#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Britton & Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee

Good Morning,

Welcome to our first Saturday Spotlight of 2026 that isn't a Christmas book. I love doing our All Christmas thru Christmas feature but, as with life, it's nice to get back to 'normal' after the holidays LOL!

Our guest today is no stranger to the blog but always brings us a great read and today is no exception. Take it away, Barbara...

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam.

My latest book project is different than any other book I have written. My setting is the New Testament instead of the Old Testament. My main character is Jesus which means I can’t expound on dialogue or inner thought. I managed to make one of the stories a romance, but the other stories highlight the love of family members, and the ultimate love of Jesus.

How does a writer add emotion to a story that includes Jesus? I used the disciples and the people Jesus healed to reflect the awesomeness of Jesus.

The shortest book I wrote to date was 50,000 words. This project is half the length, but I wrote six short stories. Another first.

After each story is a reflection from my time visiting the Sea of Galilee in March of 2023. I took copious notes, but if I had realized I was going to write this book, I would have taken more notes. A family emergency called us home after touring the Sea of Galilee. I’m so thankful I had four days in this area of Israel. I hope you enjoy how I shared its impact in “Across the Lake.”

OH Wow, Barb, this sounds amazing! Visiting Isreal is on my bucket list. Give us more please...

Sure. Here's the Blurb: Discover the life changing power of Jesus in six short stories from the Gospel of Mark. The miracles of Jesus will leap from the page in a Biblical Fiction story, author reflection, and relatable study.

Travel with Jesus as he calms a storm, heals a desperate woman, raises a dead daughter to life, sends His disciples on a minimalist mission, feeds thousands on a hillside, and shows compassion to a persistent mother.

A perfect study for your small group, personal or family devotions, or even a book club.

And an Excerpt: (After the woman bleeding for twelve years is healed by Jesus. Mark 5:21-34)

“Daughter, your faith has healed you.”

 Daughter. Her chest seized on the word her own father had forgotten.

 “Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

 Gone. Her suffering was all gone. She was free to walk among her people and worship God without blame and banishment.

 Jesus eased away and carried on as a runner approached. The man sought the synagogue ruler accompanying Jesus.

 In this moment, she didn’t bother herself with the concerns of the synagogue. The Messiah was here in Capernaum, and she had touched Him and talked to Him.

 Suddenly, she was wrapped in an embrace. Phoebe wept into Lydia’s breast. Her friend clutched her tight.

 Lydia need not fear becoming faint from Phoebe’s embrace, for she was not the frail woman who had hobbled into the crowd. Her skin glowed with health, and she was able to move forthright.

 As she and Phoebe made their way toward their cart, Elon emerged from the shade of the terebinth tree. His cheeks were tear-stained, but his smile rivaled the grandeur of the sea.

 “You saw?” Lydia asked, elation bubbling inside her chest.

 “I saw.” His smile grew. “It was all I could do to keep myself from lifting you into Jesus’s arms.”

 “I’ve been in God’s arms every day since the bleeding started. Some days I forgot that truth, and other days it seemed like my prayers were swept far from God. He reminded me that I needed to hold firmly to my thread of belief. The wise counsel of my friend and my betrothed convinced me to seek Jesus.”

 Elon eased closer. He glanced around before caressing her cheek. “We need to plan a wedding feast.”

 Phoebe giggled. “And fast. The way you two are looking at one another, this tree is going to be set ablaze.”

OH, I LOVE it, Barbara! Thank You for sharing. Now please give us your bio and info on how to connect with you and where to find Across the Lake...

Thanks again, Pam. I am a multi-published author of Christian Fiction. My Tribes of Israel series brings little-known Bible characters to light. You can also travel to Whispering Creek, Tennessee with my sweet romance duology, Christmas at Whispering Creek.

I have a nutrition degree from Baylor University but love to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. You can find out more about me and mybooks on my website barbarambritton.com.

I am also active on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Across the Lake: Traveling with Jesus Around the Sea of Galilee can be found at Amazon (FREE in KU), in Paperback and Hardcover.

WONDERFUL, Barbara. Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings on this new release as well as your other works!

Friends, check out Barbara's other visits to our blog HERE.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Daily Walk Bible

 Good Morning,

My scheduled guest was unable to be here today so I thought I'd spotlight a book I discovered and am really enjoying.

The Daily Walk Bible; 31 Days with Jesus is a focus on the Gospels. Here's the official blurb....

Most people agree that Jesus was an amazing teacher and someone we could all learn from. At the same time, most of us have spent little time actually reading his story. The Daily Walk Bible NLT: 31 Days with Jesus is an open invitation to do just that. In just one month you will read through all four gospels, seeing Jesus and gaining insight into his purpose and message for us.

