In my Civil War novella, Soldier’s Heart, Noah Andrews returns home but struggles with the residual after-effects of the war. While most of us will never go through an experience as horrific as war, everyone goes through hard times. We, like Noah, need to learn to take control of our thoughts if we want to overcome those tragedies.
2 Corinthians
10:5 We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Noah used
scripture to help himself. There are many times I’ve had to do the same. That
can be challenging, but here are a few scriptures we can meditate when going
through difficult times. All verses are NKJV unless otherwise stated.
Grief: If we live long enough, we’ll
all lose someone we love to death. But we can remember that death is not the
end for a Christian. We will see our loved ones again.
John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled; you believe
in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And
if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there
you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
1
Corinthians 15:54-55 So when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:Death is swallowed up
in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he
may die, he shall live.
Offense: Offense comes to everyone,
sometimes because people intend to offend us and sometimes by mistake. But we
can’t dwell on that offense. We need to learn to forgive and give the offense
to God.
Proverbs 19:11(NIV)
A person’s wisdom yields
patience;it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
Matthew 6:14:15 For if you forgive men their
trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Tragedy and Trials: Tragedies come in
life. Bad things sometimes happen to good people, but here’s some promises we
can hold onto in the midst of tragedy.
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and
binds up their wounds.
Isaiah 43:1-2 Fear not, for I
have redeemed you; I have called you
by your name; You are Mine. When you
pass through the waters, I will be
with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk
through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
Depression: Some people deal with
medical depression and need medical treatment and counseling. But everyone goes
through periods of depression and discouragement. Here’s some verses to
remember during those times.
Philippians 4:8 Finally,
brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are
pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of
good report, if there is any
virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your care
upon Him, for He cares for you.
After
returning home from the Civil War, will his soldier’s heart come between them?
Noah
Andrews, a soldier with the Ohio Seventh Regiment can’t wait to get home now
that his three year enlistment is coming to an end. He plans to start a new
life with his young wife. Molly was only sixteen when she married her hero
husband. She prayed every day for him to return home safe and take over the
burden of running a farm.
But
they can’t keep the war from following Noah home. Can they build a life
together when his soldier’s heart comes between them?
Soldier’s
Heart is available in e-book from Amazon Kindle, Kobo Reader, and Barnes &
Noble Nook. It will also be available in paperback in a couple of months.
A bit about the author:
Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved
adventures. She loves to write historical fiction because there are so many
stories in history. Tamera has recently celebrated
her thirty-fourth anniversary with her loving husband. She has two grown and married
children and two grandchildren.
Tamera has been a children’s pastor for over
20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where
she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s
ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She is also a writer and has
curriculum published including Kid Konnection 5: Kids Entering the Presence of
God published by Pathway Press. She is a recipient of the 2007 National
Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in
children’s ministry.
You can contact Tamera online at
these sites.
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