Not Alone

One of my favorite Bible passages involves hopelessness. If that were where it ended, it would be my least favorite, since I just need to look around me or read the news to get a panorama of hopelessness. However, when Elijah in 1Kings 19 despairs of living in this land where he feels completely alone in following God, God reminds him he is not alone. God reminds him that 7,000 followers of the true God who have not "bowed the knee to Ba'al" are hiding and protected nearby. That remnant is a source of comfort and strength to the despondent Elijah. He is not alone.

A few days ago, I had posted information about my two new books on Facebook. I have joined a zillion author and book promotional sites to try to create a buzz about my new books. I always peruse other authors work, and read current books by emerging authors every night. Half the time, if not more, I am shocked and disgusted. The writing is often terrible, and the draw appears to be lurid explicit sex scenes and violence. Also, the occult and depravity seems to sell well. Wholesome books that anyone can read to their children without fear, with uplifting and inspiring messages, seem to be passe. I sometimes feel like Elijah. Why bother? Why not just give up? The world does not want what I have to offer, what I feel compelled to write because of my love for Christ.

But then, like Elijah, I received a message of hope. I got a message from a stranger asking me if I had ever heard of Clean Indies Reads? It was a group on Facebook of over a thousand authors who wrote and promoted  "flinch-free fiction." The authors on the group have the same philosophy as I do - good writing, good story line, uplifting message, no explicit sex or gratutitous violence. And then this angel of mercy told me, "If you want to join, you need to be recommended. I will recommend you."
God has preserved a remnant!!!
I joined the group instantly. I told the group it was like emerging from the sewer and diving into a pristine, glacier-fed, clear lake. They immediately swarmed around me, with welcoming messages and instructions to set up a twitter account and they would all help me promote my books. I had a twitter account, but never ever used it. I had 3 "followers." I asked a million (stupid) questions, and by the end of the day was getting the hang of Twitter. It may take me some time to build a following, but it's ok.
I am not alone.
*************
PS - two new clean books with an inspiring message you can safely read:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Tower-Builder-Vicky-Kaseorg/dp/1494434997
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bark-Covenant-Vicky-Kaseorg/dp/1500406295
*************
1 Kings 19:10-18
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
¹¹ The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
¹⁴ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
¹⁵ The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. ¹⁶ Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. ¹⁷ Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”