All posts by Sharon Hinck

Another New Arrival

Symphony of Secrets is now available on Kindle!

Talented flutist Amy Johnson’s dreams come true when she wins a spot with the Minneapolis Symphony. But this armchair detective has trouble concentrating on the notes as she begins to see devious motives behind her fellow musicians’ mishaps. Meanwhile, her musically talented daughter is forsaking the arts for cheerleading. Amy has to confront questions of faith, challenges of being the single mom of a teen daughter, and the secrets of her past – all while solving the mystery of the symphony before it’s forced to close and she loses not only her dream job but her promising new relationship with its conductor.

ENDORSEMENTS:
“It’s official—if the book says Sharon Hinck on the spine, I’m buying it! Symphony of Secrets hits just the right tone, weaving harmonies of mystery, family, and the life of a symphonic musician—a topic I’ve not experienced in fiction before. The melody is God’s love, subtle yet persistent and so perfectly pitched that I’ll be humming that tune for a long time to come. This is a great read and a perfect gift for anyone who finds joy in music.” – Kathryn Mackel, author of Vanished

“What a delightful story! I fell in love with the characters on the first page and didn’t want to let them go. If you love music, as I do, you’ll especially enjoy this engaging tale of lost dreams and second chances. Like a Haydn serenade, your mind will dance along the story line at an engaging pace, allowing your imagination and sense of humor to absorb the melody of its plot. With Symphony of Secrets, Sharon Hinck makes beautiful music with her words!” – Mindy Starns Clark, author of The Million Dollar Mysteries series

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Welcome to the Family

Our first grandchild arrived yesterday!

While we waited for news yesterday morning, we pulled out a song that we sang at each of our children’s baptisms:

Welcome to the Family
by Debby Kerner

Welcome to the family, we’re glad that you have come
to share your life with us, as we grow in love, and
May we always be to you what God would have us be,
a family always there, to be strong and to lean on.

May we learn to love each other more with each new day
May words of love be on our lips in everything we say
May the Spirit melt our hearts and teach us how to pray,
that we might be, a true family.

….

That’s our prayer… along with a huge praise for our sweetie-girl’s safe arrival.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

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Extravagance

Devotional Musings, Faith and Arts

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’” Matthew 26:6-9 (NIV)

In a world full of real human need, art is sometimes seen as an extravagant gesture. Artists spend hours, years, decades, honing their craft and producing their work. Time that could be spent in more “practical” pursuits. Yet when we see our life purpose as worship – as a pouring out of praise at the feet of Jesus – we know that bringing Him our best is never a waste.

Lord, let our creative efforts be our lavish gift to You – but also to the needs of the world. Help us bring out our very best treasures, break them open, and pour them freely, and trust that You are pleased. Amen

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Variety

Devotional Musings

“Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.” Psalm 150:3-5 (NIV)

What strikes me about Psalm 150 is the variety of tones, sounds, and instruments. There are so many things to praise God for – so much to convey – that we need a variety of means to express it all.

That’s also why I’m grateful for the variety of genres that Christian writers are using to communicate about our Savior. Each writer can use their unique voice and style to add to the orchestra of praise.

Lord, forgive us for sometimes trying to drown out the other instruments. We humbly acknowledge that artists who love You may convey their praise in ways that are different from our own. Please use all our various skills, preferences, and styles to glorify You. Amen.

Blessings!
Sharon Hinck

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Here’s a project I worked on last spring. It’s so fun seeing the cover, and I’m so honored to be included with these warm, wise, and witty other authors!

It will be available only through Guideposts. You can get more info at their site.

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Seeking Him

Devotional Musings

“God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”  Acts. 17:27-28 (NIV1984)

God delights in “being found” by us – in revealing Himself to us. He is so awesome and multifaceted that we will never stop discovering new aspects of His mercy, grace, strength, and holiness. I love the moments in writing where a scene, a character, or an event in the story reveal something new about His nature, or deepen my understanding.

Lord, thank You for seeking us out, and inviting us to constantly seek You more. Reveal the places we’ve misunderstood Your nature by our own distortions. Help us see You more clearly. Amen.

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Beauty

Devotional Musings, Faith and Arts

“And the Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground–trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Genesis 2:9a (NIV1984)

Reading this verse, I realized God could have created a food source that was a little gray box that popped out fruit as needed. Instead He made a lush variety of shapes, colors, and types of trees–trees that stir as the wind tickles them, trees that change color. In short, He designed trees that are not only utilitarian, but beautiful.

Lord, thank You for creating beauty. Help us go beyond utilitarian uses of art and enjoy the beauty You’ve invited us to celebrate. Amen.

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Let My Words Be More Than Clanging

Devotional Musings, Faith and Arts

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1

When writing a novel, there are zillions of concepts to keep in mind. Craft, creativity, diligence and skill are vital, but I’m glad for this reminder of our key focus. Our writing is an overflow of God’s love for us. If I’m not motivated by love for Him and for the readers of the book, the words are just more noise in a world already full of clamoring.

Lord, thank You for loving us. As we write, or serve You in any other way, let the core of our work center on loving You and others. Let Your heart of love shine through our work. Amen.

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Why I love Bezalel and Oholiab

Devotional Musings, Faith and Arts

“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded.” Exodus 36:1 (NIV1984)

When I first stumbled across the euphonious names of Bezalel and Oholiab, I felt an instant kinship. I’ve worked in various arts most of my life. I was delighted to see that as early on as the construction of the tabernacle, God valued the talents of artists and craftsmen and gave them a way to use their gifts for Him.

Lord, thank You for Your gift of the arts. Whether we are writers or sculptors or dancers or actors or musicians or painters or use any other creative gift, please help us develop our skills and offer our abilities to You! Amen.

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Congratulations!

Cheers and confetti-from-the-ceiling for the two winners!

The grand prize winner of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt (who will receive 23 autographed novels from all the authors who participated) is:

Elisabeth Scherer

And the winner of the Restorer book bag drawn randomly from those who signed up for my free Book Buddy newsletter is:

Sherri (aka soccerkidsmom)

Hooray!!!! I hope you all had as much fun as I did, in getting to know other authors and discovering their featured content at the various blogs.

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

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