Sarah L. Frantz's Blog

As a child, the lesser gods towered over me. 

Mom. 

Dad. 

Grandmother. 

Grandfather.

It seemed as if from a very great height. 

But now only my parents remain. And I am the grandmother.

Sunday was the 85th birthday of one of my dearest friend’s mother. Over twenty years ago she invited me into her home to make mints and join in with annual garage sales. She went with us to Dallas for weekend mom trips, and enjoyed being with us. As we got older these turned into week long beach trips. She helped at my daughters’ weddings, baking mountains of cookies.

And her daughter was always honest about the hell she put her mom through before she was saved. Her mama would silently agree with a nod of the head.

And you could see the gratefulness for the gift she held most dear — God’s mercy in her daughter’s life.

I overhear her at the party reminding someone she has Lewy Body Dementia. But she is having a lucid day and I see her gratitude for the family and friends gathered around her.

His mercy and peace blanketing her in a quilt of His design.

My dad has lived with us two years today and I’ve been mulling how quickly this life passes.

And how the lesser gods should and do topple. As I climb warily amid their ruins I unearth the raw and precious jewel of my need for God. Not just for His mercy, but for Himself. Daily.

And beside this acknowledgement a small comforting assurance creeps out from among the rubble, climbs up into my arms, and burrows deep… life is but the prologue.

From Wikipedia:

A prologue or prolog (from Ancient Greek πρόλογος prólogos, from πρό pró, “before” and λόγος lógos, “word”) is an opening to a story that establishes the context and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Ancient Greek word πρόλογος includes the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance, more like the meaning of preface. The importance, therefore, of the prologue in Greek drama was very great; it sometimes almost took the place of a romance, to which, or to an episode in which, the play itself succeeded.

The prologue of what? The prologue to His eternity.

In that future place where our tears are wiped away and our sighs are comforted, will this wearisome season be seen for what it is? The great romance of His glorious jewel revealed — the precious mercy poured out on humanity through Calvary.

I think so. I think He will overshadow it all.

I’m getting closer to clinch the “Cover of the Month” contest on AllAuthor! I’d need as much support from you guys. Please take a short moment to vote for my book cover here: https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/19415/

Yakkities– plural noun

b. a like-minded but diverse tribe who love Jesus Christ

Every other year we got to the beach, on alternating years we gather in Oklahoma for a long weekend where we pray, relax, have fun, eat food, watch comedians, classic movies, shop, explore local attractions.

We sympathize, console, and weep with one another. We rejoice, congratulate, and laugh with one another.

I felt guilty leaving Friday, but my husband assured me he could “hold down” the fort and take care of my dad. On the drive I stopped in at an antique store another friend and I like to visit. I was looking for a stamping table. One that could hold up under the assault of hammer blows…

I wasn’t seeing much until…. this beauty caught my eye.

I leaned on it, trying to shift it, and found it was solid. I called my husband and told him it was just what I had been looking for and the price. He said, “Get it.” Later that day as I was arriving in Grove, he and my dad took the truck to pick it up.

((( insert swelling heart here )))

They took it home. And the next morning photos started arriving of hubby’s work. Age and conditions had made two pieces split apart. He dissembled the whole top and fixed it. (((swoon)))

I was so innervated to know I would have a lovely work surface for creating custom pieces for friends and family. Now I wouldn’t have to spread everything out on the apartment floor only to regather it again.

With a goal of finding the perfect tool organizer the gals and I went out to peruse antique stores in downtown Grove, Ok.

I found this beauty… just what I needed!

Several of us are caring for aging parents in one way or another, several of us have walked through life-altering loss… the youngest of us in her early 50’s.

Like my work table, we have been seasoned by years of God’s faithfulness- we have put in the hard graft it takes to back up our convictions with action and I so appreciate each one of these gals, their love, wisdom, and prayers.

Lenten Moon Lament

Lenten mercy glows

Reflecting His love for us

A full eye of warmth

We recall His word

“He wraps Himself in light”

His arms cradling us close

And His heartbeat soothes 

With tenderness and comfort

The pains of our hearts

Silas Lavele we are grateful for the joy you brought even for a moment. And we will remember the blessing you are until we meet you at our Savior’s feet.

