Friday, July 31, 2020

Salvation Booklet



SALVATION BOOKLET

I just published a booklet you might find helpful to share with those who are seeking to find out more about how to be saved.  Lately, I've had a burden for the lost and felt led to create this 40-page booklet with not only the plan of salvation, but also stories about people who were saved, and questions an unbeliever might ask -- like, what does "being born again" mean?

This booklet is free in ebook form from Saturday, August 1 through Wed, August 5.  Be sure and download your free copy and also pass the word along to friends and family -- especially those who might benefit from learning more about how to be saved.  If you like the book, a positive review on Amazon would be so appreciated!!  Thank you!  I hope you will be blessed by the book.



Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Drinking from the Fountain



DRINKING FROM THE FOUNTAIN

In the picture, I'm pretending to take a drink from the pretty fountain in the center of the courtyard at our timeshare on the Costa del Sol in Spain (many years ago).  It was a fun photo op in a beautiful setting.  It reminds me of the time when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well and He said, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become to him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" John 4:13-14.  

Jesus is speaking of the beautiful, eternal fountain of life.  Clean, pure water is one of the blessings God offers to this earth -- for plants and animals and we as humans.  Indeed, it's an absolute necessity for the body.  Without water, we would all soon die.  But, what about the soul?  Jesus was comparing the need for clean, pure physical water to the need for spiritual "water" that nourishes the soul in greater ways than liquid water ever could.

What a wonderful promise Jesus gives to anyone who will drink of that water that He freely gives.  Many centuries before Jesus made the statement at the well, David wrote a Psalm with a similar truth:  "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" Psalm 36:9.

Oh, to see the light and to drink from the fountain of life!  Jesus offers these life-giving elements to any who will accept them.  He said, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" John 10:10.



Friday, July 24, 2020

Thirty Years and Counting



THIRTY YEARS & COUNTING

This past week I was trying to figure out what year I began writing.  After a bit of digging, I discovered that this is the 30-year mark -- an anniversary!  So, I started looking back over my "writing history" and was happy that I didn't give up during those many years filled with rejection letters.  This has been a wonderful - and eventful journey.  Let me share a brief summary of the past 30-years.

The picture above is an early computer that I used as a Word Processor.  If you're under fifty, you're probably saying, "Whaaaat??"  At the time, our PC did not have internet service and was basically a typewriter on steroids.  It was an amazing machine compared to the simple typewriter, which I'd always used before.  With this machine, you no longer had to use carbon paper to make a copy and you no longer had to start over each time you needed to add or delete a sentence or move a paragraph.  And - wonder of wonders, you no longer had to carefully erase your typos.  These features were new to me, but were life-changing wonders that made writing a manuscript infinitely easier.

It was 1990, and I felt a need to do something creative.  I decided I would try to write a novel.  I'd always loved to read and had a pretty good imagination, so this seemed like a good option.  Each day after my husband and three kids left for work and school, I spent part of the day writing.  I called the story, Island Charm.  I kept my project secret until I was confident that I'd be able to complete it.  I didn't want to be one of those people who begin writing a book and never finish it.


The picture shows me with my daughters in 1990, for my 44th birthday, the year I began writing (I don't know how I rated two birthday cakes that year - yum!!).  After I'd written about 25 pages of the novel, I let my 15-year old daughter Holly read it.  She loved it and she was so proud of what I was doing.  Every day she came home from school eager to see what I'd written that day.  It encouraged me to keep plugging along.  Each morning when I got up, I was excited to go upstairs to the word processor and add to the story of David and Valerie, who were having some ups and downs in their relationship.  It was fun -- and best of all, it gave me that creative outlet I needed.  About half-way through the manuscript, I revealed my secret project to the rest of the family, because I finally had the confidence I would be able to finish it -- and I did.  I was very proud of that first novel and I still think it's a good story (:

The writing bug had bitten and I continued to write, even though I didn't get anything published for five long years.  During that time, I wrote three more novels (which amazes me, as I look back), short stories and essays.  I sent query letters to well over a hundred places and received that many rejection letters.  There were times I became discouraged, but, I kept writing, kept studying about writing, and kept learning how to write better.

