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Category Archives: Author interview

A Visit with Kathi Macias

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Kathi Macias has a God-given talent for fiction and an overwhelming passion to use that talent to point people to Christ. And that is exactly what she does.

I am thrilled for the opportunity to talk to Kathi today about her newest book. “Special Delivery” is the second book in the Freedom series.

Kathi, please tell us why you chose human trafficking as the focus for your Freedom series.

People often ask me why I decided to write about such a dark topic. First, I explain that I’m not writing about a dark topic; I’m writing about the Light that shines in that darkness. And second, I believe the Church should be at the forefront of the modern-day abolition movement to set the captives (modern-day slaves) free.

Can you share a bit about the story line in this series and in “Special Delivery” specifically?

The three books in this series specifically follow the life of a young woman named Mara, who was sold into sexual slavery by her own parents in Mexico, and then smuggled across the border into San Diego by her uncle who then served as her pimp. A strong sub-plot throughout the series tells of two sisters in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, Chanthra and Lawan, who are also trapped in a brothel. Finally, a teenage girl named Francesca, kidnapped in Juarez, Mexico, and forced into prostitution, is introduced in book two.

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Special Delivery picks up two years after book one, Deliver Me From Evil, ends, and continues with the stories of Mara and Lawan, as well as others carried over from book one. Mara hopes she is finally free to pursue her own life because she was rescued from the brothel and her testimony helped lock up her uncle for life. But the man has underground connections and is driven by revenge to reach out from behind bars and deliver the ultimate punishment to his niece.

This isn’t the first fiction series you’ve written on nationwide and even worldwide social issues. Your last series focused on the persecuted Church. What draws you to these difficult topics?

As a Christian, I believe I am compelled to use my God-given gifts to honor God in all I do—and that includes exposing the deeds of darkness, calling sinners to repentance, and taking a stand for righteousness by doing all I can to help rescue those who are suffering. I dare not turn my back on “the least of these.” I also believe that God placed this sort of burden on my heart even before I became a Christian at the age of 26. I’ve always been a champion of the underdog, a “soap-box” preacher, if you will. When I met Jesus, I simply redirected that passion toward His people, realizing I couldn’t effect real change in my own strength anyway.

With the topics of the worldwide persecuted Church and human trafficking under your belt, what other issues are you dealing with in your writing?

My Christmas 2011 book, A Christmas Journey Home, dealt with the immigration/border problem, and my Christmas 2012 novel, Unexpected Christmas Hero, will be about homelessness in America. The next issues-related fiction series I have on tap—which I am just starting to write, by the way—is called the “Patches of Courage” series and will begin releasing in late January 2013. Book one is The Moses Quilt, based on the life of Harriet Tubman, and will be followed by The Christmas Quilt and The Impossible Quilt. This series of books will highlight historical American women whose Christian faith enabled them to walk in great courage and make a difference in the lives of countless people.

Where can people find out about you and your books/speaking/appearances?

They can go directly to my website or my Easy Writer blog. I’m also on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google, and various other social sites. Would love to hear from all of you!

Where can people find out about free book giveaways on this blog tour?

The blog tour host is giving away a set of two books from the Freedom Series -  Book 1 (Deliver Me From Evil) and Book 2 (Special Delivery). Also, readers can follow us on Twitter or Facebook for more book giveaway locations on the tour.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services.

Who is “The Church Lady?”

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Who is The Church Lady? You may have an image in your mind of Dana Carvey dressed up like a gray-haired old woman in baggy hose. If you’re not old enough to remember this judgmental Saturday Night Live character, then you may think The Church Lady is a self-righteous woman who hits people over the head with her Bible. And some of you may picture the sweet, godly elderly lady who sits on the third pew at your church every Sunday.

Chandra & I had lunch this week. This is my signed copy!

My guess is that 99% of you reading this have a stereotypical view of The Church Lady. Friends, it’s time to tear down wrong images and allow the real Church Lady to step forward. My friend Chandra Peele has just released an exciting new book, Church Lady: Freed to Be a Woman of God. Chandra asked me to endorse the book, so I read it before it even went to print.

