by Roseanna White | Mar 31, 2016 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
What makes a hero of the faith?
A Paul? A Nicholas? A George Muller? A John Lake? A Mother Theresa?
What makes someone the kind of Christian that earns him a place in church history? The kind whose stories we tell each other to buoy each other up, to teach each other truths?
During out Bible study talks during church in this last month, we were talking about this. About how John Lake had given up his family fortune and set off to be a missionary, not funding himself but relying on God. About how George Muller had given up his family wealth and a promising career to live on nothing but prayer and faith and ended up in charge of over a thousand orphans.
That’s when the question came to me–are these men capable of making these sacrifices, these decisions, because they’re great men of faith?
Or do we know them as great men of faith because they were willing to make these decisions?
Are more of us called to the same sort of sacrifice, the same sort of faith . . . but ignore it?
My grandmother was quick to say, “More are called than answer.”
I think this is true. I think this is undeniable. I think, without doubt, God calls more people to do His work than those few toiling in the fields. So what happens? Where is the breakdown? Not in Him doing the calling, that we know.
The problem is in us. The listener. We are so quick to say, “Oh, He doesn’t want us all to give everything. He doesn’t want us all to be missionaries. He doesn’t want us all to be preachers.”
No. He doesn’t. But He wants us all to do something. He doesn’t call us all to the same thing, but He calls us all. And the call of God always requires sacrifice. Reading through the Gospels back-to-back as I just did, that stood out loud and clear. When Jesus calls people to follow Him, He expects them to follow. Not look back.
The Church today looks back. And back again. And wanders toward home. And has perfected the line they tell themselves and each other: “God doesn’t expect that.”
Well, I’ll leave us with one last question to chew on this weekend:
What if He does?
by Roseanna White | Mar 30, 2016 | Uncategorized
Not that they’re all started right now, but since I’ve been away from normal blogging for Lent, I wanted to take the time today to let everyone know about a few of the giveaways that are going on now or will be soon!
Giveaways for The Reluctant Duchess
Goodreads
15 copies coming directly from the publisher! You have until April 7 to enter.
Going on now!
A Holland Reads
One of my influencers was accidentally sent an extra copy, so she’s hosting a giveaway!
One copy available, going on now.
Ladies in Defiance
This will post on April 1, with a guest post about my heroine and a giveaway
The Nottingham Prizes
This would be MY grand giveaway, which will feature a slew of awesome prizes, ranging from the book to jewelry to some other special treats. It will begin on LAUNCH DAY–April 5–and will be live for two weeks. You’ll find this one right here!
And…
Christian Fiction Spring Scavenger Hunt!
I’m thrilled to be part of the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt again! And quite excited to be hosting Angela Hunt on my blog this year for it. =) You’ll find my post that weekend on Lyn Cote’s blog.
And what all will be in the offering? Oh–SO MUCH.
I know it’s nearly a month away, but mark your calendars for this one!
by Roseanna White | Mar 22, 2016 | Uncategorized
One day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple courts and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2 “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”
3 He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
5 They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’ 6 But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”
7 So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”
8 Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”
The Parable of the Tenants
9 He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10 At
harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him
some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him
away empty-handed. 11 He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.
13 “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’
14 “But
when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the
heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
“What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
When the people heard this, they said, “God forbid!”
17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone’[a]?
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
19 The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.
So here at this point, “the people” were still clearly on Jesus’ side, but the leaders are becoming increasingly agitated.
Just thought of a question with that parable, though. In the parable, the tenants kill the heir in hopes of seizing the land. What is it religious leaders hope to gain by killing Jesus?
Paying Taxes to Caesar
20 Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be sincere. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said, so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21 So
the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach
what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of
God in accordance with the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
23 He saw through their duplicity and said to them, 24 “Show me a denarius. Whose image and inscription are on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
25 He said to them, “Then give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
26 They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.
The Resurrection and Marriage
27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 “Teacher,”
they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a
wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up
offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. 30 The second 31 and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But
in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead
rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac,
and the God of Jacob.’[b] 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”
39 Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
We were just talking about this over the weekend, when talking about whether people will realize their loved ones aren’t in heaven if such is the case. Wouldn’t that make us sad? And there are no tears in heaven. But we came back to this idea–that the bonds that means so much on earth just aren’t there in heaven. If there’s no marriage, no recognition of marriage, is brotherhood or parenthood? Or are we all brethren, children together of God? I don’t usually dwell too terribly long on the “what if” questions of heaven, since we can’t really know the answers now and I’m content to trust. But you know . . . when they come up . . . 😉
Whose Son Is the Messiah?
