Do you want wisdom and encouragement in your spiritual journey? Discover these devotions that can bring you into a deeper understanding of living the Christian life.
Are you looking to deepen your understanding of the Bible? Do you have questions about God? Are you looking for encouragement and a boost in your faith? Kimberley Payne is a down-to-earth writer who is passionate and curious and offers a refreshing perspective to enhance your spiritual growth and devotion.
Still Learning is a collection of 100 devotions with questions about salvation, church, sin, heaven, and the very essence of God’s nature, presented through the lens of everyday encounters and heartfelt contemplations. It serves as a thought-provoking companion for personal reflection, group discussions, or even as a supplement to Bible studies. By reading these reflections you’ll feel encouraged and strengthened in your faith.
That was the year I was “born again” and accepted Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
I wanted to read the Bible, but I had no idea where to start. When I visited a Christian bookstore, I was overwhelmed by the number and variety of Bibles available.
My brother suggested I start with the New International Version as it is written in modern English and is more easily understood. This began my love affair with God’s Word.
I have since read the Bible from front to back, chronologically, and by subject. I have participated in several Bible studies. I just can’t seem to get enough of this love letter from God.
It befuddles me when I talk to Christians who have never read the Bible on their own.
I’ve been told that it’s the priest’s job to read the Bible and then explain it to lay people.
I wholeheartedly disagree!
Originally, God had intended that each person deal directly with Him. However, sin entered the picture and so prevented us from approaching Him — a sinless and perfect God.
God then set up the priesthood system. Priests were appointed to administer a system of sacrifices on behalf of the people so people could once again approach God. Priests were the representatives of people to God.
But this was not to be forever. Jesus was sent to be the ultimate sacrifice and once and for all return the people to deal directly with God.
“Through these priests and their work, God wished to prepare all people for the coming of Jesus Christ, who would once again offer a direct relationship with God for anyone who would come to him.”— Life Application Study Bible
Because of Jesus, we can approach God directly. We no longer need the priest as an intercessor.
We no longer need the priest to tell us what God says. God Himself tells us in the Bible — His Word. It’s no longer only the priest’s job to read the Bible and then explain it to lay people.
We can read the Word on our own.
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author who writes to draw others closer to God. Connect with her at kimberleypayne.com www.kimberleypayne.com
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In Want to Hear God? Connect with Him in Prayer, Nancy Booth shares a variety of prayer practices and actual prayer conversations so you, too, can hear His voice and have intimate encounters with Him that will change your life. Nancy gathered authentic prayer conversations from a variety of people who share how they have heard God, by exploring 12 different prayer practices.
You can hear and connect with God to: • Strengthen your daily walk • Restore your past • Transform your future
By exploring each of these areas of your life, developing habits to enjoy conversations, and finding different ways to pray, Jesus says that you can indeed live life abundantly. You focus on getting to know and hear Him more intimately.
Book Excerpt
Somehow in this current rational culture, it’s okay to pray to God but seems unusual or weird to hear from God. I believe by reading the shared prayer conversations in this book you’ll be able to detect a variety of ways God can and does speak. You will begin to hear and sense His presence in new and different ways.
Another intent of this book is to encourage you to share your own prayer conversations with others, especially your family and the next generation. God certainly encourages us to do that: “As the word is passed along from parent to child. Babies not yet conceived will hear the good news—that God does what he says.” Psalm 22:31 MSG
Ultimately, exploring the twelve prayer practices contained in this book can connect you with God and help you hear Him more clearly. Hearing and sensing His presence will bring abundance to your life.
About the Author
NANCY BOOTH passionately desires to have you hear God speak to you, His beloved. As a Jesus lover and spiritual director, she walks alongside mid-lifers seeking encounters with God and wanting to grow in their intimacy with Him . You can connect with her at My Sacred Moments.com Nancy enjoys her life in southern Wisconsin with her husband, their grown children, and their four delightful grandchildren.
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Have teachings on “hearing God” left you wanting more?
When it comes to God’s personal direction, the Bible has a lot of information hiding in plain sight. God Leads Personally explains why we can still expect God to lead each person individually today. In addition, the author gives a wealth of practical instruction on how to allow God to lead you and how to avoid deception. The processes described range from dramatic moves of God to quiet but powerful directions. Inspiration for this book came from the author’s own struggle with a business failure. That struggle didn’t produce any special formulas, but it did launch a journey to find real Scriptural answers about how God leads.
