Holly Michael's Writing Straight

~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life's Crooked Lines by Author Holly Michael

Holly Michael's Writing Straight

Tag Archives: The Guardian’s Promise

Author Christina Rich and The Guardian’s Promise

01 Saturday Mar 2014

Posted by Holly Michael in Books, Christianity, Inspiration

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Blog, Christianity, Christina Rich, Faith, Holly Michael, Inspirational Books, Love Inspired Historical, The Guardian's Promise, www.writingstraight.com

1526172_645045618875647_1370039046_nAuthor Christina Rich’s book, The Guardian’s Promise has been released today: March 1st.

Very happy for Christina, a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. I’m thrilled to have this up-and-coming author on my blog today. Christina will share a little bit about her faith walk and also about her soon to be best-selling novel: The Guardian’s Promise. Take it away Christina Rich:

20140227_112031There was a time when being a Christian meant I had to go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and every other day church was open. It meant I wore skirts. It meant I bowed my head and closed my eyes when I prayed. It meant reciting the sinner’s prayer every time I heard it and asking for forgiveness for all the things I had already repented.

To me, being a Christian was a bunch of rules and regulations. It was filled with the how tos and the how not tos.

Remember the Samaritan woman at the well? She came to draw water from the well and met Jesus. We all know how the story goes. Jesus asks her for a drink of water, which was akin to him asking for water from a leper. It just wasn’t done. And then, if that wasn’t enough, Jesus tells her that she should be asking him for a drink of water. Whoa! This poor woman, no doubt, about fell over. But it gets better. Jesus informs her of her indiscretions, as if she didn’t know. Surely this women is in awe. Who wouldn’t be?

But she realizes Jesus is a prophet, and maybe if she allowed herself to hope a little, he was the Messiah. But she couldn’t hope, because if he was then that meant she could never drink from the cup he offered. Not only is she a Samaritan, but…

Our fathers worshiped in this mountain; and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.

In essence, your rules, your laws will not allow me to worship you, Lord because I must worship here, while you are in Zion.

No, she didn’t say that, but I quite imagine her line of thought followed in a similar vein. I can also imagine:

Jesus dipped his chin to hide a smile. My dear, dear woman, do you not understand? “Believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you know not,: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.”

Her cheeks turned rosy with shame. Disappointment burdened her heart.

“But an hour will come, even now, when true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Gathering courage to speak, she inhaled a shuddering breath. “I know that Messiah will come, who is called Christ: when he comes, he will tell us all things.”

Jesus squeezed the tassels of his tallit in his hand. Father, thank you for times such as this. “I am he.” (Based off John 4)

Ari, the hero in The Guardian’s Promise, was raised a Levite. Much of his life was dedicated to studying the law. It was filled with rituals and rules, but then Athaliah came into power and destroyed the temple. Altars all over Judah were destroyed. His way of life changed. The loss of the temple represented losing God. Ari struggles with the loss and often wonders if God forgot about him.

9780373282579 OfficialThis is one of my favorite scenes from The Guardian’s Promise.

A soft breeze rustled his garments, bringing with it the sweet smell of the henna blossoms hedged around the vineyards. He saw Mira, pure and innocent, in his mind’s eye, leaning over one of the small flowers inhaling the scent just as she had earlier in the day. His life’s blood quickened with the need to touch her fingertips. To press his lips to her brow. If only for a second.

Ari gripped the neck of his tunic in anguish and threatened to rend the garment in two. Even when Jehoiada sent word of his imminent freedom, Ari knew he could never return to the temple and the duties he’d held before Athaliah’s murderous rampage. Life as he had known it had ceased to exist when he had left the gates of Jerusalem. And as hard as it had been to abandon his beloved city with all haste in her time of trouble, it would be even more difficult to leave this village and the friends he’d made.

Blowing out a breath of air, Ari released the fabric and prayed for peace to settle his anxious heart. Although he had not forgotten even one day to meditate on the Lord’s law, at times he doubted whether God had remembered him. Had the Lord abandoned him altogether? Had the Lord forgotten Joash? Had the Lord forgotten His covenant with King David?

“Do you remember your promise to David, Lord? ‘Your house and your kingship shall ever be secure before you, your throne shall be established for evermore.’” He shook his fist at the heavens before bowing his head in remorse.

Questioning God’s faithfulness did not set well in his soul. He knew once the questioning began, it would soon fester and eat away at his heart. Ari fought the urge to bury his face into his hands. Instead, he stared into the great void and waited for some sort of reprimand from God Himself.

