Take Shelter in the Word

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Author Mary Alford

I must confess, until we went through the great Snowpocalypse of 2021 here in Texas, I never understood how difficult having too much snow can be.

Before 2021, if we had snow at all, it would be a dusting that rarely lasted more than a day, and rarely affected life beyond possibly the occasional snow day at school which most kids love.

Snowpocalypse was different. It put a strain on our power grid, created rolling backouts in some areas, and in others, the power was out for days. People were forced to take shelter in their homes in the darkness and try to stay warm. We were lost. This doesn’t normally happen to us. So, although our winter weather during Snowpocalypse wasn’t anything close to what those who live in the northern states go through every year, I can certainly sympathize.   

In Texas, we have a different weather period that forces us to take shelter at home. It starts around May and usually runs into October. It’s called summer in Texas. During that time, we complain about the heat, refuse to leave our houses, and basically hibernate until October.

As humans, we take shelter in our homes and with loved ones. We worry about things we can’t control—like the weather. But have you ever thought about taking shelter in the Word?

Hebrews 4:12 says, For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God’s word is powerful. It offers hope and healing for those who read it. We see God’s love throughout the pages of the Bible, and we know no matter what we go through—whether heat or cold, of something far more devastating, He is there beside us.  

Many blessings!

Mary

www.maryalford.net  

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Creating Characters by Tara Randel

Posted on June 26, 2023 by tararandel

People are complex. That’s why it’s so much fun, and a lot of hard work, to create believable and interesting characters. Just look at the people in your lives. Don’t they come with different issues and baggage, joy and pain? In order for readers to fall in love with my characters, they need to ring true.

Any time I start plotting a new series, I come up with my cast of characters first. I’ll focus on romance today since I’ve submitted a new proposal to my editor and am waiting to hear from her, so I’m in creation mode. Developing characters includes finding out what makes them tick and what will make a reader turn the pages of the book.

In romance novels, we love to fall in love with our characters and cheer for them throughout the story. In the beginning, both the hero and heroine are at a place in their lives where they either don’t realize they need that special someone in their lives, or they don’t want to date anyone at all. So how do I decide how they will feel?

First, I need to uncover what has brought them pain in their lives. I need to know the character’s motivation before I can really dig deep. For instance, in my book, Always the One, the hero lost the love of his life when he was a teenager. Her family just up and moved away in the middle of the night. He’s never forgotten her or the future they’d planned together, so he doesn’t commit to any other woman because in his heart, he hopes to find his true love again, no matter how impossible it seems.

Once I’ve established that pain or hurt, I figure out how my character has created a life around that pain. How that pain has become so meshed with their identity.

To continue in Always the One, the hero finds a clue to his true love’s whereabouts. He goes to her, hoping against hope that this time, the lead is correct. He finds the woman, who has a new life far away from him. But just as the hero is elated to find her, she blames him for her family’s misfortune and doesn’t want him around. Is there any way these two can find common ground?

Throwing this couple together, with their past haunting them, makes for lots of tension. But it also cries out for a resolution. These two people know there is something missing in their lives. The question is, will they put aside the hurt from the past to walk together toward a future? Face some hard truths about themselves? Do they put aside what they thought they knew or felt about themselves and have the courage to make changes so they can enjoy a life of happiness?

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Every one of us faces a crossroad sometime in our lives and we must make meaningful decisions. This is why my characters have to be sympathetic and truthful, because a reader will see right through them otherwise. If you can relate to a character in some way, it brings a connection from author to reader.

Throughout the story, the characters need time and personal growth to adjust their attitudes, which draws in a reader. We get invested in the characters, wanting the best for them. But will the best happen? Can they open their hearts to love? We read more to find out.

Discovering who these characters will be and how they will deal with opposition is the first step in plotting my story. It’s not a fast process, not if I want compelling characters in my book. Setting the foundation, with my character’s motivations and goals, allows me to then build the remainder of the story. It’s a fun process, but I feel kind of bad when I bring anguish to my characters. It’s necessary in order to give that satisfying ending.

You can probably think of a favorite novel off the top of your head because the characters resonated with you long after you closed the book. This is why authors take a lot of time and purpose in creating folks you’ll care enough to read about and remember. Authors always have the reader in mind, even when we’re busy creating the story.  

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETOWN MATCH, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.