Book Excerpt
The present writing emerged partly because a startup company I began later in life fell apart. I learned a lot in the process but didn’t want to pay so much for the education. Was I out of God’s will?… In response to all this uncertainty, I did what scientists do: I looked at the reference data. For scientists, this includes high-quality published research. For Christians, the Bible has generally been considered the first frame of reference. I decided to use my research mindset to do a detailed search and in-depth analysis of what the Bible says, implies, and doesn’t say on the subject of God’s guidance…I am happy to say that I found evidence that God still wants to guide individual people. I also found that the Bible gives more “how to” instructions about God’s leading than I realized, but less than I wanted. That disappointed me, but my disappointment faded when I realized something: the blanks get filled in by having a real relationship with God. That relationship sometimes involves God just revealing what to do, but more often it involves hands-on training, learning to make decisions, and experiencing the creativity of God and ourselves.
About the Author
Dr. Robert DiSilvestro earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Texas A&M and was a nutrition professor for 34 years between Purdue University and The Ohio State University. Over his career, he conducted many studies over a range of areas including mineral biochemistry and clinical nutrition. Dr. DiSilvestro applies a researcher’s mind set to studying the Bible. He also uses his teaching background to communicate deep Christian truths in an understandable way. These communications have led to Dr. DiSilvestro becoming a notable figure in the apologetics community, which evaluates evidence for God from specialty fields. Robert has now branched out into teaching about God leading people personally.
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Do you need encouragement to get into a routine of praying and reading your Bible? Discover this guide that can help you to be more intentional in your spiritual life.
Are you looking for effective strategies to read scripture? Do you want to grow deeper in your prayer life? Have you backslid in your holy habits? Kimberley Payne believes in cultivating the habit of prayer and hiding God’s Word in your heart.
Holy Habits is a daily, specific guide covering 30 days, long enough to create a routine to fit into your lifestyle. The author offers Scripture to meditate on and a fill-in-the-blank PATH (Praise, Admit, Thank, Help) prayer model. By working through this guide, you will gain a renewed mind, strengthened faith, and a more authentic prayer life.
Kimberley provides motivation and encouragement to develop a deeper relationship with God. And now she’s here to share her strategies to transform your life too.
Simple Bible study and prayer strategies to apply to your day
Encouragement in your Christian walk
A deeper relationship with the Lord
A new way to model your prayers in a manner pleasing to God
Strength to live out your faith each day
Holy Habits is a great resource that gives you confidence in your faith.
If you like faith-building books that motivate and inspire, then you’ll love this guide that challenges you daily to make small changes to strengthen your faith.
Buy Holy Habitsto enrich and nourish your spiritual self today!
Book Excerpt
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Visit her website.
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A Christian book designed to support understanding on how to pray with results.
Book Excerpt
I Declare The Word Of God, God’s Promises Declaring The Blessings of The Lord (The Word of God)
About the Author
Kemi Sauane is a daughter to the most high God, a wife and a mother. She’s a woman who loves the Lord and is inspired to push people to live their God ordained lives here on earth.
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Do you want to deepen your connection with God? Discover these prompts to encourage you to be more intentional in your prayer life.
Are you looking to make prayer a daily habit? Do you want a gentle reminder of God’s love and caring? Have you wanted to foster an attitude of gratitude? Kimberley Payne believes in cultivating the habit of daily prayer, praise, and gratefulness.
My Prayer, Praise & Gratitude Journal features space to record your prayer requests, answers to prayer, and God’s blessings. By daily working through this journal, you will gain a robust prayer life, confirmation that God hears your prayers, and a new appreciation for the little things.
My Prayer, Praise & Gratitude Journal is a journal that reminds you that God is the giver of all good things. If you like faith-building books, then you’ll love this journal that focuses on life’s blessings.
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Visit her website.
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Do you want to teach children about music while encouraging faith in the Creator God? Discover musical instruments found in scripture along with their Bible stories.
Are you looking to inspire curiosity in children about music and the Bible? Do you want to direct youngsters to the Bible to learn about musical instruments? Kimberley Payne aligns God’s word with God’s creation in this collection of musical instruments mentioned in the Bible.
Musical Instruments in the Bible looks at 10 musical instruments found in the Good Book. Each page contains a scripture reference, commentary on the verse, and facts about the instrument. By reading this book you’ll learn educational and inspirational facts about the Bible. Challenging questions support each story.
In Musical Instruments in the Bible, you’ll discover: Descriptions, how to play, and the sound each instrument makes Project suggestions, people of the Bible, and glossary A brief explanation of the scriptural account where the instrument is mentioned Educational introduction to simple instrument groups Black and white line drawings of each instrument
If you like a fun and unique way to learn about the Bible you’ll love this book combining musical studies with Bible teachings. It’s ideal for 10-12-year-olds, for home or school use, and classroom sharing to supplement the Music Curriculum.
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Visit her website.
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Do you want to memorize biblical Proverbs? Discover these ABC Bible Verses to learn God’s Word.