Finally, in 1995, my first piece, The Gift, was published in a small newspaper in Florida (no payment).  I had worked so hard and so long for that, when I saw the article in print, I burst into tears.  It was a story about adopting our son Nathan and that story meant a lot to me.  That same year, I had a couple more things accepted by magazines, which was exciting - and I kept on writing and kept on sending my stuff out.

1996 was the year things opened up for me.  I had two magazine articles accepted - and actually got paid a small amount for them - woo-hoo!!  I also began writing newspaper articles for the Times and ended the year with 36 newspaper articles to my name!

In 1997, I had pieces in three more magazines, and wrote a whopping 50 newspaper articles for both the Times and the Virginian-Pilot, a couple of them cover stories for the Pilot.  That year, one of my biggest "claims to fame" was a story in the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Mother's Soul.  They printed The Gift, the same story that was my first ever published piece in that Florida newspaper.  I was thrilled!  And - I earned my biggest career check of $300 for one piece.



I continued writing newspaper articles until 2003 when I decided to change direction.  Writing for the newspapers was a great training ground for me, and I really enjoyed interviewing hundreds of interesting people for the articles I wrote.  It not only taught me how to write better, it also built up my confidence in meeting and conversing with all kinds of people.  I am so thankful for all the opportunities I had during those years.  I'm also thankful for the support of my husband and family during this whole journey.

I continued writing a few articles a year for various magazines and trying to get my books published (I'd written four novels earlier).  I was never able to get an acceptance with a traditional publisher, so when self-publishing became an option, I polished up Ivory & Ice, and published it in 2013.  In 2015, I published three more of the novels I'd written way back in the early 90s.  At last, I'd gotten my "labors of love" into book form and sitting on my shelf.  That's been a great feeling and a dream come true!

For the past five years, I've been writing inspirational books, a few short stories and some travel articles, and I've been enjoying it.  I'm so thankful I took the step back in 1990 to begin writing an entire novel -- and that, by the grace of God, I was able to finish it.  I feel so blessed to have experienced the many writing opportunities I've had, meeting so many great people along the way.  God willing, I hope to keep writing until I draw my last breath on this earth.

I borrow the chorus from the hymn, Blessed Assurance, written by Fanny Crosby in 1873, and claim it as my testimony as well:  "This is my story, this is my song / Praising my Savior all the day long."

I say to anyone who has a dream, go for it!  Do the work, keep plugging at it, and enjoy the scenery along the way.  God has given each of us talents, abilities, dreams and purpose.  Let's make the most of what He's given us and rejoice in the outcome.  To God be the glory!

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" Colossians 3:23-24.


Saturday, July 18, 2020

Secrets



SECRETS

The picture shows my granddaughter whispering a secret into the ear of her brother.  A few decades ago there was a song with the lyrics, "Do you want to know a secret?  Do you promise not to tell..."  Some people get upset when they're kept in the dark and out of a particular "secret" loop.  Others are sure that secret conspiracies are behind every door.  Some secrets protect and some secrets harm.  Some secrets are serious, while others are frivolous.  Either way, people are intrigued by secrets.

Some people believe that God is keeping secrets from His creation and that the Bible is full of hidden and hard to understand messages.  The Holy Bible is an amazing letter from God Almighty, written to His people so that they will understand and have knowledge of important truths and messages that we need to know to find redemption and to live a good life.  Numerous times in His word, God tells us that His truth is not hidden from those who seek to know it.  Here is a long list of verses about secrets:

"Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ" Ephesians 1:9.

"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" Deuteronomy 29:29.

"For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil" Ecclesiastes 12:14.

"Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know" Jeremiah 33:3.

"But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets..." Daniel 2:28.

"For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.  If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear" Mark 4:22-23.

"...according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations..." Romans 16:25-26.

"I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel" Isaiah 45:3.