Here’s my endorsement:  Do you consider yourself a “Church Lady?” If you’re a believer in Jesus Christ then you are! In her book, “The Church Lady,” Chandra Peele tears down the old stereotype and breaks through preconceptions by painting a beautiful portrait of the Church Lady like God sees her. You will laugh, cry, cheer, and perhaps cringe as Chandra illustrates biblical truth through the stories of Church Ladies she has encountered all across the glove. She also personally and transparently shares her own journey to become the Church Lady God desires her to be. You will be encouraged. You will be challenged. But more importantly, you’ll find the freedom to be the Church Lady God designed you to be.

For years, Chandra has been asking Christian women if they consider themselves a “church lady.” Guess what? Nobody wanted to be one! Chandra also got three responses over and over:

  1. I’m not old enough to be a Church Lady.
  2. I’m not good enough to be a Church Lady.
  3. Please! Don’t call me a church lady because she is legalistic and judgmental.

Hear Chandra’s heart on what it means to be a Church Lady:

It’s heartbreaking that we’ve allowed the reputation of God’s daughters to become so tarnished.  Let’s reclaim the name and humbly, yet proudly consider it an honor to be called a Church Lady.  Can you see the damage done? Satan loves the fact that God’s daughters have been lumped into one negative stereotype regardless of our love for God, service to people and reflection of Christ.  We must lovingly and boldly reclaim the name.

 In Church Lady, I hope to shatter the stereotype and redefine the Church Lady. My hope is that the Lord will use these real stories, of real Church ladies, to set free those who may be held hostage by their past. For those who have been misguided or misunderstood.  Your heart is sure to be touched, perhaps changed. More than anything I pray you are freed-freed to be the woman God created you to be!

 Now…look in the mirror. Who is the church lady? You, woman of God, are the Church Lady!

Do you want to be a church lady? Do you long to be known as someone who belongs to God?

Pleading with God

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Have you ever found yourself pleading with God? Most of us would probably answer “yes.”

My friend Janet Thompson just released a Bible study on the topic of pleading with God, Face-to-Face with Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah: Pleading with God. I’m thrilled she is here to chat with us about it today.

Janet, what’s the difference between asking God for something, and pleading with Him?

Prayers can morph into begging God to perform in a way we think is best. Even a woman of strong faith can experience a crisis of faith when life doesn’t turn out as she expects and she knows God could intervene on her behalf. When we plead, we’re usually desperately invested in the outcome.

 Is it wrong to plead with God? What does it say about our attitude?

God definitely wants us to pray with sincerity and passion. Many life issues, especially crises, naturally lead to pleading with God. How we react when He doesn’t immediately respond, or we don’t like His answer can lead to bargaining and negotiating with Him, or like Sarah and Rachel in the Bible, taking matters into our own hands. Learning to rest in God’s sovereignty and wait on His timing—as Hannah did—is our goal.

What is the best way to cope when God’s answer is “wait” or “no”?

Knowing God and believing that He is good and gracious and wants the best for us is the key to patient perseverance. He’s waiting to reap the maximum harvest from our situation: maybe it’s to show His glory in a miracle or discount Satan. Perhaps someone will accept Christ through the outcome. Or maybe He’s working on our character and spiritual maturity or growing the faith of people viewing our circumstances.

If we feel He’s gone silent, we could be expecting Him to respond in a particular or familiar way. He is talking—we just need to listen and remember that His perfect timing might not be our preferred timing. During times of pleading, experience peace with God by discovering a purpose in your pain.

Can you share with us a personal story about when you pleaded with God for something? What happened?

Praying God’s Word back to Him and personalizing Scriptures helps in hearing God because He speaks to us through His Word and it also helps focus on God’s will and not our own will. In another of my books, Praying for Your Prodigal Daughter, I share the story of praying God’s Word back to Him for my prodigal daughter, Kim, every day.

