The
Prayer Warrior
by
Traci Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batten
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE:
Speculative fiction
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
There
is a thin line between the natural and the spiritual realm.
Ms.
V., a humble servant of the Lord, has been placed on assignment at
Center of Hope Christian Academy.
By
day, she serves as a trusted counselor for students, giving them a
safe haven to pour out their innermost feelings while providing
professional and honest truth wrapped in a firm kindness and love
that inevitably draws them closer to Jesus. Not to be outdone, the
faculty also bends her ear from time to time.
By
night, Ms. V. enters the spiritual realm and takes her place on the
battlefield as one of God’s faithful prayer warriors. She wields
her whispering sword, slicing through the enemy’s plans to bind the
precious hearts under her charge.
Her
assignment’s burden on her physical body is taxing, but can she
withstand the strain and remain victorious?
Saving
souls is her true mission, but at what cost?
Readers
are in for a journey of spiritual intrigue and biblical insight as
they experience the ramifications of each character’s life-altering
decision.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt
Ms.V.
walked around the room, taking in the curio cabinet in the corner
under the window, the maple shelving unit against the far wall, and
the oversized plush chair and small glass table in the corner
opposite to her desk. She used it as a quiet corner. There were small
mementos along the surfaces given to her from students, past and
present showing their appreciation for her words of honest wisdom and
pure encouragement and positivity, and how she helped them from a
moment of crisis to clarity. They were each symbols of gratitude for
the love she had shown them over the years; the many talks with no
judgment, just pure love.
Many
times, she would encourage people to make themselves comfortable. To
some, it meant taking off their jackets and scarves, to others it
meant taking off their shoes.
She
noticed the sound of slow rhythmic beeping and looked around for the
cause, but just as quickly as it came, there was nothing but silence.
It struck a chord in her, reminding her of what she’d overlooked.
She’d
been so preoccupied by everything she’d dreamed that morning, and
maybe imagined when she first placed her key in the lock, that she’d
forgone her daily ritual of praying over everything seen and unseen
in her office.
She
closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she focused on His
presence. She ran her hands lovingly across the backs of the pleather
chairs facing her desk as she prayed God’s love and peace would
saturate them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Guest Post
When
I was a teenager I would use dancing to relieve stress. It seemed the
perfect outlet for expression and use of restless energy. I would
turn on the music and get lost in the rhythm and my interpretation of
the beats with body movement. It was liberating and if I’d had
wings, I would have surely flown.
I
also read and wrote as a form of escape and relaxation when listening
to music wasn’t an option. If I was feeling deep disappointment or
distressed I would allow my emotions to bleed out on the pages of
short stories filled with characters immersed in emotional turmoil
and longing for peace.
In
college, I began running and that was a great stress reliever. It was
freeing. I was free from doing anything but putting one foot in front
of the other, breathing correctly, and taking in the beauty
surrounding the path I was running on. My mind was free to wonder
after my body went on automatic and it didn’t have anything to do
with a ‘To Do’ list.
After
college, I went to the gym more than ran out in the open due to my
change of environment, but exercise was still a form of respite for
me. That form of stress relief was soon joined by going to the movies
in the middle of the day, by myself. I had an odd work schedule which
allowed for me to go to the movies on Mondays and Tuesdays smack in
the middle of the day. It felt decadent and I didn’t need to call
anyone to go with me. I could get lost in the pictures on the screen
and rest my mind.
Stressed?
Here is a list of scriptures that I have found comforting and peace
grounding.
Jeremiah
29:11, Proverbs 29:11, Proverbs 3:5-6, Ephesians 4:26, Ephesians 4:31
-32, Matthew 6:19-21, Hebrews 12:6
Once
I rededicated my life to Christ it was even more important for me to
take some time for myself because I gave a great deal in ministry and
tried hard not to lose myself in what everyone else wanted me to do.
One way I kept in touch with myself was by journaling; that along
with my morning devotions and keeping key scriptures on my heart were
wonderful weapons against stress. It was also how I got back in touch
with my love for writing.
Today,
I work for myself and write both because I love it and feel compelled
to do so. I relax by reading, making jewelry and dancing around my
living room. Music is still something that feeds and soothes my soul.
It also makes writing particularly intense scenes easier to navigate.
During
this extremely hectic time of year, I know it is important to keep in
touch with my feeling since I can get too busy to take care of
myself, so out comes the music, everything from R&B to gospel to
Christmas classics. Some songs make me nostalgic and others help me
reach my step goals with ease but all of them lift my spirit and
remind me of my blessings.
I’m
already feeling much more relaxed. I hope you do too. Do you have a
song that grounds you?
AUTHOR
Bio and Links:
D.
“Tina” Batten is a loving mother, wife, sister, daughter and Mima
to her grandchildren. She is a gifted visual storyteller who is
passionate about bringing encouraging messages of inspiration and
hope to the world.
Tina
Batten, a writer for over eighteen years of various dramatic works of
performing art via stage, and film, encompasses unique
ways of creating fascinating story concepts that touch the heart of
most who view or read her work.
She is both honored and thrilled to have teamed up with long-time
friend, sister in the gospel and co-author Tracy on this phenomenal
collaborative book project. With such a humble heart and desire to
bring people together in love and unity, Tina Batten will continue
her work as a visual storyteller spreading
the good news of Jesus Christ one project after the other.
As
Always, D. “Tina” Batten gives God All the Glory!
You
can find her at the following social media platforms:
Website:
http://www.sisterbatten.com
Facebook
Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Sister-BattenCom-Sister-Batten-Productions-157650117630075/
FB:
Tina Batten Profile: https://www.facebook.com/tina.batten.18
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sisterbatten/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sisterbatten
Subscribe
to Sister Batten YouTube Channel
shorturl.at/lsxA4
Walking
in the Spirit Trailer
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sisterbattenfilms
If
Not For The LORD, Where Would I Be? Delicious Episode Trailer
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/sisterbattenproductions
Traci
Wooden-Carlisle
Traci
Wooden-Carlisle began writing to publish in 2011 and enjoys writing
stories that provoke thought and evoke emotions. Her desire is to
draw readers into the lives of her characters and share messages of
God’s love, His faithfulness and peace. The messages in her books
speak to her way before they speak to her readers.
Traci
lives in San Diego with her husband, David. When she isn’t writing
she does some light traveling or assists people with their physical
fitness, creates graphics, designs pretty things for her jewelry
business and swag for authors.
You
can find her on the following social media platforms.
Website:
www.tawcarlisle.com
Newsletter:
www.tawcarlisle.com/subscribe
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Traci-Wooden-Carlisle/e/B00OIAS208/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/Author_TraciWCarlisle
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/traciwoodencarlisle
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/tawcarlisle
Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/traci-wooden-carlisle
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/traciwcarlisle
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.com/tawcarlisle
Book
Video: https://youtu.be/lw3DiS_-E0A?si=1DjRSVTB3Ggqg9pT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY
INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Traci
Wooden-Carlisle and D. Tina Batten will be awarding $25 Amazon or
Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter
during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