Are you looking to dig more into your Bible? Do you want to read the Bible and memorize what it says? Have you wanted to gain wisdom to live a godly life? Kimberley Payne believes in cultivating the habit of Bible study and hiding God’s Word in your heart.
ABCs of Proverbsis a book that organizes a short passage from the Book of Proverbs in alphabetical order. The author chose well-known verses from the wisdom of the Old Testament. By working through this book, you will gain a renewed mind, strengthened faith, and a more authentic prayer life.
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Do you want to memorize the Psalms? Discover these ABC Bible Verses to learn God’s Word.
Are you looking to dig more into your Bible? Do you want to read the Bible and memorize what it says? Have you wanted to pray scripture? Kimberley Payne believes in cultivating the habit of Bible study and hiding God’s Word in your heart.
ABCs of Psalms is a book that organizes a short passage from the Book of Psalms in alphabetical order. The author chose well-known verses from the ancient hymnbook of the Old Testament. By working through this book, you will gain a renewed mind, strengthened faith, and a more authentic prayer life.
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Life is just a series of short stories, and every decision you make becomes part of your story. When in the moment, will you choose faith over fear or fear over faith? It’s an easy question to answer when you aren’t in the “storm” but a huge question when something near and dear to you is in jeopardy.
Like many girls do, Julie dreamed of becoming a mommy. She dreamed of a perfect life for and with her child. After suffering a miscarriage and a cancer diagnosis, finding out she was pregnant was an incredible miracle. But what happened next put her faith to the test, more so than the previous trials. How do you keep having faith when you are caught in a “storm?” Conversations with Colton will explore just that! Colton survived despite what doctors said, and conversations with him have made all the fear, faith, and doubt that got to this moment 100 percent worth it.
Book Excerpt
As the plane reached ten thousand feet, I knew my options were limited. Either I would willingly jump, or the man attached to my back was going to push me out. Skydiving is a lot like faith. In fact, skydiving is taking a leap of faith. Both skydiving and faith involve complete trust in something or someone when the outcome isn’t known and cannot be predicted. I had faith when I jumped out of that perfectly good airplane. I had faith that the trainer was strapped to my back; God bless his messy heart. He was still wearing his Baltimore Ravens pajamas, but still I had faith he checked the equipment. I had faith he was qualified and prepared to open the parachute and land us safely on the ground.
Faith, like skydiving, is not jumping in blind, rather you are making an informed decision based on research and circumstances. I’ve struggled with this comparison over the years. How could I so willingly have jumped out of that plane but, when faced with a personal “storm” (a traumatic pregnancy with my son), I felt like my faith was wavering. I felt guilty and confused.
About the Author
Julie is a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit junkie; literacy advocate, spouse to a retired Air Force airman, and mama who is simply making it through the day by the grace of caffeine and Jesus.
She has a degree in broadcast journalism and criminal justice from he University of Maryland in College Park. She went on to work in television, specializing in crime TV and then advanced to investigations for the federal government. Her most favorite job has been being a mommy and is most recently known by her social media followers for her recurring pieces #conversationswithcolton.
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Do you want to help your children memorize biblical Proverbs? Discover these ABC Bible Verses to encourage kids to learn God’s Word.
Are you looking to inspire your child to dig into their Bible? Do you want to teach kids the value of reading the Bible and memorizing what it says? Have you wanted to help children pray scripture? Kimberley Payne is a mother and grandmother who believes in cultivating the habit of Bible study in the next generation.
ABCs of Proverbs is a book that organizes a short passage from the Book of Proverbs in alphabetical order so that children can learn scripture while also learning the alphabet. The author chose well-known verses from the wisdom of the Old Testament. By working through this book, you will not only teach your child the alphabet but also teach them about memorizing and praying Bible verses.
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. www.kimberleypayne.com
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Are you wondering if raising your child as a Christian will be impactful? Discover these devotions that demonstrate how childhood faith can lead to salvation.
Do you have the desire to have your child grow up knowing God’s Word? Are you looking to make an impact in your child’s faith? Have you ever wondered how your childhood faith affects your adulthood? Kimberley Payne is a down-to-earth writer who shares her early school years and how her parents’ teachings and influences shaped her childhood and later years.
Growing Up in the Faith is a book of over 30 devotions told with deep honesty that takes childhood experiences from Kimberley’s life and passes on spiritual insights that offer hope and help.
Kimberley shares childhood struggles and mixes them in with her personal faith journey. She writes about her experiences and how her faith helped her not only get through difficulties but triumph over trials.
By reading these deeply personal reflections, you’ll feel encouraged as a parent raising your child with Christian values.
