THE ANOINTED ONE: The Story Behind the Story

I have journeyed far and fought many battles. I have lived and loved, and even looked in the face of death. For I have seen life through the eyes of my characters.

We all seek stories of hope, of people who rise above their circumstances, as examples for us to follow, so that we, too, can rise.

For most of us, The Anointed One is not a new story. Yet the depth of this epic tale goes far deeper than our childhood lessons taught in Sunday School. It is a story of faith, courage, and obedience. An epic tale of kingship; a journey into the heart of the Judean Mountains and across the sun-baked desert where the meek rise and the proud fall, and a stone is mightier than the sword.

As a homeschool mom of 24 years, I have taught many literature classes. One aspect I stress is to know the author on a personal level, for there is always more to a story than what is read upon the pages of a book. It’s between the lines that the truth of the story can be found.

Why did the author choose to write this particular story?

When you know the answer, a depth of revelation strikes you as you read,

– a secret insight that you share with the writer.

So what led me to write THE ANOINTED ONE?

On September 11, 2001, my father was killed by terrorist.

The aftermath of this tragedy threw me into a struggle with doubt, grief, and trauma.

I sought relief by reading, especially the works of Tolkien. His experiences and insight into death and loss helped me to come to terms with my own journey.

Through this experience, I began to feel a story growing inside of me. In writing this epic saga, I, too, hope to reach others, to give back the help that was offered me.

As our circumstances change, we must adapt to this new rhythm, knowing full well we can never return to life as we knew it.

We can only move from this point forward. We must not linger on the failures of the past, but move on and create a better tomorrow.

Each day we must take a step. The manner of that step, and the direction taken, is up to us.

 

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“Do you believe that our future is ruled by fate, that we have no choice?” queried Saul. “Was it the fate of the hare to become the meal of the buzzard?”

“I believe that our future is what we make of it,” answered Ahinoam.

“Did our fathers before us have a choice? Did Abraham or Moses have a choice? Or were their lives preordained by Yahweh?”

Ahinoam moved closer to Saul and placed her arm around his waist. “God lays out the path for us, but we must choose to take the next step. Why do you question so? Tell me what has happened.”

“How can one man change the world? Who has that kind of power?”

“Do you not see that we are all connected? Saul, all we do affects those around us, who then in turn affect more people. In this way, yes, a single man can change the course of many.”

Ahinoam looked up into the face of Saul. She stroked his brow in a vain attempt to brush away the furrows of anxious thought fixed upon his countenance. “Saul, why do you speak so? Do not keep me at arm’s length.”

“I do not know what the path holds before me. I have been shown a course I must take, and it is a road of which I want no part.”

“Oft when I walk among the hills, I must journey down a precipice. Where the path leads, I cannot see. In faith I must take that first step, blindly anticipating the next. I cannot see where the next foothold is until I step to the one I do see, then is revealed the next step I must take. If it is God who directs your path, there is naught to do but follow His lead. Have faith, my husband, that He will show you your next step in due time.”

The Anointed One pg. 61-62

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Saul had a choice, an opportunity, and so do we all. With great care, choose the path upon which you walk. The choices you make will ripple down through the ages.

 

May your walk be worthy of remembrance,

Susan

 

THE ANOINTED ONE, Book II: Trilogy of Kings Saga

Saul ben Kish is an ordinary man; that is, until he crosses paths with the prophet Samuel. Anointed by God to lead His people, this lowly Benjaminite shall soon be tested.

What begins as a search for his father’s wayward donkeys becomes a call to courage, and obedience. Can one man rally a nation to rise above oppression and fight for freedom? Or will he fall under the weight of power?

An epic tale of kingship; a journey into the heart of the Judean Mountains and across the sun-baked desert where the meek rise and the proud fall, and a stone is mightier than the sword.

Throughout the pages of The Trilogy of Kings, the personal and spiritual struggle of Israel’s people unfolds through love, war, and intrigue, making the story relevant for today as an exciting example of the human condition. Together with these beloved characters, the human saga is captured, sharing their joys and sorrows, triumphs and losses.

Release date: February 25, 2019

God within the Verb

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

                                                                   ~Psalm 90:2

 

Often when we read, we neglect to look at the grammar and punctuation involved in the author’s message. After all, who wants to return to their school days and think about the construction of sentences and word phrases? But I tell you this, much is lost in the meaning of the message if we neglect to pay attention to grammar and punctuation.

