Harvest Series | Tessa Afshar

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... a compelling novel whose characters will dwell in your thoughts long after you close the book. Don’t miss it!

Jill Eileen Smith

bestselling author of the wives of King David series

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THE ROYAL ARTISAN has been out for a few months no

THE ROYAL ARTISAN has been out for a few months now ... have you had a chance to read it yet?

It would mean the world to me if you were able to leave a review on a retailer site.

Reviews make the algorithm on these sites happy, which in turn means, they will recommend the book to other readers.

Why am I holding German and Swiss flags, you may a

Why am I holding German and Swiss flags, you may ask?

Because I have tremendous news! We are adding a new language to my family of books, thanks to the amazing Adonia Verlag publishers who are releasing Pearl in the Sand!

Adonia is a truly unique publisher that focuses not only on the written word, but also on Christian music. They have a youth choir that is performing an original play based on . . . Rahab! Which is why as the choir travels through Switzerland this spring, they will be making Pearl in the Sand available for readers after each performance. And of course the book will be available through the usual channels as well.

They are already working on The Hidden Prince for their next book. Excuse me while I go dance a little jig.
OK. I am back!

I am praying that the right readers will get a hold of this novel in Germany and Switzerland, and that God’s purposes will be fulfilled through this story of grace and love.

A blessed Persian New Year and Happy first day of

A blessed Persian New Year and Happy first day of spring, my dears.

Some of you wanted to know more about haftseen, the spread with the seven special elements starting with S.
This is an ancient tradition that some think goes back 3000 years, which is to say some of the symbolic meanings are more of a guess than exact.

Sonbol (hyacinth): the beauty of spring.

Samanoo (sprouted wheat pudding): the ancient Persians would sprout wheat in the early spring and cook it down for hours. The sprouts have an incredibly sweet flavor. This was a luxury representing the sweetness of life. (Photo below)

Seer (Garlic): medicine; healing.

Serkeh (Vinegar): age, lasting.

Seeb (apples): good health, sweetness.

Senjed (oleaster fruit): Because senjed could be dried, it was one of the few fruits available in early spring.
Some think it represents wisdom and love. If you peel it, it is powdery and sweet.

Sekeh (coins): for provision and wealth. Traditionally, you would use silver or gold coins.

Sabzeh (sprouted wheat grass): New life; spring. I didn’t get mine started in time this year.

A few other elements that don’t start with S include a mirror and candles, which stand for the victory of light over darkness, and eggs, which stand for new life, new beginning, and fertility.

Here I have shared a photo of my sister’s beautiful Haftseen, which is more typical of a traditional one.

This Friday is the Persian New Year, which celebra

This Friday is the Persian New Year, which celebrates the first moment of spring’s arrival, and the first day of leaving the winter behind.

Another ancient Persian tradition is the Wednesday Eve Feast, which would have been celebrated last night by jumping over small mounds of fire. As you jump, you say words over the flames that basically mean “My yellow onto you, Your red onto me.” This is an exchange. You are exchanging the “yellowness” of illness, weakness, and ill health for the fire’s strength, the “red cheeks” of well-being.

This exchange is from pre-Christian times. But as a Christian, I see in it one of those divine moments of revelation that you find in every culture. A small promise of what is to come.

For God indeed gave us an exchange. A place to put our weakness and brokenness, and exchange it for strength and healing. A place to burn away the chaff of our sin-sick souls.

Isaiah puts it this way:

“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows. . .
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.”

He takes our griefs, our sorrows, our wounds, our chastisement, and in exchange, he gives us peace and healing.

Jesus is the fire of our Wednesday Eve Feast. You don’t have to wait for a special day of the year to make this exchange. Today, it can be yours.

Photo: To celebrate Nowruz, we set up seven traditional elements that begin with the letter “S”, each of which is a symbol of something life-giving. I am waiting for a couple of elements to complete mine this year. But you get the idea!

Happy Nowruz!

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