Cover Reveal & Excerpt: Found Adrift: 40 Days of Recovering Grace by Pauline Creeden

Expected publication dates: 
Kindle Edition – October 5, 2012 
Paperback – October 15, 2012
Devotional

I don’t know about you, but I’m easily distracted. If God set me in a rowboat on the water and told me to pay attention and not let myself drift too far from the shoreline, I’m sure I’d be in the middle of the lake before I realized I’d drifted from the shore. Then sitting in the middle of that lake, I’d realize I didn’t have a paddle. And sometimes I feel so far away that no one on the shore could possible hear me.

Have you ever been there?

If you have ever been distracted by your daily life and suddenly looked up and found yourself far behind where you should be in your walk with God, then you are a drifter like me. This devotional is your paddle.

Seeing is believing. We’ve all heard the saying. But as with most twisting of truth that Satan plays on us, this is another lie. Our eyes often play tricks on us, so that what we believe to be true based on what we’ve seen could be false. In psychology, they have several eye “tricks” one of which is figure 1.1 below.

In this figure both the lines are the same length (81 pixels) but the bottom one appears longer because of the way the brackets are placed on the sides. This is an example of how what you see does not always prove that what you believe is true.

If you saw a fellow coworker searching the drawers of the boss’ desk when they were out, what would you believe to be true? Is the coworker a thief? Playing a practical joke? Or maybe getting something the boss asked her to get? Seeing does not prove anything, often it’s the interior motives that provide the truth of what is actually going on.

In Luke 11, the crowd grew around Jesus, wanting for a miracle or some sign that Jesus was who He said He was. He answered: “Everybody’s looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles.” (Luke 11:29 MSG)

How often do we look for proof that God is who He says he is before we’re ready to believe?

In John 20, Thomas had said that he would not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead until he’d seen and put his fingers in the scars of Jesus hand. After seeing, Thomas believed, but Jesus said “Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing. (MSG)”

Believing is seeing. The act of believing is an interior motive. It is what causes something to be true or false at least in our own minds. Jesus said in Matthew 21:22 “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive. (NKJV)” Are we supposed to believe that we got what we ask for before we get it or after? What would be the point in believing after?

So what are we believing about our God? Are we in a season of prayer right now, waiting for a miracle, but not sure if we’ll get it? Do we not believe in His goodness without seeing it? If we believe that God is good and that He wants our best, shouldn’t we believe he’ll give it to us?

“For we walk by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV)

God wants us to obey in faith, rather than waiting for a sign from Heaven. If you know that God would want you to do something (go on a missions trip, give more money to the church, volunteer in the nursery), don’t wait for a sign before you obey, before you “walk” in it. Prayerfully approach the project and if you believe it is what God wants you to do, do it. I’m sure you will “see” the results.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)

If you have to see before you believe, than you can’t call that faith. Faith is given before the event takes place, every time. You have faith that the sun will set tonight. You have faith that the chair you’re sitting in will hold your weight until you stand up again.

Read Romans 4:1-5 – What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted to him for righteousness. (NKJV)

We cannot earn God’s good opinion of us, it is not wages or paychecks that we can earn. Grace is given to us because we believe. We receive according to our belief.

Prayer Thought: What stands in the way of your belief? Have you asked God to help you with your unbelief? Think on where you struggle, and ask for Jesus’ help.

About the Author

In simple language, Pauline Creeden breaks down Biblical stories and applies them to real life in new ways. Her methods of teaching have brought new light to old scriptures. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.

Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.

She is the Admin for Spirit Filled Kindle and an administrator for Readers’ Realm. Her articles, reviews, and devotionals have been featured in RUBY FOR WOMEN Magazine,Devotionals for Bloggers, Faith Filled Family Magazine, and Christian Fiction Book Reviews.

One of Pauline’s short stories has won the CCW Short Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear & Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in Monsters! from Diminished Media Group. She is currently editing and drafting several novels at various stages.

Website http://paulinecreeden.com/

Facebook http://facebook.com/paulinecreeden

twitter @P_Creeden

About the Artist

This gorgeous cover was created by Marcy Rachel. Her website is currently under construction. Marcy is self-taught in photoshop. Her facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/MarcyRachelDesigns and people can contact her on the page or at contact@marcyracheldesigns.com