41 Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’[c]
44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
Warning Against the Teachers of the Law
45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware
of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes
and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the
most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at
banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
by Roseanna White | Mar 19, 2016 | Uncategorized
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The
Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I
am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others. Often we do it in a way that makes us feel bad about ourselves–so and so is smarter or more successful or thinner or prettier or has better-behaved kids or . . . And sometimes it’s “Well, I’m not doing that bad. I’m better than him.” Either comparison is wrong. Because when we’re reflecting, we need to turn it to God, and when we turn it to God, it should be humility. The heart of humility, I think, is not really focusing on ourselves at all, but on what He wants us to do.
Jesus Blesses Little Children
15 Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
19 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 20 You
know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do
not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your
mother.’ ”[a]
21 And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You
still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
With God All Things Are Possible
24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter said, “See, we have left all[b] and followed You.”
29 So He said to them, “Assuredly,
I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers
or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
It isn’t often that Jesus promises physical things in this life. But I love that here he does. Not that I think he’s promising a literal compounding of wealth like Job received . . . I think more it’s saying that if you leave your home for him, you’ll find a new home wherever he sends you. If you leave your family and friends, he’ll supply new family and friends. When you give it all up for the sake of His kingdom, he leads you to a place with all you need, including those precious relationships on earth.
Jesus a Third Time Predicts His Death and Resurrection
31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold,
we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the
prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”
34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.
A Blind Man Receives His Sight
35 Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. 37 So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, 41 saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” 43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
by Roseanna White | Mar 18, 2016 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
We’re officially in the home stretch of the reading challenge! One week to go!
Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! 2 It
would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and
he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these
little ones. 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you,[a] rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you,[b] saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”
Faith and Duty
5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
6 So the Lord said, “If
you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree,
‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey
you. 7 And
which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to
him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to
eat’? 8 But
will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and
gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward
you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.[c] 10 So
likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are
commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our
duty to do.’”
It’s important to keep in mind her that we’ve learned what faith “as a mustard seed” is already–not small, but something that starts small and then grows exponentially into something sturdy, strong, big, and sheltering. What I’d never really noticed about this passage is that the second part tells us how to have such faith–by serving. By doing the will of God.
Ten Lepers Cleansed
11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
The Coming of the Kingdom
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’[d] For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
22 Then He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’[e] Do not go after them or follow them. 24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27 They
ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until
the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed
them all. 28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 “In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. 36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.”[f]
37 And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”
Another something I never noticed. Jesus answers their original question very quickly: “The kingdom of God is inside you.” It’s already here. It’s come when Jesus came. We are to live that kingdom, expand that kingdom every day.
But then he goes on. He says, “The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.” But the desire will lead you to want to believe it, which will make people lie to try to deceive you. I’d never caught before that the warning stems from the desire.
by Roseanna White | Mar 15, 2016 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
Now it happened, as He
went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread
on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”[a]
4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a donkey[b] or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.
Something interesting to note is that Jesus was still honoring the Sabbath, right? He wasn’t out plowing the fields or building a house on the Sabbath. He wasn’t doing the work of man–he was doing good, doing the work of God. Every time Jesus reinterprets a commandment, he doesn’t make it less. He makes it more. Do not commit adultery or even look at someone with lust. Do not murder or hate. Remember the Sabbath and do God’s will on it.
Take the Lowly Place
7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When
you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the
best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and
he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this
man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But
when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when
he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’
Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table
with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
12 Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When
you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers,
your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and
you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
I love this advice. It’s such simple instruction on how to be humble . . . and on how to keep from being put to shame.
The Parable of the Great Supper
15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread[c] in the kingdom of God!”
16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord
began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of
ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ 20 Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So
that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the
master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly
into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ 23 Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’”
Leaving All to Follow Christ
25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 “If
anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be
My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? 31 Or
what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down
first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who
comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
Not exactly the promise we share with “seekers” is it? “Come follow Jesus and leave behind everything you loved before!” We tend to focus on the His burden is light side of things. And His burden may be . . . but the point remains that He doesn’t ask for just a bit of us. He asks for all of us.
Tasteless Salt Is Worthless
34 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.