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Seek Him in Faith
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning – Hope on the Horizon is a deeply personal collection of poems that traces moments of your life through heartbreak, faith, illness, loss, and eventual hope. What first moved you to put these poems together as a collection?
Some of these poems were published in my first book, “Journey to Joy: An Inspirational Memoir”. It is a compilation of poetry and prose. A critique received from another editor was that he would like to see the poems as a stand-alone book. Because I kept writing through new experiences of pain and loss, I decided it was time for a new book. As noted, this book not only focuses on my personal crises but also on the cultural crises we are all experiencing currently. It includes many new poems as well as some previously published ones that happen to fit the overall theme. I also wanted to offer a solution to the human crises, which, I believe, is found in my faith. As I am getting older, I also did not want the poems to be left in my desk drawer. I wanted to share my message of hope with the world while I am still able.
Were there poems that felt especially difficult to write or revisit?
Yes. “Laughing Stock” reminded me of the confusion and pain of not being taken seriously when, as a teenager, my barely formed self-identity was being derailed by vision loss, and no one took me seriously. “No Voice” was also extremely hard to relive. I have forgiven but not forgotten the pain of that experience. The poems that reflect the stresses of single parenting and heartbreak, such as “Heartburn”, “Why?”, and “I Broke My Heart”, all caused me to relive the pain that gave rise to those poems. Recalling my cancer diagnosis is not so painful anymore as I am in my 30th year of survivorship. The memory of abandonment still stings when I re-read “Shattered Joy” and “Deedless Words”.
How do ordinary moments help sustain faith during extraordinary pain?
A visit or phone call from a friend, a moment of laughter, or even recalling some precious interactions with my children when they were small, reminds me that there can be joy even in the midst of tragedy. A moment of humor, even when poked at me, can momentarily alleviate pain. Above all is the knowledge that God is always accessible through prayer and that I can bring my burdens to Him at any time.
What message do you most want readers to carry with them?
Trials and hardships are part of the human condition, but our Creator is never far away and offers help to those who seek Him in faith. Endurance builds character, and our time of suffering is redeemed when we can offer hope and encouragement to others who are currently where we used to be. In God’s economy, pain is never wasted.
Despite the turmoil, division, and unrest in our world, my prayer is that the reader will embrace the grace, truth, and love Jesus offers and experience the joy and hope He promises to those who find refuge in Him.
Author Links: Publisher’s Page
The author accentuates the trauma of personal relational upheaval, as well as society’s brokenness and confusion that create misery for so many. Humanity’s rejection of our Creator’s order–intended for our flourishing–results in chaos and suffering. However, there is promise of hope in restored joy for those who take refuge in God’s solution for the human dilemma.
In the first section, Joy in Crisis, the author bares her soul as she recounts the signs of her failing vision during her early teens, how people reacted, and her embarrassment at their ridicule. She poignantly shares the trials and triumphs of adjusting to her new reality.
The poems move through the devastation of a dysfunctional marriage, divorce, and her journey as a legally blind single mom raising two young children. Her anger and pain are profound and palpable as she cries out to God for relief. When cancer shows up, shortly after divorce and her mother’s death, her agony deepens as she wonders why her prayers are not being heard.
The author’s faith is on display as she struggles through the aftermath of betrayal, the stresses of motherhood and cancer treatment. The deaths of her father and sister intensify her grief. She wrestles with God, unable to grasp all that is happening, but never loses her faith. She surrenders to the realization that God is using these trials to mature her and deepen her dependence on His love and faithfulness. Over time, she begins to comprehend that there is purpose in her suffering, and offers understanding and encouragement to others in their trials.
Several poems on friendship emphasize the importance of a compassionate community in our seasons of grief. Some point out the pain of abandonment by trusted friends who don’t show up when we need them. Others remind us that even in our hard times, we can be wounded healers for those who are grieving.
The strength of her faith is evident as the author recognizes God’s faithfulness despite unanswered questions. She acknowledges that while God has been reliable on many fronts, her finite mind can never fully grasp His plan and purpose, so she must simply trust Him when the answers don’t come.
There are moments throughout the book where humor and lightheartedness alleviate the emotional intensity—recalling funny moments with kids, the author poking fun at herself as she grows old, etc.…
Culture in Crisis highlights the moral and spiritual decline in our world as lawlessness and rebellion increase. Man’s inhumanity to man and the unraveling of our culture are emphasized. The author does not flinch from addressing controversial issues that contribute to the confusion and pain plaguing our society.
Several poems present Biblical truths regarding our Creator’s righteous demand for our allegiance and our willful estrangement from Him. They emphasize God’s love and compassion for mankind, His mercy for those who seek Him, and His just punishment for those who do not.
In Hope on the Horizon, the book culminates in the promise of a final resolution to the human condition—a Holy God’s offer of salvation through Jesus, His Son, sent to bear humanity’s sin and guilt. The message is clear for all who choose to accept it. The promise of ultimate joy and deliverance is available for all who will receive it.
The book is replete with relevant quotations from the Holy Bible, confirming the author’s Christian faith that has carried her through all these ordeals. The closing poems celebrate a joyful future, free from grief or turmoil, one for which every human heart yearns.
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning—Hope on the Horizon
Poetry to Ponder: Joy in the Morning – Hope on the Horizon is a deeply personal collection of poems that traces the author’s life through heartbreak, faith, illness, loss, and eventual hope. Across three sections, Joy in Crisis, Culture in Crisis, and Hope on the Horizon, the author shares raw moments from vision loss and divorce to cancer and grief, all anchored in her Christian faith. The poems move back and forth through decades of lived experience, showing how suffering collides with belief, and how trust in God becomes her lifeline when everything else falls apart.