"I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain': I, the Lord, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right" Isaiah 45:19.

"Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" Amos 3:7.

One of the keys to understanding things that might seem to be hidden and hard to understand is the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit who lives within each born again believer helps us to understand and even reveals hidden things to us: "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.  For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" 1 Corinthians 2:10.

Back in the 1970s, there was a song written by Jim Reeves, with this chorus:  It is no secret what God can do, What He's done for others He'll do for you.  With arms wide open He'll pardon you.  It is no secret what God can do."

God has never made it a secret that He loves us with an everlasting love -- a love so vast and deep that He sacrificed His only Son to save us and offer us life eternal.  As the verse in Mark tells us, "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."  God doesn't whisper in secret, He shouts His truths from the mountaintops.  Just listen and you will hear.






Saturday, July 11, 2020

Beauty & Joy


BEAUTY & JOY

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever," is the first line in a famous poem by John Keats, written in 1818.  I've picked out some pictures from my collection to share, hoping their beauty will bring joy to your hearts.  The lovely hydrangeas above are in Smithfield.


Here's another famous saying (by Greek philosopher Plato): "Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder."  I think this fox sitting in our backyard is a wild thing of beauty -- although I definitely don't want to come face to face with him (I took the picture through the window).


Let me introduce you to our "grand-dog."  Ginger is a mini-golden-doodle and I think she bears a bit of a resemblance to the aforementioned fox.  She too is a thing of beauty.


These beautiful, cheery yellow lilies are in Norfolk, along the Elizabeth River Trail through Ghent.


Can you feel the joy inside my granddaughter as she bends forward welcoming the waves in Corolla.  She was so thrilled to be at the oceanfront, she didn't let the chill and rainy day dampen her spirits at all.  There is beauty in her innocent embrace of the pounding nature at her feet.


I'll end with this hauntingly beautiful picture of the full moon peeking through trees and chased by a white cloud.  I remember how brightly the moon lit up the earth on that night.  I was delighted by the phenomena.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever.  May your eyes be open to beauty and your day be filled with joy.




Tuesday, July 7, 2020

God is Good


GOD IS GOOD

      During these crazy days in which we are living, what do you find yourself thinking about?  Are your thoughts fearful?  Are you sad or depressed?  Is this how God wants us to go through our days?
      God has given us some great pep talks in His written word the Bible.  He knows that there will be days like this (along with weeks and months) and He wants His children to live in Victory - in spite of the circumstances.  Defeat is a word and condition the enemy throws at us constantly; Victory is God's chosen way for us.  With that in mind, here are words of the Almighty God our Father that He gives to us to cheer our hearts and turn our down days into looking up and shouting "hallelujah!" days:

       "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate [or think] on these things...and the God of peace will be with you" Philippians 4:8-9.

       "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:6-7.

       "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7.

       "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us" 2 Corinthians 4:7.

        "I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord" Psalm 27:6.

     I think we've all had our down moments during these past few months, but looking into the heart of Jesus will turn sad into glad and gives us hope.  This morning as I read in my devotional Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, she wrote as if Jesus is speaking to us, saying, "Reject negative or sinful thoughts as soon as you become aware of them...confess them and leave them with Me.  Go on your way lightheartedly.  This method of controlling your thoughts will keep your mind in My Presence and your feet on the path of Peace." 
     Then, on tomorrow's page (yes, I peeked ahead), it says, "When you seek My Face, put aside thoughts of everything else.  I am above all, as well as in all; your communion with Me transcends both time and circumstances.  Be prepared to be blessed bountifully by My Presence, for I am a God of unlimited abundance."

     What a joy and delight to be a child of such a Father, who loves us so much and is capable of giving us peace that passes understanding and joy in the midst of pandemics and riots.  We are so blessed!

      The picture I included above shows me stopping to smell the roses.  Such moments are, to me, a picture of stopping to take in the fragrance of our Lord who offers us beauty for ashes and hearts of peace and joy in all these things.  God is indeed so very good!