This is our hope. A lasting impression from Abba’s heart to ours.

Tonight at our monthly Fellowship of Christian Writer‘s meeting, I will be joining a panel of authors whose books and assorted works cover the gamut of publishing options.

Last week a local traditionally published writer friend brought lunch and we discussed my journey in self-publishing after munching yummy chips and salsa.

With her thoughtful questions I compiled this list of online resources which helped me decide which path to pursue.

Disclaimer: I heartily believe there is no one right way to publish — it’s a decision as variable as the individual, genre, time, and resources.

In 2023, not knowing a lick about publishing, I opted to hire out all the formatting and cover design work for my debut novel, The Quickening, Overcomers Book 1. As it was a 13 year writing investment, I felt justified in having a larger budget for its production and marketing so I reached out to Taryn at Typewriter Creative Company. She said yes and they did a stellar job. I highly recommend them. She offers a free-no-strings-attached Self-publishing Checklist on her website.

In 2024, with a little more confidence and a much smaller budget, I decided to purchase Atticus and Book Brush and learn to format Ash Island, a collaborative Christian devotional novella. I had a specific idea about how I wanted to include artwork by Abigail See — this book was a gift for her mother, one of my dearest friends, on the celebration of graduating her last child May 2025.

And the chapter end devotional questions written by Abigail Wallace would require learning a new skill as well — two page spreads with line spacing. Words like bleed, format, varying file types became more familiar as I hammered out our design and sought God’s wisdom through prayer.

After several failed attempts to create the cover I’d imagined, I reached out to Cassidy Wierks for help. I’d loved her artistry and work which graced my first book, The Quickening. She said yes and using Abigail’s artwork came up with a design I absolutely love.

Here are some of the websites which I found extremely helpful through the years — they offer a wide variety of articles, you-tube tutorials, and podcasts on a plethora of writing topics:

There are hours of consumption here. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, try to remember to take a deep breath, say a prayer, and then proceed. One bite at a time.

Remember, you won’t miss God’s plan.

As a child I witnessed salt poured on a slug. Salt is often used in gardens to exterminate the pests. The small creature did the only thing it could do under such conditions, it melted.

All that remained was a grisly puddle of sludge.

The imagery came to mind this weekend as I considered the “squirm” of my flesh and contemplated its death — over and over again.

It must die. I want it to die… and yet in the moment it is so painful.

C. S. Lewis wrote about man’s struggle with our fallen state in his fictional tale, The Great Divorce, 1945. What sounds like a treatise on marriage is in fact one soul’s journey from hell to heaven with rich imagery and relatable vignettes between multiple characters and heavenly helpers.

Toward the end of the story, our protagonist is struggling with a small creature he’s befriended long ago. Lust.

An angel repeatedly asks our protagonist if he may kill the “lizard”. He tries to evade the necessary operation through all manner of verbal gymnastics until eventually relenting… this scene makes me cry.

Every. Single. Time.

The man is remade. The lizard is killed. What had been error is transformed and freed to be what it was always meant to be.

Other characters, “ghosts”, throughout the story struggle with varying degrees of too little love, too little genuine affection for others… the angel corrects our observer’s conclusion. The ghosts abilities were not too much but the opposite – weak, self-interested, and misguided.

Oh, the rub….

Who doesn’t struggle with the flesh? No one. But when we yield and seek release, begging for help from His hand, the dynamos of God becomes holy salt liquifying our “slugs”.

Amy Carmichael, (1867—1951), an Irish Christian who founded a mission orphanage in India, addresses the “ifs” of our frail love vs. His calvary love in the small title above, If, published by CLC Publications 2024.

And the beautiful thing is, even as we squirm, not understanding what freedom and rebirth awaits us, He is patiently waiting to refine.

“For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

NKJV Psalm 103:14

Silver Medal, Enduring Light Devotional for Ash Island

Thank you so much for this award!

I am so grateful to the two Abigails who said yes! And to Debbie who thoughtfully edited with “Consider….”

And thank you to Cassidy Wierks for her lovely cover work!

My writing friend, Joan Lovestrand Farley launched her thoughtful fiction, Letters to Cassie, on January 5th, 2025. (link to purchase on title)

Joan invited me to beta read a few chapters and I thoroughly enjoyed what I read, so it was a pleasure to order her book to read in its entirety.

