. The opportunity came a week later when my publisher called to discuss a different (nonfiction) book contract, and then asked if I’d ever thought about writing fiction. I threw out some ideas based on the research I had just done, and that conversation led to a book proposal that was thankfully approved by the committees, and my fiction-writing journey was launched.

How does your faith play into your work?

Faith (or lack of faith) is an integral part of who we are. I can’t imagine not including the spiritual dimension of my characters in their stories. Some of them respond to crisis by drawing closer to God, others allow crisis to be a wedge between them and God. So we get to watch their spiritual development as they get from page one to the end of the book.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Yes! When I married my Coast Guard officer husband we moved two days later from Washington, D.C. to Homer, Alaska. I thought my writing career had been short-circuited, because I gave up an editor job I loved on Capitol Hill, and I also had to withdraw my application to grad school for a degree in professional writing. But as I went through that year in Alaska as a Coast Guard wife, I was inspired to write a book of devotions for military wives. Three years later, and with the help of fourteen other Christian military wives, I had a book contract for Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (Moody Publishers, 2008). That first book opened the doors to subsequent books. So the Lord hadn’t cut off my writing at all—He just took it in a new and wonderful direction.

Let’s talk about Wedded to War (River North Fiction/Moody, July 2012). Please tell us about it.

It’s April 1861, and the Union Army’s Medical Department is a disaster, completely unprepared for the magnitude of war. A small group of New York City women, including twenty-eight-year-old Charlotte Waverly, decide to do something about it, and end up changing the course of the war, despite criticism, ridicule, and social ostracism. Charlotte leaves a life of privilege, wealth—and confining expectations—to be one of the first female nurses for the Union Army. She quickly discovers that she’s fighting more than just the Rebellion by working in the hospitals. Corruption, harassment, and opposition from Northern doctors threaten to push her out of her new role. At the same time, her sweetheart disapproves of her shocking strength and independence, forcing her to make an impossible decision: Will she choose love and marriage, or duty to a cause that seems to be losing? An Irish immigrant named Ruby O’Flannery, who turns to the unthinkable in the face of starvation, holds the secret that will unlock the door to Charlotte’s future. But will the rich and poor confide in each other in time?

How did you first hear about the real Civil War nurse who inspired your work of fiction? What drew you to her story?

I had seen her name in a book called Women at the Front by Dr. Jane Schultze, and I also read some of her first-person accounts of nursing after Gettysburg while I was doing research in the Adams Country Historical Society in that town. I was drawn to her in particular because of the contrast between what she gave up (a life of privilege and ease) and what she became as she learned to rise above hardships and make a real difference in the war. I also liked the fact that she and an old family friend, a surgeon in the Union army, developed a romance during the war and married a few months after the war ended. Together, they established one of the first nursing schools for women.

Please tell us a bit about upcoming books in the series.

The next book is Widow of Gettysburg, and as you can imagine, it encompasses what civilian women living in and around Gettysburg did during and after the 1863 battle. It also has subplots involving the free black communities of Gettysburg and Philadelphia, the first United States Colored Troops, and the first attempts at teaching newly freed slaves on some South Carolina islands.

The third book is Yankee in Atlanta, about a secret Unionist circle in Atlanta. We get to see how Sherman’s March to the Sea affects them.

The last book is Spy of Richmond, inspired by Elizabeth Van Lew, General Grant’s most valuable spy in Richmond. She was amazing, and you can read her story online by just searching for her name.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

I love vanilla Greek yogurt with homemade granola and blueberries mixed in. Why? Because it’s cool and refreshing and my office upstairs in this 100-year-old house is hot in the summer time. Also, it’s packed with protein so I know it will be a long time before I get hungry again. Having to stop writing to eat is so annoying when I’m on a deadline! : )

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I used to play and teach piano, but since having kids and writing, the only people who play our piano are my children. That’s terrible, isn’t it? I’d love to get back into it. But I sort of feel guilty doing anything that isn’t deadline- or domestic-related.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

A sonata—unobtrusive, thoughtful, emotional.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

Great question. Can I combine a few of them? I would by the girl next door who mysteriously stays up in her office late into the night, living vicariously through the strong female lead she writes about.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

We had a standard schnauzer growing up whose name was Detour! We named him that because we had to take three detours on our way to adopt him. Then we named other pets after road signs too for a while—a bird named Crosswalk, a duck named One Way—before we went back to the more traditional pet names. I got a Yorkshire Terrier puppy named Buttons for my ninth birthday and he lived until I was in college.

Thank you, Jocelyn! It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Jocelyn and Wedded to War, visit http://www.jocelyngreen.com/.

For information about Jocelyn’s non-fiction books, visit http://www.jocelyngreen.com/about/faith-deployed/ and/or http://www.faithdeployed.com/.

To purchase Wedded to War logon to:

Jordyn Redwood is a nurse by day and a suspense novelist by night. Her debut novel, Proof, released June 1.

A self-professed medical nerd, who has specialized in critical care and emergency nursing for nearly two decades, she loves to weave medical mystery into her story lines and then watch her characters navigate through the chaos she creates. Her blog, Redwood’s Medical Edge, is devoted to helping authors write medically accurate fiction.

Jordyn lives in Colorado with her husband and two daughters.

When/how did your passion for medicine evolve into a passion for writing novels?

Kathy, first, thank you so much for having me. I am so grateful for being here with you and your readers today.

My love for writing came first. I remember penning stories from the time I could put sentences together about those things in my environment. However, the wise adults in my life didn’t think I could make a career out of writing and encouraged me to find something that would “pay the bills.”

I loved helping people when they were injured. I was an athletic trainer in high school, first aid responder for the Red Cross, and also taught CPR classes for them.