Heart-wrenching accounts of dramatic life experiences of a young girl
Faith lessons, warnings, and wisdom from childhood experiences
Reminders of teachings in the Bible without being preachy
Captivating tales of triumph over trials
Insights into growing up Catholic in the 1970 and 80s
Growing Up in the Faith is an open and nostalgic devotional that shows how you may leave God but He never leaves you.
If you like stories that engage and inspire then you’ll love this rendering of a child’s journey of faith. Buy Growing Up in the Faith to enrich your spiritual life today!
Book Excerpt
Introduction
In my formative years, I developed a foundation of religion. I learned about God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus the Son. I learned about sin, prayer, and forgiveness. Since childhood, I believed in God. And I believed in Satan.
Satan. Father of lies. Beelzebub. Enemy. Demon. Devil. Deceiver. Lucifer. He is referred to all these names (and more) throughout the Bible.
Most people are familiar with his actions in the garden of Eden. However, he was a created being before then. He started out as an angel of God, a cherub, named Lucifer. He was exceedingly beautiful. But he became prideful because of this. He wanted the glory and honour that belonged to God. He wanted to be worshipped. He wanted to be God.
His pride caused him to rebel and he was thrown from heaven down to earth. Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10:18).
His name changed from Lucifer, which means “morning star” to Satan which means “adversary”. His story is told in Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.
As the enemy of God, he is the enemy of all God loves. His goal is to turn us away from God. He is an accuser and a tempter. We see his influences throughout the world and our godless society.
However, the good news is that Satan is not the opposite of God. They are not equal and opposing powers. God is all-powerful, present everywhere, and all-knowing. Satan is not.
Satan cannot read our thoughts. He is a created being who is limited in what he knows, where he goes, and what he can do. His existence depends upon God. At the end of time, he will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.
But until then, Satan reigns on earth. He is evil, crafty, and deceitful. There is a real battle that goes on in our hearts and minds: the struggle between good and evil.
Although I had a solid upbringing in the faith and learned about the Bible and the values set out, I did not heed the Bible’s warnings. There raged a real battle for my soul. Satan wanted me to lie, cheat, and steal. He wanted me to take my own life.
I believe without the early foundation of faith as a child I would not have been protected from his tactics. Without the early foundation of my faith I would not have so easily accepted Christ into my heart as an adult.
I pray you will enjoy the stories of my faith journey through the childhood school years and the influence of my parents’ religion, values, and heritage.
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She writes to help others grow closer to God. Connect with her on her website
Are you looking for fun arts and craft ideas? Discover creative and easy ways to make animal crafts.
Are you looking to inspire curiosity in children about animals? Do you want to spend quality time with a little person? Have you ever wanted to keep your kids off their screens? Kimberley Payne is a mother and grandmother who believes in building young people’s confidence and self-esteem while helping them to grow and develop.
Animals in the Bible: Craft Book offers directions to create over 30 animal crafts matching the animals found in Animals in the Bible: Learn About Animals While Exploring God’s Word. By creating these crafts you’ll help your child develop fine motor skills, self-regulation, and creativity skills.
In Animals in the Bible: Craft Book you and your child will discover:
Clear directions and pictures to engage young people
Enhanced fine motor skills as kids paint, colour, glue, and cut
Improved pattern recognition
Enriched concentration and organizational skills
A sense of achievement and pride in your little one’s work
Animals in the Bible: Craft Book is a useful resource that develops self-expression as kids try new ideas and problem-solve.
If you like a fun way to spend time with your children, then you’ll love this book of arts and crafts.
Buy Animals in the Bible: Craft Book to inspire children to develop lifelong skills today!
Book Excerpt
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Visit her website.
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Are you looking for stimulating fun-filled activities? Discover brain-boosting word finds and coloring pages to captivate young children.
Are you looking to boost your child’s vocabulary? Do you want to strike a balance between educational value and entertainment? Have you ever wanted to keep your kids off their screens? Kimberley Payne is a mother and grandmother who believes in building young people’s confidence and self-esteem while helping them to grow and develop.
Animals in the Bible: Activity Book forKids offers over 35 hand-drawn coloring pages and word search puzzles matching the animals and stories found in Animals in the Bible: Learn About Animals While Exploring God’s Word. By coloring and completing these puzzles you’ll help your child develop fine motor skills and improve spelling.
In Animals in the Bible: Activity Book for Kids you and your child will discover:
Lifelike illustrations of over 35 animals found in the Bible
Enhanced fine motor skills as kids paint and colour
Hours of entertainment and skill development
Enriched concentration and organizational skills
A combination of learning and fun
Animals in the Bible: Activity Book forKids is a useful resource that fosters a sense of accomplishment as kids color and problem-solve.
If you like a tool that’ll keep your child’s mind active and sharp, then you’ll love this activity book.
Buy Animals in the Bible: Activity Book forKids to inspire children to develop lifelong skills today!