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Boundaries by Julie Arduini

Posted on June 23, 2023 by juliearduini

This isn’t a political post per se, but a visual on what life looks like when we move or obliterate our borders. What got me thinking on this was the open border policy. I read how many unaccompanied alien children, UAC, 150,000 crossed those borders last year. Of that number, according to the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, 60% are captured by cartels and used for p*rn and trafficking. Source.

No wonder trafficking is a billion dollar plus industry. These aren’t children to the perpetrators, these are dollar signs.

At this time, they have access to these children. They literally have no boundaries.

When I talk to people who have not sought Christ into their daily life, the common reason I hear is because God doesn’t allow anything fun. I bought that lie for a long time until I looked at how miserable I felt.

I numbed myself with bitterness and alcohol and my fun only lasted a few hours. If that.

—Julie Arduini

What would marriage look like if we didn’t have borders? There are couples who remove those borders and allow dating or hook ups to enter the covenant. I’ve yet to read one case where both parties living this way are content with the arrangement.

We were created to need boundaries.

I remember years ago I took my step-son out and while driving, we talked about families. We knew of a family where the child had no rules. They watched what they wanted, said what they wanted, did what they wanted. That kid was not loved by their peers and looked miserable. My step-son thanked us for having rules. “I know you have them in place because you love us.”

And so does God.

God loves us so much He sent Jesus to live on this dumpster fire called Earth. Jesus did everything perfect, even when tempted. He ended up crucified, but thank God that isn’t where His story ends.

Or ours.

Jesus rose from the dead and is alive. When I entered into a relationship with Him by believing His life story and confessing my sin and need for a rescue only He can give, I learned the boundaries of life and I’m grateful for them.

Drinking for many is a stumbling block. I rarely drink alcohol because either the people I’m around it’s an issue for them whether they know it or not, or, my motivation to drink is not healthy, and I take that to Jesus for Him to not numb, but heal. That’s freedom, not the prison the world depicts.

There was a marriage that crumbled because the boundaries changed before they disappeared. When they married, they vowed never to be alone with someone of the opposite gender. Then it was they would never dance with the opposite gender. Then it evolved into not slow dancing with the opposite gender. Next thing the new rule was they would not be intimate with the other gender unless it was their spouse. The boundary was crossed, and removed.

Boundaries are good for us. They keep us safe. Do I know everything about what laws there should be about border crossings? I don’t, I know this, too many innocent children are being taken and abused in ways I can’t even type. Those kids need so much better.

And that’s what our Heavenly Father says. We need better than lawlessness, and that’s why we stop at red lights. Keep our marriage bed between a husband and wife. Not use addiction to numb our wounds in the name of recreation.

What about you? Has God showed you the importance of boundaries?

If you would like to know more about inviting Christ into your daily life, please email me at juliearduini@juliearduini.com or reach out to any of the bloggers on this site.

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Welcome Delores Topliff

Posted on June 22, 2023 by Patricia Bradley

Hi, Patricia Bradley here. I want to introduce my friend Delores Topliff who will be posting regularly to the Christians Read blog.

Over to you, Delores.

I’m new here and look forward to getting acquainted. As Patricia said, I’m Delores Topliff and live in Minnesota half the year and Mississippi the other half. Here’s my favorite MN farm photo–a sunset from our farm. Next time I’ll share my favorite Mississippi photo.

I started by writing prize-winning illustrated children’s books and moved on to publish historic novels, two of them based on true WWII events in the Pacific Northwest. I blog every 2nd Tuesday on Delorestopliff.com where you can read more about my books, life, and writing journey.


I began writing in the third grade by making up rhymed stories I sometimes told out loud when our teacher left the room. My classmates loved them so I began taking writing seriously. One of them became my popular children’s book, Little Big Chief and The Bear Hunt.

We also lived right across the street from a small library with the most encouraging grandmotherly librarian I’ve ever met. She said I read more books than any other member (true at the time) and asked what I wanted to do when I grew up. I said be librarian like her, but I felt sorry for people living along the Columbia River nearby who didn’t have libraries so would fill a houseboat with books to take to families up and down the river.

She was kind enough not to laugh; that story is told in Books Afloat where librarian-heroine Anne Mettles volunteers with an network to stops the invasion of a Japanese submarine that really did enter the river in June 1942. It sequel, Strong Currents, was released in February 2023.

