There are days when I hear the enemy of my soul whispering in tones that cannot be ignored.

I hear him accuse, “Failure! You are such a failure!”

And then, “You aren’t doing anything good in this world for anybody. Not one single thing – not one single person.”

And finally, “Nobody loves you. Nobody ever did and nobody ever will.”

And you know what?

Despite the many areas where I know I’ve succeeded – despite all the good things I know I’ve done for many people – despite being happily and gratefully married for over 40 years to my incredible husband and best friend, with whom life just keeps getting better, and with whom I have raised a loving family –

On those days I believe every lie the enemy speaks into my soul.

How I long for the day when this ongoing battle will be over! How I yearn to see the day when my enemy’s head will be crushed beneath the foot of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who came into the world to destroy the works of the devil and Who died and rose again to buy my freedom from Satan’s bondage.

I wish I could convince every hurting person that He loves them with His deepest heart. I wish I could tear down every lie and every stronghold of the enemy, and expose his works and see him defeated for good. I wish I could use every creative gift God has given me to paint a powerful picture that will illuminate the ugly treachery of the enemy and show the awesome beauty of what Jesus has done for us.

This is what I’m trying to do with my book series The Rose In The Fire.

My main character Aidan finds herself trapped in a terrible struggle with the servants of the Dark Prince, who have been sent to her by their Master with work to do in her life. The first to arrive are two old sisters, Unloved and Unwanted, who frighten her into giving them the key to her heart. After that more guests flood into her home – Fear and her many children, the family of Doubt and Discouragement, the family of Wrath and Abuse, Night Terrors who brings her his horrifying dreams, and so many more.

Eventually Aidan realizes that her guests are seeking to destroy her. She is desperate to be free of them, but as long as they possess the key to her heart she can’t get rid of them. They will be with her until the very moment she dies.

Will she ever find the only one who can save her and set her free – The One Who Will Love Her Forever?

The Rose In The Fire paints a vivid picture of the warfare between two Kingdoms. It’s meant to be an allegory of Christ and His bride, the church. It’s a fairy tale that flows out of what Jesus has actually done in my own life.