Book Excerpt
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She combines her teaching experience and love of writing to create educational materials for children about family, fitness, science, and faith. Visit her website.
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Write Now Literary is pleased to organize a two-week book tour and Amazon gift card giveaway for This Too Shall Pass by David Yuen. The book tour will run from July 17-28th, 2023.
ISBN: 979-8218186210
Genre: Christian. Poems, Prose & Essays
Meet The Author
Born and raised in NJ as a second-generation Chinese American, David Yuen received a B.A. from Rutgers University and has been writing poetry along with other writing styles for over twenty years. His works have appeared in other publications including Poetry East and Romantics Quarterly.
About The Book
Life is a gift. A fleeting, complicated, painful gift. Life holds death, it holds struggle with God, and it holds precious relationships we easily take for granted. And with every event that threatens life as we know it, our perspective on it changes, whether it’s a pandemic, a shift in politics, the tragedy of war, or personal loss. This Too Shall Pass is an exploration of life—sorrowful, mysterious, funny, and beautiful—through a collection of poems, prose, memoir, and commentary written from a mostly Christian perspective. Life is no small thing. Life is no easy thing. Life is uncertain. But one thing is certain about life: it’s miraculous.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
David thank you so much for joining us on Write Now Literary. We’d like our readers to get to know you more.
Tell us what’s your ideal place to write.
I write in a space away from everyone, where the distractions are kept minimal, and I have the time to prioritize what I’m doing. Though this space can be found anywhere from my own apartment, a hotel room, or even on a picnic chair I set up during a hike, most often times it’s at my desk in my bedroom. I try to keep it simple.
How do you choose between ideas you’d like to write about?
Usually, my ideas come when I force myself to sit down in a routine and write something. It’s a discipline that I had to learn and get used to. Mind you, it’s not always that since I have had moments where it was outside of the routine and I got inspired suddenly. But what usually happens is that something catches my attention, I reflect on it, and when my routine comes, the words are crafted. I don’t always write gold—that’s just reality, but at least I’m writing and I go with whatever idea or event that latched onto me.
Has there been a time in your own life when you could really sense God was putting you in a situation for a reason?
Yes. It was when I was taken off guard helping someone that I didn’t know I had to help and wasn’t ready to help. It was also the time when I almost got killed but by some miracle, I was protected and I realized that God needed to show me how fragile life is. It was when I thought I had things under control and then I suddenly lost control completely. It was during all these times.
What advice would you give to a beginning author?
My best advice is that you seriously ask yourself why you write. Are you writing because you want others to admire you? Are you writing because you want to prove something? Many times, growing up, I convinced myself that I’m writing simply because I was passionate. It wasn’t until later that I realized that many times I was writing for more selfish and prideful reasons. Please have that honesty with yourself. Have that capacity to face uncomfortable truths that you try to hide from. Whether it hurts or it doesn’t, I found that honesty with yourself is what God wants from you.
How would you respond if asked to do something you knew was impossible? Something so difficult, so crazy, so beyond your ability that it didn’t even make sense. You’d dismiss it, forget about it and act like you were never asked, right? But what if it were God asking? What if you were absolutely sure that you had just heard God speak?
This is that story. The story of two very unlikely people who were asked by God to walk across America. They were to walk from one side of the country to the other, in every conceivable kind of weather, facing what seemed like insurmountable odds, taking every step together and accomplish it in just six months.
As you read, you’ll take each step with them: Meet the people they met, hear the prayers they prayed, feel their pain and celebrate their victories. This is the incredible, true account of their once-in-a-lifetime, adventurous journey.
Book Excerpt
That morning, as Dave was driving around the power plant on his rounds, he wasn’t just looking for trespassers. He was looking for answers. He was looking for confirmation God was still there and still cared. He was looking for a sign which would permit him to keep believing in the middle of all the junk life had thrown his way. And he found it. He found it when he pulled up beside two people walking through a power plant who had smiles on their faces and a message straight from heaven.
Others were hurting too. Others were searching for a sign. Others were looking for the answer we’d been privileged to carry across the nation. We knew God would orchestrate their steps to meet two travelers walking down the road. They didn’t know it, but they were on a collision course for a God-sized encounter with the awesome message of His love. And…so we walked.
About the Authors
Rick and Jane McKinney have lived an extraordinary life of ministry. Once described as “mavericks,” they have literally stepped out into the unknown to embrace God’s call and have experienced His presence in a way that only comes through a life of obedience. Whether planting and pastoring churches, traveling the world to perform concerts, building a house in Mexico, traveling from village to village in India, or walking across America, they have followed His voice as He led them forward, one step at a time.
Do you love natural imagery and unrhymed poetry? Discover these pairings of poems and photographs that communicate images to penetrate your mind and heart.
