While Tina Ware, professor of Spanish, was searching for the perfect devotional book, she discovered she couldn’t find what she wanted. Instead of giving up the search, Ware chose to create her own.
“I really wanted something that was more personal with someone telling their favorite verse and why it was important to them,” Ware said. “I started asking family and friends to write something down, and then I started to put a book together.”
The book, entitled “Our Favorite Verses” is a compilation of cherished verses accompanied by why they receive the title of ‘favorite.’ Ware said she worked to include a variety of authors, spanning different faith backgrounds and regions.
Jim Dvorak, associate dean of teaching and learning, contributed to the book.
“It is a series of helpful devotional thoughts, quick thoughts on different things aimed at helping people think and be and do better,” Dvorak said.
After contracting H1N1 (Swine Flu), Ware succumbed to a two-year battle with Mononucleosis, more commonly referred to as Mono. It was during this time that she began her project.
“I never thought I would have a book,” Ware said. “I was one of those kids when growing up, I wasn’t much of a reader… I didn’t ever think I was going to have a book.”
This is not Ware’s first book project. In 2007, she compiled a book with a more academic tone alongside French Professor Katharine Harrington of Plymouth State University.
Once Ware’s book started forming, she requested submissions from members of Oklahoma Christian University’s faculty. Besides Dvorak, Charles Rix, associate professor of Bible, Jacci Gantz, language and literature adjunct faculty, and many Oklahoma Christian alumni contributed their favorite verses to the devotional book.
“The Psalm that I wrote about was Psalm 103, just talked about when you yourself are complaining a lot… the 103rd Psalm is a good reminder to us to remember what God has done for us,” Dvorak said.
Due to her battles with illness, Ware chose a publisher that had a tie to living a healthier life.
“I found a publisher called Healthy Life Press,” Ware said. “I really liked that the publisher believed that when you’re thinking about you’re health it is spiritual, emotional and physical and that you can improve your physical health by improving your emotional health and spiritual health.”
“Our Favorite Verses” is broken up into three sections: Comfort, Perspective and Quick Inspiration. Overall, there are 29 devotionals, as it is intended to be a daily devotional for one month.
Ware said she has been impressed with the response she has gotten from her book.
“We’ve gotten really good feedback on the book… I have already heard of people using it in Bibles studies… I have been really humbled that this little book that I put together is being used that way,” Ware said.
Dvorak said he enjoys the book, and his wife is reading it as well.
“My wife has actually made this her morning devotional reading recently, so she has been enjoying the readings as well and she finds it to be refreshing and helpful,” Dvorak said.
Ware has plans to turn “Our Favorite Verses” into a series. The next book will be entitled “Our Favorite Psalms.” Ware said she hopes anyone; students, faculty, staff and alumni, with a favorite Psalm might feel free to contribute.
“I am so happy that it is finished and I would love for people to contribute to the next one and I am so grateful to everyone who put something in it, I love the stories,” Ware said.
“Our Favorite Verses” is available online as an e-book, sold through Amazon. It can also be purchased on the publisher’s website, healthylifepress.com and will soon be available in the Oklahoma Christian bookstore.
Submissions for Ware’s next devotional are open to anyone but will close on May 1. The entries may be from a Psalm, 200 to 1,500 words long and have the version of the Bible used listed. Any inquires and submissions can be sent to Ware at tina.ware@oc.edu.
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