Hey, friends. Thank you for stopping by. My writing journey has been a long one, and I'm thankful I stayed on the path where God has taken me. If you are a reader, thank you so much. As an author, I appreciate you more than I can say. If you're a writer and you've been penning words a long time or just a little while, trust God with your journey. He knows what's ahead.
Matthew 1:20-21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in
a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home
as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She
will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because
he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 2:16
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was
furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity
who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned
from the Magi.
Stress or celebration?
On Sunday afternoon, I went with Sara, Eli, and Ella Cate to
see the movie Journey to Bethlehem. The movie is a musical, so I wasn’t
sure what to expect. What I found was a fresh retelling of the birth of Jesus.
Yes, they took some creative liberties, but what I carried away from the movie
and thought about this week were two important messages.
King Herod was evil and so threatened by the thought of a
new king being born, he would go to the worst measure to get rid of the baby.
My heart broke for this man who, so full of pride and greed, would dive into
the depths of darkness to keep his crown.
The truth is, Jesus didn’t come to rule nations or dethrone
anyone. He came to rule the hearts of people. To spread love and offer hope. A
hope Herod never knew.
The second was the effect Mary’s pregnancy had on her family
and Joseph’s. We read of how Joseph said he would break the betrothal to Mary
quietly. Even still, Mary carried baby Jesus.
I have great respect for Joseph. Not just because he stepped
up and married Mary, but because of his faith in God. He trusted the One who
created him and carried out His plan in obedience.
When faced with a difficult circumstance or conflict, what
do I do? React like Herod and lash out? Or pray like Joseph and obey God?
As I consider the celebration of Christmas and the stress placed
on us to have everything perfect, I remember Mary and Joseph and their not so
perfect circumstances and know God doesn’t expect me to have a flawless holiday.
He only wants me to be obedient and have faith like Joseph and Mary and share
the love of Jesus.
How about you? Will Jesus’ love shine through your Christmas
celebration?
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
The times they are a-changin.’ --Bob Dylan
When my girls were young and they stayed home from school
due to illness, if they felt like it, we sometimes played games like Old Maid,
Candyland, or Go Fish. We would deal the cards or set up the board and play
until they were ready to rest.
The other day, my granddaughter called. She’d gotten sick. Fortunately, she was already off school and didn’t miss a day. We chatted for a bit, then
she asked me to hang up because she wanted to video chat on Messenger. She’s
nine and was using her mom’s phone with permission. When I answered the call, her
pretty face popped up, and I could see she didn’t feel well. We talked for a
minute, then she told me we could play a game on the phone. I had no idea. She
clicked something and brought up Go Fish and we played two rounds.
The older I get, it seems like life changes at lightning
speed. Perhaps because I can look back and see the history I’ve lived, yet one
thing has never changed.
Jesus remains the same no matter how many years pass. He
continues to share His love. There are days I think He should walk away from me
because I’m a lowly human, instead He stays with me through the valleys and the
peaks. He opens His arms and welcomes me in. He sees value in me and never
leaves me.
He loves you, too. His arms are open to everyone. He loves
like no other. He’ll be there through the best and the worst.
I love this song by Matthew West, The God Who Stays.
I hope you’ll take a listen.
Genesis 24:42 When I came to the spring today, I said, “Lord, God of my master Abraham, if
you will, please grant success to the journey on which I have come.”
Who is on your journey?
The other day, Tim and I took a road trip. We traveled to three
bookstores in the Cincinnati area. The first stop we made was to a little shop
in Madeira. The owner had kindly kept my books on the shelf for several months,
a few had sold, but she was ready to return the others to me. After we picked
those up, Tim drove to Mason, and I visited the lovely Belong Christian
Bookstore. In case you aren’t aware, Christian bookstores are few these days. I
chatted with the owner and showed her my books, with hope of a possible
connection in the future. On our last stop, I browsed a Barnes & Noble,
found a few stocking stuffers, and discovered they only do author events every
six months or so. Some might say I didn’t have success promoting my books, but
I made connections.
