When the Spirit Convicts Us
By Carrie Fancett Pagels
What do you do when the Holy Spirit convicts you to do something dangerous?
In “Love’s Escape” which is part of The Captive Brides Collection (Barbour, October, 2017), both Nathan Pleasant, the hero, and David Bryant, his best friend, a ship captain, are convicted to help two young women escape a Southern plantation. Their job is a little easier than most, because both women can “pass” for white being of only one-eighth African descent. But because they are being pursued, they face the danger of losing the women they’ve come to love as well as possible imprisonment. Both have already said goodbye to their families, will need to seek new jobs once they reach their destination, and are quickly exhausting their financial resources. Whew! That’s a lot!
I’ve always been intrigued by the people who would reach out
and help others, risking their own lives and livelihoods. Those brave people
often report that they were acting on their beliefs. Belief in God is one
thing, but acting on the prompting of the Holy Spirit, in obedience to God, is
key to taking those steps beyond the ordinary, beyond the human nature that
constrains us, beyond all societal restraints and limits of intellect. And
really, if we are honest with ourselves, when we’ve gotten a nudge from the
Lord doesn’t it often seem “unnatural” and against what our fleshly inclination
would be? But when we act in obedience to His prompts, He rewards that action.
Question: Has the Lord ever called you to do something
outside your comfort zone that blessed you?
Giveaway: A copy of The
Captive Brides Collection which includes my novella “Love’s Escape” an
Underground Railroad story set in 1850.
Nathan Pleasant, the undertaker’s son, secretly transports slaves from Virginia and onto the Underground railroad via a network of funeral homes. He’s grown attached to the Burwell’s beautiful house servant, but sees that Lettie’s desperate attempts to leave slavery are making her vulnerable for exploitation – or worse. When he must choose between his livelihood or Lettie’s freedom, will his heart win out?
Bio – Carrie Fancett
Pagels, Ph.D.
Carrie Fancett Pagels, Ph.D., is the award-winning author of fifteen Christian historical romances, including ECPA bestsellers. Twenty-five years as a psychologist didn't "cure" her overactive imagination! A self-professed “history geek,” she resides with her family in the Historic Triangle of Virginia but grew up as a “Yooper,” in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula. Carrie loves to read, bake, bead, and travel – but not all at the same time! You can connect with her at www.CarrieFancettPagels.com.
Website: www.carriefancettpagels.com
Blogs: Overcoming
With God and Colonial
Quills
My Pinterest page for Love’s Escape https://www.pinterest.com/carriefpagels/loves-escape-novella-in-barbours-captive-brides-co/
My Youtube playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIIM1mHfJ0U&list=RDgIIM1mHfJ0U
Danny Gokey’s song “Rise” is Lettie’s theme song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJS42sKrM8c
One reason I picked this song is because Letitia begins her
escape in a coffin and part of her spiritual journey is very much like this
song. Danny always has a new song just for me!
Christian Book Distributors https://www.christianbook.com/captive-brides-collection-challenges-discover-faith/jennifer-allee/9781683223368/pd/223368?event=ESRCG
Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-captive-brides-collection-jennifer-allee/1126718494?ean=9781683223368#/
Check at your local Christian bookstores, e.g., Lifeway, to
see if they have copies, too!
Lettie’s cornbread recipe:
4 Cups white whole ground cornmeal
2 Cups coconut milk
½ cup oil or fat (bacon grease or butter makes it tasty!)
1 tsp. ground salt
2 Tablespoons baking powder
3-4 eggs depending on how cakelike you want your cornbread
to be.
Stir all together. Get your oven right hot (Set oven to 425
degrees.) Grease a good sized pan. Cook 20-25 minutes until the top is golden
brown. When everyone has cleaned that
pan out if you have some crumblers then take the crumbs and mix them in as a
substitute for bread crumbs. Enjoy!
I went outside my comfort zone by joining the Army when I was 19 in 1981. I was always afraid of being sent to fight in a war, but luckily I was not. I felt the calling to join, but not to remain after 6 years. It changed me from a crybaby to a strong female role model.
ReplyDeleteThere we go, I had a hard time replying up here. Thanks for your service, Debbie! My sister was in the US Army back during the Vietnam War era, at the end of it. I'm glad God used that to bless you!
DeleteYes, I can say I have been called outside of my comfort zone a few times in my life and each timed ended up being blessed.
ReplyDeletewfnren at aol dot com
Hi Wendy! I'm glad for your testimony! Blessings!
DeleteMany many times I have been blessed by being called outside my comfort zone and following through with the calling.
ReplyDeleteThe first one that pops in my mind is becoming a mother, it frightens me to be trusted to raise such special spirits, but I have been so blessed to develop a deeper love and empathy and to develop new talents I wouldn't ever find otherwise.
ttmom42 at gmail dot com
Hi Terressa! Yes, it is frightening at times to try to raise children in today's modern world! Blessings!
DeleteHi Debbie! My Sister entered the US Army at age 19, also! Thank you for your service!
ReplyDeleteI joined the Army right out of high school during the 70's. I'm glad I did. fishingjanATaolDOTcom
ReplyDeleteYou must have been in when my sister was, Jan! Blessings!
DeleteHey Deb and Carrie! Great interview. I was asked to help out in a Sunday School class when my kids were small. I felt the call to teach that same day. Within a month's time, I was teaching my own class. I taught for over 20 years...some of the best years of my life.
ReplyDeletedebsbunch777(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Chappy! Thanks! I was just thinking last night about all the Sunday school I taught and Children's Church. I miss it, too!