Look more closely at the verse above, especially the verb tense within the sentence.

 

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

 

Were. Had. Formed. These verbs are in the past tense. They have already occurred. We are speaking of events that have happened before the writing of this verse.

Now look at the final phrase.

 

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

 

You ARE God. The to-be verb “are” is present tense. It is right now, as we speak. It has not happened in the past; it will not happen in the future. It is occurring at this very present time.

Can you perceive what this verse it telling us?

When standing before the burning bush and God was sending him to Pharaoh, Moses asked, “When I come to them, whom shall I say sent me?”

And God answered, “I AM has sent you.” (Exodus 3:14)

Beloved, do you see it? He is the great “I AM.” Not the “I was” or “I will be.” He is current and consistent, an ever-present help in time of need. Before the world was fashioned, He IS. He, our Lord and Savior, lives in eternity from everlasting to everlasting. Always present tense.

Read once more with me the verse, but this time look closely at the verb tense. Let the message infuse your soul. Feel the weight of the words, the depth of the message. Let your heart sing for the joy of His ever present Being.

 

Before the mountains were brought forth,

Or ever You had formed the earth and the world,

Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

                                                                       ~Psalm 90:2

Amen.

 

~ Susan

 

40 THINGS I’VE LEARNED

– from an overstretched mom who is trying to do it all

Like so many people today, I want to do it all. Yet time and energy always seem to be in short supply. Even so, I tarry on, trying to accomplish everything. Along the way, I have made a few discoveries. I share them here with you today. Read and enjoy, for we mustn’t take life too seriously.

1) Things take time.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

2) You cannot get it all done in one day. It is okay at times to put off today what you can do tomorrow. If tomorrow doesn’t come, well, you won’t care anyway.

3) You cannot be everything for everybody

– but you can try.

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

4) Slow down or you will trip yourself.

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

5) When you fall, laugh at yourself, then pick yourself up and continue on your way. There may be snacks!

He who is of a merry heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

6) If you wait until you have time, you will never accomplish anything.

“Just do it!” – Nike

7) Set reasonable and achievable goals otherwise you will always feel like a failure.

8) A load a day keeps the dirty laundry away.

9) Don’t forget to enjoy the process.

A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones. Proverbs 17:22

10) Don’t become discouraged.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:9

11)  Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

“I will either find a way or make one.” Hannibal of Carthage (before taking elephants across the Alps)

12) Every now and then, stop to smell the roses; let the wind blow through you hair.

13) Take time for yourself every day.

14) If you don’t like something in your life, don’t complain. Do what you can to change it.

15) Some assembly is required.

16) Read the directions before you begin.

17) Don’t let disappointment throw you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

18) Don’t neglect your relationships

– with your children, your spouse, and especially God.

19) If God is not a part of the equation, you will not succeed

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  John 15:5

20) Genius really is in the detail.

21) Breathe.

22) It is okay to begin again.

23) Always shine your kitchen sink. It sets the stage for the rest of the day.

24) Ask for help – allow the people in your life to receive a blessing by serving you.

For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. Luke 22:27

25) Your family could care less what you’ve done all day as long as there are goodies in the pantry.

26) Take care of yourself – eat right and get enough rest.

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20

27) Slow and steady wins the race.

28) Never, ever leave a single piece of paper on the kitchen counter unattended. When you are not looking, it will be fruitful and multiply.

29) Lean not on your own strength; if God calls you, He will equip you.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

30) Always error on the side of generosity

– don’t be afraid to give a part of you away.

31) Always smile.

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

32) Allow enough time

– things always take longer than you think, so plan accordingly.

33) Don’t be afraid to draw on the walls

34) If you don’t make your bed, neither will your children.

35) Don’t wait for others to begin. Just go for it or you may find you never get started.

36) The early bird really does get the worm.

37) All things do not come to stay, they come to pass…

See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. Matthew 24:6

38) Find a lesson in every situation and nothing is wasted.

39) Sometimes just be still and take it all in. For it is in quiet contemplation that we can see the face of God.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

40) Know when to stop talking.