On the drive, Tim and I noticed a semi on the highway with the
word JOURNEY imprinted on the side. That got me to thinking. Who travels on my
journeys with me? On our trip, Tim and Rosie (she loves to ride) were in the
Jeep with me, and the Holy Spirit buckled up and rode shotgun. The Holy Spirit
led us to Belong Bookstore at the exact time the owner stood behind the
counter. Due to illness, she isn’t there often. I’m thankful for the
opportunity to meet her and talk about my books, and I call that success.
In Genesis, Abraham asked his head servant to travel back to
Abraham’s homeland to find his son, Isaac, a wife. Concerned he might fail, the
servant turns to the One who brings him hope. He asked the Lord to grant
success on the journey. I love the servant took God on the journey with him, and
if you read the rest of the story, he found Isaac a wife, the beautiful Rebekah.
When I travel through this life, I want God with me. The
Holy Spirit dwells with me day and night, and I know on my journeys, He stays by
my side.
Who goes with you on your journey? Have you asked God to
join you?
Matthew 6:22-23 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your
whole body will be full of light.But if your eyes are
unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light
within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth thou hast for me; place in my hand the wonderful key that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, ears, and heart,
illumine me, Spirit divine!
Even though my second cataract surgery is complete, I won’t
know for three to four more weeks if I need to wear glasses again. Although my
vision is clearer, and I can mostly read my laptop and phone, I need readers for
the smaller print. My distance vision is much better in my left eye, but due to
an astigmatism in my right eye, I still have blurriness. So, I wait.
In the sermon on the mount, Jesus spoke about how important
the eyes are. When they’re healthy, they let in the light. By healthy, Jesus is
referring to spiritual health.
At times, the brokenness of this world paralyzes me. I want
to hide away from the darkness and tragedy, the unfairness and constant
bombardment of distraction from God. But because Jesus’ light shines into my
life, I can face every day and be a light for Him. As a believer, I’m fighting
back against the darkness. Through my sight I see His lantern glowing brighter.
When I was young, our church sang Open my Eyes, an old hymn written
by Clara H. Scott. I love the stanza that asks the Spirit to “illumine me.” The
Holy Spirit walks with me each day and opens my eyes to what Jesus wants me to
see and do. I pray the light always fills my soul.
After Levi Swenson and Charlotte Mercer share months of promising texts and phone calls, Charlotte returns to Abbott Island for Christmas with her family. Will her dysfunctional family scare Levi away or will he and Charlotte meet under the mistletoe?
Sadie and Joel Grayson are ready to deliver their baby. Will the baby's birth bring good tidings and great joy or will the young couple be caught without the medical help they need?
The Christmas in Ohio collection is available for pre-order in paperback and Home for Christmas is available by itself as an e-book.
Come join us for a celebration of Christmas in the Buckeye State, with snow and mistletoe, a dash of suspense and danger, mystery and reunions, healing and hope.
From an island Christmas celebration to colonial-era homesteads, Christmas is a time of hope and celebration, as well as learning and healing. A time for trusting and sharing secrets, and taking a risk that leads to joy and a promise for the future.
The four stories on these pages go from a search for a missing painting to a reunion of lost loves, a shattered family rejoined, and promises kept. From a stolen treasure to secrets revealed, healed hearts and glass hearts, and second chances at love.
2
Corinthians 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The other
day, I walked Rosie on the little hill behind our condo. Vibrant, red leaves
tumbled to the ground from the maple tree. I’m not sure why my mind works the
way it does, but I stopped and grouped three of the beautiful red leaves
together to take a photo. They reminded me of the trinity—God, the father—Jesus, the son—and the Holy Spirit.
I imagine
God knew I could use a reminder of who He is, for He is not a God of
randomness. He’s a God of order and plans. There is no such thing as
coincidence with Him.
He has
mapped out what I would need in this fallen, broken world. First, I need God.
