Hey all, I wanted to welcome my dear friend, Jess Patch here today. She's taking the floor with a devotion and a glimpse at her new Christmas Novella, Hope Under Mistletoe. Oh, and she's even giving it away for free! So keep reading to get to know Jess, her heart, and her sweet and sassy Christmas novella.
Thank you, Susan, for having me today! I feel taller over here. I like it. (Hardy har
Thank you, Susan, for having me today! I feel taller over here. I like it. (Hardy har
har... I may or may not be slightly taller than shorty here.)
But I digress, so back to Jess...
Let’s take
a look at a small excerpt from Hope Under
Mistletoe, my Christmas novella:
He placed
a cup of steaming coffee at her fingertips. She lifted it and savored the warm
rush down to her stomach. “This is good.”
“I can
pour more than a nickel draft.”
Eden
winced. “I didn’t mean to imply that.”
“Sure you
didn’t.”
Eden
scanned the room. Walnut tables. Shiny hardwood flooring and walls. An
old-fashioned juke box in the corner.
The
awkward silence grew deafening.
“What’s
back there?” She pointed to the archway beside the bathrooms.
“Game
room. Pool tables…air hockey.” He crunched into the peppermint.
She
chuckled. “You can take the boy out of the minor hockey leagues but…”
Knox’s
grin faded. “Yeah.” Longing filled his eyes. He’d come home six years earlier
when his mother had taken ill with cancer, bought this old building and
remodeled it himself.
“How big
is it?” This place was huge.
“Go see for yourself.”
Eden
marched into the back room. Spacious. A stage. A drum set and keys. “Is there
sound equipment in here, too?”
Knox
nodded. “Live bands.”
She
whirled around. “I need this bar.”
Knox
popped another peppermint stick. “You sound like half the town now.”
She
frowned. “We have no place to hold our Christmas cantata practices or fill
Christmas baskets, hold the coat drive…have Sunday morning services.”
Knox
crossed his arms and cocked his head. “Whoa. Wait a minute. You want to have
church…in my bar?”
“Yes, and
I want you to offer it free of charge.”
Knox’s
raspy laugh bounced off the high wooden ceiling. He bent over cackling. Mocking
her. “You been checked against the boards one too many times? I can’t have you
coming in here converting customers. I’ll go broke.”
“I’m not
asking to hand out tracts on Saturday nights. We need a place.” And if a few
patrons heard the Good News, so be it. Maybe Pop would come back to church—if
they brought church to him.
Prior to
this, Eden’s church has burned to the ground and they didn’t have the funds to
purchase new equipment or even rent a place. Looking at Knox’s bar, she saw an
opportunity. She thought outside the box. Here are a few of her thoughts:
Pastor
Gabe inhaled. “I have to agree with Eden. The truth is we might be able to make
a difference in the lives of those who frequent the bar, people who try to numb
their pain with the bottle and drink away their problems. We have a real
solution. Plus, we’re not paying a dime, we have free use of sound equipment
and instruments—which we can’t afford to buy or rent—and it seems like Mr.
Everhart is rather agreeable to our needs.”
Thank you,
Gabe. Eden leaned forward. “The hurting people in the bars aren’t going to
waltz through the church doors. We’re going to have to take the church to them.
It’s a mission field.” Excitement bubbled in Eden’s chest. “Who knows what God
will do? This is the season for miracles, isn’t it? New birth. Good tidings of
joy and peace. We could be a Christmas miracle for someone…for many.”
Matthew
28:18-20 (NET) says, “Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We’re
instructed to go out and be the hands and feet of Christ. As the body of
Christ. I think sometimes we tend to get set in our ways, and while the Gospel
and message of truth remain the same, our approach at times need to change. I’m
not talking about gimmicks or marketing the church. I’m not for that at all. I’m
talking about finding new ways to cultivate relationships with people. Instead
of expecting them to simply come to us. I’m talking about going to them and
building relationships. Showing them through actions that Christ loves
everyone.
This is
what happens when Eden and the new pastor of the church think outside the box.
The bar won’t come to them. So they go to the bar. Not to Bible thump. Not to
preach hell and damnation.
They go
and hold their services, serve the community, and hold Bible studies. What
happens inside that bar? Well, you’ll have to read the novella. But I can tell
you that living a life devoted to God, showing compassion and love without any
judgment brings hope and while not every person may slip into the back room and
cling to the life, some will. And you don’t need to feel as if you’ve labored
in vain. You never know when you’re sowing seeds or watering them.
But you
have to think outside the box. Miracles can happen!
How has someone shown you the love of Jesus with
their simple actions?
Have you subscribed to the Patched In Newsletter?
I’d love for you to and as a thank you gift, you’ll receive Hope Under Mistletoe for FREE! (Susan again...if you haven't, you really, really should! Not only is this an amazing novella, but Jess's newsletters are packed with not only news but fun and tons of encouragement. And she won't spam you, promise. )
Jessica R.
Patch writes inspirational romantic suspense and contemporary romance. A
passion to draw women into intimacy with God keeps her motivated, along with
ice-cold Perrier and adventurous trips in the name of research. When she’s not
hunched over her laptop or teaching the new & growing believer's class at
her church, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband,
embarrassing her daughter in unique ways, dominating her son at board games,
and collecting recipes to wonderful dishes she'll probably never cook. She is
represented by Rachel
Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.
Love the excerpts! If there are hockey references, I'm in. Thanks for sharing! And I signed up for the newsletter, too.
ReplyDeleteA few hockey references! Thanks so much for joining the newsletter, Tom. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
DeleteYou'll love it, Tom!! Both the book and her newsletter!
DeleteCongratulations, Jessica! I'm so loving all these Christmas stories!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shelli! I'm loving them all too! Have you read Sandra Bricker's Humbug Christmas collection. It's 2 stories. So funny and festive. I enjoyed them. :)
DeleteShelli, this is my favorite time of year to read. Love all the Chrismas novellas too! Perfect for a night snuggled by the Christmas tree:)
ReplyDeleteWe have a friend who works as a waiter in order to reach others for Christ. He and his wife also host a house church service in their home and attend our church on Sundays. He definitely thinks outside the box. One thing he shared with us is waiters and waitresses think Christians are the worst tippers. I always think of that now when it comes time to leave a tip.
ReplyDeleteI signed up for your blog Jessica. It's so great to learn more about you.