I often regret that I have spoken; never that I have been silent. Publilius Syrus

I am still working on this one. I could go on with this list forever. It is already much longer than first I planned. So with this last lesson, I will grow quiet and let you, the reader, say your piece. I would love to hear from you. In the comment section, feel free to add your life lessons to this list.

Wishing you the best in your busy life. God bless you in all your pursuits.

~Susan

A Writer’s Desire…

 “The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.”

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

With great effort I labor, putting my words to paper, hoping to create an emotional response in my readers. How lovely to be drawn away from our own world and enter into a world wholly foreign and new. To be swept away into a climatic vision that brings forth a new feeling, or a fresh idea. But putting together a story is not an easy task. It is often with sweat and tears that the ideas form and the words take shape.

It is of great interest to me how writing a simple description can take so much thought and effort. How can one small paragraph take so many days, even weeks of preparation, yet when it finally comes together, is takes but a few moments?  The act of writing can be likened to pulling a molar firmly planted within the jaw. With great effort it is tugged and yanked before finally it is suddenly extracted.

Samuel Johnson stated that “what is written without effort is in general read without pleasure.” So then it is the responsibility of the writer to draw out of himself the very being of his soul in order to delight the reader as the author directs the journey placed before his audience. So hold on and come away with me as we journey together through the pages of my books.

~ Happy reading…..

Susan

Around Town: Susan Van Volkenburg A 9/11 Story September 9, 2016 11:09 AM By J.D. Ryan

You just sit and try to understand. But some things cannot be understood. Some paths are just too dark to see the other side, and once you have turned down the path there’s no going back. It’s dark and no one can take the journey for you. There is nothing but forward, though you do it with trembling and uncertainty. This journey is not of my choosing, but it is mine nonetheless.

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/09/09/around-town-susan-van-volkenburg-a-911-story/ 

Here is my story as shared by J. D. Ryan on CBS Radio KRLD 1080AM.

 

 

Through the Fire

Imagine, if you will, that you are an Israelite in Jerusalem and the army of Assyria is encamped against your walls. All the nations around you have fallen. Jerusalem is the last city standing, your city, Zion, which God had promised to protect.

Isaiah 49:14 speaks of the people’s reaction:

But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, And my Lord has forgotten me.”

Forsaken by God. Most of us have felt that way at one time or another. Even Jesus experienced this emotion when upon the cross He cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

I have felt forsaken.

Tuesday morning, a day like any other. It was a beautiful fall day: the air fresh, the sun warm, and the skies clear. As always the children and I began with Bible study. The day’s subject was Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In discussing the three being placed into the fiery furnace for their unwavering faith in God, I made the cryptic statement that no matter what happens in our life, even when we go through the fiery furnace, still we must follow the Lord. I did not know that at that very moment my own life would be put through the furnace and my words tested.

The day was September 11, 2001. My life forever changed as my father was ripped from the world by terrorists. In that moment I felt forsaken. All that I had believed in, trusted in, was stripped out from under me. How could a benevolent God, a God who loves me, allow such a tragedy to happen knowing full well how this would wound me?

But hear what God spoke through Isaiah, the prophet:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” (Isaiah 49: 15-16)

He has inscribed you on the palms of His hands…

This is not just taking a pen and writing your name on His skin. You have been inscribed, that is, engraved. He has taken a blade and carved His palm, wounding His flesh so that forever He will bear the scars of your name upon His hands.

Not only does He know our name, but He bears our scars upon His flesh—forever.

I have journeyed down a dark and empty road: alone, abandoned, and forsaken. But I have found something along this desolate way: a beautiful truth. My foundation is sure…and I am not alone.

I think the key is in the word “through,” for we do go through, we do not stay in the furnace. There is an end to our trouble. For even as the three young men stood within the flames of the furnace, they were not alone, but a fourth stood beside them.

We all face trials. We have difficult times. God never promised us otherwise. In fact, He told us that in this world we will have tribulation (John 16:33). But He did not leave us to travel this world without aid.

Listen what the Lord proclaims:

“I, even I, am He who comforts you.” (Isaiah 51:12)

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Though God’s protection is not always for our bodies, it is a constant for our souls. And in the end, it is our final home that is most important. This mortal coil, which we cling to so ardently, is not what it is all about. Yet when one that is loved is taken, we cannot help but look back at what has been lost.