At heart, I’m a medical nerd. I love reading medical textbooks for fun. I’m intrigued by the human body, how it works, and what happens when things go awry. Particularly with the brain. This passion, coupled with a love of suspense and writing, evolved into writing medical thrillers. My two loves in one exciting package.

How does your faith play into your writing?

As a Christian, I find it hard not to write about matters of faith because it’s structurally part of who I am and it bleeds into every area of my life. The first novels I wrote during my high school and college years wouldn’t have brought people closer to God—but may have actually done the opposite. For many years, I think God was slowly working in me, refining my faith, and at one point I said—ultimately, I have to write a God honoring message.

Let’s talk about your new book, Proof (Kregel Publications, June 2012). Please tell us about it.

Proof deals with the real life possibility of DNA testing setting a guilty criminal free. Lilly Reeves is the fifth victim of a serial rapist and though she correctly identifies her assailant to the police, DNA testing sets him free. In order to reclaim her life, Lilly endeavors on her own search to unravel the mystery of his DNA.

Besides entertainment, what do you hope readers will take away from it?

What I really hope readers will take away is the sacrificial nature of Christ’s love for us. This is really the crux of Lilly’s journey.

God often uses our stories to teach us when we’re writing them. What did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself) in the process of writing this book?

The whole journey of this novel becoming published was born from me finally submitting my will to the Lord’s. That’s very hard for a chaos controlling ER nurse to do. It’s outside my nature to let others take control. But, when you are obedient to God’s plan for your life, amazing things do happen. That’s what I’ve learned.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Well, I said at one time that I’d never move to Kansas and that’s the only place I could find a nursing job when I graduated. Happily, I met my husband and both my daughters were born there so now, Kansas holds a very special place in my heart.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Oh, there are too many to name but chocolate and a regular Coke (the beverage of course!) are my celebratory favorites.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I am a big music lover. I’ve played piano, flute, piccolo, and the marching mellophone. My true love is the acoustic guitar and I would love to play more. I’ve done a praise and worship band before and I would love to do it again.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Any song with a good, driving beat. I need that for workouts.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I’m going to pick the mysterious woman behind dark glasses. I won’t expand on that because then I wouldn’t be very mysterious!

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Oohh, I love dogs too. Currently, we have one dog. Harley’s a mixed breed rescue dog though he looks just like a white lab. And one beta fish named Bluey (guess what color?!?). Growing up, we had a cocker spaniel named Lady after the cocker in Lady and the Tramp. She was a great dog.

Thanks, Jordyn! It’s great to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thank you so much for having me. It’s great fun being here.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Jordyn, visit her website at http://www.jordynredwood.net/ or her blogs at http://jordynredwood.blogspot.com/ and http://www.jordynredwood.net/blog/.

To purchase Proof logon to:

Nikki Arana is an award-winning author who has two passions—writing and reaching out to Muslims. Her writing ministry has continued to grow since the 2005 release of her first book, The Winds of Sonoma, named “One of the Top 20 Books of the Year” by Christianbook.com. Nikki has received two American Christian Fiction Writers’ Women’s Fiction Book of the Year awards, the Excellence in Media Silver Angel Award, and the Beacon Award.

Her ministry to persecuted Christians, A Voice for the Persecuted, reaches out to those who are under the threat of death because of their faith. The Next Target, Nikki’s most recent novel, raises awareness for the need of safe houses in America.

What sparked your passion for writing? What was your first step on the journey?

My story is a little unusual. I never had a passion to write and never thought about being an author! It was May of 2001 when I first felt the tug of the Spirit, then a whisper, then a strong impression that got me to thinking about writing. I enrolled in an Internet course called Writeriffic. It was online so I did it at my desk at work as a real estate broker when I had a break. That teacher, Eva Shaw, really encouraged me. She said I should send out my writing for publication. I didn’t know how to do that, so I bought some books and followed the directions and send out my homework. I sold everything I sent out!!

I thought it was fun and easy and I’d always liked to write poetry. So I bought some books and found out what kind of poetry publishers wanted. Free verse. I didn’t know how to write free verse . . . so I took an online class from the University of Washington. I sent out my homework and sold it. Here and in Canada.

When I started selling things, I was asked for a bio. I didn’t have one because I’d never written anything. So I decided I should join some clubs. I went online and found the Idaho Writers League had a local chapter in CDA. I joined and went to my first meeting in June of 2001. At that first meeting I found out that they had a section where you read your work. I read a story I’d written about two brothers going to a wrestling tournament. Write what you know, they’d told me. One of the ladies there said, “You know I think that’s good enough for the state contest.” So I entered. I won second place.

I wrote some more magazine articles and poetry.

In March of 2002, I began to feel the Lord was calling me to write a book. So I bought about ten books on how to write a novel and then sat down at my computer and started. In May I became aware of a writers conference in Seattle that only cost $99, and I could drive there. I read in the brochure that the Acquisitions Editor for Tyndale Publishers of the Left Behind series would be there, and if you wanted, you could be part of a group interview. You’d have three minutes to pitch your book. I only had three chapters written, but I knew where my story was going. But how do you pitch a book? My dad had given me Publishing for Dummies when I started writing, so I went to it and found a page on how to write a synopsis . . . so I did. I went to the Seattle conference, pitched my book in three minutes, and was asked by the Acquisitions Editor to submit the first four chapters to Tyndale. So I went home, wrote the fourth chapter and sent it in. That led to a request for the full manuscript.

