Author Archives: Janet Sketchley

About Janet Sketchley

Janet Sketchley is an Atlantic Canadian writer whose Redemption’s Edge Christian suspense novels have each been finalists in The Word Awards. She's also the author of the devotional collection, A Year of Tenacity. Janet blogs about faith and books. She loves Jesus and her family, and enjoys reading, worship music, and tea. Fans of Christian suspense are invited to join her writing journey through her monthly newsletter: bit.ly/JanetSketchleyNews.

The Best Response to Trouble

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Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.
Psalm 57:11, NLT*

This is another David-hunted-by-Saul psalm. It’s only 11 verses long, and twice David repeats the lines above.

He cries out to God for help, describing his danger and the strength of his enemies. Then he first calls for God to be exalted and glorified. The context implies “bring glory to Your name by defeating my powerful enemies.”

When I look at troubles and dangers and ask God to be glorified, that’s what I mean too.

But David keeps on writing. Now he’s talking about his confidence in God, how he can praise God and how he’ll thank Him. Present and future. Because of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.

Then he repeats “Be exalted… may your glory shine.”

David’s faith response, and his confident trust in God despite the circumstances, also exalts and glorifies God. Isn’t that something we can do, too?

Holy and majestic God Most High, be exalted. Let Your glory shine. We pray to see Your intervention in the troubles that shake us—and our world. Strengthen our faith so we can stand like David in hard times. Be exalted, let Your glory shine, through us, Your children, as we trust You.

∞

Third Day’s “Your Love, O Lord,” is a good song to keep us focused in worship and trust.

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

Review: Dancing with Dynamite, by Tim Huff

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Dancing with Dynamite, cover artDancing with Dynamite, by Tim Huff (Castle Quay Books, 2010)

Dancing with Dynamite is subtitled “celebrating against the odds.” Something we all need to learn sooner or later.

It’s not a feel-good book, but it’s not depressing or painful either. It’s a good-for-you book, introducing real people in hard places and revealing surprising—and thought-provoking—moments of celebration.

It’s an invitation for us to really see the people around us, to see ourselves, and to dare to celebrate no matter what our circumstances.

Tim Huff writes with honesty about individuals he’s met: street people, group home residents, orphans and the aged, and more. The people society tries not to see. Sometimes the deeper story is how they affected his life—and how they can touch ours.

The book shares vignettes of his experiences in ministry to street youth in Toronto, working at a camp for the deaf, and playing Santa for orphans and the elderly in Romania. Although they’re accounts of the poor and marginalized, they’re about the larger human condition.

The author’s goal?

“My prayer is that you’ve found some semblance of yourself within these pages. And in that, that you know you belong. That you are worthy to be celebrated.” (p.163)

Canadian author and speaker Tim Huff has also written Bent Hope: A Street Journal for adults, and the children’s picture book The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge: Helping Children Understand Homelessness, both bestsellers. All three books have won awards (in 2011 Dancing With Dynamite received the Grace Irwin Award, Canada’s largest literary prize for writers who are Christian).

[Review copy from my personal library.]

Bible Verses that Make a Difference

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Photo of the Book of Isaiah page of the Bible ...

Photo of the Book of Isaiah page of the Bible (cropped version) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

On Wednesday I mentioned some of the verses I’m using these days to keep my thoughts and emotions aligned with God.

In various stages of my life, I’ve clung to different verses.

Here are some that have meant a lot to me over the years:

“Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”   ‑ Isaiah 50:10b NIV

“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”         ‑ Isaiah 40:31 NIV

“The Lord is faithful to all His promises, and loving toward all He has made. The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.”    ‑ Psalm 145:13b,14 NIV

“He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”    ‑ Isaiah 40:11 NIV

“A bruised reed He will not break, and a smouldering wick He will not snuff out.” – Isaiah 42:3a NIV

What are some verses that have meant the most to you?

Because God Said So

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For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light.
Psalm 56:13, NLT*

In this psalm David declares his trust in God and praises God for His promise. Twice he asks “What can men do to me?”

The first time, he follows with a list of what his enemies want to do to him. The danger is real. He asks God to prevent them from harming him. He reminds himself of how intimately God cares for him, and then he reaffirms his choice to trust in God.

