Can Truth Be Found in Fiction? by Linda Maynard

This week on Kingdom Bloggers, we are discussing favorite Contemporary Christian Author and Books.

Four authors came to mind, Francine Rivers, Bodie Theone, Liz Curtis Higgs and Jill Austin.

Francine writes fiction, Bodie, along with her husband Brock writes Historical fiction, Liz writes both fiction and nonfiction and Jill, nonfiction, fiction and allegories.

What surprises me about liking their books is the fact that I do like fiction writing. I will tell you why that surprises me. For so many years, all that I would read was nonfiction, with practically no interest in fiction. But with these authors and others, I have broadened my repertoire.

 I see that fiction books are not much different than the parables that Jesus taught. They use the power of imagination to open up our minds to truth and the Word of God.

Perhaps the number one book from this group of authors would be Francine River’s Book, “Redeeming Love”. I think I have read it three times and just received another copy to replace the one I gave away.

It is a story based on the book of Hosea, which is of course about the Lord’s steadfast Love of His Bride, the Church. (Each and every believer)

I liken this book’s influence similar to listening to a song. With a song, barriers of fear and a misunderstanding of the Lord’s steadfast faithfulness to His bride can be demolished. Listening to a song and it having a powerful effect of us is because the words and/or the tune are like an arrow that pierces the deepest parts of our heart.

I mentioned in a previous blog, that my life scripture, which I go to, again and again is Hebrews 13:5…”I will NEVER leave you or forsake you”

“Redeeming Love” emphasizes this type of love. Michael Hosea, one of the main characters is based on Hosea (who represents the Lord). Michael Hosea and his unwavering love for his wife Gomer is exemplified clearly in the book. Gomer’s character is called, Angel and she represents us, the Bride of Christ.

The story take place in the 1850’s during the Gold Rush,

 What first attracted me to Francine as an author?  It was her testimony.

She had been brought up in a religious home, received Jesus into her heart as a child and yet He did not become Lord in her life, until she was well into adulthood, with a husband and three children.

Previously she had a very successful career in the secular book market, being a romance author, for almost ten years. She received many accolades and awards during that time.

When she returned to the Lord, she laid down her writing for a season, as she realized that it had become an idol to her.

In church, she sat under good expository teaching that explained the historical context of what the scriptures were saying. She became seeped in the Word of God.

Redeeming Love was the first novel she wrote, after the Lord became number one in her life.

I like that Francine writes fiction for reasons beyond imagination. She always has a Biblical theme in mind when she writes.

In her own words, she “uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord and that through her work, she might worship and praise Jesus for all He has done and is doing in her life.”

And we know that the bread that we have been given like she has, is the very thing we now have to distribute to the world.


I would recommend visiting her website to get a sense of her style, what she writes and how she has been given a gift of being able to revamp a talent, now to be used for the glory of God.

A Collage of Christmas Memories by Linda Maynard

This collage of memories of Christmas has, as many of you, I’ve had, joy filled moments and those that are tinged with sorrow and pain. Both ends of the spectrum touch us all.

Topping my list would be a meaningful tradition that was and still is observed. It sharing of the Oplatek (Oh-pwa-tech) on Christmas Eve. It is a Polish Tradition.

During the evening, the oldest of the family, has a plate with the Oplatek  (the wafer). The Oplatek symbolizes Christ’s body being broken for us. They approach another person and extend the Oplatek to them. Speaking words of affirmation and blessing, they break the wafer simultaneously. They each, then partake of it. The recipient returns the gesture. This is repeated until the entire group has blessed one another.

Losing a loved one around Christmas is extremely painful. The families of the recently murdered innocents in the Newtown CT massacre have an unspeakable horror to deal with. It will forever taint their Holidays. I lost a brother and a son due to tragic deaths, close to Christmas and the emptiness remains.  Others have lost loved ones and memories may be bittersweet. 

When I was old enough, to be able to purchase gifts for my youngest brothers, I carved out a memory. The circumstances in our home were such that, we did not get gifts from our parents or Santa. I wanted them to be able to return to school to have something to say, when gifts were discussed.