I’d love to welcome you as new readers and hear your feedback. Until next time, I’ll leave you with my favorite tried and true Bible verse: Psalm 56:9 KJV “When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God is for me.”

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As the Father Has Sent Me by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 21, 2023 by jrcoggins

After His resurrection, Jesus told His close followers, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). This raises the question of how the Father sent Jesus. What did God send Jesus to do? We often understand this passage as referring to witnessing, but that is not all that Jesus did. 

First, God sent Jesus in peace and in the power of the Holy Spirit, and that is what Jesus bestowed on His followers in this same passage, saying (twice): “Peace be with you!” Then “he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20:19-22).

Second, Jesus spent the majority of His earthly life (about thirty years) in humble preparation and learning, becoming part of all that God had done up to that point.

Third, Jesus spent a lot of His ministry healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and meeting people’s other needs.

Fourth, Jesus preached the good news, offering forgiveness and life.

Fifth, Jesus confronted evil and exposed sin.

Sixth, Jesus spent a lot of time training His followers to carry on His work.

Seventh, Jesus came to be crucified, to be sacrificed to pay the penalty for human sin. In John 20, Jesus showed His followers the wounds of His crucifixion. This was a reminder to His followers that they would face opposition and suffering. The way of self-sacrificing love involves sacrifice. There is a price to be paid in following Jesus, and we need to be willing to pay it.

A specific example of the call of Jesus appears in the next chapter. In John 21:15-19, Jesus told the apostle Peter to “follow me” and “feed my sheep.” Then he indicated “the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.”

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The Vanishing Good Samaritan by Peggy Webb

Posted on June 20, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31

In my last post I wrote about slipping and falling, face-first, onto the concrete apron of the pool at the Aquatic Center. What I didn’t tell you is that there were two people in the pool who saw me fall. Neither of them got of the pool. They didn’t try to help me or get the staff to help me or call 911. They stayed in the water. Offering nothing. Maybe watching. Maybe not caring. Maybe being glad it wasn’t them. I don’t know.

I attempted to get up twice but couldn’t. The blow to my head was severe. My entire body was in shock. My nose was pouring blood. I waved my arm, trying to get the attention of someone in the reception area, just beyond the glass doors, but was unsuccessful. 

I was in desperate need of help. I’m not young. I have a head full of silver hair and four grandchildren.

What were the people in the pool thinking? Earlier, I had chatted with them as I had done many times before, and yet they chose to remain in the waster without offering one iota of charity. 

Being helpless and knowing someone is passively and selfishly watching you lie on the cold concrete and suffer—or possibly die—is indescribable. It’s heartbreaking. It’s a tragic commentary on today’s society.

One question ran through my mind. Why? 

Truly, I say to you. As you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me. Matthew 25:40

Jesus said to him, Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart, and all they soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and the great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself. Matthew 22: 37-39

We need only study the story of the Good Samaritan to discover Jesus’ teaching about who is our neighbor and how we should treat him. Both a priest and a Levite passed by an injured man going down from Jerusalem who had been “set upon by thieves,” but the Samaritan, an outsider, stopped to bind his wounds, carry him to an inn, and even provide for his future care. 

Jesus was very specific in his instructions to us. 

Go thou and do likewise. Luke 10:37

During the endless five minutes I was lying at the poolside, injured, before someone in the front office happened to spot me and the ambulance carried me off, the two in the pool watched and still did nothing. 

My broken nose and bruised face and body are healing, but I’m struggling to come to terms with their inhumanity—a total lack of concern or action.  I’ve seen more compassion in animals. Our very humanity is defined, not only by intelligence, but also by our compassion, our moral responsibility, and our ability to foresee consequences and make good choices. 

This post is my battle cry to never, ever lose sight of our moral responsibility. Never lose our humanity. 

Be strong in faith. Be a warrior. Stand up and proclaim your Christianity, not just by your attendance in church or your prayers or the easy one-and-done phrase, I’m praying for you. Put legs to your prayers. Help the injured. Provide for those in need. Pick up the phone and call to see how you can help the sick. Care, truly care, for the injured, the lost, the isolated, the lonely, and the brokenhearted.  Be a good Samaritan.

Peggy Webb 

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Five-Minute Slices of Life by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 14, 2023 by jrcoggins

Five-Minute Slices of Life by James R. Coggins

Early one morning several years ago, Allen Unrau knocked on my door. He lived only three or four blocks away, but we had never met.