Are you a fan of photo literature? Do you like the combination of words and images? Are you looking to blend visual and verbal images? Kimberley Payne is a talented photographer and poet who shares her love of words and pictures to help you experience the blending of each to stir your soul.
A Moment in Time is a book of poems inspired by images from nature. The pairing of poetry and pictures shines a light on the cohesive combination of these two distinct art forms.
Kimberley shares three lines of words that illustrate and interplay with the photographs to add depth and context for your imaginative engagement. By reading these poems and looking at these photos of nature you’ll be inspired by the emotion of the moment and connection with nature.
In A Moment in Time you’ll discover:
Over 30 poems inspired by captivating photos from nature
Tightly linked connections between images and text
Short-form poetry and photographs that encourage each other
Independent yet interdependent connections between art forms
Simplistic descriptions and images of the seasons
A Moment in Time is visual poetry that demonstrates how the haiku poem comes closest to the shutter’s click. If you like photos that inspire and poetry that resonates then you’ll love this book.
Book Excerpt
Introduction
In 2002, the first phone with a built-in camera became publicly available. At first, I balked at the thought of it. But 20 years later, I can’t imagine going anywhere without it. Living in a rural area, there are many opportunities to take pictures. Since I always have my phone with me, I now always have a camera. My smartphone is a basic Samsung Galaxy A50. It has a few features including an image stabilizer, laser auto focus, and triple lens. It works best for stills, particularly in bright sunny conditions. I took all of these pictures in Ontario, all within 500 kilometers (310 miles) northeast of Toronto. The area where I live is known as the Kawartha Lakes region, a large recreational region of the province. There are four distinct seasons.
There are two main post-secondary institutions in Peterborough: Trent University and Fleming College. I work at the college and walk along its trails on my lunch hour. There are a variety of natural trails that surround the entire campus and extend to the boundaries. The majority of my photos are taken within this area.
As a young child, I enjoyed writing poems that rhymed. As a teenager, I dabbled in free-flow. As an adult, I explored a more structured form of poetry called Japanese Haiku.
A haiku is a three-line poem with seventeen syllables. The first line is five syllables, the middle is seven, and the last is a five syllable count.
Although true haiku poems end with a twist creating a sudden sense of enlightenment, I wanted to use the structure to describe my simple nature photos in three short verses.
Much like a photograph, a poem captures a moment in time.
I hope you enjoy this collection of my pictures and poems, or “photopoetry”, where I’ve paired words and images across the seasons.
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She writes to help others grow closer to God. Connect with her on her website
Do you want a glimmer of hope in the face of loss? Discover these reflections that can bring you comfort during your time of mourning.
Are you dealing with the loss of someone you love? Do you have the desire to seek God in the shadow of grief? Are you looking for encouragement and a boost in your faith? Kimberley Payne’s life with her granddaughter was cut short by her sudden death at seven months old. Here she shares her honest journey through overwhelming loss and the hope to be found in God’s promise that death is not the end.
Until Heaven is a book of stories and poems from the journey through the first few years of deep sorrow after the death of Kimberley’s grandbaby.
Kimberley processes her loss through writing and shares from scripture and her own story and how her faith helped. By reading these reflections you’ll be feeling encouraged in your grief and strengthened in your faith.
In Until Heaven, you’ll discover:
Reflections that will speak to those facing heartbreak and pain
Hope that death is not the end and you will see your departed loved ones again
Real-time reflections from the first few years of grief
Faith lessons about heaven, our eternal home
Reminders of teachings from the Bible without being preachy
Until Heaven is an authentic devotional that will ignite your imagination and make you long for heaven. If you like stories that offer a glimmer of hope then you’ll love this book of reflections that will offer comfort in times of sorrow. Buy Until Heaven to help you grieve with hope today!
Book Excerpt
Introduction
I lost my granddaughter, Talia Elizabeth May, in 2019. Born in the spring, she died of SUID (Sudden Unexpected Infant Death) in the fall of that same year. SUIDs is a term to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than one-year-old and often happens during sleep.
Talia lived with her older sister, Sophia, and her mom in the in-law suite of our home. I witnessed her birth, fed her, changed her, and played with her every day. Talia was as much my little one as she was her mother’s.
Grief is hard. As a Christian, I grieve. But I do not mourn as those with no hope. I find comfort and hope in a better life—a life after death.
In this collection of stories and poems, I share my journey through the first few years after Talia’s death.
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. ~John 16:22
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She writes to help others grow closer to God. Connect with her on her website
Can God speak to us through movies, hobbies, travel, and dreams? The Bible is very clear that God can and does speak to us in a variety of ways. Kimberley Payne shares in short, simple stories the truth that God may have something for us to learn about our lives.