One year, my paternal grandfather would be home alone on Christmas Eve, as he was ill. I couldn’t accept that he would be alone, so I volunteered to be with him, forgoing the celebration. It filled me with the satisfaction of putting the needs of another, first.

Sometimes, too much food, unrealistic expectations, unhealed relationships, fueled by too much to drink, could taint the hoped for Silent Night. Too many families experience this. I praise God for the healing in my own family, as well as a prayer that others can experience freedom and peace that comes with New Life.

In recent years, my husband and my family have been involved in certain clandestine operations, to bless others around the Holidays.

When our children were young, we filled bags with presents and goodies and left them, without tags, on doorsteps or on mailbox hooks, as a way to say to others, “You are not forgotten.”

We have sent cards, including money, with the signature line, saying “Jesus loves you”

In the last 2 years, I have taken 3- $20 and went out in public to give a $20 bill to 3 people. It was a Giving Adventure.  At first, I thought the amount that I was giving was too little, but then realized we were giving what we could.

 I asked God to point out the people He wanted to bless.

The first year, I remember a young mother who got tears in her eyes. She was paying for her groceries and exclaimed “You have no idea what this means!” (But God did!)

Two other recipients from last year come to mind.

One was a disheveled man. At the counter of a store, he had asked for a product. The cashier misunderstood him. When the item was placed on the counter, he sheepishly tried to tell her of her error. She treated him with disdain and loudly criticized him. I and the other shoppers just looked at one another with disbelief.

When he left the line, I went over to him and handed him a $20 bill, telling him about the Lord wanting to bless him. I also mentioned that the Lord specifically pointed him out to me. I told him how much the Lord loved him. Though I will never know this man’s full story, but from appearances, I gathered his life was not easy.

Another day, a couple was behind me in line at Goodwill. Thrift Stores

 As I started to leave, I felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit; to give the next $20 to them They were Spanish. The man spoke with the little English that he knew. I tried to explain to him the best I could that this was a free gift, with no strings attached. He looked puzzled, but eventually accepted the money. He then kind of bowed to me.

I walked to my car, but soon realized that I had to go back. I wanted them to understand that this gift was from God. So with a little Spanish, that I know and lots of hand gestures, I pointed to my heart to their hearts and then to the sky…they got it!

Then they nodded and smiled and we ALL started to cry!

It became a Holy Moment in this thrift store.

Somehow, I can imagine that the Lord did the same. He nodded, smiled and even start to weep.

He may have then said to the angels about all of us.

 “They get it! By golly, they really get it!”

“They got a glimpse of my Love.”

Gentleness is Careful

“Gentleness means recognizing that the world around us is fragile, especially other people. It is recognizing our own capacity to do harm and choosing instead to be tender, soft-spoken, soft-hearted, and careful. When we are gentle we touch the world in ways that protect and preserve it. Being gentle doesn't mean being weak; gentleness can be firm, even powerful. To behave in a gentle manner requires that we stay centered in our own values and strength -- that we are active rather than reactive. Coming from this center, a gentle word or touch can channel our energy into healing or making peace.” The Wisdom Page

This week, on Kingdom Bloggers, we are exploring the fruit of the Spirit of gentleness. I cannot help thinking of this attribute, apart from the tenderness, of a mother towards her child.

Although my mother cared for me as a child, it was another time I remembered.

I was a young mother and had suffered from severe back pain, since I was 15.  The doctors I went to could not conclusively diagnose the problem, until 3 years ago. I went to a Neurosurgeon and ultimately had fusion surgery.

During those earlier years, I had seen various specialists and the conclusion was either… there is nothing wrong …to… there is nothing we can do for you surgically.

I had 3 myelograms, on separate occasions. It is a test, in which they withdraw spinal fluid and replace it with dye to detect abnormalities. One of the side effects was terrible headaches. Mine lasted for a week, in which the pain was so bad; I could not even lift my head from the pillow. I was bedridden the whole time.  Anytime I lifted my head, it exacerbated the pain. It had to do with them messing around with the spinal fluid.