With a request for a full manuscript, I got an agent, Natasha Kern, who is still my agent today, and she ended up getting me a three-book contract with Revell. That was the beginning of my career.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Boy, has he ever. God was blessing my socks off and assuring me that He had called me to write. At least that’s what I thought . . . until 2008 when I began to write my fifth novel, The Next Target . . .

The economy had begun a downward spiral. CBA was looking to broaden their appeal by moving toward fiction written from a Christian worldview rather than the transformational fiction I was known for that deals with tough issues and is overtly Christian. The subject of this fifth novel was evangelizing Muslims. You can’t get much more evangelical and overtly Christian than that!

Though my previous books had won many national awards, suddenly their sales were not so stellar in the slowing economy, and my once-rising star began to dim. My agent found she couldn’t sell my manuscript. The topic, Muslims, engendered fear in some and disdain in others. In some cases, publishers offered a contract if I would write something else. But I knew the Lord had called me to write about the need for safe houses for Muslims in America who convert to Christianity.

This marked the beginning of a four-year journey in the desert. I won’t go into all of it here, but it was a huge detour that had it not been God ordained would have marked the end of my writing career. I wrote about it recently on my blog. The post is call “Encouragement for Writers.” If any of you are facing a struggle with wondering if you are called to write, please read it and the comments other writers made.

As a result of that detour I learned many, many things about God and His call on my life. I’m not called to write. I’m called to intimacy with Him. My writing is the fruit of that relationship.

How does your faith play into your writing?

My faith and my life experience are a big part of my writing. I write transformational fiction.

Let’s talk about The Next Target (David C. Cook, June 2012). Please tell us about it.

Here’s what the book is about: Austia Donatelli, a young widow with an underground evangelistic ministry to Muslims, discovers a friend, someone close to her heart whom she recently led to Christ, has been murdered. She realizes immediately it was an honor killing. The brutal practice of families killing one of their own for converting to Christianity. Suddenly, Austia, her ministry, and everyone she cares about are thrust in the crosshairs of a terrorist organization. As the extremists zero in, she must unravel the deception surrounding her and protect innocent lives, including her own.

The reviews of this novel have been very strong. I was especially happy to get a rave review from Publishers Weekly, which is not a Christian organization. “Arana’s vivid imagery is imbued with spiritual force and her pacing is fiercely powerful.” I’m pretty confident that if you like suspense, you’ll really enjoy this book. You might want to put on your seatbelt while reading.

What was the inspiration for it?

The story was inspired by my ministry, A Voice for the Persecuted. I help persecuted Christians who are under the threat of death . . .  here in America! That is code for Muslims who convert to Christianity. I help them find safety. You can learn more about my ministry at http://www.avoiceforthepersecuted.com. There’s a Cause page on FB too, if you have a heart for the persecuted, please “Like” it.

I felt God was calling me to raise awareness about two issues that are at the heart of my ministry. One is the need for Christians to reach out to the Muslims who live and work among us, model the love of Christ to them, and then with the leading of the Holy Spirit, give them what Islam can never give. And the second is about the huge price Muslims pay to know Christ. Most I’ve talked to live under persecution by their former friends and family. Most have no jobs because they live in a Muslim community and are shunned. And of course there are those who have been deported and/or killed.

God often uses our stories to teach us when we’re writing them. What did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself) in the process of writing this book?

The tagline of the book is Would you share your faith if it would cost you your life? I chose that line after writing the book, and there is a very important reason I did that. There is a deep spiritual truth that that line will reveal to the believer who really ponders what it means. (smile) In a way, it is a riddle. I’m going to write about it on my blog soon, so I won’t reveal it here. For every true believer, the answer lies within the question.

The things I learned from writing this book I described in detail above. It was a difficult journey. But so worth it. There is nothing  more valuable than spiritual growth. But after a growth spurt I always think to myself, I praise Him for that, but had He asked me if I wanted to go through it, the answer would have been NO!

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Hmmm. I would say my favorite comfort food is thick, creamy soup. But my favorite food to eat any time is Asian food.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

When my youngest son graduated from high school I decided to do some of the things I’d always wanted to do, but never had time for. The first thing I did was take piano lessons. I LOVED it. I took for two years and advanced to the level that I could play some of the beautiful pieces like Clair de Lune. I had a baby grand piano in my living room and it fed my soul to play. But one of the persecuted Christians I was helping in the Middle East needed money for food and shelter. I sold the piano and sent him the money. I so hope that one day God will return a piano to me!

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I love pretty much all music. I think I would have to be a gospel song. The kind that gets you clapping and raising your hands.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I am definitely the strong, female lead. I am very driven and goal oriented. That is both a blessing and a curse. But it is how God made me. And I do believe that He knew I would need those qualities to serve in the ministry He gave me.

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

I have to tell about a cat named Channo. We had a persecuted Christian living with us and he got a cat. A free barn cat. The cat was part Siamese and part human. I’m sure of it. He did everything he saw us do. If we opened a cabinet. he would watch and then do it. If we got our medicine out of it, he would wait until we left the room then open it, and knock the pills off the shelf to the counter. Really! He would hide around corners and when we passed by he’d leap out and grab our legs. I mean both front “arms” locked around our calves. Then let go, tear down the hall and out of sight. He was a four-legged human. He’d use his front paws like hands to eat. One day we watched him sit at his food bowl. And instead of crouching down to eat . . . he took his left paw and scooped up some food and put it in his mouth!! It was hysterical. We loved him so much. But he moved with his owner and helped him start his new life.

Thanks, Nikki! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Nikki, visit her website at www.nikkiarana.com or her blog at www.nikkiarana.com/blog.

