Tag: new book

Bible, Book Review, Books, Christian blog, Christian publishing, Christian Writer, Faith, Kingdom books

BOOK REVIEW: BLESS THE WORK OF OUR HANDS

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BLESS THE WORK OF OUR HANDS Prayers and Reflections for Creatives

Author: Jane Walters

Published by: BRF ISBN 978-1800394186 RRP £9.99 – £12.99 144pp

Image of the front cover of the book, with the title and sub-title in gold on a dark green background, surrounded by gold leaves

BLURB

Pausing to think, pray and yield to God at every stage is a natural, vital element of the creative process. Bless the Work of Our Hands offers prayers, reflections, and biblical character studies to encourage Christian creatives to commit themselves and their projects to God. Written for hobbyists and paid professionals alike, playing and working in every genre, it encourages an honest, open-handed and open-hearted approach, in order that all we produce and all that we become from our creative toil may bring glory to God.

MY REVIEW

My first impression as I unwrapped my copy of Bless the Work of Our Hands was just how lovely the cover was, and what a handy size the book came in! I was excited to look inside and was not disappointed. This truly is a beautiful little book!

I am a creative, as are all of us, in some way or other. That is no surprise, as we are made in the image of a creator God (Genesis 1:27). The drive to create and produce things of beauty and worth is there inside of us, but its outworking comes in many different ways. I love to write creatively, but I also crochet, and bake, and occasionally make things out of paper. My husband takes photos, does DIY, and designs his garden. What I love about Jane’s resource is that is for everyone – however you express your creativity, and whether you do it as a paid job, or as a pastime.

Bless the Work of Our Hands comprises of a series of beautiful prayers and reflections, underpinned by relevant scriptures and the occasional biblical character study. It addresses all of the issues we might come across as we approach a creative project – from getting started, through the messy middle and to the end, with additional thoughts on helpful topics such as; yielding to the Maker, purity of motives and dealing with failure and loneliness. Whatever stage you are at in your creative journey there is encouragement for you here, an invitation to work in partnership with God, even a challenge in places.

Several of the prayers spoke to me very personally. They are written by someone who understands, who has experience, and whose heart is to bless others. One of the overriding themes of the book, which I found useful to remember, is that our creative work mirrors the work of God in our own lives. As we strive to create something of beauty, so He is at works in us – we are His masterpieces ( Ephesians 2:10).

Here is an image of one of many prayers that blessed me…

Image of a poem from the book

I love this book – and I can see me using it over and over again. It is just the right size to slip into my craft bag or laptop case! It offers a place to pause, mid project, to re-centre ourselves and remember that God wants to work with us, and through us, to His glory. Perhaps you know a creative who would love this book as a gift? Perhaps that creative is you! I highly recommend you get yourself a copy! It is a real treasure trove.

Image of the author holding a copy of the book

Available from Amazon, Eden, Waterstones, Aslan and direct from the Publisher

Jane Walters is chair of the Association of Christian Writers and enjoys supporting emerging talent through leading workshops and retreats. Her twin loves are being creative as a musician, skilled textile craftworker, and qualified interior designer, and drawing on her love and understanding of scripture, communicating it honestly and accessibly. You can find out more about her here www.janewyattwalters.com

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power.

She has also written two non-fiction devotionals. More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

The Healing
The Pilgrim
The Bride
The Stranger
Christ Illuminated, an advent devotional
Because of the cross: a lent devotional
christian fiction, Christian Writer, Devotional thought, Kingdom books, Lessons from life, The Word of God

‘ER AR OO?’

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A couple of weeks ago we had the joy of going away for a few days with the children and grandchildren. All weekend the son-on-law was quipping about things he was doing, or we were discussing, ending up in my blog. He was right, but this one isn’t about him. I’m not sure if he will be pleased or disappointed about that! His time will come. My family are a source of endless inspiration for my blog it seems.

Photo of a small boy and small girl sitting on the fender of an old railway engine

No Escape

Being with two small people 24 hours a day is great fun but also exhausting. It was tiring enough when we were fit young parents. Now that we are not so fit and not so young, it is doubly exhausting. And there is no escape. We had forgotten that. No room is off limits to inquisitive toddlers – not our bedroom at 7 am in the morning, or the bathroom it seems.

‘Er ar oo?’

‘Nana, ‘er ar oo?’ the little one called from behind the locked bathroom door. ‘I’m here!’ I replied, hastening to finish what I had gone in there to do. There was a pause of quite a few seconds, in which I though she had given up and gone away.  In fact she had gone for reinforcements – her brother  – and then there was a crash of toy diggers against the door, and the repeated refrain,  a little louder this time. ‘Nana, ‘er ar oo?’ .

‘I’m here’, I said, also a little louder, and resigned myself to the fact that I had been discovered in my temporary hiding place. I paused before opening the door – it was necessary, to save everyone embarrassment – and in the moments it took for me to make myself relatively decent, the voice came once more, and even more insistently. ‘NANA, ‘ER AR OO?’

Just behind the door

I love my grandchildren with a fierce intensity. I love that they want to be with me, and that a closed door is no barrier when they decide to find me. We will remember that sweet little question for a long time. It made my heart swell to hear it. I wondered afterwards if she asked the question repeatedly because she couldn’t hear my reply through the locked door. Or was she just making sure that she had my attention – making sure I knew she was there and looking for me? Wanting me to come out and love on her … and play toys.

Where are You God?’

