New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers has published numerous novels—all bestsellers—and she has continued to win both industry acclaim and reader loyalty around the globe. Her Christian novels have been awarded or nominated for numerous honours, and in 1997, after winning her third RITA Award for inspirational fiction, Francine was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame.
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO VENTURE INTO YOUR FIRST NONFICTION TITLE?
I love reading nonfiction but had never tackled it. When I shared with someone in South Africa about doing “earth psalms” about the way God speaks to me through His creation, someone mentioned turning those essays into a devotional. I love devotionals, so the prospect of writing one was exciting. Tyndale partnered me with Karin Stock Buursma and we worked together as a team. I thoroughly enjoyed everything about the project.
WAS IT HARD TO SHARE PERSONAL STORIES ABOUT HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN YOUR LIFE WITHOUT THE SAFETY NET OF FICTIONALIZATION?
Sharing personal stories about how God works in my life is a pleasure, and I love hearing how God has worked in other people’s lives, too. It’s the life experiences and hope we share with one another that brings God even closer. It shows how personally involved the Lord is in His children’s lives.
EXPLAIN THE TITLE. HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA OF EARTH PSALMS?
A psalm is a song, and the earth and everything on it, in it, above it, and beyond it is God’s creation. Everything God created sings praise to Him, and I believe also teaches us many lessons about our Creator as well. We are never to worship any created thing or even creation itself. We are to worship the Creator, Jesus Christ, the Word that created it all.
WHAT WILL READERS FIND INSIDE THE PAGES OF EARTH PSALMS?
Readers will find an earth psalm (essay) about something God has created and a lesson God has taught me through it. There are questions for readers to ponder or use for journaling: Reflect, Apply, Connect with God. There are also some additional facts, Scripture, and hymns, as well as beautiful pictures. The earth psalm essay was my part. The enriching questions and details are Karin’s, and the beautiful artwork was put together by Jennifer Ghionzoli at Tyndale.
WHAT IS YOUR HOPE FOR THIS BOOK?
I hope readers will look at ordinary things (and some not so ordinary) in a new way and search for ways God speaks to us through His creation. Just as an artist reveals himself through his art, God has given us evidence of Himself in everything He’s created. It all points to Him.
WHY DO YOU THINK CHRISTIANS NEED TO HEAR THIS MESSAGE?
We live in a busy world, and even Christians can get in such a rush they forget to “stop and smell the roses.” Imagine that wonderful scent reminding you that the prayers of believers are like the scent of incense to God. I hope readers will slow down, look around, discover the beauty, and then praise God for all the many blessings He has given us.
HOW DO YOU HOPE YOUR MESSAGE WILL RESONATE WITH YOUR READERS?
I know many other people who love the natural world and see how it is evidence of God as Creator of all. I hope this devotional will encourage them to rejoice and look for and share how God speaks to them.
GOD’S GLORY IS MANIFESTED IN NATURE ALL AROUND US. HOW CAN WE TUNE IN TO HIS GLORIOUS MESSAGE? WHAT DO YOU DO TO DISCOVER EARTH PSALM MOMENTS?
We tune in by praying and reading His Word and asking Him to open our eyes, ears, and hearts to what He has for us. Then we look and listen with hearts fixed on Him. When we discover something that has a lesson for us, we give thanks to God for that lesson. And then we share it with others.
CLC World Magazine
CLC World Mission Magazine is the path that enables CLC international to share the current news, testimonies, prayer and praise throughout the world of CLC. Showcasing the ministry and how it's impacting and changing lives throughout the world every day.