The quiet was only interrupted by the bleating of a goat. Still, he waited, for God’s peace to cloak him. Just as he was about to give up and seek his sleep, a star streaked across his vision and faded into the dark night. He recalled a psalm memorized from childhood.

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

If the Most High, in all of His greatness, cared to name even the stars and knew their number, would He not remember Ari?

“Forgive me. The unknown is like torment.” He paused. “If You hear me, O Lord,” his voice a mere whisper to his own ears, “grant me Thy guidance. Thy wisdom. Courage. I am Your servant, Most High, humbled before You.” Whether bound to another man’s house or in freedom. He inhaled the warm, henna-scented night air. An ache throbbed in his chest at the fragrance so much a part of Mira. Could he love her? Could she love him? Of course, it did not matter if God did not will it. Closing his eyes, he bowed his head. “I will go where You lead.”

God spoke to Ari in such a clear, yet gentle manner. How like God. In what seemed liked Ari’s most trying time, when God seemed so far away, He was showing Ari that worship wasn’t about burnt offerings and sacrifice, it about a relationship in truth and in spirit.

***

Thank you Christina,

For a great historical, inspirational read, I highly recommend: The Guardian’s Promise by this very talented author, Christina Rich.

Her second novel, The Warrior’s Vow will be released in July 2014 by Love Inspired Historical

Blog: threefoldstrand.com

Christina’s Facebook

Share this:

  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Print
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Tumblr
  • LinkedIn

Like this:

Like Loading...

Scan to purchase Crooked Lines

QR Code
Get your e-book signed by Holly Michael

Pages

  • About
  • CROOKED LINES, A NOVEL by Holly Michael
  • SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER. WHY NOT?

Holly Michael

Top Posts & Pages

  • CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT RECEIVING. IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU! Seriously.
  • Laboring for Love
  • Off Season
  • Coach Kubiak-God Sends Leaders
  • Don't Look Back
  • Last Day of Advent - Christmas Eve
  • Advent Day 24 - Give
  • Advent 23 - Surrender
  • Advent Day 22 - Light
  • 4th Sunday in Advent - Rejoice

Categories

  • 16 Chapters to Christmas
  • A to Z Challenge
  • Advent
  • Award
  • Best Web Sites for Writers
  • Betsy Byrne
  • Blank Pages
  • Book Marketing
  • Books
  • Christianity
  • Christmas
  • Crooked Lines
  • Diabetes
  • Family
  • First and Goal
  • Football
  • Guest Author
  • Guest Blogger
  • Guest Blogging
  • Holly Michael's New Releases
  • Holy Catholic Church – Anglican Rite
  • India
  • India's Crown
  • Inspiration
  • Jake Byrne
  • Journeys: In Writing and Life
  • kim moore
  • Kyani
  • Monday's Connections
  • Nick Byrne
  • Photography
  • Prayer Request
  • Prayers Needed
  • Social Media Information
  • To His Glory
  • Travel
  • tsunami 2004
  • type 1 diabetes
  • type one
  • type one diabetes
  • type won
  • Weekly Book Review
  • Writing

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 4,557 other followers

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Author Page

Subscribe

RSS Feed RSS - Posts

RSS Feed RSS - Comments

Facebook

Holly Michael

Create Your Badge

Holly Michael

  • Hi, neighbor 👋! Want to learn more about the latest market trends 📈, real estate developments 🏡, and lifestyle ins… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
  • Hi, neighbor 👋! Want to learn more about the latest market trends 📈, real estate developments 🏡, and lifestyle ins… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
  • Hi, neighbor 👋! Want to learn more about the latest market trends 📈, real estate developments 🏡, and lifestyle ins… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
  • facebook.com/story.php?stor… 1 year ago
  • Cant believe it’s been this long...In 2004, Leo Michael and I were in South India immediately following the tsunami… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
Follow @hollymichael


Get Follow Me Buttons

Me

Holly Michael

Holly Michael

Done this: Regular freelance ghostwriter and online editor for Guideposts for Teens/Sweet 16 Magazine, creator/editor of a magazine for Wal-Mart Corp., journalist, newspaper features writer, published in a variety of national magazines and local newspapers, script writing/editing for corporations. Doing this now: author of fiction and nonfiction, blogger, and editor of Koinonia Magazine. I’m the wife of Rt. Rev. Leo Michael, an Anglican Bishop in the Holy Catholic Church-Anglican Rite. Mom to three great kids: Nick (#81 Rajin Cajuns), Betsy (Super cute professor) and Jake (T1D & NFL player) Also, enjoy my travels extensively across the United States and internationally.

