Today, Tyndale author Pam Hillman expands encourages us to root our actions and emotions in love.

 

Proverbs 10:12 “Hatred stirreth up strifes, but love covereth all sins.” KJV

 

 

In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.

 

The above description is from my latest book, Claiming Mariah. Slade and Mariah are imaginary characters in an imaginary world, but their troubles aren’t too far removed from the strife I see in real-life friends, families, neighbors, and far-flung countries. Discord in the work place. Tensions stirred up by hatred, harsh words spoken in anger, real and imagined hurts blown out of proportion until even minor infractions become full-blown warfare.

 

Hatred.

 

What a harsh, bitter-sounding word. Even the syllables are hard, unforgiving. It is a feeling that Satan has delighted in embedding in the hearts of humans for centuries, stirring up trouble, strife, and anger. There is only one antidote to the hatred.

 

Love.

 

Love has a soft, pleasing sound. In a mere four words, Solomon tells us love covers all sins, not just some of them, but all of them. Jesus forgave those who nailed him to the cross. He died for them, for us, for me. His love covered all sins. Big ones. Small ones. All is forgiven.

 

Can I do less? Can I forgive minor infractions against me? Do I hold on to unwarranted anger and bitterness? What about deeper sins against me? What if someone takes everything I own? What if someone takes the life of someone I love? Can I forgive them? Through Jesus, I am able to forgive all.

 

Because love covereth all sins.

 

 

~

Pam is thrilled to announce the release of her second novel,

Claiming Mariah

 

 

To celebrate, Pam is giving away two eReaders

(choice of Kindle Wi-Fi, 6″ Display, or Nook Simple Touch)

Two Winners: One on facebook. One through Pam’s Newsletter.

Facebook Drawing: Kindle/Nook Giveaway

Newsletter: Pam’s Newsletter.

 

Registering both places is not required but will double your chances of winning. Also keep in mind that you will receive updates more often being connected on facebook than through the newsletter. Just sayin’

Contest runs from January 1^st until March 31^st, 2013.

 

And….that’s not all! There will be prizes offered randomly throughout the tour.

This week’s giveaway:

Mississippi Made

Handcrafted Mango Butter and Goat’s Milk Soap

Giveaway sponsored by Magnolias & Sassafras

  

 

Click for a Complete List of Stops Along the Tour

 

www.pamhillman.com

 

Pam Hillman was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. In those days, her daddy couldn’t afford two cab tractors with air conditioning and a radio, so Pam drove the Allis Chalmers 110. Even when her daddy asked her if she wanted to bale hay, she told him she didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel. www.pamhillman.com