To purchase The Next Target logon to:

Youth culture expert, author and talk radio host Nicole O’Dell is the founder of Choose NOW Ministries, which is dedicated to battling peer pressure and guiding teens through life’s tough decisions. Nicole’s goal is to bridge the gap between parents and their teenage children.

A former resident of Teen Challenge, Nicole struggled during her own teen years. Subsequently, she has worked as a youth director, a Bible study leader for women and teens, and a counselor at a crisis pregnancy center. She is a mom to six children—including toddler triplets.

Nicole and her family reside in Paxton, Illinois.

Let’s talk about your two latest books, Hot Buttons, Books 1 & 2 (Kregel Publications, June 2012). Please tell us about them.

Each book is topical based on a single Hot Button issue and its surrounding sub-topics. For example, the Hot Buttons Internet Edition deals with social networking, pornography, predators, cyber bullying, and more. The goal isn’t to convince parents to keep their kids off the net, but rather to arm them with the tools they need to navigate it in a safe and healthy way.

Same with the Dating Edition. It covers early relationships, physical boundaries, date rape, and more. Instead of just handing down rules, parents need to walk their teens through the details and equip them with the understanding of what’s out and how to rise above the peer pressure.

Each book is designed the same way. The first few chapters discuss the hows and whys of tackling hot buttons early and effectively. Part two dives into the topics with statistics and information that every parent should know. Next are the application portions of the book. This is when you put into practice the principles we discuss early on. Strategic Scenarios (up to 15 per book) allow you to walk your teens through a fictional situation and then offer options, choices, as to how they think they’d respond.

The final chapters of each Hot Buttons book will lead you and your family through confession and forgiveness and then help you walk into the future with a clean slate, armed with the tools you all need to face those hot buttons.

If you’re a parent of teens, or you know one, I hope you’ll visit www.hotbuttonsite.com to read more Hot Buttons posts each week. Also, the first two Hot Buttons books: Dating and Internet, released on June 1. Following soon after, on October 1, are the Sexuality and Drug editions.

How did you choose the topics to include in the series?

It’s really more a matter of how we chose which to do first. It was tough, really. I want to cover issues that are important to every family and that will impact every teen. I think these first two books, Internet and Dating, achieve that. The next two (10/1) are Sexuality and Drugs. I think we’d all agree those are vital subjects too. Upcoming books for 2013 will include social issues and other hot topics just as pressing.

How did you first become involved in working with teens—and the parents who love them?

When I was a newly committed teenage Christian, rescued from a pattern of really bad choices, I felt God calling me to spend my life reaching teenagers and helping to bridge the gap between them and their parents.

I love seeing teens open their eyes to the power of choices and commit to make good ones. And I treasure the moments when parents and teens heal a wound that had been festering and open dialogue about issues that matter.

Detours are a part of life, no matter what age we are. Can you tell us about a recent “detour” in your life that taught you something?

Oh, that’s a no brainer! My triplets were a HUGE detour. My husband and I decided we’d like to have that final baby number four. My other kids were 15, 9, and 6 at the time, and, to be honest, I had mixed feelings about starting over, but we felt it was right for us.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that I was having baby 4a, 4b, and 4c.

Detour.

Yeah, everything changed. Everything. I mean, there’s no way to plan for something like that and there’s no way to even come close to understanding what it entails until actually going through it.

People would say, “Oh, I had three kids under four, so they were like having triplets.”

Uh, no. Unless you had three preemies in the NICU, and then brought home three 4.5-pounders who all needed to be fed every two hours around the clock which took at least an hour. Oh, then there was the pumping and changing diapers in that one hour between feedings. Around the clock. For months. With one on a heart monitor that went off between each feeding…

Yeah. Didn’t think so. ; )

But, that stage passed quickly and it got easier. Three three-year-olds can be a real challenge some days, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Those little ones are the lights of our lives. It truly was a Divine detour!

A few fun questions…

What’s the title of the last GREAT book you’ve read for teens? For your personal enjoyment?

For teens, I love books by Melody Carlson, Travis Thrasher, and Jill Williamson—to name a few. It’s so hard to pick a single book. I’d probably have to go with Jill’s Replication. It’s about cloning and was just a really interesting book.

For personal enjoyment, right now I’m reading Cathy Gohlke’s upcoming Band of Sisters, and I’m loving it!

What’s your current favorite song on the radio or your mp3 player?

John Waller’s Waiting or As for Me and My House. They’ve both been pretty powerful to me lately. He was a guest on my Parent Talk radio show, and just hearing the story behind the songs made them that much more special to me.

What verse or story in the Bible best describes your faith journey?

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Your daughters Natalie and Emily co-wrote a book (Girl Talk, Barbour, February 2012) with you. When you’re not in writing mode, what’s one of your favorite “girls only” or all-family getaways?

Thanks for mentioning Girl Talk! That was such a fun Q&A project that I got to do with my daughters!

As for girlie getaways…hmm…my girls and I love to go shopping together. It can be a dangerous outing, so we don’t do it often, but it’s one of our favorite ways to get out and spend time alone.

Thanks, Nicole! It’s nice to have you back at DivineDetour.

Thank you!! It’s always great to be here.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Nicole, visit her website at www.nicoleodell.com and her Hot Buttons site at www.hotbuttonsite.com.

Click here to read Nicole’s March 2011 DivineDetour interview.

To purchase Hot Buttons, Books 1 & 2, logon to:

by Linda Cox

As we celebrate Father’s Day this year, may we see our Heavenly Father more clearly through the words of the prayer His Son taught us to pray.

Our Father

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,

that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

1 John 3:1

Who art in heaven

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high,

who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 113:4-6

Hallowed be Thy name

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God,

for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name.

Exodus 20:7

Thy kingdom come

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the

kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him

shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.

