A stranger's life hangs in the balance . . .

A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she’s endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love and learn to depend on the Perfect Love that drives out all fear? Or will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom? 

Author of Snow on the Tulips, Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. 

Congratulations, Liz, on your debut novel, Snow on the Tulips! What inspired you to write this story? 

On April 11, 1945, the German occupiers marched 13 Resistance workers to the edge of a canal in the Netherlands and shot them. This was in retaliation for an incident a few days earlier in which the Resistance blew up rail lines and derailed a German train. Twelve of the men died. One survived. The man who survived was found and brought to my aunt's home. Though he was seriously wounded, she nursed him until the Canadians liberated the area just five days later. 

When my father visited the Netherlands, he heard this family story and brought it back. I was only in junior high at the time, but I was fascinated and knew that someday I wanted to tell the world what happened that day. I have taken the incident and fictionalized it and have also worked in other stories I've been told about the time. It was amazing to do the research and learn what great courage and faith these people had in the face of such desperate circumstances.

Wow, Liz, love it when real life inspires a novel. One of my favorite historical fascinations is WW II. Thanks for picking up this challenging, touching story and running with it!

 

What is one fun thing my readers might not know about you? 

Okay, totally off the wall. I love Swiss cake rolls. The Little Debbie kind. Anyway, I eat the chocolate coating first, then bite off the ends. Then I lick out all of the frosting on the inside and finally I eat the cake. Been doing it that way since I was little and I don't know why.

I'm giggling, Liz, 'cause you remind me of my sister. She had special ways of eating food, too. Like popcorn. She'd bite off the puffed balls, set them aside to collect into a pile, then stuff a fist full into her mouth. She also liked to soak a piece of white bread in the bottom of her bowl of chicken noodle soup. She's now a caterer. No surprise there. She loved experimenting with recipes while growing up.

Thanks for joining me and my readers today, Liz! 

God's best to you with Snow on the Tulips! 

Visit Liz at the following locations.

 

www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog. 

A Heart for People

We Skyped with our missionary children and grandchildren Friday night our time (breakfast time for them). We talked about many things, one of them being their new church plant. While eating her pancakes, Rebekah (6) shared that she wanted to help the other children at the new church.

I said, "Wonderful! God's given you a caring heart for people."

A puzzled expression crossed her face. "I'm a Christian," she said. "Why wouldn't I have a heart for people?"

Indeed. Good question, Rebekah. A compelling one.

One that cuts right to the quick. And to the very heart of Christianity.

If we bear Christ's name, should we not also share His love with those around us?

Romans 12:9-21 details what Christian behavior toward others looks like. May I encourage you to read this practical passage? The verses fall on the heels of Paul's discussion about spiritual gifts. This comes as no surprise. The gifts of the Holy Spirit have been entrusted to us so that we can effectively reach out to others. The exercise of our gifts is love in action.

 
Godly devotion, diligence, service, perseverance, joy, prayer, contribution, hospitality, humility, respect, forgiveness, and victory are key components—the very essence of Christian living.

Perhaps it's time we asked ourselves Rebekah's challenging question, "I'm a Christian, why wouldn't I have a heart for people?"

Let's be courageous! Ask the Holy Spirit to peel back the layers of our hearts (through all the rationalizations, defensiveness, woundedness, worldliness, negative thoughts, pride, anger, and fear) and shine His searchlight in the deep places. Then act on what He reveals. We may need to confess specific sin. Sin in our lives blocks our ability to love and reach out to others.

Sin falls into two categories:

1. Sins of commission: When we do what is contrary to God's Word/sins that violate God's Law (which is primarily God's Law of Love). This type of sin can take many forms in thought or deed. We lash out in anger; we take revenge; we succumb to a bad habit or addictive behavior; we lust, lie, or steal from our employer. Sometimes, we're aware of our offense; other times we're clueless. But in every case, our sin eventually affects not only ourselves but others around us.

2. Sins of omission: When we don't do what God's Law of Love asks us to do. Romans 12:9-21 is a good place to start if you wonder what God wants you to do as a Christian.

Every day, we need to confess the sins on the "front of us" (the sins we are aware of) and the sins on the "back of us" (the sins we're not aware of).

