Tag Archives: Love on a Whim

5 Great Reasons to Read Christian Fiction

Health, Life, , , , ,

We all know someone out there who doesn’t like to read, doesn’t have time to read, or only reads non-fiction. Maybe that someone is you! I obviously have strong feelings about Christian fiction or I wouldn’t spend hours a day reading, studying, and writing it, so I thought I’d share with you five good reasons to pick up a Christian novel and give it a go:

  1. Stress relief. Anxiety, depression, and overall stress levels have risen dramatically over the past few years. According to WebMD, a 2009 study from the University of Sussex found that reading was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. That makes reading more effective at reducing stress than other restful activities like taking a walk or listening to music. (https://www.webmd.com/balance/health-benefits-of-reading-books).
  2. Get to know yourself and others better. How can that be when you’re reading about made-up people, you ask? In every Christian novel I’ve ever read, the characters are like true-to-life people, representative of you and me. Observing their interactions with God and life provides new layers of insight and understanding regarding real people, and has even been shown to increase empathy.
  3. Exercise your brain. Every part of the body needs exercise to stay healthy, and reading stimulates the brain, providing benefits like reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. It also helps you develop better vocabulary and writing skills.
  4. A refreshing break. Like any form of entertainment, reading provides a temporary break from the pressures of real life. Most of us seek out entertainment in one form or another, and grabbing a Christian novel is a healthy, uplifting break, rather than a mind-numbing escape like other forms of entertainment can be.
  5. The Bible says people are glad when they read encouraging messages. *throat clearing* “The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message.” –Acts 15:31. Okay, maybe they were referencing a letter to the Gentiles and not fiction, but I stand by my claim. 😉

Are you convinced yet? Let me know below if anything in the list surprised you! And if you already love Christian fiction, let me know what your reasons/benefits are for reading it. Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy reading!

(And if you aren’t already subscribed to receive my monthly newsletter full of contests, humor, and updates, I’d love to have you join me! As a thank-you, you’ll receive my WW2 home front novelette, Love on a Whim, for free! You’ll find the sign-up on the side or bottom of this page.)

Snoozefest to Fascinating: 6 Reasons to Care About History

Homeschool, Life, , , , , , ,

History used to be my least favorite subject. I’m talking all through grade school, high school, and college, I had zero interest in it. Zero.

As far as I was concerned, the whole subject was a giant snoozefest that I had to pass to get through school (much to my parents’ chagrin). Afterall, it was in the past. What difference did it make?

Imagine my family’s surprise when, five years ago, I decided to start writing historical fiction. Suddenly, they saw me become obsessed with the Revolutionary War (thank you, Hamilton!), World War 2, and Vietnam. (Shout out to my supportive husband who listens to me excitedly spout all my newfound knowledge as I learn!)

I now laugh, and feel a little bad for, my former history-hating self.

If you or the kids in your world fall asleep whenever history comes up, I encourage you to consider the following points, and maybe you’ll learn to love history too:

  1. An understanding of history is empowering. Remember — there’s nothing new under the sun, and since history is cyclical, studying how and why things occurred in the past gives us insight on how to move forward. This broad depth of understanding is empowering!
  2. It’s okay to not know everything. There is a LOT of history to learn, and while I want to be sure to understand certain main events, there’s no way I’ll ever know it all — and that’s okay! So dive into whatever you deem relevant or interesting. There’s no scoresheet. (Thank goodness!)
  3. Videos can help. Here me when I say I love to read. I really do. But for some reason, it’s difficult for me to digest history books and remember anything I read. I engage and retain better through video form—at least when it’s a substantial chunk of information. So hit up YouTube or the library or wherever you can find trustworthy videos, pop some popcorn, and settle in!
  4. Look for parallels in modern society. It’s always fun to connect the dots of what you’ve learned to something relevant today. Like I mentioned in point number one, history is cyclical, so it shouldn’t take too long to find a comparison!
  5. Know that those with an understanding of history are forward-thinkers. Teaching kids the importance of history (not just teaching them history, but the importance of it) means raising empowered, forward-thinking kids. We can only move forward in a healthy direction if we’re able to first look back to understand where we’ve been and why. Remembering is the only way to avoid the same mistakes that were made in the past.
  6. Knowledge of history helps set the stage as you read historical fiction! 🙂 It’s a lot easier to get into the flow of your book if you’re already somewhat familiar with the context and events.

You may not have the same reasons I do for diving into history (historical fiction writing and an interest in family history), but I’m sure you have reasons of your own. Every person on the planet can benefit from an understanding of history in some way, shape, or form.

Now what can you do this week to learn something new? Try doing an internet search for something you’ve always heard of but never quite understood. Maybe something like “Stonehenge” or “the War of 1812.” Anything that comes to mind. And then dive in—for two hours or two minutes; it’s up to you.

And if you don’t care to read fifteen-page articles, let me share with you my little shortcut. Try searching like this, for example: “the war of 1812 for kids.” Adding for kids to the end of your search term will lead you to more abridged sources, but still give you the meat of the issues. You’re welcome. 😉

And what does the Bible have to say? “Remember the days of old, consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you; your elders, and they will tell you.” –Deuteronomy 32:7

Let me know your thoughts in the comments, as well as what topic you plan to dive into soon!