This special eBook, taken from the pages of The Daily Walk Bible, includes a simple reading plan to help you through. Each day includes an Overview that provides a bird’s-eye view of that day’s reading, an inspirational and practical My Daily Walk devotion, and an Insight that offers an interesting fact about the passage. Every seventh day you will be invited to pause and reflect—looking back over what you have read, looking forward to what is coming, and most importantly looking up to God.

It’s that simple, but be warned, Jesus has been changing lives for two thousand years—31 days and yours won’t be the same either.

I  must say, I am finding this an interesting study of Jesus' life and ministry.

Check it out!

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Heather Dixon

Good Morning!

I pray your Easter celebration was blessed and happy.

As always, it is my pleasure to bring to you a new-to-me author and today is no exception.

 

Brought to us by Prime Star Publicity, Heather M. Dixon is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher who understands living with a story that is not easy. Diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an incurable and terminal genetic disorder inherited from her mother, she has dealt with difficult circumstances. 

Heather is passionate about encouraging and equipping women to trust in God, face their greatest fears, and live with hope. Through her blog, TheRescuedLetters.com, speaking, and Bible studies, Heather helps women find the courage to live by faith, even when they don’t like their story.

It’s just a simple magnet. And truth be told, I don’t treasure the magnet itself. I treasure the sentiment behind it. I bought this magnet when I was trying to nurse my newborn son, only to learn that my body didn’t particularly take to nursing. But still, I was determined to care for him in this way for as long as the two of us could figure it out together. Stumbling through the kitchen during long nights with little sleep, a quick glance at this magnet on my refrigerator would remind me not to give up. 

It’s a sentiment that would carry me through many more challenging moments in my life like a miscarriage, the loss of many loved ones, and an incurable and devastating medical diagnosis. For my faith journey, the temptation to give up and walk away from wherever God calls me is often my greatest one. Maybe that's just my personal struggle or maybe it's a reflection of a larger problem in this broken world. The Bible tells us that we have an enemy who wants nothing more than to separate us from God. Sometimes all the enemy has to convince us to do is.... give up.

To change my habit of giving up, I had to adopt a habit of determination. But first, I would have to ask God to change my heart. Only Jesus can do that, but the good news is that He is remarkably good at it.

In my new Bible study, Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment, a six-week study of Luke, I invite readers to embrace determined living as they intimately connect with the Savior who remained laser-focused on His mission to love the world. 

“Jesus had three years to fulfill His earthly mission,” says Heather M. Dixon, “He accomplished His purpose and lived fully with a determined mindset, one that was eternally focused. The blessing for us with that mindset is that it makes every present moment beautiful and valuable. That's the choice I want to embrace, living fully with a determined attitude.”

Imagine waking up every single day convinced that the 24 hours ahead of you are a precious gift to be used wisely. Imagine also, that you know exactly how to spend them to be a force for God’s good. 

How do you learn to experience this abundant life, fulfilling the plans God has for us? The answers are found in following the footsteps of the One who lived fully, because He was determined that we might do the same. 

In Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment, a six-week Bible study of Luke, Heather M. Dixon, author, speaker, and Bible teacher, follows the life and ministry of Jesus and the choices He made on His way to the cross. This study connects readers with the Savior on His mission to love the world and gives them a model for intentional living that they can replicate to live each day to the fullest and make a difference for God’s kingdom.    

Excerpt:

“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

I have a magnet hanging on my refrigerator with a popularized version of a quotation from Winston Churchill. It says, “Never, never, never give up.” I bought it when I was sleep-deprived and covered in spit up. I needed all the pep talks I could get in those days, although it wasn’t just because I had a newborn. I had a newborn that I couldn’t feed well. No one told me that nursing would be difficult. I am not exaggerating when I tell you it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.

There will be moments in our lives when we will have to clinch our jaw and determine to keep moving forward anyway. Our circumstances will be challenging, our bodies will be weary, and our hearts will be full of doubt. In those moments it will be unquestioningly easier to walk away.

You’ve probably experienced similar moments just in the past three weeks of our study together. Stay the course. Dig your heels in. Don’t give up. Why? Not because I am encouraging you to, but because this is the choice Jesus made. He determined to move forward anyway. His convictions were so strong that He never, never, never walked away from being obedient to God’s will. And at the heart of His convictions were you and me, and understanding of those moments when the world would prefer that we give up. Let’s show the world Jesus’ way instead and live determined.

The writer of Hebrews goes on to call us to follow His example:

“And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1b-2)

Determined: Living Like Jesus in Every Moment can be purchased directly from Abingdon and also at Amazon, B&N, Christian Book & Cokesbury

Sounds like a wonderful book, Heather! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Thanks for joining us, friends and that you'll stop by often to see what's going on. Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT