Vanessa Riley
Enter to win Vanessa Riley's new release,
Madeline's Protector
Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter.
I met Vanessa through the ACFW loop. Sharon Lavy mentioned her new book, Madeline's Protector, released April of this year. When I wrote to her, she shared this amazing writing journey God has led her on. I just had to ask her to share this with you:
Even God Can
Use a Chamber Pot
One of my favorite scenes in my debut
novel, Madeline's Protector, takes
place after heroine, Madeline St. James, has been shot and reforming rake
hero, Justain Delveaux, works to stop the bleeding to keep her alive.
"Your
eyes, like a knight’s or a beautiful marble warrior." She pulled his hand
to her chin, modeling what Mrs. Wilkins always did to encourage her. "God’s
made you the vessel to protect me."
"A
vessel? Like a flowery vase?" He scowled for a moment. "Even
Providence could employ a chamber pot. I’ll not abandon your trust."
Justain believes his past disqualifies him. Those nay-saying
voices are in his head, replaying every failure, every attempt at doing the
right thing, which has gone awry.
Have you had those moments, when you feel your past disqualifies
or rejects you? No way can I do grand things because:
I once failed ….
If I hadn't tried to ….
Why didn't I know….
How could I have ….
Even now when I write a new storyline, there's a sharp pain of anxiety. My heart and mind race as if I balanced on the edge of a cliff. Until I type those words, 'the end,' part of me is wondering: will this plot work? Will my readers love this character? Will this book succeed? Will I succeed?
For my poor Justain, he's locked in a constant battle
of measuring if he's good enough. Worse, he's internalizes the negatives and
allows it to define him. In his own eyes, he is nothing more than a toilet, a
chamber pot.
For those who struggle with acceptance, let me tell
you about a man, who by every right was king, but chose to hang with the most
unworthy in society, thieves and liars. He stopped and minister to adulterers
and cheats. He even invited a condemned man to dine with Him in paradise. In
fact, He spread His arms wide and shed His blood to free
you from shame and sin.
It's not easy to lay down burdens. Some of us may have
even gotten so comfortable with the old gripes, we wouldn't know what to do, if
we truly believed God made the old things pass away. Just know:
You are a new creature in Christ.
Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new.
(2
Corinthians 5:17)
You are no longer a slave, but a child and an heir of
God.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and
if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. (Galatians 4:7).
You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God.
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (Ephesians 1:4).
You are God’s workmanship created to produce good
works.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2:10)
Remember, you are worthy, the works
of your hand are worthy, for God has made you worthy.
Even as she pursued engineering degrees, Vanessa Riley's love of 19th century history yielded a hunger to take as many Western Civilization credits as possible (two classes shy of a minor). Vanessa adores Regency times with its conflicts between Church and State, the clash of the classes, and the sweeping romances.
Her mission is to have the world fall in love with powerful Regency heroes and heroines who battle for peace with a flintlock and a prayer. Vanessa writes from the comfort of her southern porch with a cup of Earl Grey or Cinnamon Spice.
Madeline's Protector
If all young men leapt off a cliff, Madeline St. James wouldn’t care. Yet a chance meeting and a bullet wound change everything. She must trust that the Good Shepherd has led her to marry a dashing stranger, Lord Devonshire. Can they forge a true bond before the next disaster strikes?
Madeline's Protector can be purchased at BN, Amazon, CBD:
Vanessa Riley
April 2013 – Madeline’s Protector, Pelican Books –See the Trailer: Part 1
To enter the contest for an autographed copy of Vanessa Riley's book: "Madeline's Protector":
leave a comment (and email address)
and become a follower of this site if you aren't already.
U.S. residents only.
Winner announced on my facebook page.
Thank you, Vanessa, for Joining us This Weekend!
Reader, how about you? Has there been a time when God showed you His tremendous love or His desire to use you for His service--just the way you are?
Comments
Barbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a follower and subscriber.
And you definitely are worthy. So happy you have felt the peace.
Thanks for posting.
Cynthia
Keeroga(at)yahoo(dot)com
If God sees the same vessel as you, then you can rest assured He loves you so tremendously that He is willing to help you through whatever you are experiencing. You are something beautiful to Him.
If you view your question as the vessel you are to become, God is ready to help you develop into the shiny vessel He sees because He loves you so very much.
As Vanessa quoted from Scripture: You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.
Love yah, sis.
So glad you stopped by today.