Please welcome Amber Schamel to Faith in Writing. She has written a guest post for the Musical Wednesdays Feature.

Life is Worth the Living Just Because He Lives
by Amber Schamel

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God. ~Ps. 42:11

Discouragement is strong and real. Depression even more. I know it exists. I’ve fought it myself. But I thought I was one of a minority. As our family has traveled the globe through our ministry, I have been shocked at the vast amount of people who struggle with it severely. Chronically. Every day. In every country.

And even more appalling, is that it isn’t limited to age or gender either. Women, men, seniors, boys and girls all battle depression, even to the point of suicide. It’s like an epidemic spreading to every corner of the world.

It’s startling and uncomfortable to address, but it needs to be broached. If I asked for a show of hands, most of us would honestly have to raise our hands to say we’ve battled severe discouragement if not depression. The second leading cause of death for people ages 10-24 is suicide. And eleventh over all ages. Over 44,000 people commit suicide in America every year. Why the increase? What is the cause? Most importantly, how do we combat it?

After discovering these statistics, God used writing a novel to bring me to an important question. “What makes life worth living?”

As my poor character wrestled with this, a hymn rose to my mind.

Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow…Life is worth the living just because HE LIVES.

Do I realize what that really means? HE lives. HE who died for me. HE, who holds all power in heaven and in earth and loves me beyond comprehension, LIVES. That means there’s hope. There can be change. My whole life can be transformed with a single touch from HIM because HE IS ALIVE. I am loved. I have a future.

Job went through a period of discouragement, but this was the realization that pulled him out of it. He proclaimed “I know my redeemer liveth!”

The Apostle Peter rejoiced in the same revelation. When the resurrection of Christ was revealed to him, and the Holy Ghost came upon him, he quoted the Psalmist in his first sermon, “Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope. Because thou hast not suffered thy Holy One to see corruption.”

In other words, my heart rejoices and my tongue can sing. I can have peace and hope. Because God didn’t leave His Messiah in the grave. I can overcome discouragement and depression because He Lives.

How does the news of the resurrection affect you?  Have you struggled with depression?

Solve by Christmas Blurb

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

 “Amber Schamel’s engaging prose weaves together not one, but two edge-of-your-seat threads in this historical mystery. With the hero racing against time to solve the two cases readers will be kept guessing as they attempt to crack the case. “  ~ Laura V. Hilton author of Christmas Admirer (Whitaker House)

Buy Links for Solve by Christmas
Amber’s Website
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Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

http://amberschamel.com/
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