“But I am the Lord your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared— The Lord of hosts is His name. And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’” (Isaiah 51:15-16)

We serve a powerful God. An all-knowing God. So what then can man do to me? For the keeper of my soul watches me. We do not have a God who looks on from the outside as we struggle along the way. But we have a God who enters with us into the midst of the fire. He walks the troubled path with us, taking us through to the other side. He is our God and we are His people, engraved upon his hand: a perpetual covenant between the Lord and His chosen.

So as you travel the journey of this earthly life, remember: you are not forsaken.

Susan Van Volkenburgh

SILENT RESOLVE AND THE GOD WHO LET ME DOWN

 

Oncology Nurse turned homeschool educator, Susan Van Volkenburgh is an award winning author of Christian fiction and non-fiction books. After the death of her father on September 11, 2001, Susan began speaking of her experience. Her book, SILENT RESOLVE AND THE GOD WHO LET ME DOWN (A 9/11 story), recounts Susan’s loss and subsequent spiritual journey.

Born too late to experience antiquity first hand, Susan spends much of her time studying and teaching ancient history. Therefore, it seemed only natural that she should draw from the experience of grief and trauma to write THE STONE OF EBENEZER, Book 1: Trilogy of Kings Saga, a story of faith and restoration through the medium of Biblical fiction.

 

From Here to Nine-Buck-Two

So much has happened over the last few months that I am left with my head spinning. My career as a writer has been placed on hold as we wade through (literally) the changes in our lives.

Last year we became grandparents (welcome baby Finn, you fill our hearts with warm snugglies), we paid off our large luxury home (yay for debt free living!), then sat back and said, “Is this all there is?”

That’s when the adventure began—

maybe we are crazy, maybe we are ignorant fools—

We had a cushy, lovely, comfortable life in our overcrowded, fast-paced suburban town, and we were miserable. Discontent with the traffic and noise, of sirens blaring through the night (we hold our first responders in high honor, but do not enjoy the sounds of city life in the night), of crowded supermarkets, and 15 minute waits before risking life and limb to exit our neighborhood (one son already totaled his car making that dreaded left turn against traffic). It was time to get out.

So we did.

We began the hunt for the perfect location. I searched for land (at least 15 acres or more) anywhere in Texas (we have the luxury of working from home, so we are no longer bound to an area). It wasn’t long before I found a beautiful farm in East Texas, tall pine trees (trees are a must for this native Marylander), 15 acres of rolling terrain, an in-ground pool with outdoor kitchen, pasture land, a barn, green house, orchard, gardens…Need I go on. The place was immaculate, completely move-in-able.

One problem existed…we needed to sell our home before we could put in an offer. We had already remodeled the house in the prospect of selling, so we tidied up and put the house on the market. I said a prayer: “If the farm is for us, help it be available until we can put in an offer.”

The farm stayed on the market−I began to move in mentally. It was all going so well.

The first person who walked in the door put an offer on our house.

Wow! That was fast! We accepted, then told our realtor to put an offer on the farm.

Devastating! That is all I can say. The farm sold the day before we received our offer.

Now what? We had sold our home and had no place to go.

So the search resumed.

Was it by chance, or an act of Providence? We may never know. We stumbled upon a lavender farm bed and breakfast on more than 18 densely wooded acres. But this B&B was unique. It features two livable treehouses where guests can sleep and dine up in the trees. It was a lovely idea, but were we interested in running a Treehouse B&B? This adventure was not something we went out seeking. Yet the idea grew within us.

We made an appointment to see the farm on a cold February morning in the pouring rain. It was the worst possible time to walk the property. We donned mud boots, grabbed our umbrellas, and took a tour of the grounds.

And we fell in love. We put in an offer that very day.

And so, the adventure began, an adventure into country living, away from the dense populace, yet not quite so far that we are isolated from our fellow man. Hence the phrase, we have moved, not to ten-buck-two, but only to nine-buck-two.