John 6:40

Give us this day our daily bread

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time.

You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:15-16

And forgive us our trespasses

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins

and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

As we forgive those who trespass against us

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive

my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

Matthew 18:21-22

And lead us not into temptation

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.

The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.

Mark 14:38

But deliver us from evil

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack …

2 Timothy 4:18

For Thine is the kingdom

… for everything in heaven and earth is Yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all.

1 Chronicles 29:11b

And the power

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host, one by one, and calls them each by name.

Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

Isaiah 40:26

And the glory forever and ever

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,

be honor and glory for ever and ever.

1 Timothy 1:17

Amen

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”

1 Chronicles 16:36

All Scripture taken from the New International Version.

Linda Cox is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but Linda occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity) and the Love Is a Verb devotional (Bethany House). She and her husband live on a farm with their two indoor/outdoor farm mutts.

As a writer, I’m not usually at a loss for words. But this has been a banner week for me, and I find myself almost speechless.

A few days ago, Abingdon Press unveiled the final cover for The Road to Mercy, and I have to tell you I think it’s pretty awesome! The team at Abingdon did an amazing job of portraying the story.

Josh Harrison, a contemporary Christian singer, and his wife Bethany face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth’s carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death even as she’s pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Ben Abrams urges her to terminate the pregnancy to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and decide to carry the baby to full term.

During the next few months, Josh struggles with his faith, and Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.

Thank you to everyone at Abingdon for your tireless efforts during the past eight months!

Since January, another team of professionals, my friends and family at Big Mean Kitty, have worked to produce my new author website, which went live today at www.kathyharrisbooks.com. I hope you will check it out! And while you’re there, please sign up for my e-newsletter for a chance to win a copy of The Road to Mercy before it releases in September. My author site is my personal home on the web, and Divine Detour will continue to regularly showcase the talents of other Christian authors and musicians.

I hope you’ll visit again soon.

Kathy Harris

According to Beth K. Vogt, she discovered God’s best waiting for her behind doors marked “Never.” She’s a longtime nonfiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction (her first novel released in May). She’s the wife of a former Air Force physician (who once said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military), and she’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids.

An encourager at heart, Beth has more than twenty years experience teaching women at retreats, churches, and other events. She is the former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for Mothers of Preschoolers International (MOPS) and currently the consulting editor for MomSense magazine and a bimonthly columnist for MomsNEXT.

The mother of three adult children, Beth lives in Colorado with her husband, Rob, and their ten-year-old “caboose kiddo.”

I understand that you once said you would never write fiction. What happened to change your plan?

I got taken down by a season of burnout and vowed to never write anything—never, ever, ever. And then, three days later, my husband came home and found me sitting at my computer again.

Our conversation went like this:

Husband: What are you doing?

Me: Writing.

Husband: But you said you were never going to write again—never, ever, ever.

Me: This doesn’t count. I’m writing a novel, just for fun. No one will ever see it.

That “just for fun” novel debuted May 1 as Wish You Were Here.

Burnout became a God-orchestrated bend in the road, leading me somewhere I never planned to go: to the “Dark Side” of the writing road.

Have there been other “detours” in your life that turned out positive?

Oh. My. Word. Yes! On my second date with my husband-to-be, I told him I would never marry anyone in the military–and that I would never want to be a doctor’s wife. He smiled and informed me that he was in the Air Force and planned to go to medical school. A year later, I walked through that door marked “Never” and down the aisle and said “I do.” If he asked me to marry him again, I would say yes without a moment’s hesitation!

Let’s talk about Wish You Were Here (Howard Books, May 2012). Please tell us about it!

Wish You Were Here tackles the question: Can the wrong kiss lead to Mr. Right? Readers watch the heroine, Allison, struggle with the consequences of kissing her fiancé’s brother five days before the wedding. She has to decide which is the mistake: the wedding or the kiss?

For me, the “wrong kiss” symbolizes the mistakes and/or wrong choices we all make in our lives. The question is, do we truly believe that God can bring good out of all things—even our mistakes?

How did the llamas become part of the story?

My husband Rob suggested the llamas. Whenever I would stall out on writing a scene and wonder what to write next, Rob would ask, “Is this where you put in the aliens?” I always told him that I don’t write novels with aliens. When we were in Estes Park, CO doing some research for the book, we drove past a house that had a llama in the back yard. My husband asked, “How about llamas?” And I agreed—and ended up loving Pacha, Kuzko and Banzai.

In the process of writing Wish You Were Here, what did you learn (about life, faith, and/or even yourself)?

So many lessons. I learned that there are no little elves who come in at night and clean your house for you when you’re focused on deadlines. But an understanding family makes all the difference in the world. And taking on the challenge of learning something new is a good thing, no matter how many times you think, “I can’t do this.” Most important lesson? Stay on my knees. Pray. Repeat as needed—which is moment by moment.

Your first book was non-fiction. Was Baby Changes Everything: Embracing and Preparing for Motherhood after 35 (Revell, September 2007) based on personal experience?

Write what you know, right? Three days before I turned forty-one, I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I had three teenagers. Getting pregnant was nowhere on my To Do list—not even as an optional activity. After the fog–and morning sickness—cleared, I discovered I was part of a trend: one of the millions of moms over thirty-five having babies. I wrote the book because I couldn’t find a faith-based book about late-in-life motherhood. It was so much fun to share other moms’ stories—and dads’ stories too.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Favorite celebration food: crème brûlée, hands down. And the best place to get it is at Whole Foods Market. When the words aren’t flowing, you can find me dipping into my stash of jelly beans, kept in the bottom drawer of my desk (left side).