Best described as an emotional treasure of personal reflections, each devotional in this book holds a lesson of wisdom that can be applied to one’s life.
Review of Leisure Time With God:
“The book was a very engaging read. Kimberley Payne’s ironic sense of humour helps the stories unfold. Of particular interest were her stories about her wider family, her love for watching movies, and snowmobiling. With a deep faith, she weaves life and prayer naturally together. I highly recommend this book.”
Heather Williams wanted to be a good mom. She did her best to provide for her daughter’s physical, mental, and social well-being. But when her daughter reveals a horrifying secret that she’s been molested by her own father, Heather struggles to come to grips with her inadequacy as a mother.
Heather is consumed with anger, despair, and frustration with the system. She feels alone in her desperation to ensure the safety of her child.
As Heather battles the legal system to protect her daughter, she also finds herself battling feelings of anger, guilt, and betrayal. Will she be able to protect her daughter? Could she ever forgive her ex?
Book Excerpt
Tuesday, September 3rd
My daycare provider’s apartment always smelled like a combination of applesauce and baby powder, and my daycare provider, Donna, smelled the same. She had hair highlighted red and a goldfish face with eyes set wide. When I knocked on her door, she shouted her familiar, “Come in. It’s not locked.”
I let go of Caitlin’s hand and gave her a tight hug before releasing her to join the other kids at the toy chest. Donna sat on the edge of a kitchen chair, feeding a toddler some banana goop out of a jar. Two boys played with dinky cars on the pale taupe carpet.
I reminded Donna, “I’m working till four again today, so I should be back to pick Caitlin up around 4:30.”
Donna looked up and smiled, revealing small white kernels of teeth. “We’ll be here.”
“Bye, Caity-Cat. Have a good day,” I called to Caitlin.
Caitlin looked up from her puzzle. “Bye, Mommy.”
I blew her a kiss and then signalled for her to take her thumb out of her mouth. Although she never did it as a baby, she’d recently started sucking her thumb.
Once outside our apartment complex, I zipped up my coat to protect myself from the biting wind. Usually, I didn’t mind the walk to work but days like this reminded me that winter was on its way. Twenty minutes later, I was glad to step into the warmth of the dental clinic.
From the cloakroom, I called to my co-worker, Connie, “There sure is a nip in the air.”
Connie’s brow wrinkled. “Yeah, it’s a change from last week. That’s what I hate about September. The weather changes from one day to the next. By the way, your mom says hello.”
I smiled and nodded. Mom and Connie talked on the phone almost daily since I started at the clinic. I think Mom must feel more in tune with my life when she can talk about me with Connie.
Today, Connie had pulled her unruly brown hair into a braid. She wore a tight jean dress with one gold bangle wrapped around her left bicep.
I took off my jacket and walked through the waiting room. That’s when I saw the petite, blonde woman sitting with her back straight, and both hands in her lap, twisting the handle of her purse.
She looked up and smiled. “Hi. I’m a little early.”
I continued past her and sat at my reception desk. I looked to the appointment book to see her name was Sarah Dowe and she was indeed twenty minutes early.
“Can I get you a cup of coffee while you wait?” I said and handed her a clipboard with the standard dental forms to fill out.
Taking the paperwork she answered, “No, thank you. I just brushed my teeth.” She smiled brilliantly. “I’m a little nervous. No offence to Doctor Mott, but I don’t like dentists.”
As if on cue, Dr. William Mott entered the room. His tall frame filled the doorway. He had full lips, high cheekbones and slightly sunken sea-gray eyes. Carrying a motorbike helmet and leather jacket, he wouldn’t be mistaken for a dentist.
“Bill, your ears must be burning,” Connie said.
Bill’s face creased in a smile. “Hmm. Three women talking about me? Please don’t stop.”
I could feel the heat rising up my neck.
Connie wagged her finger at Sarah and me. “These two were saying how they don’t like dentists.”
Bill’s smile faded, “Oh.” His eyes found mine. He looked like a pierced puppy. Sarah sat up straighter. “Oh my, no. I like dentists. You come highly recommended. It’s just that I don’t like dentist appointments. I mean, I don’t like dental work.”
She seemed flustered so I tried to rescue her. “Dr. Mott, Sarah is a new patient and will need a preliminary exam.”
His smile returned so that both dimples showed. “Well then, let’s get her set up with some x-rays.”
The hygienist, Gail, walked with purpose down the hall. In her late fifties, she wore her slate-gray hair in a tight bun. I turned to Sarah and said, “Gail will take you to the room.”
“Thanks.” Sarah stood, handed me her paperwork, and followed Gail down the hall.
