Look to Jesus

lesliemoorewrites
6 days ago
5 min read

Hey there!

As the month of July comes to a close, we're enjoying the last few weeks of summer before school starts. This summer has been full of sweet family moments and lots of traveling! I just returned from a writer's retreat with a dear friend, Kristine Delano. Do you enjoy thrillers? If you're interested in a Christian Suspense about Wall Street, Kristine might be your new favorite author! Here's a link to her debut, The Lies We Trade.

We even squeezed beach yoga into our retreat. Gotta have the fun mixed in with all the words! To see more pictures and videos from our time together, visit my IG page here.

I read a Charles Spurgeon quote last week, "It is always the Holy Spirit's work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus. But Satan's work is just the opposite; he is constantly trying to make us look at ourselves instead of Christ."

This quote is packed with so much to ponder. I don't know about you, but I can find myself evaluating my own thoughts, actions, words, and intentions, thinking I am self-improving, when in reality, I'm still centering my thoughts around me. All about me. At times, this is a necessity, and we should reflect, but too much can be downright depressing when things are bad, or a path to pride, when things are great. Spurgeon says, "All these are thoughts about self, and we will never find comfort or assurance by looking within."

Lately, (on the rare occasion I am alone with my thoughts in this summer season) instead of turning inward, I shift my thoughts to Scripture. Any Scripture.

Spurgeon goes on to say, "We will never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our deeds, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul."

If you find yourself in season of unrest of the soul, I would encourage you to look to Jesus and Jesus alone. When you wake up, think of Jesus. When you go about your day, encountering both joy and heartache, and success and struggles, look to Jesus. He is there with us through both the high and low moments of life, and He is where we will find our peace and our rest. We are but a prayer away.

Spurgeon finishes his devotion with this: "Do not let your hopes or fears come between you and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail you."

This shift from self to Christ is not natural for us. We, in our human state, wrestle with this pull toward sin and the need to center everything around us. We depend on the Holy Spirit to do this work in our hearts and minds.

I don't know about you, but its comforting to know He can and will change my perspective and my heart from fixated on self to worshipping Christ if I but surrender to Him.

What about you? What is the Lord teaching you this summer?

Author Spotlight

I've teamed up with an amazing group of authors to give away free books and reader goodies to our subscribers. Every month, I'll spotlight a new author. Here's July's special lady!

Susanne Dietze

Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she's an award-winning, RWA RITA®-nominated author who's seen her work on the ECPA, Amazon, and Publisher's Weekly Bestseller Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne lives in California and enjoys fancy-schmancy tea parties, genealogy, the beach, and curling up on the couch with a costume drama. Her newest book is A Rancher for Easter. Available now!

Susanne's Website

To see more of Susanne's amazing books, visit her Amazon page

Susanne's Amazon Page

Ellen, a telegrapher and jilted bride, and Nash, a mysterious frontiersman, may be total strangers, but they both need to get from New Jersey to California, fast...and the only way is to share the last ticket-for-two aboard The Honeymoon Express, a transcontinental train trip intended for honeymooners.

Neither relishes the idea of traveling amongst canoodling lovebirds, considering both of their hearts have been broken beyond repair, but the guarantee of a speedy trip is worth the temporary arrangement.

But once they're thrown together, they stumble into a mystery to solve before the end of the line...and perhaps the possibility of healing and love.

Set in 1876, this fast-paced historical novella is rich in heart, faith, and romance.

Check out Susanne's free newsletter story

Link to Susanne's Newletter

Writing update

If you didn't receive last month's email, you might not know I'm working on a new story! With the current swing of the Christian market, I've transitioned from historical romance to contemporary romance, but I'm still writing for the Christian market.

I'm slowly but surely chipping away at my weekly word count goal and steadily moving along in my full-length romantic comedy set in present day. I hit the 57,000 word mark last week thanks to my friend, Kristine, and the peaceful getaway at her lake house in Maine. Yay! This story is light and fun but also packed with as much heart as I can squeeze in there. I can't wait to share more with you when the time comes.

When you think about it, would you pray for me? Please pray that God will:

provide me with the words to write for this story for His glory
for His continued wisdom, grace, and strength to continue persevering
for His perfect timing in finding the right partner/publishing home for this story/series

Thank you so much!

Have you read my free Novelette?

This 10 chapter story is free to my subscribers. If you haven't downloaded your copy, click the link below.

Love Unlawful

a 4th Century Rome Historical Romance

Aurelia cannot forget the terrible night she somehow escaped the grasp of a centurion. But when the honored guest of her father's party, the newly appointed Urban Prefect of Rome turns out to be the same man, she fears he will tell her father the forbidden secret she'd hidden for over a year.

After Liberius has finally secured the coveted position he's been striving for, one moment of weakness threatens to undo him. Will a haunted mistake from his past jeopardize everything he's worked for?

Get my book

Until next month...

Godspede and happy reading!

Leslie