Pages

04 March 2018

Linda Brooks Davis -- Overcoming Family Difficulties

Author Linda Brooks Davis

Linda Brooks Davis, welcome to Overcoming With God. I truly enjoyed meeting you at the ACFW in Nashville in 2016! What a sweet lady you are! Would you tell us about the one of the most difficult things in your life you have had to overcome, with God’s help?

The greatest trial of my 71 years is one our family is experiencing now. Minor children are involved, and the terrible case is still in the courts, so I’m not free to share details.However, I can “sew around the edges” a bit by sharing some ways in which the Lord has dealt with me. 

Once upon a time I believed I lived in a country blessed by the inalienable right of freedom of religion. I thought rearing children according to parents’ Christian principles wasn’t simply duty but a U.S. Constitution-guaranteed right. Naively, I believed Christian rearing was sacrosanct within the walls of a Christian home. Tragically, this isn’t necessarily so. Furthermore, I’ve learned godlessness has so invaded our institutions of government--even in a “conservative” state--that the agency and its arms tasked to protect children can become a Christian family’s worst nightmare.

I’ve learned the world’s ungodliness has so invaded this agency and the courts that right is labeled wrong and wrong is labeled right. I’ve learned testimonies of those who curse the name of Jesus are accepted as truth. And the testimonies of Christian parents--the father, a godly pastor/counselor--is not only suspect but declared a lie and the home’s teaching about the difference between “law and grace” labeled “abuse.”

   
And God has taught me some things about myself. I come from a long line of hard-charging women who wait for no one to act for them, double down when the way grows tough, and fight every ol’ demon in Hell for their children, as my mother said.

Recently, the Lord has shown me pride lurking in the shadows of self-sufficiency; bitterness and anger--better yet, rage--boiling in the teapot of my heart; and idolatry as I’ve gazed upon certain loved ones and grasped their hands before His.

What passages in the Bible have been most helpful to you in those times?

I’m reminded in Zechariah 2:13 (AMP) that the Lord is roused in my behalf, so I’d best settle down: “Be still before the LORD, all mankind; for He is roused from His holy habitation [in response to His persecuted people].”

What helped you get through or helped you cope with this difficulty?

As the Lord would have it, the theme verse for The Calling of Ella McFarland, 2 Corinthians 12:9, has become my life’s theme through this ordeal “… ‘My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough--always available--regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.’ Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.” (Amplified Version)

Pride and self-sufficiency have no place in the weakness in which Christ’s power is manifest; anger and bitterness exclude trust in God; and only open, empty hands can be filled with His.

Disability friendliness: Is this latest release available in audio format or do you have any other works available on audio?  Do your e-books have audio capability? Do you have any in large print?
 
My novel, TheCalling of Ella McFarland, and novella collection, A Rock Creek ChristmasCollection (A Christmas to Remember and A Christmas Measure of Love), will be available in audible form in the next few months.

In this latest work, do you have any topics useful for bibliotherapy, or therapeutic influence through reading about a disorder or situation?

I’ve just completed my second full-length novel. The working title, Where Healing Waters Flow, provides a clue to its theme. It picks up with Lily, one of the secondary characters in The Calling of Ella McFarland. The year is 1914, and this young woman who was horribly abused as a child finds a type of healing she hasn’t expected.
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 3:3 (KJV): “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” It’s the perfect theme verse for Lily’s story.



1905 brings hope of Oklahoma statehood and the woman’s suffrage debate is raging, forcing Ella McFarland to make decisions about her faith, family, and aspirations. When she comes to the rescue of a young, abused sharecropper’s daughter, her calling takes shape in ways she never imagined. Education is Ella’s passion, but a new love is budding in her heart, and new purpose calls. Can she find God’s will amid the tumultuous storm that surrounds her?

CFP: I've been wanting to read this story for a long time, it sounds so good! And it's a multiple award-winning novel! Congrats, Linda!

Question you’d like to ask readers:
I would love to hear readers answer the questions I’ve been asked above. Sharing one another’s struggles and triumphs lightens loads while it strengthens for the road ahead.

Giveaway: The Calling of Ella McFarland Answer Linda's question, above, for a chance to win a copy.




24 comments:

  1. Thank you, Carrie, for hosting me and providing this beautiful platform for children of God to testify to overcoming through Him. May He anoint you and your ministry with power!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda Brooks Davis, We were so happy to host you here on OWG blog! And thank you for your kind words and your blessing!

      Delete
  2. I sympathize with you I myself have been struggling with a family situation. And again, like you I won't talk about it. I just remind myself that some things are out of my hands and so I'm sure God will do what he thinks is right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It’s so hard to really and truly “let God,” isn’t it? It’s a moment by moment struggle. But the Lord is faithful—especially to control freaks 😊

      Delete
  3. I'm sorry you are dealing with sensitive family issues in this mixed up system.
    I was born self-sufficient and have taken care of others all my life, it was expected of me and I did so without complaint. I know that His grace is sufficient for me and that He is with me. As I have become more physically disabled and need help myself, it is difficult to live that verse day to day. I am weak. The world is broken.
    Thankfully, I have books. Books that encourage and strengthen me. Books that take me to another time and place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Andrea! Great to meet you here. Bravo to you for your lifetime of self-sufficiency. That shows your sensitivity to others, not wanting to be a burden, etc. I understand that! If you get to read The Calling of Ella McFarland, you’ll discover a woman a lot like you. God bless you!