He’s the love and hope of life. The one who protects and guards my heart. Second,
I need Jesus. He’s grace. The One who covers my sins with His blood. He’s the
son of God who took the sorrow and sadness of the world on His shoulders. Third,
I need the Holy Spirit, the one who fellowships with me. He hangs out with me
on a daily basis. He communicates with God when I can’t and guides me as I seek
help.
I love God,
Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and thank the Lord for His work in my life. I can’t
think of a better way to begin November than with a grateful heart for the One
who created me, redeemed me, and fills me with His joy and peace.
Let’s spend
this month thanking and praising the One who loves us more than we understand.
Philemon
1:4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because
I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord
Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective
in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of
Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because
you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Have you
ever wanted to sit with someone one more time?
The older I
get, the more I realize I may not get to see people one more time. Over the
last several years, friends and family have moved from broken bodies on this
earth to perfect, healthy bodies in heaven. I’m rejoicing for them, and I’m
missing them.
The other
day, Tim and I took Rosie to a park to walk. I’d been sick a few days before,
so I stayed in the car, still tired from the bout of illness. I watched them
walk a circular path, then my sight landed on a blue swing with a beautiful
backdrop. Gold and orange trees stood at attention behind the colorful swing. I
thought, what if I could sit on that swing and talk to anyone I wanted to? Of
course, I would sit with Tim and chat about the day. I could take any of our
grandkids or kids and their spouses. Perhaps a friend or two would come by and
we’d laugh and talk. Then I thought—what if I could bring anyone back and
talk to them about heaven—wouldn’t that be a glorious
conversation? They could tell me about the incredible worship and praise of God
and conversations with Jesus.
Since that’s
not possible, I had another thought. Wouldn’t that be a lovely place to sit and
talk to God? A place to pray for my loved ones and readers. A place to
appreciate the beautiful fall weather and thank God for His provision and remember
those we’ve loved who have passed. It’s good to sit and thank
the Lord for the people He has placed in my life.
I hope as I remember you, you
know you give me great joy and encouragement.
Psalm 25: 4-5 Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and
teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
The Playhouse Square in Cleveland sparkled.
A chandelier draped the middle of the street
between the playhouses, theatres, and eateries. On a sign overtop the Keybank
State Theatre a picture of the music group Casting Crowns greeted us. Tim and I
will be celebrating 31 years of marriage on October 31. We planned an early
celebration that included the twenty-year tour concert of Casting Crowns.
God’s fingerprints were all over their twenty-year
story. Mark Hall, the lead singer in the group is a youth pastor. He used music
to get his kids to read their Bibles. Mark is dyslexic and has an attention deficit,
yet God filled him with a desire to reach youth and adults with his humble
beginnings in the music world.
Casting Crowns has not wavered from God’s truth
in their twenty years of fame. Their songs speak straight to the heart. Tim and
I were both blessed by their testimony and their music. Enhanced by a symphony
of violins, their words resonated through the crowd. We lifted our hands and
voices with them and praised God.
My favorite song they sing is Voice of Truth.
So many voices call out to us every day. Social media, the news, people around
us, fear, and so much more. The Bible teaches us to discern the voices by
weighing them against God’s word and whether they acknowledge Jesus. (1 John 4:1-3)
The psalmist calls to God to show him God’s ways
and guide him in His truth. In this world of constant attention grabbing by
outside voices, seek God’s voice and truth and teach your children to listen
for God.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is
my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my
stronghold.
2 Timothy 1:7
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,
but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Don't let the hard days win.
I'm in the middle of cataract removal surgeries. About a
week ago, the eye surgeon sucked the cloudy lens out of my right eye. Then he
placed a new artificial lens in so my vision would improve. The left eye will
be corrected soon, but in the meantime, I'm in limbo. The right eye has an
astigmatism. Which means, my eyeball is shaped like a football instead of a volleyball.
Most of the time, people who have lenses replaced for cataracts have clearer
vision in about two days. Not me. Nope. My football shaped eye is better—I
can see clear colors instead of a yellowish cast, but I can't see as well as I
can out of my left eye that still has a cataract. The eye doctor did his job,
but my eye didn't cooperate. So between now and the time my left eye is fixed,
the one shaped like a volleyball, I can't wear my glasses. Once my eyes work
together again, I'll get a new prescription.
I've adapted by using readers and thankfully my left eye can
see distance, but working on the computer and reading are hard. My eyes hurt by
evening and I often have a headache. I'm managing, but I could throw up my
hands and quit until the left eye is corrected. Instead, I'm leaning into God
to help me through this trying time.
Of course, my situation isn't the end of the world, and it
should be better by November, but there have been dark times in my life when I
couldn't see the end. I felt helpless and disheartened, but you know what? God stood
by me and protected me. He always does. God has gifted His people with the Holy
Spirit, who gives us power, love, and self-disciple. Those are the things that
have helped me through dark days, along with my family and friends.
Don't let the hard days win and don't try to navigate them
alone. Give them to Jesus and trust Him to send help.
Joshua 1:7-8 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my
servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that
you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the
Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that
you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous
and successful.
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known
God. -Corrie Ten Boom
Our youngest granddaughter had to have oral surgery. When
you're nine years old and have nothing to compare the experience to, you have a
bit of fear and anxiety. A beautiful thing happened to her. After school, one of her teachers
and her principal prayed with her, on the day before the surgery. That evening,
I ate dinner with her and her family and she prayed over the meal and asked God
to make everything go well for her during surgery. My heart danced a happy
dance. That little nine-year-old gets it. She placed her fear in God's hands.
Our ministers are preaching a series this month that focuses
on Joshua called "Be Strong and Courageous." God told Joshua multiple
times to be strong and courageous. In Joshua 7, He called him to be strong and very
courageous." Take it up a notch Joshua and step out on faith.
Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the choice to trust
God with the future. He calls all of us to step out and have faith in Him and
in the future He's planned for us. He asked Joshua to keep the Book of the Law on
His lips. For us, He wants us to have the word of God in our hearts. I'm no
Bible scholar. There's so much I don't understand, but I cling to the verses
that encourage and give me strength and courage.
Trust in God for the future, be strong and courageous.
Psalm 86:12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will
glorify your name forever.
The standing ovation stopped the game.
On Sunday, Maggie and I attended the last home game of the
Cincinnati Reds. Tim worked as an usher, and we met some of the regulars in his
section. The Reds have had a good season and have been fun to watch. They've
added new players to the roster and have one outstanding player who has hung
with the Reds for seventeen years.
When Joey Votto appeared on the field for his first at bat,
the crowd rose to their feet, clapped, cheered, and may have cried a little.
This player has been with the Reds his entire major league career. At the end
of this season, his contract is finished. As fans, we don't know if he will
return, so our response was to show appreciation for all he has done for the
team. When all the fans rose to their feet and applauded, the energy shook the
atmosphere. It was fun to be a part of his recognition and to see the
humbleness of this faithful player.
I wonder what it would have been like for Jesus if people
had reacted to Him that way. If those closest to Him and those who met Him
realized He was the Son of God, would they have loved Him more, or praised Him
as one worthy of praise? From the scripture, it appears Jesus' humbleness would
have stopped any outcry or ovation, but no one is more deserving.
The times I think about what Jesus has done for me, how He
has carried my burdens and sin on His shoulders, I thank Him and praise Him. Do
I do this often enough? Probably not. Praise doesn't have to wait for a Sunday
church service.
Praise the One who
gave His life for yours—every day. He deserves the glory.
Doctor-in-training Louisa Vaughn has no intention of
remaining in Sweetwater Crossing. She's just there for a few days to help a
friend. But she can't abandon the injured man she finds at the side of the
road. Until his broken leg heals, she'll serve as the town's doctor and
midwife. She may not be fully qualified yet, but surely she's better than
nothing.
Josh Porter's plans to win his grandfather's challenge and fulfill his father's
final wish to gain full control of the family business hit a roadblock when he
breaks his leg. But his enforced stay in Sweetwater Crossing gives him new
ideas about the expansion of the company into new territory--ideas Louisa could
help turn into reality.
