So You Wana Give Up....Don't

Under attack.  That's how I would describe the last two weeks, or maybe even the last few years of me and my family's life.  There have been ups and downs and lots of fiery furnaces to pass through.  We wanted to give up... after all how much could a human being take.  Now I'm sure that we are not the only ones who go through harsh trials, in fact I'm sure others have it worse, but the truth is when you are going through something hard, that little fact doesn't make it better... your pain will always feel like it's the biggest. 
So that being said, even though there are others going through harder trials, I'll share some of ours, just in case you are going through something like this and maybe in reading this you will see that somehow the stars shine brightest in the darkest night. (I read that part somewhere but I don't know who wrote that, but it's brilliant and true)
First it started with my marrige that fell appart, an unfaithful husband who was also abusive both verbaly and eventually also physically.  Me and my children by the grace of God were taken out of that situation.  Then, after we had come back to the states my dad passed away.  (He was our hero in so many ways, he had made it possible that me and my kids can be taken out of the situation we were in)  Then we lost the house my dad had worked so hard for that we (me, my three kids, my mom, my sister and my grandmother) were living in.  Then we lost the cars also due to bankrupcy.  We had to move, we found a house to rent.  Then a year later the owner of that house decided to sell the house, so we had to move again.  Oh, and after daddy died I had also lost my job, then worked two part time jobs that paid almost nothing.  (I know this sounds like whining)  But along the way, though we were grieving and broken and very very angry at all the horrible happenings around us-along the way there were bright spots.  Actually a lot of bright spots.  Through out this time God touched people's hearts who helped us in so many ways.  Sometimes it was with a kind word.  Sometimes it was financially at just the right time (though they couldn't have known at the time how much we had needed it)... sometimes these gifts were anonymous (but God knows who you are and we are still praying God blesses you).  Sometimes we knew who our miracles came through.
Still the trials kept comming, anything from cars breaking down and so much that I won't get into here.  Each time God brought a miracle, EACH TIME!  And after a while just like the Israelites even after seeing miracles after miracles, still we would doubt God when the next trial came...but still He did not leave us.
As I said at the begining the past two or so weeks we had been facing another such trial, and just this morning we were crying out angry that God was not showing us the way.  Ah, but I love how patient my heavnely Father is with us.  We must have looked like my kids do when they throw a tantrum when they want something and I say:  Wait, wait just a little bit longer.... or even though you want this toy, you'll see I have something even better.    So, guess what happened next?  You got it!  He provided AGAIN, He lead us AGAIN, He removed barriers AGAIN.
Why am I writing this?
Because I want you to know, if you are facing something gigantic right now, He won't leave you, even when you're angry with Him.  He knows your heart, and He know how much pain is behind that anger.  He is not a fool like some of us who cannot see the reason behind each anger.  Don't give up, turn to Him.  Don't turn to people (though you'll be surprised that He will use people to bring an answer so many times).  Trust in Him even when logic says there is absolutely no answer to this situation, or end to this pain.  There is and answer, and to each pain He will bring healing at the right time.
I don't know what tomorrow will bring, I don't know if tomorrow my faith will be as strong as it is in this moment.  But I know one thing:  HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME even then.
Be blessed by the Only One who can trully bless: Jesus Christ
Love
Your Sister in Christ
Evangheline

Interview with author Tessa Afshar author of PEARL IN THE SAND

Recently I have had the honor to do a written interview with one of my favorite authors Tessa Afshar, Author of PEARL IN THE SAND.  Once I received the answers to my questions I will say I was inspired.  The purpose of this interview is of course to get to know the author but also to inspire new authors or aspiring authors to not give up.  Why do I say this?  As you will see from the interview this is Tessa's first novel (a very beautifuly written novel that you must read), she persisted and did not give up... the point?  God has a plan for each and every one of us, don't give up, pray a lot and press on.

So... now to the interview.... enjoy:

Hi Evangheline. It’s a pleasure being with you on your creative blog. I’ve been looking forward to our time together.

1. This is your first novel. What is the inspiration behind the novel? What was your goal as you wrote this captivating story?

