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In
1858 New England, orphaned, indentured servant Sophie Stalz stabs her master to
protect herself from rape. Now she must rely on her brother and his friends to
protect her. Escaping through the Underground Railroad, Sophie finds herself
stranded on an island in the hands of a stranger.
Surrounded
by the sea and occupied with the duties of a lighthouse keeper, Jackson Scott
just wants to be left alone with his memories. His fortress is about to crumble
when his friend deposits Sophie on his doorstep. An old debt needs to be paid
and the cost is dear.
As
her master is Seeking
Sophie,
will Sophie and Jackson find a life together free from their past?
MELODY BALTHASER lives in rural Pennsylvania with her husband and their three children. She has traveled to Africa to help orphans in Zambia and worked in children’s and women’s ministry. She enjoys traveling, hiking, camping and canoeing, but when winter settles in she heads indoors to sit in front of the wood stove, while a classic chick-flick plays on the T.V. and homemade soup simmers on the stove. Melody’s passion is to encourage people to let God’s love free them of fear and rejection to live the adventurous life their Creator intended.
LIVING MOMENTS
By Melody Baltaser
If a lifetime is made up of moments then each moment counts.
Living in the moment must be key. For some, living in the moment means throwing
caution to the wind and giving in to whatever instant gratification is
available, but I think there is a much deeper concept here. Webster defines the
word living as having life, alive, not dead and the word moment as a very short
period of time, an instant. If we take these definitions and put them together
we could say that living in the moment is not being dead in each instant. It
sounds ridiculous but take a closer look.
How many times do we find ourselves dead to what is really
happening around us? We are tuned out from the current frequency because we
need to escape the intensity. We miss the sights, sounds, smells, touches and
emotions as we retreat into our safe cocoon. Then, when we flat line, in order
to survive the boredom that is our existence, we sit in front of a screen and
watch intensely violent, sexually graphic, or terrorizing scenes. Our adrenaline
and endorphins rush through our bodies and we feel alive. It is an artificial
high as well as someone else's adventure.
To be awake each and every instant of our journey, whether
intensely sad or mad, peaceful or passionate, is to feel the emotion deeply. Do
we turn away from the suffering of others because we don’t want to be stirred
to weep? Is there a list of reasons not to try something adventurous or
risky? Do we wait for the moment that
our lottery numbers will be drawn because THEN we will have the means finally
enjoy life?
God intended us to have the abundant life in Christ. If we
let Him, he comes into those dark caverns of hurt and self-preservation and
awakens us like a lover's kiss at dawn. When our spirit is in union with Holy
Spirit, we can live with intensity every single moment. Each second pulsates
with potential and possibility. We are truly aware of everything in us
and around us!
We can look at the celebration of Jesus' death and
resurrection and consider our own resurrection in Christ. Jesus said, “The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life
and have it more abundantly.” Are you letting the thief steal the abundant life
that Jesus died to give you? I pray this day is an awakening of mind,
soul and especially spirit for you. That it is the
beginning of stretching you wider and calling you higher, deeper, farther in
all the things that God has planned for your destiny.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope! Romans
15:13
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