If only the town were more accepting of Louisa's talents! Someone is determined
to convince her to abandon her dream of healing others. Can Josh help her
uncover the person behind the threats before it's too late? And is there any
future for them together when neither of them plans to stay?
My Review:
I have enjoyed several Amanda Cabot books. This one included. In Against the
Wind, the author returns to Sweetwater Crossing where book one left off. In
book two, Louisa returns with no intention of staying until she finds a man by
the road who needs help. Josh Porter finds himself in this small town, a thousand
miles from home, unable to take care of himself. I love the tenacity of Louisa
and her caring and determined heart. She wants so much to be accepted as a
doctor in the small town, but fights against the opinions of others and some
tragic events. Josh wants to please his grandfather, but he's not sure it's the
best path for his life. With a strong faith thread, the two discover life is
filled with surprises, struggles, and difficult decisions. I enjoyed the story
and the characters. I received a free copy with no expectations, and opinions
are my own.
“If you repent, I will
restore you that you
may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will
be my spokesman. Let this people turn to you,but you
must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this
people, a
fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will
not overcome you, for I am with you to
rescue and save you,” declares the Lord.
As I live in this world and see more and more disregard for
God, my heart breaks.
In my daughter, Sara's, first grade class, she spends a lot
of time teaching her students how to read. The children learn the sounds the
letters make and how they form words. If you know anything about the English language, you know there are many words that don’t follow the rules. Sara
teaches those words as heart words, in other words they must be learned by heart.
I've been reading the book of Jeremiah. Much of what I've
read shows God's anger toward Jerusalem and Judah. The people have turned from Him
and are worshipping idols and turning their backs on God. Jeremiah begs God not
to destroy the people of Israel, but to give them another chance.
In chapter 15, Jeremiah asks God to spare him. He is a
prophet who is trying to turn the people around and help them get back to
loving and worshipping God. In his distress and longing to be rescued, God
tells him if he repents, He will restore him. The next part caught my
attention. When God said, "if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you
will be my spokesman."
That verse hit me over the head. God gave me an amazing
means to communicate. He not only created humans, but he gave us language so we
can share our ideas, thoughts, and wisdom.
Words can be beautiful, helpful, uplifting, and filled with
compassion. They can also be mean, detrimental, and hurtful.
God called Jeremiah to speak words worthy of God. As a
follower and believer in the One who created life, I want to choose words that
encourage and praise, words that instruct and uplift, and words that draw
people to God.
As I think of the little ones learning new words, I'm
reminded to speak to a child in a way that encourages and instructs, not with
harshness and hurt.
1 Peter 4:8-10 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of
sins.Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.Each of you should use whatever gift you have
received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its
various forms.
God has not called me to be successful. He called
me to be faithful. -Mother Teresa
I have a t-shirt with a saying printed on it: God Has a Plan So
I Have a Purpose. I think about that a lot. As my children grew into teenagers
and then adults, I fretted over what my purpose was. I'd held onto the role of
mom for years and knew at that point in my life, my focus was raising the kids
to be kind and caring adults. With them rounding the corner to adulthood, I
found myself at loose ends. Of course, I had purpose as Tim's wife and in my
job at the school library, and I was still a mom, but something in my heart
searched for more. Like many people, I read The Purpose Driven Life. I
found some good information, but not enough.
I prayed and asked God for clarity, and guess what? He let me
know I'd been overthinking my purpose. Yes, there are specific things God calls
me to do, but the most important thing He wants me to do is to be faithful and
love Him.
God calls me and anyone who believes in Him to love Him and
love people. The other day the radio blared out Danny Goeke's song, Love God
Love People. He talks about checking the boxes and trying to do more, but instead
it comes down to caring for God and people.
Peter reminds his readers the most important thing they can
do is be faithful stewards of God's grace. Show grace to everyone and be
faithful to God.
In our broken world, our purpose is to remain faithful and to
love.