View Full Profile →

Reviews from Goodreads.com

Goodreads

Blogroll

  • Discuss
  • Get Inspired
  • Get Polling
  • Get Support
  • Kristen Lamb's Blog
  • Learn WordPress.com
  • Rasana Atreya
  • Rich Maffeo
  • The Bookshelf Muse
  • WordPress Planet
  • WordPress.com News
March 2021
S M T W T F S
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031  
« Dec    

Blog Stats

  • 73,564 hits

ACFW


American Christian Fiction Writers

Contact by email

hjmichael at sbcglobal dot net

Pinterest

Follow Me on Pinterest

Autographed Copy of First and Goal By Jake Byrne

https://en.support.wordpress.com/paypal/

NaNoWriMo 2012 Winner!

Kreativ Blogger Award

V B Award

versatileblogger11
ChristianBloggers.spruz.com Badge, This badge may be displayed on the blogs and websites that are listed in our directory.
Inspired Reads
NetworkedBlogs
Blog:
Holly Michael writing straight
Topics:
Novelist, Editor, Author
 
Follow my blog

MY COMMUNITY



Blogs I Follow

Blog at WordPress.com.

Redwood's Medical Edge

Medical Fact for your Fiction

The Kingdom

Here Be Dragons, Here Be Dreams

Truth in Fiction

Meet the story behind the story

Prayerlogue

Prayers, Devotionals, Meditations, Bible Studies

ultimatemindsettoday

A great WordPress.com site

Attila Ovari

It's a Girl Thing.

I over-analyze. But hopefully it's endearing.

Making Time For Me

Mom and Wife just Trying to Make Time for Herself in this Crazy Life

Our Day's Encounter

Just another WordPress.com site

CopyGhosting

Copywriting, ghostwriting, editing, proofreading, script doctoring, digital marketing, crowdfunding, training & mentoring services

Josh Prather

God. Life. Family.

Kimberly Mungle

Learning and Development Professional

The Relentless Pursuit

One pilgrim's quest for authentic faith and some reflections on the journey.

The Deepest Love

Pastor Mak

A Pastor's Ponderings and Such

Servant Leader Life

Walking with Jesus, Leading like Jesus

Prayerfully Yours

Thoughts on Prayer

A Sacred Conspiracy

To conspire... act in harmony toward a common or agreed upon end. God wants to conspire with us [and] this means that God calls us to give our lives to God, to surrender completely, so we may live more fully. Dallas Willard

ombiaiinterijeri

All things nice

Hanna Caroline

Holder of my Heart.

Top of JC's Mind

eclectic, like me

Hugh's Views & News  

A man with dyslexia writing about this and that and everything else!

Annie Rim

Reflections from My Lanai

Photography and Writing as Spiritual Practices

Seeing God At Work Every Day

David Dendy invites you to join the challenge of seeing God at work every day...

Interrupting the Silence

An Episcopal Priest's Sermons, Prayers, and Reflections on Life, Becoming Human, and Discovering Our Divinity

You're not getting any younger

A single Christian feminist woman trapped in a well-meaning family-orientated church system

dragonflydanele

Articles, Interviews, and Book Reviews by Danele Rotharmel the Author of The Time Counselor Chronicles

Melissa G. Henderson

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

For the Love of His Truth

A Christian Blog about Fundamental Biblical Facts

OneReality1

Meeting my family

RESEARCHING MY FAMILY TREE

i dwell in possibilities

encouragement for the journey

Deeper Roots

"You will take root below and bear fruit above" 2 Kings 19:30

styledbyryn.wordpress.com/

Empowering those to be beautiful...

musings by melina

Walk with a Christian homeschooling mother of 11

Mere Whispers

These are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him . . .

A Glimpse of Starlight

finding the light beyond the clouds

MNBernard Books

Book Reviews & Literary Discussions

Spiritual Formation Center

AWAKENING TO THE DIVINE PRESENCE IN THE WORLD

Pushing a Feather

They say writing is just pushing a feather...

Be Holy!

Striving for holiness with a Catholic heart.

Daniel Ogle

Natalie D Wilson

Independent Author

Raspberryman

Welcome to Raspberryman. I hope you will find in these words and books inspiration, some entertainment, and ideas to find grace in the world today.

Elijah Stevens

Teacher, Mentor, Coach, Writer

the beautiful changes...

...in such kind ways...

Apprentice 2 Jesus

An Anglicostal Connecting to a Real World

catholicpsychdoc

Catholic-without compromise

Advent Journey

Finding Christ each day

Cancel

 
Loading Comments...
Comment
    ×
    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
    %d bloggers like this: