Variety

“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

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

“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

“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

“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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Scavenger Hunt – Stop #19

This is STOP # 19 on the Hunt!

Welcome to the first ever Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! Make the loop to discover 23 new or upcoming novels, and write down the clue at each stop (clue #19 will be somewhere in this post). When you know what the clues say, fill out the Rafflecopter form by June 4, 2012 (midnight EST) at www.LisaBergren.com, and you could be in the running for the grand prize of 23 new, autographed books (if you live in the USA; unsigned if international). Note: if you’re the winner, you must email the complete statement within 24 hours of notification in order to claim the Grand Prize…so don’t miss a stop! Be ready with your answer if you’re the lucky winner! No need to email it unless you receive the good word on June 5, 2012.

My guest for the Scavenger Hunt is lovely author

Yvonne Lehman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

YVONNE LEHMAN is an award-winning, best-selling author of novels in many genres such as historical, contemporary, romance, mystery, women’s fiction, mainstream.  She earned her Master’s Degree in English Literature at Western Carolina University and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. She founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years and now directs the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat held at Ridgecrest NC in October. She is a mentor with the Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild. 
Other novels to be released in 2012 are A Knight to Remember in April (Heartsong, second in a series set in Washington DC) and Let it Snow in December (Heartsong, third in the DC series). 
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic (Abingdon) is her 50th novel, released in time for the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking.
Is Love more powerful than the pain of loss?
Lydia Beaumont and her new friend Caroline Chadwick plan Lydia’s wedding aboard the “grandest ship ever built.” Yet their lives take a tragic turn when the “unsinkable” Titanic goes down. This epic tale of faith and perseverance follows their lives and the lives of their descendants as they struggle with all that was lost on that fateful night and what the future holds for those brave enough to face it. 

Of all the unbelievable things that occurred, the strangest thing took place. The floating half of the ship began to melt like a dollop of butter on a hot roll. It just melted smoothly into the ocean and the hoard of people were in the water. Their hair didn’t get wet. No water splashed on their faces. For an instant they didn’t scream. They couldn’t. A communal gasp went out over the sea, produced by hundreds and hundreds of terrified people who unexpectedly stepped into icy water up to their necks.
The ship of dreams vanished, disappeared as it sank into the sea.
In its place emerged a nightmare.
The sinking of the “unsinkable” Titanic was not the end of the story for the 2207 passengers, plus the crew. It was the beginning of an unforgettable event that changed history, changed culture. There were only a few hundred saved in the 20 lifeboats. Not only were hundreds and hundreds of souls lost that night, but the event touched people throughout the world. Each person had family, friends, acquaintances and their lives too were touched and changed. Being saved was not the end, but the beginning for those who struggled not just to survive, but to live again.
Read this incredible story of
ONE SHIP… TWO FAMILIES… THREE GENERATIONS.


EXCLUSIVE MATERIAL FROM YVONNE FOR THE SCAVENGER HUNT:

 

Interview with the heroine of Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the Titanic
1. My name is Lydia Beaumont. Others behave and speak as if the most interesting thing about me is that I’m heiress to the Beaumont Railroad Company and my father is fabulously rich. However, I think the most interesting is that I’m sailing on the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built and am on my way to America where I expect my life to really begin. And yet, if anyone else knew the secret known only to me, I suspect that would be of incredible interest.
2.  What do you do for fun?
Before John, I was escorted by Craven to the finest establishments in cities like London and Paris. After John, fun was escaping from those who watched my every move, and sneaking out to run around town with friends as if I were a commoner. Now that I’ve matured considerably in the past few weeks, nothing is more fun than exploring this ship with John or just talking and laughing with him.
3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?
I dread revealing my secret because if it were something that would not cause distress, decisions, and uncertainty to many, then it would not be a secret.
4.  What are you afraid of most in life?
Never being free to live and love the way I want, but having my life dictated by others.
5.  What do you want out of life?
What I want most is to marry John and live happily ever after.
6.  What is the most important thing to you?
            Marrying John.
7.  Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
Oh yes, my favorite book is a best-selling one titled Once Upon an English Garden. The author is aboard this ship, in second-class unfortunately but that doesn’t bother John. The two of them have become friends.
8.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about me it would be my former naïveté about my own susceptibility to temptation which led to indiscretion.
9.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
Why have a pet when you, yourself, are a pet to your own father, eligible and ineligible bachelors, friends of the family, servants, governesses, tutors, and guards. In a sense, I feel like a pet who is pampered and trained and has every moment scheduled. If I want something fetched I simply speak to a servant and I never fear any disobedience. Were I to have a pet however, I think it would be a little songbird in a cage, so I could set him free.
10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
Oh, when one is in a palace on the sea, aboard the grandest ship ever built, one simply could not desire to travel elsewhere. We sail on a glassy smooth sea, with only hope and beauty ahead of us and my dear love is walking toward me. The grandeur of this ship is a world of its own. I cannot imagine traveling back from this or being more fortunate than to be aboard this magnificent “unsinkable” ship of dreams.

You can pick up a copy of Yvonne’s book at
Amazon,
Barnes & Noble,
ChristianBook.com
or your local bookstore.
Find out more about Yvonne at her website.

THE SCAVENGER HUNT SKINNY:

Now mosey along, Hunters, to STOP #20 Sibella Giorello, (sibellagiorello.blogspot.com), to pick up your next clue.

But before you go, write down this STOP #19 clue: enough

BONUS: As an added treat, subscribe to my free “Book Buddy” newsletter to be entered to win a free Restorer book bag. To subscribe, visit the first page of my website, and enter your name and email in the Book Buddy sign-up in the right hand column. Then leave a comment here so I know you entered! Have fun!

Blessings,
Sharon Hinck

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Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt

Like Christian fiction? There’s a fun event coming up…I’m part of a scavenger hunt for upcoming or just-released novels from some of your favorite authors, including exclusive content from each one.

Make the rounds to 25 blog stops, fill out a form (that will be posted on 5/31), and you could win 25+ new novels!

The scavenger hunt runs from 5/31-6/4 noon MST.

Authors taking part: Judy Baer * Lisa T. Bergren * Colleen Coble * Carol Cox * Margaret Daley * Sibella Giorello * Winnie Griggs * Robin Lee Hatcher * Rachel Hauck * Tracy Higley * Sharon Hinck * Angela Hunt * Jenny B. Jones * Maureen Lang * R.J. Larson * Yvonne Lehman * Bonnie Leon * Gail Gaymer Martin * Nancy Mehl * DiAnn Mills * Marta Perry * Cara Putman * Deborah Raney * Kim Vogel Sawyer * Janice Thompson

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