Allen had come to ask me to edit the short stories he was writing every week for the local newspaper. It was a Godsend because at the time I very much needed the work. The arrangement lasted two or three years, and, as well as a client, Allen became a good friend.

I quickly realized that Allen was a very good writer and a master storyteller. To be able to introduce characters, tell a story, and bring it to a satisfactory conclusion in 600 words (the word limit imposed by the newspaper) is a remarkable ability. To be able at the same time to expand understanding, tickle the funny bone, encourage the heart, turn on smiles, and bring the reader to tears is an astonishing feat. Yet this is what Allen Unrau achieved in his highly readable 600-word “slices of life.” His stories were polished gems, nuggets of truth.

Some years passed, I launched a small book publishing imprint (Mill Lake Books), and I asked Allen if he would like me to gather some of his stories and publish them as a book. The result is a book titled Five-Minute Slices of Life, published this spring. I could write more about how wonderful these stories are, but I would rather show you. Here is one of those stories.

An imperfectly discerned destiny

Troy Hamilton is a thirty-eight-year-old fast talker with no plans to get married.

Many matchmakers have schemed and failed. Dozens of women have set their scented traps, but he has sidestepped them all.

Acquaintances pepper him with questions: “Why are you afraid to get married? How do you cope with the loneliness?”

Troy shrugs. “I keep busy. I’ve got lots of friends.”

Troy is an auctioneer. Sales records show he’s a crowd favorite.

Sylvia Phillips, a local librarian, bought a small antique table at the auction last Thursday and fell in love. She’s mesmerized by his amazing voice, his dreamy blue eyes and the way he looked at her when he said, “Sold to the pretty lady in the dark green coat!”

At thirty-four, Sylvia’s biological clock is racing. Though not desperate, she’s very interested in finding a good man.

Troy Hamilton is sure to be a good man.

She must find a way to meet him.

Next Thursday, she arrives an hour before the sale. “Is last week’s auctioneer here? I have some questions for him about a table I bought.”

Clever.

In a few minutes, Troy appears. He smiles and offers her his hand. “I remember you. That little antique table was a classic.” He’s obviously busy, but takes time to chat.

His eyes distract her. She gets flustered, forgets the made-up question she’s planned and blurts out: “Does your wife like antiques as much as I do?”

Now, where did that come from? Her face is flushed, and her eyes fall to the floor.

Troy is quick to reply, “I’m single, never married. I love antique furniture. My house is full of it. I’d be happy to answer more questions after the sale, but right now I’m very busy.”

Embarrassed, Sylvia leaves by a side door.

All week, she can’t get him out of her mind. Next Thursday, she arrives late. When the auction’s over, she goes looking for Troy, her usual shyness forgotten.

“Can we go for a coffee? I want to talk to you about antiques.”

The office staff roll their eyes. Politely, he turns her down.

She tries several different tactics over the next few weeks, but nothing works.

She questions herself. “What’s wrong with me?”

Her questions are answered later at the library. Troy doesn’t know she works there. He checks out five books from the medical section. Sylvia looks up the titles after he’s gone.

Troy Hamilton has inherited an untreatable disease. He’s genetically marked for an early death. By staying single, he might have saved a woman from early widowhood.

Sylvia doesn’t care. She confronts him with what she knows and what she feels.

Four months later, she marries a dying man. His blue eyes fill with tears as she promises to be there for him in sickness and in health: “Marriage is an unconditional commitment, a leap of faith into an imperfectly discerned destiny, an opportunity to love in the present, whatever the future might bring.”

*****

The memorial service is a celebration of love. Troy’s father weeps openly as he reads the eulogy. “For five glorious years, Troy and Sylvia had one of the most loving, happy marriages I have ever seen. If they had had their wish, they would have had many more wonderful years and grown old together. But it was not to be. None of us could have foreseen the carelessness of a drunk driver, the tragic automobile accident that claimed their lives. All of us can be comforted with the thought that they died instantly, with no pain, and they are together forever.”

Five-Minute Slices of Life is distributed by Ingram and is available from bookstores and online retailers such as Amazon and Amazon Canada.

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Through the Storm

Posted on June 13, 2023 by Author Mary Alford

One of the hardest realizations is when you see that no matter what you’re going through, no matter how difficult or impossible it seems, life continues to go on.