Bill winked as he passed my desk and again I felt my face flood with color. I was relieved to have a solidly booked afternoon to keep me busy and focused on work. I picked up the receiver and dialled.
“Hello, it’s Heather Williams from Lakeside Dental Clinic. I’m just calling to get some insurance information for one of our patients. Paula Wagner.” I waited for their response. “Yes, she did give me some primary insurance numbers.” I read the numbers to the woman on the other end of the phone. “But you’re not showing anything? Okay. This must be really new. I’ll have to call her to get the right information. Thank you.” The numbers are probably from her dog license. I smiled.
I continued with my work but my thoughts returned to Bill and my regular daydream. I imagine us walking barefoot along the beach, with the sun streaking the sky brilliant blues, oranges and pinks. He’s wearing a white shirt that flutters in the warm wind. A lone seagull calls in the distance. The waves crash onto the beach erasing our footprints as we walk. He takes my hand and turns me to face him…
“Hi again,” Sarah said, her words jolting me from my thoughts.
“How’d it go?” I turned my chair to face her.
“No cavities. I need to book another appointment for a proper cleaning though.”
Looking up at Sarah, something about her smile twigged my memory. “Did you used to go to St. Anne’s High School?”
Sarah leaned over the counter. “Yeah, I did.”
“Was your last name, Kinsey?”
She raised an eyebrow in amusement. “Yes! Dowe is my married name.”
“I’m Heather. Heather Williams.”
“Oh, my goodness! Heather! I didn’t recognize you with dark hair. You used to have blonde hair and braces. How are you?”
“Good, good. I’m working here now.” I smiled sheepishly. “Well, obviously.”
I’d known Sarah since we were “minor niners” in high school together. On the first day, she told me that although her teeth were perfectly straight, she wished she had braces like me. I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to have to wear the ugly metal contraptions and immediately felt a warm bond with this new friend. She was shorter than me, with bright blue eyes and fair skin. Pretty and petite while I was athletic and tanned we looked like an experimentation in opposites. Later that same year, I dyed my hair blonde to look more like her.
The phone rang and I excused myself to answer it. After I hung up the receiver I asked, “Listen, do you have time to visit for tea after work? I’ll be off at four and just live a short walk from here.”
“I’d love to. I have some errands to run and then I’ll return.”
“See you then.”
With two emergency appointments, the afternoon passed by quickly. By four o’clock I felt rushed to get my paperwork done. Sarah returned at ten past four. I held one finger in the air and called to her, “I’ll only be a few more moments.”
On our way home the earlier bright skies had clouded over and the chill was still in the air. I was happy for a drive in Sarah’s mini-van.
“I’ll have to wear an extra sweater to work tomorrow,” I said.
“Do you always walk to work?” Sarah asked as we drove past the commercial area. Next to the garden store was a patch of field, Bath and Body Works, the Bargain Dollar discount store, Holland Video, the pizza joint, and the computer store.
“Yeah, that’s why I moved close to work. You remember I used to be on the running team? I don’t run anymore, but I do love walking and hiking.”
“There are some lovely trails around Holland. But I admit I don’t get out as much as I probably should.” She laughed, a nice lilting sound.
We both giggled as we drove past the Lighthouse Christian Assembly Church outdoor billboard. It read:
Don’t let worries kill you. Let the church help.
I asked, “So what have you done since high school?”
“Oh, I went to Hope College, got married, had a baby. The usual. You?”
“About the same.” I didn’t feel like getting into the fact that my marriage ended only last year. We caught each other up quickly on parents, siblings, and our jobs.
“Here we are.” I pointed to my apartment. Sarah parked on the street in front.
When I opened the doors to the building, I was surprised to find Donna waiting in the hallway.
“Heather, we need to talk,” Donna said.
Her amber eyes, normally bright and animated, were clouded and wrinkles creased her brow.
What is she, the time police? I thought as I looked at my watch. “How’s right now?” I offered, a lump rising in my throat.
“It’s good. I have a sitter.” She exhaled.
“I should go,” Sarah said, twisting the ring on her left hand.
“No, please stay.” I grabbed hold of Sarah’s arm. As we ascended the stairs, Donna’s ominous announcement made my heart race with a surge of adrenaline. Had Caitlin hit another child? Kicked that little curly-haired boy? I hoped she hadn’t bitten anyone. But if it were any of these things, wouldn’t Donna have just told me? Why the secrecy?
I could never have imagined what Donna would tell me that day. The very thought made me want to retch.
About the Author
Kimberley Payne is an award-winning author. She writes to help others grow closer to God. Connect with her on her website
Born and raised in NJ as a second-generation Chinese American, David Yuen received a B.A. from Rutgers University and has been writing poetry along with other writing styles for over twenty years. His works have appeared in other publications including Poetry East and Romantics Quarterly.
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