Deletewhen God calked me and my hubby to Marriage Ministry. It was hard st first to share our testimony but God showed me that I should not feel shame only joy thst He brough us bsck together. We were married, I divorced him then got remarried. Short version. But the couples we met blessed us so much.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure I quite follow this Deana, but all ministry brings blessings when God is in it!
DeleteHi Everyone!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great interview. Makes people think. What would Jesus do? What is morally right?
There has been a few different times in my life which I had to go out of my comfort zone to do what is morally right. I was scared but knew something had to been said and done. The fear of being hurt myself had to be put on the back burner as to speak. For other lives were in jeopardy. The blessing was for them to be safe.
Carrie is an excellent writer who digs into history accurately tells the stories and brings them to life.
I would love to read Letitias story along with all of the others in this collection.
Many Blessings to all of you.
Hi Wendy! Thanks so much! Being stretched always blesses us and others doesn't it! Hugs my friend!
DeleteYes. All the time. Here while back I was so upset and fearful when the doctor found a spot in my lungs. Then we were at church and I felt I needed to go to the front at the alters and ask for anointed prayer. I realized that evening that God took that fear away. It has not come back. ThTs been almost 3 months. I am concerned of course because nobody wants to get bad news and my new CT is scheduled for in the morning but I don’t have that debilitating fear. God is a healer.
ReplyDeletePraying for healing, Brenda!
DeleteNever thought He'd call me to stay at home with my children....but He did. And I blissfully stayed home for 8 months and was led to a part-time work opportunity, which I still enjoy currently. My children loved having me home for awhile. Now we have a decent balance of my being at home for a few days and my working a couple of days.
ReplyDeleteHi MH! PTL you are able to be with you kids more and that God answered your prayer!
DeleteHello, friends.
ReplyDeleteI have stepped out of my comfort zone many times. Most recently, I said I would do a guest review for a special person. I fretted over it. But now, I love doing it! As a guest...I don't know that I could do it full time. I still fret over every review I write but it is becoming a bit easier. Thank you, Carrie, for inviting me out of my comfort zone.
Hi Andrea! Haha, that's funny! Of course you were supposed to do those guest reviews and you've done an awesome job on the Overcoming With God blog! Thanks again!
DeleteI forgot to add "Please Do Not include me in the giveaway!" As I already own this book.
DeleteStepping outside of your comfort zone is sometimes scary, sometimes nerve racking, but well worth it.
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie! We're about to have two bathrooms remodeled and that's way outside of my comfort zone but it has got to be done. God brought everything together to show us His way, too!
DeleteHey Debbie Lynne and Carrie! I am definitely out of my comfort zone since our house flooded in August. The Lord is stretching me. I've seen many blessings already and know that more are on the way.
ReplyDelete(((((HUGS)))))
I'm a feedburner follower. psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
Oh Caryl, I am SO sorry you've been outside your home since the hurricane! Praying for you!
DeleteI've had to go outside of my comfort zone by being talkative and happy toward someone, when (a.) I'm a naturally shy person and (b.) it was someone who had done myself and my family a bad turn that affected us for a very long time. But, in the end, what Satan intended for evil, God meant it for good. And I would go outside my comfort zone all over again, if I had to, to bring about the happy outcome that it has.
ReplyDeleteElly -Indiana-
Hi Elly! Thanks for coming by and sharing! God is good like that, isn't He?
DeleteWhen I served as the leader in our church congregation's women's group I was totally out of my element, but getting to know everyone better and serving them brought so many blessings!
ReplyDeletecolorvibrant at gmail dot com
Hi Heidi! Good for you to do that! I have served in a lot of capacities but normally with kid's groups at the many churches we have attended over the years (we moved a lot!) Blessings!
DeleteI'm an AVID reader and would love to read these
ReplyDeleteHi Rosalyn! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteI went out of my comfort zone when I moved to the UP. Some days I still think I might have made a mistake but I do know that I have grown more as a Christian living up here. Avid reader!
ReplyDeleteHi Sherry! As a former Yooper woman (and once a Yooper always a Yooper) I congratulate you on that move! Blessings!
DeleteI'm Avid and enjoy your books. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteHi Christine! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteGod definitely called me to go out of my comfort zone when I became the choir leader at church. I was so scared during that first year that I would actually see spots and feel like I was going to pass out. I'm still very nervous when I get up there, but thankfully, the spots have gone away. Because of this role in our services, and though I am scared, I have been blessed over the last seven years time and time again. I thank God that our ways are not His ways.
ReplyDeleteDAVID
mandydawn@email.com
Hi Mandy! God bless you for being a choir leader! That's wonderful! I totally agree -- God's ways are not our ways~!
DeleteCONGRATS MANDY Bentley you are my winner!
DeleteAvid.....not David. Lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok! I understood! Hugs!
DeleteI love these collections! Thanks for the offer! I’m an avid reader of Christian historical fiction! paulams49ATsbcglobalDOTnet
ReplyDeleteHey Paula, I love these collections, too! And I love writing for them as well as reading them. Blessings!
DeleteThanks for your interesting comments. I am def an avid reader of christian fiction and also a reviewer of many authors and publishers.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that God called me out of my comfort zone of living with the best parents I could ever want to enter become a Religious Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth. I so missed my parents but God's call had to be answered. May God be praised. Thank you for the interview and I would so love to win this contest. flowersmarylou85(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed the drawing but yes, I have gone, protesting all the way, out of my comfort zone and yes,I have been blessed to do so.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie & Debbie. I follow both of you!
Blessings!
Connie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com