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I took piano lessons as an adult, but spent more time talking with my teacher, who was also a good friend. And I had this funky problem with my pinky fingers . . . they would not relax. So, nope. No musical talent besides singing in high school and church choirs. But all of my children have played instruments.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

Wow. I love this question. I would be a song played by a full orchestra. I love going to Broadway shows and to the symphony and listening to orchestras—all the different instruments uniting together. A-ma-zing. I’d want there to be a violin solo in there somewhere because I think violins have a language all their own.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

At some point, I’ve lived all those roles. But if I had to choose one, I’m going with the strong, female lead. I love that quote from the movie The Holiday when Iris says, “You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life . . . !”

I’m a dog lover. Please tell us about your pets, if any, or your favorite pet as a child.

Our family has always had pets—everything from my son’s Bearded Dragons named Levi and Malachi, to an assortment of cats, dogs, fish, and even a Hermit crab. Don’t know quite how that happened. Suddenly the words, “Yes, you may have a Hermit crab” came out of my mouth. Right now we just have our mini-dachshund, Twister, who was a show dog in her former life and even was featured in a couple of calendars. She lives a much simpler lifestyle now.

Thanks, Beth! It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Beth, visit her website at http://bethvogt.com/.

To purchase Wish You Were Here, logon to:

The Welcome Wagon’s story is as unique as their retro-contemporary music. The duo, a married couple—the Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique—grew up in the same Midwestern town. She’s an artist by trade, having once worked as a craftmaker for Martha Stewart. He’s a Presbyterian minister and currently the senior pastor at Resurrection Presbyterian, a church he planted in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York.

Together they make music, a passion that grew almost spontaneously from informal sessions in their living room. Vito picked up the guitar out of the desire to sing hymns with family. Monique accompanies him on toy glockenspiel or harmonica. Neither read music, but many of their tunes are original.

Their second album for Asthmatic Kitty Records, Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices, is a blend of sentiment and soul—and at it’s core plain and simple worship.

What’s the significance of the name ‘The Welcome Wagon’?

Monique came up with the name. She was reading about how in the pioneering days of the American West, towns would send out, “Welcome Wagons” to the trail, seeking to entice settlers to come to their town. They would bring out the best of what their town had to offer to welcome people in.

But I think our band, we simply want to be an agent of God’s grace. We want people to know that they are welcomed in by God.

When did you realize that you wanted to make music a part of your ministry? What/who most influenced your unique musical style?

We never intended to make music part of our ministry, at least not officially. I mean, I guess it’s not even official right now, inasmuch as we don’t play music for our church.

But music has always been important to both of us, so when we got married, we realized we wanted it to be a big part of our family’s life. And we are Christians. So it all just sort of lives there together.

The person who has influenced us most musically is Sufjan Stevens. He produced our first record, and we have learned so much from him about music and songs and recording. But in addition to him, who influences us? I don’t know. I can tell you who we like. The Danielson Famile. The Band. The Consolers. Queen. Half-Handed Cloud. King’s College Choir. Johnny Cash. Christopher Miner. The Smiths. The White Stripes.

Have you ever experienced a “divine detour” in your life, your work, and/or your spiritual life and, if so, how did it affect you positively?

Well, I think we’d both say that so much of our life has been a divine detour. Monique started planning on coming to New York pretty early in her life, but I never imagined I’d live here. I never imagined I’d be a professional musician. I never imagined I’d be a pastor. As I think of it, it feels to me like everything in my life is startlingly strange and unexpected.

You recently completed your second full-length album, Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices (Asthmatic Kitty Records, June 2012). Please tell us a bit about it.

Precious Remedies is meant to be just that, a remedy. We want God to use it to heal people. It has helped heal us, I think, of things like impatience and selfishness. It has helped us love each other and forgive each other. We have a long way to go, though.

How did you go about selecting the songs for the project? How many of the songs did you write or co-write?

I wrote or co-wrote nearly all of the songs. But we chose these songs and ordered them the way they did so they’d be shaped sort of like a narrative of the Christian life, or like a worship service. It sort of begins in crisis (the first song is called I’m Not Fine) and ends with redemption (one of the last songs is The Strife is O’er).

Your EP Purity of Heart Is to Will One Thing, now available on Noisetrade, was originally released to help raise money for Freeset, a fair-trade business in India to help “liberate and empower” women escaping the sex trade in Calcutta. What was the catalyst for the record?

They approached us and asked if we’d give them a song to sell. Well, we had three-four extra songs that didn’t fit on the record, so we decided to package them up and make an EP of it.

A few fun questions:

What’s your favorite comfort food and why?

I really like good southern BBQ. I like the sides as much as the BBQ itself.

This website features both literary and music guests. What’s the name of the last GREAT book you read?

Gilead, Marilynne Robinson.

What kind of music do you listen to when you’re relaxing?

Stardust, Wille Nelson.

Are you a major or a minor chord?

I like C major sliding into Eb major.

What Bible verse or passage most reflects your personal story?

Some favorite chapters in the Bible:

Luke 24

Philippians 2

John 6

Isaiah 53

Thanks, Vito! It’s a pleasure to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thank you!!!

~ ~ ~

Photo credits: Denny Renshaw

For more information about The Welcome Wagon, visit their website at http://welcometothewelcomewagon.com/.

Checkout the group’s EP currently at Noisetrade at http://www.noisetrade.com/welcomewagon.

To order Precious Remedies against Satan’s Devices and other music by The Welcome Wagon, visit the Asthmatic Kitty website at http://www.asthmatickitty.com/musicians.php?artistID=22.