My mother cared for me for all three times.  I remember the last one, as it was the worst. What is still vivid to me, was her coming to my bedside, with cool washcloths, trying to lessen the pain.  Even though I was an adult, in my late 20’s, I relished the care of my mom. Her very presence relieved some of my pain and anxiety. The role she chose was to be gentle and attend to me.

I thought about another mother. It was this photo, which appeared in Life magazine, years ago. It’s a black and white picture, which is at once haunting and also depicting a deep love of a mother towards her child. She is bathing her daughter in a bathing chamber in Japan.

When I first saw this, I was face to face with a depiction of a mother’s sacrificial and undying love toward her child.

Her daughter, Tomoko, was afflicted with Minamata disease. She became severely deformed, as a result of toxic methyl mercury that was dumped into the sea by a Company in Japan. It affected sea creatures and then in turn, humans. People were left deformed, blind, paralyzed, insane and even at times, they died.

How this depiction of attentiveness, mirrors the Lord’s love for us!

We are afflicted with deformity and darkness of spirit. We are blind and dead in our sins. We are, in essence, poisoned and tainted by the sin in the Garden. However, like this mother, the Lord does not discard us. He is our parent and we are his child. He will tenderly care for us because we are part of Him and belong to Him. He is not put off by our utter need for Him.

This family agreed to this photo being used to make the disease of Minamata something that was not ignored or hidden away. They hoped that it would place an awareness of the cause and consequences of this horrible malady.

In the Word of God … through nature… through other’s testimonies…through love shown to one another…through miracles…He makes know His love for all to see. Death and destruction against a commitment on His part, to care for His children, cannot stand.  Even in the sickness of sin…especially in the darkness and death of sin...He is by our side.

Just as my mom “showing up”, may it be so, that when the Lord shows up on the scene, that people would experience a relief, simply because He is present.

And just like Tomoko’s mother, let others see that He is there, not when they are whole. Let them see, their utter need to be attended by such gentleness and care, when they need Him the most.

Linda Maynard

Psalm 17 Totally Paraphrased

This week on Kingdom Bloggers, we were all asked to write about our favorite Psalm. I had something written this morning about Psalm 17 and went to send it in and my computer crashed and it was lost.

It is almost 3p.m. and my husband finally got it going.

I am frustrated to say the least and so for some comic relief, I decided to write the following.

-_____________________________________________________

You heard O Lord my righteous plea.

You listened to my pathetic plea. It came from quivering lips.

May my vindication come from You, when my husband asks “what did you do?”

When he probed me for an answer, I felt I was being examined… You never condemned me.

But Lord, You said “You didn’t do anything my child…sometimes computers act crazy”

I kept myself from the ways of the violent and didn’t punch him in the nose.

As I stepped into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee, I made sure that my mouth didn’t slip up with words I might’ve regretted

I know that You will answer me and my mumbling and grumblings. You will remind me to be patient.

You made me safe from my enemy (the computer), as I take a time out. (You also made the computer safe from me, so I wouldn’t smash it)

Keep me as the apple of your eye. (That makes me think I should have a snack of an apple. It would be good for me right now too.)

Hide me, as a mother bird would her babies,  as I wonder if it IS my fault the computer messed up.

All the old negative tapes, in my head, are attacking me now…saying “you always mess up the computer and you’ll never know what you are doing”.

The enemy knows all my weak points and is taking advantage of me.

But NO LORD!...I WILL confront them and bring them down with Your help. You died to save me from guilt and condemnation.

You still my heart, as I’ve gained perspective. I CAN do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

I look into the room and I see my husband’s face. It says that I will be satisfied with my computer’s restoration.

But Lord, no matter what”…I await the day that I will be totally content in Your Presence and at peace seeing You face to face. There aren’t any computer rooms that I might be assigned to in heaven, are there?

Linda Maynard