A few years back, I lost my mother and my father-in-law in the same year. My mom passed away right before Easter and my father-in-law at Christmas. Needless to say, both those holidays were difficult ones. I still remember the empty place at the table. My world had come to an abrupt stop. The grief seemed to come in waves. It felt as if life as I knew it was gone. . .but people still celebrated Easter. There were Easter egg hunts for the grandkids. When Christmas came and we lost another dear one, the stores were filled with Christmas decorations. Advertisements still announced the number of shopping days left before Christmas. And I thought, how can this be?  How can the world go on as if nothing has happened.  

During that time, I was on a tight deadline to finish a book. It was hard concentrating on writing when everything else around me was in chaos.

Yet through it all, I felt God’s presence with me, carrying me through the pain. It’s been over ten years since we lost those precious loved ones. I still miss them both, but I know I will see them again one day. God brought us through the storm like He always does.

I love that about God. No matter what storm we’re going through. Even if others disappoint us, God is at our side through every struggle in life.

 Isaiah 25:4 says, For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.

Many blessings!

Mary

www.maryalford.net  

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Marketplace Prayer by Julie Arduini

Posted on June 9, 2023 by juliearduini

I have felt for the last couple years that the time when Christians would become more than customers and engage in active prayer while in line was upon us. I’m not afraid to pray—at church or with those who I know have a personal faith in Jesus and would be open to my prayer.

But in line at Dollar General? CVS? While at the mall? Home Depot? Or in the grocery aisle?

That felt vulnerable. Maybe the person says no. Maybe the person says yes but a crowd gathers. Then what?

After reading The Awe of God by John Bevere, I knew no matter what, if the opportunity came, I was going to obey. No. Matter. What.

Fast forward to last week. I was in line at Giant Eagle, a grocery store chain in NE Ohio (Wegmans, I miss you!) I was putting my items on the belt when I heard the customer ahead of me remark to the cashier that she looked like she was struggling.

The nudge started. That niggling that I knew was the Holy Spirit.

It was go time. Pray. For her. Out loud.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but I was right there. I heard her reply that her shoulder hurt very bad. So bad that she had tests done and was going to get the results later in the day.

Any doubt I had that maybe the need to pray wasn’t her, wasn’t now was gone.

Only a couple minutes transpired between that customer and my transaction. Yet, when I reached the woman, she was in tears. Pain etched all over her face. I had to be obedient.

“Excuse me, but you look like you are having a very hard time. Would it be okay if I pray for you as I finish the transaction?”

She nodded and I kept my eyes open not only so I could keep the line moving by swiping my card, but to show anyone around that prayer is natural. It is powerful. And I’m doing this. No matter what.

I prayed for her healing and for peace. That whatever the rest of the day was about, may it be filled with abundant favor and blessings. That she feel glorious. When I said “Amen,” I put my card back in my wallet and told her I would keep praying.

She thanked me and I walked out. The woman who had bagged my groceries was now at her register and she saw me walk by. She called out a loud thank you and I turned and realized she directed her thanks toward me. I’ve been in her line before and I am certain she’s a Christian.

While I prayed, I believe the bagger did as well. And I believe where two or more are gathered, Jesus is there and on it.

Like I confessed, intercession comes easy to me in church settings. I’ve seen too many amazing things from Him to hesitate. But in the marketplace? Out in the world? That’s a steeper climb, but I knew, KNEW a time was coming when I’d need to obey.

I also know it won’t be a “one and done” deal.

I also believe it won’t be just me tapped to pray for strangers in non-church places.

Are you ready?

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Why I Write

Posted on June 8, 2023 by Patricia Bradley

I was speaking at a conference this past weekend and someone asked why I write. Ever since my first book, that’s been an easy question for me. Besides the fact that I write because I can’t not write, I received an email after my first book released.

In the email a reader told me she’d bought my book at a writer’s conference and really enjoyed it. Then she went on to tell me I’d made an error–I called a respiratory therapist a respiratory nurse.

Uh-uh! No way. But she went on to give me the page number and there it was–respiratory nurse. To this day I have no idea why I typed those two words. I’d never in my life called a respiratory therapist a respiratory nurse. Not that I’m in the medical field, but in the past, my husband and his mother had been in and out of the hospital enough that we probably owned a wing of the hospital. I know how hospitals work!