The story’s description reads:

Cassie always imagined her high school graduation would be a moment of celebration, surrounded by her family. But when her mother passes away from cancer just before her senior year, that dream shatters, and her future feels empty.

Grief consumes her, and the path ahead seems impossible without her mom’s steady guidance. Who am I? What are my strengths? What will I do with my life? Why does it all feel so meaningless? Even the smallest decisions feel overwhelming without her mom by her side—until her dad reveals something extraordinary: nine letters her mom wrote, each with a special task for her senior year.

These letters become a lifeline, not just a series of challenges but a journey of healing, self-discovery, and faith. With each letter, Cassie is led closer to understanding her purpose and finding her identity as “God’s girl,” uncovering the depth of God’s love for her.

Follow Cassie on this emotional and empowering journey, and discover how these letters might inspire your own personal growth, one challenge at a time.

And a theme emerged through my January titles.

Mentoring, being mentored, learning, growth…

Joan’s book follows the life of fictional protagonist Cassie as she navigates the painful loss of her mother from cancer. During Cassie’s grief-saturated senior year a series of letters written by her mom before she died meet Cassie with warmth, memory, and love — all challenging her to step out of her comfort zone and grow with God.

Joan’s engaging writing drew my heart to Cassie, her dad, and sister right away. Her friends and church family become a constant presence enveloping her with tenderness and care. Some mentor her while she learns to mentor as well. Relationships deepen. Her trust awakens to a good God who is always near and understands.

Well done, Joan! You may read more about her here.

Book two was written by another writing friend, Kelly Callen Heath. Her title is a nonfiction, Circle of Influence: Cultivating the Power of Mentorship in Your Teen’s Life. (link to purchase on title)

Kelly’s life experience discipling teens in full-time student ministry and parenthood, as well as a Psychology degree, has amply equipped her to discuss the invitation to find mentors for your teens as well as prayerfully seeking God on how you may mentor someone. This book is a rich resource for anyone navigating the teen years as a parent or who is in ministry.

Well done, Kelly! You may read more about her here.

Kelly’s book description reads:

As our children approach the teen years, there is a natural separation that occurs in their attempt to become more independent. Unfortunately, the teen years are also packed with important decisions, temptations, and an abundance of voices trying fervently to lead them astray. In the midst of our rapidly declining moral culture, teens and young adults are discarding their parents’ faith and values in record numbers.

What if parents could more easily encourage their teen’s independence without fearing how it will affect their future? How do we help our teens get the support they need?

Circle of Influence: Cultivating the Power of Mentorship in Your Teen’s Life helps parents purposefully surround their teens with adult mentors who will shape their teen’s faith and guide their decisions so they don’t have to navigate these crucial years alone.

Circle of Influence helps parents:

recognize the importance of cultivating healthy teen mentorsidentify seven specific people and roles for teenspartner with leaders and mentors who can make a life-changing impactdiscover how to keep good mentors in your teen’s life

Though written primarily for parents, it also helps leaders who invest in teens clarify the specific roles they play and maximize their impact in those areas.

Christian parents are desperate to help their kids grow solid roots before they enter adulthood. Discover Circle of Influence—the ultimate guide for parents seeking to cultivate a strong support system and navigate the crucial teen years.

If you are looking for Christian resources for teens these are two books I would highly recommend.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!

Praise God

In Sanctuary

and out

For His

Mighty deeds

Praise His

surpassing greatness

Praise Him

with trumpet

with tambourine

and dance

Praise Him

with strings

Praise Him

with clanging

And loud

clashing cymbals

Let everything

that breathes

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 145

I extol

You forever

Every day

I praise

You’re great

And unsearchable

Oh children

Listen close

His majesty

Is lovely

His goodness

Is celebrated

We all

Thank You

His glory

Is awesome

Oh world

Listen close

His kingdom 

Is splendor-filled

His kingdom

Is everlasting

He is

Faithfully gracious

He lifts

The falling

With an

Open hand

You feed 

Each one

You are

Just, kind

Near to 

All callers

Truth seekers

Gain audience

And you 

Fulfill desires

You hear

You save

My mouth

Speaks praise

All flesh

Bless your

Name forever 

and ever