There’s more to come…

~Susan

 

 

 

 

The Cross, the Veil, and the Empty Tomb

 

^“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

When I think of Easter, three objects come to my mind…

~ the cross, the veil, and the empty tomb ~

 

For if not for the cross, my penalty would not have been paid. The broken blood oath of the covenant would not have been satisfied. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we are cleansed from the curse of sin.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

 

As Jesus cried out, “It is finished!” and gave up His Spirit, the veil in the Temple, that separated man from the Holy of Holies, was torn in two. It was as if God, seeing the injustice of Christ’s death, rent His clothes in grief. And in so doing, He opened the way for all to enter into His presence. Now, boldly, we can come before the Throne of Grace, for the barrier of sin that separated us from God has been broken. The terrible gulf has been filled and we are reconciled to the Father.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

 

Even as the sun was blotted from the sky and the earth was covered in darkness, God knew that Sunday was coming. Sealed for three days within the tomb, the Lord’s body lay, uncorrupted. Then with the dawn of that Sunday morning, the stone was rolled away–not to let anyone out, but to let those present bear witness–that indeed, Jesus had risen.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

 

The tomb is empty! Death has no power over Him, the grave cannot contain Him. And now we have not just hope, but a Living Hope in Christ Jesus, the Risen Savior!

“O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15: 55-57

Hosanna!

~ Susan

Three Nails

It is often said that bad things come in threes.

Yet we see in scripture that the number three represents completeness.

Are there not three facets of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Three parts to the Tabernacle: the court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies?

Jonah was in the whale for three days. Jesus was in the tomb for three days.

The number resonates all through the Word of God. How then can we see the number three as a bad omen?

Yet, as I pondered this, it came to me—the image of three nails. The vision stayed with me for weeks. Yet I could not put together what exactly God was saying. What was the significance of those three nails?

Three nails pierced the hands and feet of Jesus as he hung upon the cross. Three nails were used to crucify our Savior.

Slowly, my vision cleared. My eyes were opened, as again, I read the story of the crucifixion.

As the first nail bit into the flesh of Jesus’ palm, as the crowd taunted and jeered, He spoke this prayer:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34

He looked past the hammer, beyond the hand, and into the heart that was yet unclean. A heart that needed Him, for was not this His mission, to bring the lost to the Father. He forgave, and in so doing, He showed us our need and His redeeming love.

The second nail pierced through his other hand, and with the agony of the searing pain, he cried out:

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Mark 15:34

Here was the climax of Jesus’ life. All He had worked for unfolded in that desperate hour. On the cross of Calvary, Jesus not only bore our sins, but He became our sin. He experienced the full meaning of what it was to be human: completely and utterly separated from God. For where sin is, God cannot be. The gulf stretched before Jesus, and He was alone.

The final nail was driven into His feet, those precious feet where the tears of Mary had washed away the stains of His journey. It was in that final hour that the third prayer was lifted toward heaven:

“Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Luke 23:46

Through the torment of His distress, Jesus surrendered to the will of God. He trusted the Father despite His circumstances. The Savior demonstrated to us all, that even in the midst of our trials, we are to have faith in the Lord. God is our salvation. God turned and reached across the void and took hold of Jesus.

“It is finished!” John 19:30

The Bride Price was paid. Yet, God had more to give. Three days later, within a dark and dismal tomb, life returned to Jesus. Death could not hold Him, even as death has no power over us!

But how can we conquer death?

Each point, each prayer, must pierce us, even to our very souls. We must be crucified with Christ.

There were three crosses on that first Good Friday. Two thieves hanging beside Jesus: one to the right and one to the left.

On one side, the thief blasphemed, taunting Jesus:

“If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” Luke 23:39

The other thief rebuked the first:

“We receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.”

Here, as we all must do, he acknowledged his sin. He perceived his own guilt and the terrible gulf before him. So he surrendered to God, and spoke with a humble and honest heart:

“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Luke 23:41-42

As the thief confessed his belief that Jesus is the One who saves, Jesus looked at him with those loving eyes and spoke these words:

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43

Today, we have a choice to make. We can either be as the first thief, and deny Christ; or we can be as the second thief, admit our fault and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Jesus showed us the way—with three nails and three prayers.

So what can three nails accomplish?

They can bridge the gulf between death and life. Save the lost. Transform hearts. Open minds. Free a captive soul.

Three nails and three prayers. The choice is yours.

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve….But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

~ Susan

 

Reference: Robert C. Crosby, D.Min. “The One Jesus Loves”