“But many of the older priests, Levites, and other leaders who had seen the first Temple wept aloud when they saw the new Temple’s foundation. The others, however, were shouting for joy” (Ezra 3.12 NLT). When God moves, there will be people who mourn and others who rejoice. When the second temple was finally built,…
A Prisoner of Hope: How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord
I had a dream that I washed up on a shore of a dirty creek bed. I was naked, cold and alone, and all I could do was curl up and lie there. I had no more energy. No more strength. And no more warmth. I was exposed, tired and defeated. Suddenly, I felt arms…
The House of Indie with Alisa Hope Wagner
I had the honor of talking with Joey Galvez and Albert Morales on their podcast, The House of Indie. This podcast is dedicated to interviewing and advocating independent creatives. Joey and Albert are awesome to chat with, and their creative questions elicit answers that will inform, encourage and entertain other creatives. During the interview,…
Book Review: Diana Alderoot and the Gilded Mage by Trista Shaye
Diana Alderoot and the Gilded Mage is a fantastical, imaginative story with creatively-crafted dialogue and whimsical imagery. The characters are each uniquely designed creatures (Fairies, Mages, Trolls, Gnomes, Moths, etc.) who bring to life Shaye’s elaborate world-building and beautifully composed character and plot arcs. Specifically, the character arc for Kendel, the young, insecure Mage,…
The Disconnected Writer: 5 Ways to Find Your Tribe
I completed my first book in January of 2006. The fact that I actually finished the book was a monumental feat that I struggled to accomplish for many years. Now that the hard work was done, I knew that God would publish my book, give me an audience and make me a successful author. Little…
Resurrecting the Valley of Dry Bones
I’m reading Ezekiel’s account when the Spirit of God took him to the Valley of Dry Bones 🦴 (Ez. 37). God had Ezekiel give a sober, objective account of the bleakness of the situation. Ezekiel didn’t sugar-coat what he saw. Those bones were dead, dry and many. But even in the face of such a…