Three times in the psalm, he praises God for “His promise” and I think that’s the promise that David would be king. At this point he’s still on the run from King Saul and is in the hands of the Philistines.

Logic and faith say he can’t be killed before God accomplishes His purpose, so David has confidence that his enemies won’t be allowed to kill him.

Most of us don’t have a specific, personal promise from God guaranteeing we won’t be harmed. We do have lots of promises, though. And if we don’t have physical enemies, we still have spiritual ones that would bind or hamper us and keep us from the life God promises.

One of the “enemies” stalking me is anxiety. Today’s verse is one I’m using as a prayer-promise. Another is “who the Son sets free is free indeed.”

Perhaps my favourite “weapon” this year is “I have a Good Shepherd.”

Father, Saviour, show us the individual promises to cling to for protection from the unseen forces, thoughts and behaviour patterns that want to deny the new life You’ve promised to grow in us. Yes, they could do it – if not for Your promises. Help us be confident in You, help us walk in Your presence and in Your life-giving light.

∞

Here’s Carolyn Arends singing “I’ve Got a Hope.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEKW4DCoVoA

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Review: Cooking the Books, by Bonnie S. Calhoun

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Cooking the Books cover artCooking the Books, by Bonnie S. Calhoun (Abingdon Press, 2012)

When Sloane Templeton fled her abusive husband, she moved into an apartment above her mother’s bookstore in Brooklyn, NYC. Her mom’s sudden death left her co-owner of the store, and business partner with store manager Felicia Tyler.

Sloane’s not the bookstore type. She’s a computer forensics pro. But she’s not ready to let go of the connection to her mother and move on with life. Especially not now, when community business owners are under pressure to sell out to a big developer and she can still hear her mother’s thoughts on the subject.

Sloane is a vibrant, sassy character with a penchant for strays (of the human variety). Her self-appointed mother-hens, Felicia and Aunt Verlene, are as supportive as they can be. Sadly for Sloane, that support comes in the form of shooting lessons, fear-inspiring home cuisine, and a concerted attempt to set her up with nice young men despite her current relationship.

Then the email threats start. Her former boyfriend (not the ex-husband, he’s trouble of a different sort) wants her back. Rude but wealthy men compete for a valuable book. And the developer piles on the pressure to sell. What’s a girl to do?

The characters make the novel. Felicia and Verlene are larger-than-life comedic individuals like you’d find in Janice Hanna Thompson’s Weddings by Bella series. Between the fast-paced banter and all that’s going on in Sloane’s life, it’s a fun read. And a good mystery: who’s behind all this?

When the immediate mystery is solved, there are enough threads left to warrant a sequel. Always a good thing… I hope we’ll see more Sloane Templeton Mysteries. For a bit of fun, click this link to meet Sloane Templeton.

Bonnie S. Calhoun is director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and owner/publisher of the popular Christian Fiction Online magazine. Cooking the Books is her first novel, and it fits her tag line: snark & suspense. For more about the author, visit bonniescalhoun.com. And check out Vonda Skelton’s interview with Bonnie.  You can also read the first chapter of Cooking the Books.

[Review copy from my personal library.]
Related articles

Rest. Is it possible?

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Rest — physical and spiritual — can be an elusive hope. Here are five helpful links I’ve read lately:

rest: tranquil ocean sceneSheila Seiler Lagrande says “We can’t earn rest any more than we can earn salvation. So let’s show ourselves some grace, shall we?”

Grace Fox shares the secret to a restful sleep.

Bonnie Leon reminds us of the peace that comes when we remember God is always with us.

Mary deMuth encourages us to Say No. Rest.

Reba J. Hoffman, PhD tells us it’s crucial to develop the habit of stillness.

Thriving and Trusting

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But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
Psalm 52:8, NLT*

This verse sounds like a prayer. It’s not how I am, but it’s how I want to be.

To thrive… when I feel God’s presence I feel my soul thriving.

To trust… when I think of trusting in God’s love, I think security, soul-rest in Him, confidence, necessarily in the physical sense but definitely in the spiritual.

Sometimes we have to trust Him in the darkness. We can choose to trust that He is still nurturing us.