If you’re new here – welcome, and thanks for reading! I’d love for you to stick around by signing up for my monthly newsletter, which includes updates, a short video to make you laugh, and my latest blog post. And as a thank-you, you’ll get my WW2 homefront romance novella, Love on a Whim, delivered right to your email!

When You Just Can’t Catch a Breath

Faith, Life, , , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes we just can’t catch a breath. It’s not that we don’t appreciate the abundance of blessings surrounding us, and it’s not that our faith is gone. It’s just that nothing feels quite settled.

Maybe the news has been beating you down so constantly it has become a mental block. Maybe the circumstances you’ve prayed would change for so long haven’t budged and hope is hanging thin. Maybe the hurt of those around you is piling up and there’s nothing you can do, so you feel overwhelmed.

You know God is powerful and capable, but you also know sometimes circumstances don’t change this side of heaven, so you’re hesitant to expect him to move in a big way. You know prayers get answered, but also sometimes they don’t seem to get answered, so you’re hesitant to pour yourself into prayer.

Maybe the door to *fill in the blank* has been closed so many times, you’d rather not try to open it again than risk finding more pain on the other side.

If any of this rings true, here is my encouragement for you today:

– You are enough. You are not deficient. Letting God carry you through the difficulties shows your strength and wisdom as you rely on him. In other words, stop trying to pull yourself up by your bootstraps. You are not that strong in and of yourself. In his arms is the safest place to be.

–God is still good. It’s true. Even when it doesn’t feel like it.

– Emotions often lie or embellish. Emotions can help us gather information about ourselves, but they can’t be trusted without reason, logic, and prayer alongside them. Don’t believe everything they tell you or you’ll only end up hurt.

– Your pain, hurt, hopelessness, faithlessness, mistakes…none of that defines you. God defines you. And he calls you:

            – a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)

            – God’s child (John 1:12)

            – a friend of Jesus (John 15:15)

            – a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)

            – redeemed and forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)

            – a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)

If this is what God says of us, who are we to disagree?

When life feels heavy, don’t retreat. Seek community. Let loved ones help carry your load. Take a step in faith, no matter how small it may seem to anyone else.

And more than anything else, lean into God. Seek silence with him. Create space for him to wrap you in his arms and quietly remind you of his goodness, provision, and love. He’s just waiting for the opportunity to tell you.

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and if you haven’t already, I invite you to sign up for my monthly email encouragements – you’ll receive my free historical romance novella (Love on a Whim) if you do!

The Value of Old Age

Faith, Life, , , , , , , , ,

I absolutely love hearing stories from older generations. My own grandpa, a WWII veteran, is a wealth of information. Yes, he’s alive and well in his 90s, raising horses, gardening, and reading in his down time. (I think he said his list of books read in 2021 topped 88.) He is full of wisdom, knowledge, and stories, but the funny thing is—he doesn’t seem to realize it. In his quiet, humble way, he goes about his days like anyone else, not realizing the value of what he has to offer from his wealth of life experience.

Not my grandpa…but likely someone’s. 🙂

ASK QUESTIONS

If we don’t ask questions and start conversations with the elders in our lives, they may never share their wealth of wisdom and experience! Isn’t that a tragic thought?

Several years ago, when I set out to write historical fiction, I had the privilege of interviewing my grandpa. Even though he’s quiet and unassuming, he’s happy to share when someone asks questions.

I learned loads about him and my grandma from that interview, including personal war stories you’d never see in a history book. In my opinion, knowing family history greatly enriches a person’s heart and life.

With age comes a special kind of wisdom and understanding that is only gained through living a long life. So let’s ask questions while we have the opportunity! Invite the ones who lived through the Holocaust, polio, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, and all the conflicts since and in-between to speak into our lives. Let them give us things to think about that we’ve never before considered. Let them say things that challenge our current opinions and assumptions.

MAKE GOD SMILE 

It’s never too late to start conversations with those of advanced years. We might just be surprised what we learn. And not only does it show them they are honored and valued; I think it makes God smile. Not only do I think he smiles, I think he’s deeply pleased because this has been his plan all along. Take these verses, for instance:

Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. –Leviticus 19:32a

Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How would you advise me to answer these people?” he asked.  –1Kings 12:6

WE ALL HAVE MUCH TO LEARN

I recently released a free historical romance novella here on my website (www.jessiemattis.com) called LOVE ON A WHIM. The idea for the plot was sparked by a one-paragraph blurb I read about one woman’s experience during World War II. Her story of meeting and exchanging addresses with a Europe-bound soldier passing through Ohio when his train made a quick stop was enough to ignite an entire story in my mind. This was a starting point I could never have thought of myself, as I’d never even heard of the canteens that were set up at train stations to serve soldiers passing through at the time. I’m so thankful I had a glimpse into that woman’s personal story from the 1940s.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we all have a lot to learn, and our elders are a great starting point. God’s design of families and different generations is a beautiful gift in so many ways. Let’s use his gift well.

Do you enjoy chatting and gleaning wisdom from older people in your life? Tell me more in the comments – I love these types of stories! And if you haven’t already subscribed, I’d love to have you join my monthly newsletter list. You’ll get my free LOVE ON A WHIM ebook as well as monthly inspiration and humor delivered right to your inbox. Thanks for reading, and have a great week!