After three years, it seemed like God wasn’t listening. He had gone silent. Then one day I heard from Him, I want her back more than you do. That was all I needed to continue earnestly and persistently praying for her even though I didn’t see any changes. I knew God was working behind the scenes and He was expecting me to keep praying because I trusted Him, not because I saw or heard Him.

It took almost three more years before she made the turn back to God and to me and today she’s a godly woman, wife, and mother. I’m so glad I didn’t give up on God or Kim.

Could women benefit from doing this study with a mentor/mentee or a group of friends long-distance? Do you have any tips for making the online study successful?

Definitely! The Face-to-Face Bible study series has M&M questions for two women to do together and there’s also a leader’s guide in the back of each book for studying as a group.

To study online, I would suggest each woman have a copy of the book and agree how much of the study they want to cover when they virtually meet. There are 5 sessions and each session consists of 5 days.

They would each do the study on their own and then arrange a time to either chat online via email, yahoo chat, Facebook message, Skype, conference phone—whatever means they all have to communicate back and forth. They can discuss their answers to the questions or utilize the Leader’s Guide for areas of focus.

Janet Thompson is a speaker and author of two new releases Face-to-Face with Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah: Pleading with God and Face-to-Face with Lois and Eunice: Nurturing Faith in Your Family. There are 5 additional Face-to-Face Bible studies in the series.

See all Janet’s books.   Visit Janet’s website.

Was there a time when you pleaded with God? How did God answer?

Living for What Matters Most

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My dear friend Stephanie Shott not only knows what matters most, she also lives her life for what truly matters most. Now, Stephanie is sharing what God has taught her about living a life that counts in her new Bible study “Ecclesiastes: Understanding What Matters Most.” Today, we get to talk with Stephanie.

Stephanie, how will your new Bible study through Ecclesiastes help women live for eternity not just for today?

We all want to know our lives count. And in our Christian conversations we talk a lot about living for eternity and having an eternal perspective, yet if we are honest, we often live as if this life is all there is. Eternity is real and it awaits each one of us. There are no escape clauses.

Understanding What Matters Most is a six-week study through the book of Ecclesiastes. It’s a journey that gives the reader an opportunity to personally sift the gamut of real life experiences and define their lives by what matters most. There are questions designed to examine the heart and inspire application.

Why did you choose Ecclesiastes? What can readers expect to learn?

Many people avoid Ecclesiastes, but it is full of wisdom.  There are three overriding lessons I pray that each reader will walk away with:

1. First, readers will gain an eternal focus and learn to live a life of eternal significance. The study’s goal is to equip each reader with the necessary tools to make daily choices in light of eternity and respond to life with an eternal perspective. We’re all looking for answers, and Ecclesiastes really helps us understand how to make decisions and deal with our circumstances based on what is and what is not important in light of eternity.

2. Second, readers will learn to deal with the real, tough issues and circumstances of life. Ecclesiastes is certainly not for sissies! I pray that readers will grasp the concept of eternity and the reality of our ultimate day of reckoning; I pray the truth of that reality will help them live each day in light of THAT day.

3. Third, readers will witness the grace of God at work in Solomon’s life and understand that same grace is available to us. Solomon was the wisest man to walk the planet, yet he blew it big time! Solomon’s life is proof that wisdom doesn’t always equal perfection! The beautiful truth is that God still used Solomon, even after he failed. I hope readers never forget that God is so much bigger than our failure – that His love for us transcends our ability to mess things up – that as long as we have breath, He still has a plan for our lives and the days we are given under the sun.

How did God lead you to write this particular study?

When I began writing Understanding What Matters Most, I didn’t begin in hopes of publishing a book. The study came from my own place of need. Years ago, when God called my husband and me to the mission field, my 19 year old son didn’t feel led to go. My maternal heart began to wrestle with the details of the call. I didn’t have a problem with the going…it was the leaving that gave me trouble. Who was going to take care of him if something went wrong? What if he got hurt? What about our parents? I was trying desperately to make sense of that which didn’t make sense at all.