When we're honest with ourselves and with God about our sin, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Then we are in a position of godly strength to fulfill Romans 12:9-21.

We can join Rebekah in saying, "I'm a Christian. Why wouldn't I have a heart for people?"

~~

Eileen Rife, author of Second Chance, speaks to women’s groups, encouraging them to discover who they are in Christ and what part they play in His amazing story. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com, www.guardyourmarriage.com.

The Body at Work

Alone in the church bathroom. Just a teenage girl and me. She leaned into the mirror and picked at her eye. Curls cascaded down her back. Tight jeans hugged her legs, while a vintage blouse added a feminine touch to her torso.

I dried my hands and tossed the waded towel in the trash, then flashed a smile at the girl. Her head jerked my way. A glimmer of a grin broke out as she adjusted her purse strap on her shoulder. I’d never seen her at church.

“Are you visiting?” I ventured, chewing on the corner of my mouth, almost afraid to ask. Given the size of our congregation, I’d mistaken a parishioner for a visitor on more than one occasion.

“Yes.” Her face turned pink.

What story lay hidden within this lovely young woman?

I cocked my head and said, “What’s your name?”

“Sara.”

“Ah, lovely.” I extended my hand. “My name’s Eileen. Is this your first time with us?”

She nodded.

I felt an odd desire to reach out to this girl. “Would you like to sit with me?” I had no idea if there’d be enough room on the row where I typically sat. I took a deep breath and pressed on, praying the Lord would work out the seating.

“Okay,” she peeped, then trailed behind me all the way to the second row from the front, to the right of the sanctuary.

We sat waiting for the service to begin—a gray-haired grandma in the autumn of her life and a honey-colored teen blossoming with fresh possibility and potential. Yet I sensed something was wrong.

Was she running from an overbearing father? Reeling from a romantic breakup? What propelled her to our doors on a rainy Sunday morning?  

I smoothed a hand over my slacks as chatter filled the room and praise team members took their spots on the platform. “What brought you here today, Sara?”

Her lips twitched as she clutched her purse. “I saw the sign and wanted to try it out.”

“Do you live close by?”

“Yes, not far from here.” Her gaze lowered.

The drummer tapped out a beat with his sticks, signaling the piano, guitars, saxophone, and trumpet to follow. We stood to our feet and joined the praise team in “How Great is Our God.”

All through the songs, the message, and the invitation, I prayed for this young girl—that God would grip her heart and bring her home to His heart. I panned the middle section to identify other teenagers with whom I might connect Sara.

Sure enough, Krissy, Laura, and Reba sat on the front row, eager new converts, their love for Jesus palpable. After the pastor’s final amen, I knew what I needed to do.  

I turned to Sara. “Can I introduce you to some friends?”

A hesitant nod.

I smiled. “Okay, then.” I gently guided her to the circle of girls. Krissy’s eyes questioned me as she stepped to the side, then her lips parted in a wide grin.

“Krissy, this is Sara. She’s visiting today, for the first time.”

Like an ocean wave gently tugging at the shoreline, Krissy drew her in, talking to her as if she’d known her all her life.

The connection made, I withdrew, confident I’d played my part for the present.

A few weeks later, Krissy bounded toward me after the Sunday morning service. “You’ll never guess what happened. The girl—Sara—the one you brought over to me . . . well, after you left I said, ‘Do you want to get together and talk about Jesus? She said, ‘Yeah.’ So we did. And ya know what?”

I shook my head, Krissy’s enthusiasm filling me like soap bubbles rising in a bathtub.

“She invited Jesus into her life. We’re gonna meet again and talk more about Him.”

By now, my husband Chuck was at my side. He pulled us into a prayer circle, and we lifted up Sara and Krissy for the work He wanted to do.

I left that encounter marveling at the Holy Spirit’s leading. When we’re sensitive to His voice, when we pray and watch, He brings people into our lives who need His touch. Christ wants to use His Body, each member, to fulfill His mission. When we cooperate with His plan, we step full circle into celebration.

His Body at work. It doesn’t get more beautiful than that!

~~

Eileen Rife, author of Laughing with Lily, speaks to women’s groups, encouraging them to discover who they are in Christ and what part they play in His amazing story. www.eileenrife.com, www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com, www.guardyourmarriage.com.