Ordinary Women of the Bible Blog Hop

UPDATE: The winner of the grand prize (all 24 books in the Ordinary Women of the Bible series) is Mindy H. The winner of the giveaway on my blog post (a copy of Make You Feel My Love) is Amanda R.

Congratulations to both Mindy and Amanda.

Welcome to my stop! 

I was delighted—and a little intimidated—when I was asked to write one of the books in the Ordinary Women of the Bible series from Guideposts. I had written over 80 books at that time, but I’d never tackled biblical fiction before.

Now I can say without hesitation that writing Rich Beyond Measure: Zlata’s Story was one of the best experiences of my writing career. Every day was spent reading through the gospel accounts and digging deep into books that taught me about Capernaum and Jerusalem in the time of Jesus and the customs of His day.

Blog Hop Details: 

Participating is easy! Just check out each of the ten blogs listed on the main blog hop page by October 11, read what the authors have written about their books, and write down the keyword in their blog post. You don’t need to follow any particular order. When you have all ten keywords, just fill out the entry form. You’ll be entered into a drawing for all twenty-four books in the Ordinary Women of the Bible series, many of them with autographed bookplates. The drawing will be conducted on October 12, so get your entry in before then. Plus, some of the authors are giving away their own goodies, so be sure to read every post!

Now, about my book…

Rich Beyond Measure: Zlata’s Story is about the widow who gives everything she has, as described in Mark 12:41-44.

And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”
(Mark 12:41–44, NASB95)

About the book: 

After Zlata loses her parents, her husband, and her child, she is left to depend solely upon her demanding in-laws for survival. Worse still, she is left with a heart overcome by bitterness. One day, Zlata hears the voice of a new teacher telling her that she is blessed despite being poor. How can she be blessed when she has nothing? She cannot help but think this Yeshua might be the madman her father-in-law, a Pharisee, claims him to be. 

Yet Zlata can’t stop seeking Him out and pondering His message in her heart. After all the loss she has suffered, Yeshua’s words make her feel whole again. But her father-in-law threatens to turn her out if she continues to follow after Yeshua. Will she dare to trust Yeshua enough to offer everything she possesses to God, down to her last two mites, believing that, in the Messiah, she is rich beyond measure?

What I learned while writing this book:

I have been a student of the Bible since I met Jesus over 45 years ago. I’ve read through the Bible from cover to cover many, many times. But only in recent years have I begun to read God’s word through a Middle Eastern lens. For instance, when we read the Bible through a Western lens, we ask, “What does this Scripture teach me about me?” A Western lens wants to understand so that we can then believe. When we read the Bible through a Middle Eastern lens, we ask, “What does this Scripture teach me about God?”  A Middle Eastern lens has us believe first and then we may understand.

My research during the writing of Rich Beyond Measure opened new doors of understanding of the parables of Jesus and the culture of His day. And making Zlata a follower of Yeshua (although not at first) helped me to see Him through her eyes in her circumstances, living as she did in an honor-shame society.

Ultimately what I learned was to love Jesus more than I loved Him before—because He loves me more than I can begin to comprehend.

My Bonus Giveaway: 

As a bonus, I’m giving away an autographed copy of my July 2021 release, Make You Feel My Love. To enter the drawing (sorry, US mailing addresses only), leave a comment on this post and/or follow me on BookBub and/or subscribe to my newsletter, then use the RafflePress form below. You earn a chance to win for each of those three options. I’ll have a random drawing on October 12 and notify you by email if your name is selected.

My Blog Hop Keyword:

TEMPLE

Thanks for stopping by. Now, hop on over to the main page of the Ordinary Women of the Bible Blog Hop to continue your journey!