Author: Katie Ganshert

I write Christian romance and my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, releases in May, 2012 through Waterbrook Press (a division of Random House).

Wanderers, Captives, the Sick and Storm-Tossed

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

At any time in your life, or perhaps even now, could you place yourself in one of these categories?

Perhaps you’ve felt like a wanderer in the desert, miles and miles away from the tiniest glimpse of the promised land.

Or chained in captivity, like a prisoner. Addiction or shame is the iron shackled to your wrists and ankles.

Maybe you’ve battled illness or maybe you feel like a storm-tossed sailor, even though your feet stand on dry ground.

Let’s park our weary souls in Psalm 107 and soak in an ocean of grace.

The wanderer in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, cries out in trouble…

“Lord, help!”

And he rescued them from their distress.

For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (v. 4-9)

Friends, if you’re feeling hungry and thirsty for something deeper and bigger than food and drink, do you know where to go?

Jesus is living water and the bread of life.

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ~John 4:13-14

The captive sitting in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in chains of misery, cries out in trouble…

“Lord, help!”

And he saved them from their distress.

He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom. He snapped their chains….He broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron. (v. 10-16)

Friends, if you find yourself in bondage, yearning for freedom from a cycle of self-destruction, do you know where to go?

 Jesus is our escape.

In my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and set me free. ~Psalm 118:5

The one afflicted with illness, knocking on death’s door, cries out in trouble…

“Lord, help!”

And he saved them from their distress.

He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. (v 18-22)

Friends, if you are sick and afflicted, desperate for new life, do you know where to go?

Jesus is resurrection and life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” ~John 11:25

The one tossed about in the raging storms of life cries out in trouble…

“Lord, help!”

And he saved them from their distress.

He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves as he brought them safely into harbor. (v. 23-32)

Friends, if you are stuck in a storm too big to navigate through, do you know where to go?

Jesus is refuge and strength.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ~Isaiah 50:15

There is hope in Him.

He’s with you in the desert and He’s with you when you cross the Jordan.

He’s with you in captivity and He’s with you in freedom.

He’s with you in sickness and He’s with you in health.

He’s with you when the seas are raging and He’s with you when they are calm.

He is with you.

And there is hope.

Let’s Talk: Which of these four can you relate to the most?

Join me over at A Road to Here: Encouragement for Adoptive Moms as I talk about the concept of being blessed.

The Time Keeper: A NYT Best Selling Experiment

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Wow. Talk about choosing an excellent first book for my NYT Bestselling Experiment!

I picked up The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom from the library last Monday evening and was already itching to vlog about it by bedtime.

Remember, these reviews are solely based off the first 50 pages. I can’t speak for the rest of the book.

A Review for Readers:

Video Cliffs Notes:

  • This is a story about the first man to measure time and the repercussions of such a choice, not just for him, but for every person who came after.
  • You know a story is good when you are super tired and you think you’ll just read a couple pages before bed, but those couple pages turn into 50, and all of a sudden you are wide awake.
  • The premise is engaging. Trying to imagine a world in which we don’t keep track of time gets our imaginations buzzing right away.
  • After reading the opening I had to stop and share it with my husband.
  • The chapters are super short (1-3 pages), which makes it all too easy to read another, then another, then another….
  • The language is very simple, reading almost like a kid’s fairytale, but it packs a profound punch.
  • If secular books make you nervous because of language issues, rest assured, this book is clean.

A Review for Writers:

Video Cliffs Notes:

  • Confirmed everything I’m learning in craft books.
  • The story is built on an intriguing premise with a broad appeal. I don’t know anybody who doesn’t wish for more time, especially writers!
  • The first two pages not only hooked me, but elicited questions that could only be answered if I kept reading. 
  • The end of each chapter propelled me into the next, so putting it down was an act of sheer willpower.
  • The characters grabbed my sympathies right off the bat.

Memorable Snippets:

If one were recording history, one might write that at the moment man invented the world’s first clock, his wife was alone, softly crying, while he was consumed by the count.

“There is a reason God limits our days.”
“Why?”
“To make each one precious.”

There was always a quest for more minutes, more hours, faster progress to accomplish more in each day. The simple joy of living between sunrises was gone.

Verdict?

I cannot wait to keep reading this one. In fact, by the time this post goes live, I won’t be surprised if I’ve already finished. (Yep, I finished. And it’s awesome.)

Next book in the NYT best selling experiment?

Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling

It’s on hold at the library. I think I’m in for a wait.

Let’s Talk: Imagine a world without clocks. Chaos or freedom?

Friday Faves

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Chin-Grabbers for Everyone:

  • Musings on Weariness and Restlby Amy

    Ever feel like there’s too much on your plate? Or like you’re being buried beneath all the demands and expectations life tends to heap on the old shoulders? Then this is where you need to park yourself today! I found it to be a much-needed shot of honesty and encouragement.

  •  Cracked Out: It Can Happen to Anyonelby Jessica R. Path

    “Doing something for God’s glory doesn’t replace spending time in God’s glory.” Can I get a resounding Amen? Jessica discusses how easy it is to become like cracked, bleeding skin–not just in the valleys, but on the mountain tops too. For me, that’s where I’m most prone to drying out.

  •  8 Reasons Why Waiting is Hardlby Wendy Paine Miller

    This post was genius. I think all of us can identify with at least one of these eight ladies.

 Chin-Grabbers for Writers:

  •  Manners Matter: 13 Etiquette Tipslby Rachelle Gardner

    Easy-to-follow tips that will not only make you look good, but following them will make the lives of the people around you easier.

  •  There is No Time for Despairlby Rachelle Gardner

    Some good news/bad news in the world of publishing, plus some valuable parting wisdom from a knowledgeable literary agent.

  • Revisions Day One: The Read Through by best-selling author of the popular dystopian trilogy, Divergent

    I loved reading about this young author’s behind-the-scenes editing process. I especially love the helpful questions she asks!

Wishing you a fabulous Friday!