What hit me first was how honest this book feels. There is no polish-for-show here. The pain is right on the page. I felt it in poems about broken relationships, motherhood, betrayal, and sitting alone with fear in the middle of the night. Some lines made my chest tight. Others made me nod quietly like, yes, I know that feeling. The writing is simple and direct, sometimes almost conversational, and that worked for me. It felt like someone sitting across the table telling me her story, not trying to impress, just trying to tell the truth.
Emotionally, this book took me on a ride. I felt sad, angry, encouraged, and strangely comforted, sometimes all in the same section. The author leans hard into her faith, especially when facing cancer, divorce, and deep family wounds, and while that may not land the same for every reader, I respected how unwavering she is. Her belief is not soft or vague. It is bold. She talks about God like someone she has wrestled with, cried with, and leaned on when she had nothing left. That kind of spiritual grit stayed with me. I also loved the moments of humor and everyday life sprinkled in, kids making messes, awkward memories, and small joys. Those lighter bits gave me room to breathe between heavier poems.
The book reminded me that suffering does not cancel purpose, and that telling your story matters, even when it hurts. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy faith-based poetry, anyone walking through grief or illness, and people who want something real, reflective, and hopeful to sit with slowly. This is not a book you rush. It is one you dip into, one poem at a time, especially on hard days. If you want heart, honesty, and a steady message of hope through pain, this one is worth your time.
Pages: 176 | ISBN 978-1-961266-25-4
Christ Sent Me Not to Baptize: Paul’s Gospel and the One Baptism
Christ Sent Me Not To Baptize by Michael Del Brown lays out a sweeping study of every baptism in Scripture and funnels it toward one sharp claim. Paul teaches that only a single baptism applies to believers today. The book begins with a lexical deep dive, wanders through ancient rituals, walks carefully through Israel’s history, then lands on Paul’s letters where the author argues that Spirit baptism alone defines the present dispensation. It is a detailed trip. The argument keeps circling back to Paul’s insistence that he was sent to preach and not to baptize. That idea becomes the backbone of the entire work.
The writing often feels like a scholar talking straight at a kitchen table, which I sort of liked. It moves briskly from word studies to cultural history to doctrinal claims. The author clearly cares about precision. He keeps coming back to identification with Christ as the core theme behind baptism. I found that emphasis refreshing. I found myself energized by the pace. The ideas come one after another, and it pushed me to pause on my own and really let each point sink in. I ended up appreciating how the steady movement kept me alert and thinking as I read.
Emotionally, the strongest pull for me came from the sections that place Paul in contrast with the Twelve. That contrast shapes the whole book. It felt bold and at times almost confrontational. I appreciated the author’s confidence, though. He really believes that Paul’s revelation changes everything about how we read baptism. Whether or not one agrees, the conviction behind the writing gives the book a kind of charge. I found myself nodding, arguing back, agreeing again, shaking my head, and then leaning forward to see what he would say next. It kept me engaged even when I wrestled with the conclusions.
The book reads like a long conversation that mixes study, passion, and a firm desire to set the record straight. I walked away with a clearer sense of why the author believes water baptism belongs to Israel’s program and not to the Body of Christ today. I also walked away with plenty to think about. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy deep dives into Scripture, to pastors sorting out doctrinal questions, and to anyone who likes wrestling with big theological claims. It rewards methodical reading and a curious mind.
Pages: 137 | ASIN : B0FSVGGFFC
Spirits Unveiled: A Theological Unveiling of the Spiritual Realm
Prepare to be enthralled by Tekoa Manning’s riveting exploration of the spiritual realm in their book, Spirits Unveiled. Manning meticulously dissects the nature and origins of angelic beings, specters, and demons, simultaneously unraveling the intricacies of the deliverance ministry and shedding light on the common misconceptions propagated within it. Grounding observations in biblical teachings, Manning offers readers a nuanced understanding of demonic entities and the processes of deliverance.
In Spirits Unveiled, Manning deftly navigates the historical contexts of spiritual beliefs, incorporating elements of Hellenism and the Babylonian exile. Through a careful study of these ancient perspectives, she weaves a compelling connection between past and present, gifting readers with an all-encompassing understanding of the spiritual sphere.
The spiritual world is a source of diverse beliefs and is often subject to many misconceptions. Some affirm the existence of spirits, while others remain skeptical. Manning, drawing on substantial personal encounters, adeptly demystifies the nature of various spirits, serving as a reliable guide through this profound yet mystifying realm.
A paramount theme underscored in Spirits Unveiled is the necessity of protecting children from the potentially harmful aspects of the spiritual world, such as witchcraft. Manning astutely warns against corporations that subtly endorse sorcery through innocuous-seeming products, potentially inflicting adverse effects on unsuspecting consumers. Rather than asserting their views, Manning utilizes thoughtful biblical citations and personal anecdotes to illuminate and steer readers.
Manning’s probing examination of biblical teachings, specifically those of Jesus concerning spirits, held me spellbound throughout.
For those intrigued by spirituality, Spirits Unveiled (Unmasking the Unseen Series Part 2): A Theological Unveiling of the Spiritual Realm is an indispensable read. Its insightful dissection of biblical scriptures and narratives serves as a remarkable guide for readers keen on comprehending the labyrinthine world of spirits.
Pages: 213 | ASIN : B0C2GW9LRN