 I wonder if there are times when you go to our Heavenly Father, and call out to Him. Repeatedly perhaps. Have you ever felt that there is a locked shut door between you and Him? Or perhaps you have been listening out for His answer and not hearing it? I have experienced that. When life gets tough sometimes we become more aware of God’s presence and peace. But sometimes in those difficult times, it actually feels like He has hidden Himself away. We knock and knock, but He doesn’t seem to be listening.

I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Hebrews 13:5

The Stranger

My latest book, The Stranger, was inspired by a time in my life where I felt I had lost contact with the God who had always been there for me. I couldn’t feel His presence, I couldn’t hear His voice. There seemed to be a barrier between us, and it was awful. Despair came calling and the temptation to abandon all that I have ever believed in was very real. Where are You, God? I called. Why aren’t you stopping this pain? Why have you left me here in this pit? Do You even care?

Image shows the front cover of the book, The Stranger, by Joy Margetts. The top of the cover, with the title, is representative of parchment paper. The bottom half of the cover design is the image of a medieval pilgrim taken from a manuscript.

Just behind the door

I wrote The Stranger because I want to spread hope. The central character, Silas, goes on the same journey as I did all those years ago. God might have seemed silent and distant at the time, but I think now that He was answering my cries and I just couldn’t hear Him. Or wouldn’t hear Him. There was a huge solid wall between us. One that I had built. A seemingly closed door made up of accusation, fear, doubt, disappointment, anger and grief. When I stopped banging and yelling. When I repented for the case I had built against Him, then gently the door began to open. I began to hear Him again. First through the words of loving friends, then through the truth of His Word, and finally in the depths of my being – that still small voice that I long remembered and held dear.

I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matt 28:20

He had never abandoned me. He was just the other side of the door calling out, ‘I’m here, beloved, I’m here’.

If you would like to read Silas’ story in The Stranger, you can now buy a copy where all good books are sold, in the UK and the US. Or via my website at www.joymargetts.com.

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

‘The Stranger‘, her fourth full length novel was published 22 November 2024 by Broad Place Publishing.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here

Book Review, Books, Christian Writer, Faith, Kingdom books

BOOK REVIEW: THE PERFECT COMPANION by Jo Sheringham

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Image of front cover of The Perfect Companion, showing a silhouetted figure pushing another figure in a wheelchair, against the outline of a cathedral facade. Colours are muted pinks and greens.

A BEAUTIFUL BOOK

Sometimes a book comes across your path that is just so beautiful, that you feel honoured to be able to read it. And when you get to read it before most other people do, it is even more of an honour. I was asked by my publisher to read and potentially endorse Jo Sheringham’s book, and I was so pleased I said yes. I loved what Jo had created and this is what I wrote to endorse The Perfect Companion.

‘It is a gifted writer who can write a book that is both gentle and soothing and yet also profound and deeply soul stirring. With The Perfect Companion Jo has done just that. Amongst her lyrical descriptions of cathedral spires and nesting falcons are carefully crafted believable character studies.  She takes us inside the minds and hearts of her main protagonists; we live out the challenges to their faith walk with them, we learn from the scriptures they learn from, we see the things God reveals to them, both in the supernatural and the natural, and we share their doubts and uncertainties. This is a beautiful book, about ordinary people bring called by God to live out their faith more openly, to rely on Him more closely, to open up their hearts to those in need around them and to see God respond when they step out. I believe this book is God inspired. It speaks to us all, when we get bogged down in the ordinary, to not forget just how extraordinary we can be in God.’

ORDINARY OR EXTRA-ORDINARY?

It is a quiet kind of book. A story of an ordinary spinster woman, and those whose lives connect with hers. Of a clergyman stuck in his own ordinariness. And of a moment where God breaks in and gives them both a glimpse of something extra-ordinary, that has life-changing implications for both of them. The power of the story is that it is so relatable, and so touching. The characters are so real, you half expect to meet them walking down the street. People like you and me, going about our every day lives, with problems to face, and joys to experience. And yet always with that gentle call to live more aware of what God can do in and through our lives.

Image of back page of book with blurb text

DEEP AND PROFOUND

Although this is a fictional tale, it includes some beautiful passages that share deep and profound truth.  The book is constructed around a familiar liturgical blessing that begins  ‘Go forth into the world in peace’. In the chapter headed ‘Hold fast that which is good,’ Maggie the central character has a revelation. Whilst imaging that goodness (in this world) was something fragile that she had to fight to keep hold of she suddenly saw it differently

‘Goodness was not a trail of fraying fabric, worn out and past its best, but rather a solid handrail, pinned into rock, with practical hand grip-holds; more than enough to climb a mountain or bridge a gap. Goodness would not fail because she did. That which was good in her life was from God.’

This spoke deeply to me. God is good. All good comes from Him. Maggie could trust her handhold on goodness, because God is unfailing in His goodness. It was He she was holding on to.

Photographic image of author.

It is my privilege to highly recommend this book to you.

The Perfect Companion. Published by Instant Apostle on 15 March 2024.

Available where all good books are sold, and direct from the author at https://www.josheringham.co.uk/

Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her books are works of Christian Historical fiction. Set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, they tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. Her debut novel ‘The Healing‘ was published by Instant Apostle on 19 March 2021.

‘The Pilgrim‘, her second full length novel, was published by Instant Apostle on 22 July 2022, and her third novel, ‘The Bride‘, published on 20th October 2023. Her first non-fiction book, an Advent Devotional, ‘Christ Illuminated‘ was published in September 2023.

More information on Joy, and her books can be found here