Shannon here: Barbara M. Britton shares her inspiration for her latest Contemporary Romance, Escape to Whispering Creek. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for winner’s choice of a print (U.S. only) or e-book copy. Deadline: April 19th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Barbara:
Loving “The Rock”
Many years ago, there was a fad about owning a pet rock. Fads come and go, but the cool-rock-fad was resurrected recently with people painting rocks to place in their yard. It’s fun to have a pet rock with googly eyes or a fuchsia rock in your garden, but the rock that really matters is Jesus.
In Escape to Whispering Creek, my heroine Emma has a special rock that contains her favorite Bible verse. Emma cherishes this rock because she made it in Sunday School. Emma’s parents do not go to church, so Emma relies on her best friend and her church community to help her grow in her knowledge of Jesus.
What is Emma’s favorite verse? Psalm 18:2a, The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
Why does Emma cherish only a portion of that verse? Well, it has to fit on a rock beneath a cactus for the Sunday School project. Emma recites this Scripture over and over as her fictional world is filled with chaos.
Our world can be filled with concern and worry too. The rest of Psalm 18:2 states:
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
When we have a relationship with Jesus, we have the certainty that He will be with us in good times and trying times. We have the Holy Spirt to comfort and guide us. We also have God’s Word filled with verses to encourage our hearts. Prayer gives us a direct line to share our worries with Jesus. We also have the church community to sustain us with practical support and prayer support during our troubles.
The Christian life isn’t always easy. Emma learns this during her story trials. She’s honest about the struggles.
Excerpt from Escape to Whispering Creek by Barbara M. Britton:
Sam linked her arm. “Jesus is our rock. He’ll give us wisdom and protection.”
“I know.” Emma forced a smile. “It’s just that with this scandal, it seems there are a few pebbles between my feet and the rock. I get an unsteady feeling. Like I’m reaching for God and He’s backing away.”
“Those pebbles are in your imagination. God knows every detail of what is happening in your life. Satan might be pitching fast balls, but God’s got an enormous glove and perfect reflexes.”
Emma laughed. “Spoken by a teacher who pulled recess duty.”
“Remember when Mr. Ted would put a dime in his hand and let our Sunday school class try to get it out of his fist?” Sam tilted her head and gave a you-know-this eyebrow raise.
“We never got the dime out of his hand, and no one can snatch us out of Jesus’ hand. Mr. Ted made sure we knew that truth.” She halted near the end of the hallway. “It’s just living that truth is harder than hearing it.”
I hope you know that no matter what life brings you, Jesus is your rock. You may feel those pebbles that Emma referenced, but you have solid footing with Jesus.
Emma holds tightly to Jesus and her faith during her troubles. She also falls in love with a god-fearing man—Wade.
When we pray to the Lord in good times and bad, we can fulfill what is written in First Thessalonians 5:17, pray without ceasing. And that verse is short enough to write on a colorful rock.
Question for Readers: What is your favorite Bible verse that you have memorized?
About Barbara: Barbara M. Britton lives in Southeast Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes Christian Fiction from Bible Times to Modern Day USA. Barbara has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. Learn more & connect:
Barbara’s Website Barbara’s Twitter/X
Barbara’s Facebook Barbara’s Instagram.
About the book – Escape to Whispering Creek:
Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors’ money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend’ s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up… until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?
Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade’ s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he’s come to love in danger.
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Come back April 9th for Heidi Main!
Thanks for having me back on the blog, Shannon. I enjoy being here.
Hosea 6:3 provides my daily marching orders. “Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; His going out is sure as the dawn, he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.“
Hi Dana. That’s a great verse. I don’t think I could recite a verse from Hosea. Thanks for joining us.
Glad to have you here, Barbara. My favorite memorized verse is Romans 10:9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
That’s a wonderful verse and the end to the Romans Road Gospel.
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10
What an inspirational blog. Thank you for sharing it. I have two favorite verses. Matthew 22: 37 -39 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Hi Gail. It’s great seeing you here. You chose some amazing verses. Thanks for joining us.
Beautiful post and so true about Jesus being our rock.
Thanks for sharing
Good luck and God’s blessings
PamT
God’s blessings to you too, Pam. I’m happy that you joined us.
I know the book’s a winner! Cheers
Thank you so much, Marilyn. I appreciate you being here with us.
Wonderful post, Barbara. There is a trend around here, maybe where you live too, of kids painting rocks and leaving them places for others to find. The hope is that people will take them to far away places and email photos of where they left them. But I think most people just keep the ones they find.
I loved your book!
Thank you for the kind words about my novel. I loved writing about Emma’s spunk.
I have seen the brightly painted rocks. They are cute in a garden.
Thanks for joining us, Jean.
Thanks for an interesting post. It sounds like a really interesting book.
Thank you, Diana. Emma goes through a lot, but with God and good friends, she gets her happily-ever-after. Thanks for being here.
Isaiah 41:13 – “For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you'”.
Hi Natalya! I like your verse. We need to remember that God doesn’t leave us. That is so comforting. It’s good to see you.
Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Amen! What a wonderful verse, Cherie. Jesus is our only hope. Thank you for joining us.
I have a winner! Cherie J. won the drawing. I appreciate Barbara for being my guest and everyone else for stopping by.
Congratulations Cherie! It’s always good to be here with you Shannon.