      Delete
  4. Linda, thank you for sharing how you are dealing with this horrible time and situation. I am encouraged by your self-examination and how the Lord is helping you grow more like Jesus. I have been praying that God would reveal my sins to me, so I can strive to do better. I recently read a wonderful book that is helping me (I hope) become more the person God planned for me to be. It is Respectable Sins: Confronting the Sins We Tolerate by Jerry Bridges. It is an eye-opener and caught me on a couple of sins I would not have considered to be a problem for me. Blessings...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Kay. It’s great to “meet” you here on Carrie’s wonderful blog. One of my most persistent sins is worrying. Realizing it’s rebellion based in pride has so convicted me. But dealing with it requires moment by moment refocusing on the Lord’s having this situation in His loving hands. If you get to read The Calling of Ella McFarland, I think you’ll discover a woman you can identify with. God bless!

      Delete
  5. I struggled for a while at being helpless to visit my 101 year old mother, who has passed on two weeks ago. My sisters and brother had more opportunity to visit her more frequently than I. Thank goodness I was able to speak with her by phone when she could still comprehend.
    I have taken the verse Romans 8: 38 &39 . Nothing is able to separate us from the love of God, in Christ our Lord!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Paula. Great to meet you. I’m sorry for your loss. I realized when I lost mine that it doesn’t matter how old they get. Death is so very final. But your mother lived a long and fruitful life, I’m thankful the Romans passage is helpful, as it is for me. God bless and comfort you!

      Delete
  6. Hate you are dealing with this. Prayers for you and your family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Ann. It’s always wonderful to see you in chats. You are such an encouragement! God bless you and thank you for prayers.

      Delete
  7. Family situations are always messy! I hope you have friends that are supportive. While I haven't had to deal with sensitive issues like this, our family has gone through some other tough situations. I'm so glad I have three sisters to lean on.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Arletta! So glad to meet you. Thank you for the encouragement. We have wonderful, godly, praying friends. Their prayers keep me on my feet. God bless you!

      Delete
  8. My greatest trials have been my father's struggle with a mental illness - my half-sister and her family abandoned him, and his death, and my mothers battle with cancer and her death. It was my constantly praying to God and crying to God and clinging to God that helped me through all these difficulties. I am praying for you and your family now and hope God will bless you and help you. I would love to win your book. I love the title and the cover and it sounds so very interesting!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Mary Lou! I’m honored and encouraged by your comments. Thank you for blessing me. I hope you get to read Ella’s story. She’s quite a woman 😊

      Delete
  9. I am so sorry. I am Sister Mary Lou and I wrote the post above about my dad's mental illness and my mother's death but I forgot to enter my email address:
    flowersmarylou85(at)gmail(dot)com Would so love to win your book. Many thanks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Praying for the perfect person to win. And pulling for you 😊

      Delete
    2. Congrats Sister Mary Lou, you won a copy of Linda Brooks Davis's award winning novel "The Calling of Ella McFarland!" Will be getting your information to Linda! Thanks for being an Overcoming with God blog follower! Blessings!

      Delete
  10. I am sorry things are difficult right now, an understatement, I'm sure. I went through my parents divorce as a young child and it was not pretty. But back then courts were more fair. 1 Peter 2: 18-19 might be helpful, not really knowing the situation. May His perfect justice prevail!
    Also - my cousin is Ellen McFarland, isn't that interesting.
    perrianne(DOT)Askew (AT)me(DOT)com
    Perrianne

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey, like everyone else I’m sorry for the trials you and your family are facing. My favorite verse is Trrust is the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:5,6 KJV. I may have messed the thy and thines up.
    I have many trials myself but I never like to talk about it to people because I don’t want to be a burden to them. But I know where I can lay my burdens down and leave them there. But being a sinner I tend to pick the burden back up and try to fix things myself.
    Proverbs 3:5,6 is the verse I have relied on for more than 30 years now. A lot of times I repeat over and over trust in the Lord trust in the Lord. Thank you for being an inspiration to me.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Throughout life’s big troubles there have been times I could not read. I was always thankful when I could get back to reading. If it wasn’t life altering I could still read, but I have had some life altering situations in my life. I hate you are going through the tough time. It’s hard to go through life’s hard knocks. Your book sounds really interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just beautiful answers-- and my heart and prayers go out to you.

    You spoke truth about evil becoming good, and good evil. At times I am so sorrowful I can barely breathe. The worst is seeing my children suffer (illness among other things) - so like you, I lay it before God which sounds trite, but I can't do a thing about what is going on in this world but God can. I need to trust His will over mine. My life is His. It keeps me walking.

    Below is a verse which speaks of my state of being right now

    Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto the, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61: 1-2 KJV

    I pray for God's hand into your situation. And for all who are struggling.

    Thank you for sharing - this helps me as well.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Linda, thank you for sharing your heart! I'm dealing with strained family relationships.

    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete

Google Analytics