Thanks for that compliment, Evangheline. My main inspiration for writing Pearl in the Sand was Rahab herself. Here was a woman with a past, a harlot from Canaan who actually married one of the leaders of Judah—a man from one of the most distinguished families of Israel. As if this marriage was not in itself utterly astounding, the birth of her son placed Rahab in the lineage of Jesus. Think about that: some of the DNA of this former harlot swam in Jesus’ blood stream. Of all the women in the world, God chose this woman for such an honor. That tells a lot about God’s heart from my perspective.

     This is the story of a woman whose world was a mess, whose life was a mess, whose heart was a mess, but in encountering God, she found to her shock that her life was salvageable. More than that—it was valuable. She found that she was lovable.

      Pearl in the Sand portrays a God who has never given up on Rahab. I think women today need to know God as the wooer and pursuer of their hearts. They need to know the depth of their true worth as seen through His compassionate eyes. More than anything I hope the reader of this story will come away with a deeper glimpse into her own soul, and a more profound understanding of God the Father.

2. According to your website www.tessaafshar.com you came to Christ in your mid twenties. Tell us how you came to Christ? How did Christ make Himself known to you?

     I grew up in the Middle East until I was almost fourteen. My parents were nominal Muslims. Although I had lived in the Christian West my whole adult life, I had never heard the gospel. I was going through a particularly difficult season in my life. One night, I had a vivid dream. In my dream I was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. From a distance I saw a man walking toward me and I knew instantly that this was Jesus. As He drew closer, I felt very disappointed. You see, He was not handsome by any stretch of the imagination! The only Jesus I had seen up to this point was portrayed by a couple of very good-looking actors in TV movies. I thought, This is Jesus?

     As He came closer I realized, Of course this is Jesus, for in His eyes I saw such depth of love and power that I almost fell to my knees. He asked me to follow Him and I did. In the dream not only did I know Him as Jesus, but I also knew beyond the slightest shadow of doubt that He was the Son of God, very God of very God, and unlike anyone else in the whole universe.

     Shortly after that dream, friends began to ask me to go to church and Bible study. It was as though God Himself first opened a door in my inmost being and then He arranged for me to find out the facts! I simply fell in love with Jesus. There’s no one like Him.

3. How long have you been writing? Is this a passion that has just recently been born in your heart or has this been a life-long dream?

     Actually, I have wanted to write since grade school. I just took a LONG time getting serious about it. Underlying that delay was probably a fear of failure—something that I ultimately had to face.

4. What is the most important advice you would give to other aspiring authors?

     Don’t give up! Learn your craft, and practice daily.

5. Have you had moments when you were writing Pearl in the Sand where you thought your book was just not good enough compared to other authors? If so, how did you overcome those moments?

     That’s a good question. I don’t generally compare myself to other people, but there were many moments I thought Pearl wasn’t good enough, period. I often doubted my ability and wanted to give up many times. Because writing is such a solitary endeavor, I was at the mercy of my own thoughts and the enemy’s lies. Two things helped me: prayer and the decision to send the first three chapters of the book to a professional editor. It was a great investment. His encouragement helped me to continue writing.

6. What is the best critique you have received on Pearl in the Sand and why was that the best?

     My agent offered Pearl to a secular publisher first. While they loved the romance, they had a hard time believing Rahab’s conversion. Any conversion story is best reviewed through the eyes of a non Christian! I did more work on that part of the story before the book went to publication.

7. What was the worst and most discouraging critique you received on Pearl in the Sand? What did you learn from it, and has it helped you improve?

     I find unfair or inaccurate critiques to be the most difficult emotionally. I’ve been fortunate in the overall response to this book, which is a huge blessing. There was one guy, who actually liked the book in general, but was really upset that I had used the word “GOD” in the novel and claimed that in the Jewish tradition this was the same as taking the name of the Lord in vain. This was an inaccurate claim. The tradition not to spell out the names of G-d in full probably came into Jewish scholarship sometime in the medieval period. If it was present before that, we certainly have no proof. So I decided to follow biblical models of addressing the Lord. What I learned from this experience was that you just have to let some things go. God is our vindicator; starting a defensive argument may show a lack of trust in His ability to protect us.

8. Are you currently working on more books? If so, can you tell us something about it and when we can expect to see it on the market?

     Thank you for asking that question! The novel I am currently working on, A Harvest of Rubies, is based on a fictional character named Sarah who is the Senior Scribe to the queen of Persia. She is a genius who doesn’t know when to keep her mouth shut, which continuously gets her into trouble. She solves plots, marries a man who hates her, and finds out that there’s more to life than being good at your job. Oh yeah, and by the way, she is Nehemiah’s second cousin. A Harvest of Rubies will be released by Moody in May 2012. A second book based on the rest of Sarah’s story will follow her journey as she and her husband find themselves in Nehemiah’s train when he returns to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls.

9.      What Christian authors have inspired you the most and why?

     Charlotte Bronte, C. S. Lewis, Walter Wangerin, Francine Rivers. Actually the list is too numerous to mention (I’m a book worm). Each writer was able to keep me awake when I needed sleep! And I have read some of their books more than once, because they touched my soul in a unique way and brought me closer to God.

10.  When you write a book, do you plan and outline a lot, or do you just plow into the story and then come back and rewrite it?

     I’m a seat-of-the-pants sort of writer. I do a lot of research first; with historicals, you have no choice if you want to sound authentic. Once I feel comfortable with the world I am writing in, I try to plot, but find that unless I am writing a scene, I can’t grasp hold of the details that will naturally lead to the next scene. My novels tend to be character driven, even when I am working on a plot-heavy story as I am with my present project. For me the plot is always influenced by the character. The same circumstance in someone else’s life wouldn’t have the same outcome.

11.  Which person(s) in the Bible most inspire you and why?

     Jesus, for obvious reasons. And I love David. He is a poet and a warrior; that’s an intriguing combination.

12.  In conclusion, what is the one thing you would like people to know about you and understand?

     The one thing? I can’t even pick a favorite color or ice cream flavor! But I don’t suppose that’s the one thing I want you to know about me. I guess if I had to choose, I would say that I would like to be remembered as someone who believes in the inherent worth of each person.

Evangheline, it’s always a pleasure to spend time with you. If you and your guests would like to hear more from me, please stop by on my website: http://www.tessaafshar.com/ or visit me on my Facebook author page where there is always some new discussion going on: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Afshar/337761827820?ref=ts

 

Pearl in the Sand

Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar www.tessaafshar.com Last night I sighed contentedly as I flipped the last page of Pearl in the Sand. A smile was etched on my face even though it was two o’clock in the morning. Indeed I was and still am beyond content. It has been a long time since I have read a book that wowed me with its beginning; it chained me throughout it, and then liberated my very soul with its beautiful ending.

Pearl in the Sand is a story about Rahab as it has never been told before. It makes you really think about what you might not have thought of before. For example, as a Christian you have to wonder if I or any other young lady with that kind of a past walked into our church… would she be accepted? Not only this, but if you came to God after having such a life, would you accept yourself? This story tackles the redemptive power of God and how when He changes one person, He changes many.

Tessa Afshar in writing this story wrote a master piece that I would liken to Francine Rivers Mark of the Lion series, even Quo Vadis (books I could read over and over again and never get tired of). She has put humor in just the right places, the dialogue comes alive and I often found myself laughing aloud at Rahab’s cleverness. When Salmone walked into the stage of this story Tessa delivered a wide range of emotions expertly turning an already emotionally packed story into an explosive Romeo and Juliet… did I say that? Well I take it back it was better then that!

My words simply cannot do this story justice. It makes you really makes you think. Do you have a horribly stained past? An unforgivable past? So did Rahab. Yet Tessa shows us how the unredeemable become redeemed by an infinitely wonderful God. Have you built up walls around yourself that are impenetrable? So did Rahab and this is a story of how those lofty, impenetrable walls come crashing down.


What you reach what some have come to call “the scene” and you finally understand why the book is called what it is called-I will not exaggerate-you will be left breathless. You won’t for get this book and you will never think of Rahab in the same light as before. Most importantly, if you have ever fallen, if you have ever failed, if you have ever given yourself to temptation and thought you were lost forever…then Pearl in the Sand is a must read. After you finish reading it, please remember to return to this blog and let me know what you thought and what your favorite part was.

Also please visit www.tessaafshar.com (the author’s website) to keep up to date with her latest projects. You can also find her on facebook (I was jubilant when I found her fanpage), remember to click like. Oh…and yes… she is working on yet another book… and yes… I am waiting rather eagerly for it.

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