Category: Katie Ganshert

Suffering

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28
d
I have to tell you, this verse used to confuse the crud out of me. I’d hear well-intentioned Christians quote it at each other and my forehead would go all wrinkly.
s
Because in reality, Christians suffer. They lose their jobs. Or get cancer. Or struggle through infertility. Or find out their child needs a new heart. Or (insert any number of bad things here).
s
And the whole idea of patting their shoulder and saying, “Don’t worry. God will work this out for your good” feels a little insensitive to me.
s
Especially since sometimes, another job doesn’t come and they have to foreclose on their house. Sometimes the cancer wins. Sometimes they’ll never get a positive pregnancy test. And sometimes the child doesn’t get a heart.
s
So how can we possibly say God’s working for their good? It doesn’t make any sense.
s
At least not by our definition of good.
s
And there’s the crux of the verse. That one simple word.

What is good?

We know the world’s definition. To the world, good equals comfort. Good equals prosperity and health and popularity and independence and getting what we want.
But maybe that’s not what good means to God.
s
Maybe to God, good means becoming more like Jesus. Relying more on Jesus.

And maybe that doesn’t happen during times of prosperity. Maybe it’s during those times of discomfort, or financial struggle, or failing health, or rejection, or grief, or unmet expectations, when we take our eyes off the temporary things this world has to offer and draw nearer to Him.

Let’s Talk:What do you think God means by “good”? Have you grown closer to the Lord because of hard times?

removetweetmeme

The Facebook Page

Posted on by Katie Ganshert
Do you think a Facebook Page can be used to build a readership? Or is it mainly a place for pre-established readers to interact with the author? And while I’m asking questions, what’s the best way for an author to use a Facebook page?

Because I don’t think I utilize mine like I should.

I mean, I link to blog posts and I post exciting news whenever I have something to share. But after that, I’m sort of stumped. Do I get personal? Do I stick to my writing journey? Do I post things on my page that I’ve already posted on my personal account?

Ideally, I want my page to be a place where I can have a conversation with readers. A place where I can get to know them and they can get to know me. A place where we can all chat. Only I’m not sure how to go about accomplishing that.

So while I ponder these big questions and try to figure out what to do with my page, I like to watch what others are doing. Because I think a lot of authors use their Facebook Page well. Like Wendy Paine Miller. She does a great job stimulating conversation, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s ever checked out her Moving Thoughts Friday posts.

Then there are authors like Karen Kingsbury, a publishing power house. And well, the interaction she gets on her page is pretty mind-blowing. Of course it helps that she’s crazy-prolific and has a gigantic fanbase, but still. She engages with her readers. And she shares just as many personal updates as she does writing-related ones. So what do you think? Is she onto something here?

So whadaya say? Why don’t we get this conversation started?

Let’s Talk: What’s the point of a Facebook Page? Do you have one? If so, give me a link! I’d love to check it out. And while we’re at it, how do you use your page? Or maybe tell me what you hope to accomplish with it.

If you’d like to drop by my Facebook Page and say hi, I’d love to see you! You can find me here.

removetweetmeme

Romance and the Bible

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Those words aren’t paired together too often. Yet whether you know it or not, the Bible is filled with romantic tales. And some of those tales are downright steamy.

We’ve got…

Adam and Eve
God created Eve for Adam. If that isn’t the definition of soul mates, I don’t know what is.

Rebecca and Isaac
A beautiful story of love at first sight.

Jacob, Leah, Rachel
One of history’s oldest recorded love triangles. With a twist. Instead of a woman choosing between two men, we have a man torn between two women.

Samson and Delilah
A story of deception and betrayal.

David and Bathsheba
The epitome of forbidden lust. With devastating consequences.

Ruth and Boaz
Ruth would get along well in our modern-day world. Because in this story, she’s the one who does the pursuing. And guess what? God blesses her boldness.

Esther and King Ahasuerus
Think Prince William and Kate’s story, only on steroids. A commoner marries royalty, but instead of happily ever after, she must use the king’s favor to rescue her people from death.

Hosea and Gomer
The Biblical version of Pretty Woman. A story of a man burdened with love for a fallen woman. The prophet and the prostitute.

Joseph and Mary
They fall in love. Get engaged. Mary gets pregnant. Only it’s not Joseph’s child. Then an angel appears and the story goes all paranormal.

Song of Songs
An entire book of the Bible written between two lovers. It drips with passion. In fact, anyone who thinks Christianity is a prude religion must have skipped this book.

How handsome you are, my beloved! Oh, how charming! And our bed is verdant.
Song of Songs 1:16

Brief vocabulary lesson. Verdant means green. Green symbolizes life. You make the inference.

Jesus and His Bride
Battered. Bruised. Broken. Marred with scars. Covered in filth. Yet Jesus looks upon her with so much love, so much yearning, so much passion, He lays down His life to rescue her.

Let’s Talk: Do you think of the Bible as romantic? Why or why not? Did I leave out some stories that should be included in the list?removetweetmeme