Then the Lord gently led me to Ecclesiastes and gave me a bird’s-eye view of Solomon’s own attempts to make sense of the details of his life. After he ran the gamut of life experiences, he understood what matters most. I needed that kind of clarity - not only for the circumstances surrounding our call to missions, but also to help me live with an eternal focus. My study of Ecclesiastes gave me the tools I needed to filter the essential from the non-essential in light of eternity. Later God put it on my heart to send it to a publisher and I knew He wanted to use it for more than just me!

This study is primarily for women. However, Stephanie – a veteran home school mom who knows how hard it can be to find a good Bible study for children – encourages home school moms to use it as a study for their high school students. It will create the perfect opportunity to discuss the empty pursuits of this life and how they can live each day with eternity in view!

 Find out more about Stephanie on her website.

You can purchase Ecclesiastes: Understanding What Matters Most at the following:

Amazon

Christianbook.com

Barnes and Noble

Booksamillion

 

Are you content?

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Cathy Messecar

Are you content? Or do you feel unsettled, unhappy, frustrated, or anxious? You may even have everything you need, yet peace still eludes you. God’s children can find lasting contentment in Him. My friend Cathy Messecar knows how to be content in Christ. She shares her experiences and wisdom with us in her new book, A Still & Quiet Soul: Embracing Contentment. We have the privilege of talking to her today!

Cathy, why did you choose to write about contentment?

I noticed that people all around me – both young and old – seemed to be doing a lot of hand-wring, worrying, and complaining. (And we live in one of the most affluent nations in the world!) As I researched the topic, I found that little had been written for Christians along this line in the last two decades. Since God had taken me on a journey from everyday frustrations to a more complete trust in his care, I knew He could use me, my experiences, and my faith to help others find contentment. My road to contentment could remind others to watch for God’s activity in their lives. True contentment also attracts those who don’t have a relationship with God. When we are content, no matter the chaos or calm of our outward circumstances, God lives through us to draw others to him.

Cathy, I know your book is full of insight about learning to be content, but can you give us a few brief tips now?

  • Remember that Someone, more powerful and knowledgeable than we are – already had everything figured out long before our worries began. God is quite able to sooth and direct us as we learn contentment.
  • We can complicate our lives and bring frustrations upon ourselves through overbooked schedules and overstuffed stomachs and bulging houses. Look around you. What causes your anxiety? Can you do something about it?
  • Realize that we all suffer. You are not alone. Meditate on what motivates suffering and make your own list (there’s a list of eight in the book). Your list will help you recognize the source of suffering when it comes and you will be better able to face it with faith instead of fear.
  • Put away your wish-and-want list. Lean to wait patiently in all of life. It’s refreshing. Learn to live within your budget. What you have is enough. Every object you own from a button to a Brussels sprout to a boat requires you to shelve it, cook it, or insure it.
  • Invest your time in people. The rewards far outweigh owning things. You can’t put a price on the smile of a child or the last grip of your aging parent’s hand.

 

What is the best way to use your book? What can the reader expect?

Each chapter contains biblical examples and explanations, anecdotes, a praise and petition scripture, and eight questions. A Still and Quiet Soul also includes a personal story at the end of each chapter – twelve testimonies from ordinary Christians who struggled but found contentment. A Still and Quiet Soul: Embracing Contentment is perfect for individuals, Bible study groups, or book clubs.

I’m thrilled Cathy could visit with us today! Here’s a little more about her:

Cathy and her husband David live on 100 wooded acres north of Houston. The large trees and a creek muffle the noise of the outside world. They operate a trucking company to pay the bills. They also keep a few cows for fun! In addition to writing inspirational non-fiction, Cathy is a veteran newspaper columnist for Houston Community Newspapers, The Courier (over 500 columns).

Visit Cathy’s website

Buy her book now at Leafwood Publishers or on Amazon