Or logon to:

Gigi Murfitt is an author, a speaker, and a lover of God’s Word. She grew up with nine siblings in a single parent home. Although they were a church going family, Gigi’s faith grew deeper after the birth of her son Gabriel, who was born with a number of physical challenges.

Gabe and Gigi have co-authored a new book, which was released in April. My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. – Hope and Strength in the Face of Life’s Greatest Adversities details Gabe’s story and offers five “clear” steps to living with hope.

Gigi is President of the Northwest Christian Writer’s Association, a member of the Northwest Christian Speaker’s Connection, and an apprentice with The Christian Writer’s Guild. She and her husband, Steve, raised two sons, Zane and Gabe, and live in western Washington.

How did you get started on your writing journey?

My mom was an English teacher so writing has always been of interest to me. I have been recording the story of my day in a journal since I was fifteen years old. I wish I could say I wrote every day or even every year, but there are holes in my recorded story. A few years ago I went back to try to recapture those lost stories in my journal. It was a healing time for me.

I started taking writing classes at a local community college about ten years ago and published my first article in a newspaper in December 2006. I really enjoy writing, whether in my journal, for publication, or a note to a friend in a card or email.

From 2004 to 2007, I participated in the Seattle Ministry Institute where we wrote a paper or two per week during our ministry training. For my final project, I outlined my memoir. It was my goal to publish a book. I am pleased that since that goal was set I have now published two books (Caregivers’ Devotions to Go, 2010, and My Message is C.L.E.A.R., 2012). I also had stories in two Guideposts books and published several articles.

How does your faith play into your work?

I write my prayers in my journal. I also enjoy writing articles and stories that glorify God. One of my goals is to make Jesus famous in my writing and speaking.

My first published book is a pocket-sized devotional containing thirty stories from my life as a caregiver. Each story begins with Scripture and ends with a prayer and an activity.

In My Message Is C.L.E.A.R., we share how our faith has been a significant part of our journey.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

I’ve found myself on many life detours over the years. There were times when I was going full speed ahead and landed in the ditch on several occasions. Sometimes I came out of it with scrapes and bruises from the poor choices I had made. But God has always been faithful to lead me to the destination He intended all along.

I was driving down the road of motherhood with my GPS set for my planned destination to the street named Big Family. I’m one of ten children (raised Irish Catholic) and had hoped to raise at least three or four of my own.

I was over-the-top excited when I found out I was pregnant a little over a year after we were married. My joy was complete when my son, Zane, made us a family off three. I was cruising down the freeway of happiness and life was good.

Two years later, when I found out I was pregnant again, I was delighted. My husband, Steve, was nervous because we were still renting our home and had not paid off our debt. I knew it would all work out. God had proved faithful in my years growing up with a single mom raising ten children.

I felt fabulous during my pregnancy and had not hit any road bumps along the way. I was convinced I was having a girl but I knew either way things would be great. I counted the days until my due date when our baby would make us a family of four.

On that day, my life took a major detour. I found myself on a dark road without clear direction for the next turn. My son Gabe was born missing the radius and ulna bones in his arms. His tiny hands poked out of each shoulder. His crooked legs were fused at the knee. His ear canals were closed.

Where were the signs on the road I expected? Had I missed the exit? Could I turn around? Where was God leading me now?

I will say that this detour has taken me on many roads I never dreamed I would travel. But it has been worth the ride. I’ve grown closer to the Lord while recalibrating the plan for each day by spending time with Him. No longer do I rely on MY plan. I seek His direction every day in order to stay out of the ditch my own plan often leads to.

Let’s talk about My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. (Gabriel’s Foundation of Hope, April 2012), co-written with Gabe. Please tell us about it. What was the impetus?

Gabe’s life story is a message of hope. When life isn’t what was expected and you find yourself in unfamiliar territory where your future is blurry, God’s word is CLEAR with instruction on how to get back on track.

Gabe started speaking at school assemblies when he was in the seventh grade. He shares an encouraging message reminding his audience that every life matters. He speaks about his successful strategy for life using the letters in the word C.L.E.A.R. Many times after Gabe shared his story, students or parents asked if we had a book about his life to share with their friends or family who were not able to hear him speak.

It was then that I started writing down the stories he shared with his audiences. Other stories were taken from my journals and conversations with Gabe over the years. Our friend, Cheryl Penn, interviewed Gabe on video which helped me write with his voice. As I wrote the stories, Gabe made suggestions, even cutting several stories out of the book. It was truly a collaborative effort that spanned a couple of years.

Our goal is that My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. – Hope and Strength in the Face of Life’s Greatest Adversities will provide hope and encouragement to people of all ages as they read the roller-coaster ride of Gabe’s triumphant life. It is our desire to help others live with tools from each word in Gabe’s message. The reader will discover how you can have:

• Courage to face life’s challenges

• Leadership that is encouraging and compassionate

• Endurance in hard times

• Attitude that enables you to achieve your goals

• Respect for others and self

This book has reached people of all ages and helped them seek to live C.L.E.A.R.

What do you most hope readers will take away from it?

We want people to be inspired by Gabe’s story. But moreover, we hope the reader will see that Gabe has been able to do all things through Christ who gives him strength. I believe the chapter on endurance is the most powerful part of Gabe’s message. We live in a time and season where people need encouragement to endure through the challenging times. My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. will provide encouragement to thrive rather than just survive.

Please tell us about Gabe’s Hope Foundation.

When Gabe was fifteen months old, the doctors at Seattle’s Children’s Hospital recommended we purchase an electric wheelchair to enable him to become more mobile and increase his ability to interact with others. We were shocked at the $18,000 price tag of the chair. Fear set in when our insurance company refused to pay for these wheels, stating that a push chair would work just as well.