Creator and Sustainer God, plant me like an olive tree in Your presence, so that I can’t wander away from You. Help me always trust and remember Your unfailing love, so I can thrive in Your care.

∞

Here’s one of my favourite classic Newsboys songs: “Thrive”.

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Review: Nick of Time, by Tim Downs

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Nick of Time cover artNick of Time, by Tim Downs (Thomas Nelson, 2011)

“The Bug Man is getting married on Saturday … if his fiancée can find him.”

Nick Polchak is a forensic entomologist: he studies bugs, specifically the ones attracted to corpses. One thing these bugs do is help him pinpoint the time of death.

His fiancée, Alena, trains rescue dogs for work sniffing out drugs or finding cadavers. They’re her family. She lives in a locked compound outside of town, and she doesn’t encourage visitors.

For all his eccentricities, Nick shares one thing with most engaged men: the whole wedding preparation thing bores and scares him. Maybe that’s why he insists on leaving town for a cold-case meeting with his colleagues.

It’s the week before the wedding, but he can back the next day. Except one of his friends dies, he clashes with the responding police officer, and things progress from there. Suddenly Nick is following clues that take him farther from home—and his wedding date is getting closer.

When he doesn’t phone her as promised, Alena sets off after him with three of her best dogs. She’s a formidable tracker and good at getting the information she needs, but Nick is on the move and she’s always one step behind.

Page one of the novel hooked me, and page four had me laughing aloud. Yes, Nick works with gross bugs with fancy Latin names, but the story doesn’t have a significant ick factor. (If you hate bugs, you might disagree…) It does have a lot of funny bits, usually to do with Nick’s words and actions.

Nick and Alena are blunt-spoken, borderline socially-dysfunctional characters. I loved reading about them—I want to go back and start the series at the beginning—but I sure wouldn’t want to live with either of them. They’re a good match.

Nick of Time picks up where Tim Downs’ previous Bug Man novel, Ends of the Earth, left off. I was able to pick it up cold and enjoy. If you want to start with book one in the series, look for Shoofly Pie. At Tim Downs’ website, you can read the first three chapters of any of his books.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

5 Good Posts on Gratitude

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Butterfly on lilac, with text "Thank You, God"

Photo credit: Janet Sketchley

Gratitude is more important than we realize. Here are five posts on the subject that have encouraged me recently.

Michael K. Reynolds tells us about The Easiest Way to Thank God.

At Reflections in Hindsight, Elaine Marie Cooper writes about Dwelling on the Good.

At Under the Cover of Prayer, Judith Lawrence reminds us of the value of prayers of appreciation.

At Hearing the Heartbeat, Carolyn Watts reminds us to look for God’s gifts in the moment.

And at Hope and Humor, Bob Hostetler gives us the prayer-poem, For the Day’s Graces.

Thankfulness as a Sacrifice?

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Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God,
and keep the vows you made to the Most High.
Psalm 50:14, NLT*

Usually our thanks is a spontaneous response to something that delights us. It’s sincere and heart-felt. It costs us nothing.

But is there more? In Bible times, the people of Israel had a regular schedule of sacrifices and offerings. You didn’t just sacrifice when you felt like it, although you could bring extra if you were especially thankful.

I keep a gratitude journal, but I don’t write in it every day. Not a very regular sacrifice, and it’s not that God isn’t active on those days. It’s that I forget to take notes, or more often that I forget to take note. I don’t see what He’s doing. I’ve forgotten to look.

There’s another aspect to this sacrifice: the Apostle Paul tells us to give thanks in all things. Even in the ones we don’t like and wish we’d never experienced. Ann Voskamp calls this the “hard eucharisteo” and her book, One Thousand Gifts, shows how important this intentional, teeth-gritted or tear-streaked thanksgiving is.

We may not be able to thank God for the pain, but we can always thank Him for His presence with us in it and for His power to make it count for something.

God our Shepherd, our Provider and Protector, forgive us for our ungrateful hearts and for the times we take Your gifts for granted. Open our eyes daily to see the many opportunities to give You thanks. Delight us with Your presence. And strengthen us to thank You in the hard times too.

∞

Matt Redman’s “Blessed Be Your Name” reminds us to praise in the good times and the bad.

*New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.