I thanked her, and she went on to tell me she’d been a nurse for thirty years. Lightbulb moment! My next book, A Promise to Protect, was about a doctor so I asked if she’d be willing to read my manuscript to make sure I didn’t make any dumb mistakes.

She graciously agreed, and caught several mistakes I’d made. After I turned the book in, I wanted to give the nurse something for her time and trouble, and since she’d met me at a writers conference, I thought I’d gift her writing craft book. She turned me down flat, saying that after she saw what I went through she would pass on being a writer.

Then she went on to tell me that she’d already received the best present I could give her. That she believed God had her to come to the conference just to meet me so she could help with the book she worked on.

It turned out that she had the same problem my heroine had. As a child, my heroine had overheard her mother tell her father: “I told you we never should’ve had that second kid.” My heroine was that second kid and from that day forward, believed she wasn’t wanted, that she wasn’t worthy.

The nurse went on to tell me her mother never loved her, but seeing how my character handled the problem let her know she could do the same thing. I’m sitting at my computer reading the email with tears streaming down my cheeks.My book had actually changed her life, and her family’s life.

And that’s why I write fiction. To change lives. To show the world that Christians have problems just like everyone else, but we solve them differently than the world (often after we’ve tried to fix our problems on our own.) In the end we know there’s no problem God can’t handle.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 This is one of my many favorite verses.

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Malchus by James R. Coggins

Posted on June 7, 2023 by jrcoggins

In 1731, the Spanish coast guard boarded an English merchant ship captained by a man named Robert Jenkins. The incident was not very serious, but in the melee Jenkins’s ear was cut off, and he apparently complained to the British Parliament. For this reason, and for a host of other ones, the two nations went to war. The War of Jenkins’ Ear lasted for almost a decade.

When Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, one of His followers tried to defend Him and in the process cut off the ear of one of the high priest’s servants. In his Gospel, John included an interesting detail that the other Gospel writers did not mention—the name of the high priest’s servant whose ear was cut off was Malchus (John 18:10). How John learned the name of the high priest’s servant is a good question. Perhaps by the time John wrote (scholars believe his was the last of the four Gospels to be written), Malchus had become a Christian believer. While Malchus was taking part in the arrest of Jesus, Jesus responded by reaching out and healing his ear. This must have made a profound impact on Malchus.

The other Gospels (Matthew 26:51, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:30) identify the man only as “the servant of the high priest.” This is perhaps a reminder that as long as we label people with an impersonal description—the high priest’s servant, the enemy, the communist, the capitalist, the immigrant, the boss, the Russian, the Jew—then it is easy to hate them. However, once we name them, recognize them as individuals, then they become our neighbors and our brothers and sisters, and we are obligated to love them.

As His followers, we know that Jesus has loved us and called us by name (Isaiah 45:3). We can be sure that He also knew Malchus by name, reaching out to touch him in love and to heal him where he hurt. Interestingly, John is also the only Gospel writer to identify the disciple who cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear—Simon Peter. In loving others, in according them the dignity of being individual human beings for whom Jesus died, we too become recipients of God’s love, children of God.

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God Still Performs Miracles by Peggy Webb

Posted on June 6, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

I know this is true because on May 1, God saved my life with a miracle so spectacular, so breathtaking, there is no doubt in my mind that I would now be severely disabled or dead except for Him! 

I was feeling great that Monday. My latest suspense novel was finished and in the hands of my editor—two weeks ahead of deadline—and I was going to relax and fly off to New Hampshire to see my family there the following Thursday. Life was good.  I was in tiptop shape, especially considering my silver hair and the many, many years I had been sitting at a desk, writing.

It was a beautiful day and my calendar was clear. I decided to celebrate by heading off to the aquatic center for my workout. Sun poured through the south bank of windows. American flags, dear to my patriotic soul, flew in Veterans Park beyond. For thirty minutes, I had the pool all to myself. I worked in a spot of sunlight, reveling in the feel of muscles moving through the water and the sun on my skin. 

Two people I knew casually entered the pool. We chatted briefly, and I worked another twenty minutes in the water. Then came my cool-down. Five to ten minutes of stretches combined with silent prayer. One by one, I lifted up my family and friends by name, asking God to supply their needs, according to His will. He knows them. I don’t have to give Him a laundry list.