Friends and family came alongside us and raised the money to pay for Gabe’s chair. When the insurance company chose to pay a portion of it, we had enough money left over to buy a used van. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people that we determined that one day we would pay-it-forward.

Gabriel’s Foundation of HOPE is our means to do just that. We are a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity established to help individuals and families who deal with disability by encouraging them to persevere with hope and overcome their challenges.

You’ve said that your faith grew deeper, your relationship with Christ stronger after Gabe’s birth. Can you elaborate on that?

For two years after Gabe was born I found myself too busy to connect with a church in the town we had moved to. My relationship with God was not a priority but my heart longed for that connection.

Diane Newman, the woman who started the trust fund to help purchase Gabe’s wheelchair, invited my husband and I to her church. It was very different than the Catholic Church I had loved in my youth. But there was a presence of God I had never felt before. The music touched the deepest wounds in my soul. The people were friendly. The pastor taught rich lessons from the Bible every Sunday. We started attending regularly.

We immediately connected with a small group of believers who met every week to encourage each other in the faith. I found treasures in Scripture that jumped off the page at me. I wondered why I had not seen these words of wisdom before.

I finished several Beth Moore Bible studies and I was hooked on seeking the Bible for everything and relying on Christ’s love for my every need. I realized that Gabe’s situation was not God’s punishment for me or Steve. I found mercy and grace and healing every step of the way.

Now as I look back, I don’t know if I would have made it without the incredible love of Christ in my life. I had tried too long to do it all on my own. Living for Christ is just so much better.

A few fun questions…

When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is my favorite treat. I write in a Starbucks near the University of Washington on Wednesday nights while Gabe is at his college youth group.

Anything chocolate works too, especially Hershey’s KISSES.

This website features musicians as well as writers. Do you have musical, as well as literary, talent?

I learned to play the guitar when I was in the seventh grade. I often dreamed of having a band with my six sisters. But I don’t play the guitar anymore. Sometimes I’ll pick it up and I’m surprised I remember how to play it.

If you were a song, what kind of song would you be?

I would be a love song that sings of hope and joy and never-ending love.

In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?

I consider myself the girl next door. I hope to be friendly and speak a kind word to those I meet. Encouragement is one of the gifts God has given me. I imagine the girl next door taking the hand of her neighbor and showing her the way to Jesus.

I’d love to hear more about Ruth, Gabe’s canine companion. Are there other pets in your family?

Ruth was given to Gabe in August of 2009 by Canine Companions for Independence. She is one-quarter golden retriever and three-quarters black lab. She knows fifty commands that help make Gabe’s life easier. She turns lights on and off, opens doors, and picks up things he drops.

But most importantly, she is a friend for Gabe. He will never have another lonely Friday night because of Ruth. People are willing to approach Gabe because Ruth breaks the barrier. More people come up to talk to Gabe because they first ask about Ruth.

We have another pet, a yellow Labrador named Donovan. He is wild and fun and gets along well with Ruth.

Thank you, Gigi. It’s nice to have you as a guest at DivineDetour.

Thank you, Kathy, for the opportunity to share our story. God bless your heart.

~ ~ ~

For more information about Gigi, visit her website at http://gigimurfitt.com/. To learn more about Gabe’s Hope Foundation, visit http://gabeshope.org/.

To purchase My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. from Gabriel’s Foundation of HOPE, logon to http://gabeshope.org/donate/order-books/, or you can buy it at select retail outlets.

Note from Gigi: Proceeds from the sale of My Message Is C.L.E.A.R. help us fulfill the mission of Gabriel’s Foundation of HOPE to change lives of people living with disability by helping them overcome and preserve through their challenges, by encouraging them to never lose HOPE.

HOPE stands for:  Help   •  Overcome  •   Persevere  •   Encourage

by Linda Cox

My day took a nosedive when I learned that my monthly retirement check would most likely be cut in half. So much for the expectation that my former employer would keep the promises made to retirees. My initial reaction was anger followed quickly by fear at the financial implications.

Eventually the Lord drew my thoughts back to Him. And to the beautiful old hymn, In the Cross of Christ I Glory. A phrase that had always “popped out” at me whenever I sang the hymn did so again, right now when I needed it—“hopes deceive and fears annoy.”

My hope, my expectation for retirement benefits had certainly deceived me, resulting in fear of the future. But fear shouldn’t control me—or anyone. It shouldn’t paralyze or destroy us. If anything, it should only annoy us, like a fly buzzing around our heads. And we can swat that fear away with the flyswatter of God’s Word. Psalm 62:5-8 in the Amplified Version is a good place to start:

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him;

for my hope and expectation are from Him.

He only is my Rock and my Salvation;

He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved. …

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times …

When our expectations are placed in a person or a job or money or the government, we are bound to be disappointed because all of these are part of the fallen, sinful world we live in. There is only one place where our expectations should rest and that is in Christ.

The hymn, as well as the verses from Psalm 62, remind us that the cross of Christ will never forsake us. When we place our hope, our expectations in Him—the One who conquered death that we might live—we can rest peacefully in His promises. And experience His joy no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in.

Now that’s what I call a great expectation.

Linda Cox is a regular contributor to DivineDetour. She recently retired after twenty-five years as a district office secretary for the State of Illinois. Her first loves are studying the Bible and reading, but Linda occasionally tries her hand at writing. Her work is published in All My Bad Habits I Learned from Grandpa (Thomas Nelson), The One-Year Life Verse Devotional (Tyndale), Life Lessons from Grandparents (Write Integrity) and the Love Is a Verb devotional (Bethany House). She and her husband live on a farm with their two indoor/outdoor farm mutts.