At the end of my prayer, I did something I had never done before, not in all the years I had been going to the aquatic center. “God protect me,” I prayed, and then I stepped from the pool.

My bag with shoes, coverup, and beach towel was on a bench a few steps from the pool. I dried off a bit. Once again, I did something unusual for me. Instead of slinging the oversized towel over my shoulder or tying it around my wait as I always do, I hung it around my neck and headed to the showers, barefoot. 

Forty seconds later, my right foot slipped in a puddle of water on the apron of the pool, and I knew I was going to faceplant concrete. It flashed through my mind that I would likely die that day. Or be disabled. A dear friend and former classmate of mine had just such a fall several years ago. She ended up in a coma in Intensive Care, having brain surgery to relieve the masses of blood from cranial bleeding, and permanently impaired because of brain seizures and the damage that was done that day.

An instant after my foot slipped, my nose slammed the floor, then my forehead and my lips. My head ricocheted, bashing both upper and lower right sides.  My right knee connected with concrete. My entire body vibrated with the shock of the fall. I could hardly breathe. My nose poured blood.

But wait! I was still alive, still conscious. How did that happen? 

My face had slammed into a rubber mat, perfectly placed to cushion the blows. The rest of my body hit concrete. 

But God wasn’t finished with that miracle yet. Five minutes later, I was in the ambulance on the way to the ER. I managed one call to my son in Florida, and he got in touch with a dear church friend who rushed to the hospital to be with me. 

We had an anxious five hours—blankets to warm me from shock, questions and tests, waiting for the results. I knew my friend who had fallen on concrete had been lucid for hours before she sank into a coma from cranial bleeding. Would I? 

Finally, finally, my test results came back. No cranial bleeding, a great hallelujah moment; no broken facial bones except my nose, which had not been displaced and would not require surgery, another praise God; no broken fingers or hands, endless praises because I could still write and play piano; no internal bleeding, Amen; no broken hips, back, legs, arms, feet!  I had only a moderate scratch on my right knee, and I was ugly with facial swelling and bruises and wracked with pain, but God put everything in perfect place to save me that day. The beach towel around my neck that doctors say likely kept me from breaking it. The rubber mat on the floor that cushioned my face. The way I fell, so perfectly straight that I took the brunt of the fall on my nose and my forehead, which is made of strong and tough bone in order to protect the brain.

The first two weeks after the fall, I was in full recovery mode, my walking unsteady, my head hurting all over, my body stiff, my muscles seized, my speech thick because of swollen lips, my bruises turning dark red and deep purple. Oh, but I was alive. I was a walking miracle! I thanked God every day. I still do. He has more work for me to do on this earth. That’s all there is to.  I have found favor with Him through a deep and abiding faith and an eagerness to share it with others. 

I’m happy to report that one month after the fall, I’m back at church singing in the choir, playing piano for evening services, teaching the precious little children in Sunday School, and writing the third novel on a suspense trilogy I’m excited about. My nose will be completely healed in another few weeks, and I only have a small, crescent moon bruise under my right eye that should absorb in another week. 

What is impossible with man is possible with God. Luke 18:27

God is good, and He’s still in the business of working miracles!

Peggy Webb

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Summer Begins by Tara Randel

Posted on June 5, 2023 by tararandel

My daughter and I took our annual visit to EPOCT for the Flower and Garden Festival. It was beautiful as always and I took plenty of pictures to share.

Spending a day in the Florida sun never gets old! At one point I took a break and had a visitor. He strolled right up to me as if he expected me to feed him, which I did not. Disappointed, he waddled away.

There were also some unusual but very cool designs this year.

And some very recognizable characters.

I’m thankful that I get to spend time with my daughter in memorable places. I’m sure you have those special spots you can’t wait to get back to and visit. This year, I hope to find new locations to fall in love with. Hope you do the same this summer!

Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETOWN MATCH, available now. For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.

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Nora’s Review of: What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Vicki Hinze

What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson

Bethany House Publishers, 352 Pages

NORA’S REVIEW: I don’t normally read true-crime stories, but since I was asked to be an influencer by the publisher, and I’ve read all the author’s novels and enjoyed them. I thought I’d jump in.

It’s been 36 years since Heather had gone missing. Her sister, Brooke Crane asks Faith Byrne to do some investigating. Faith tells her this is not her normal venue, but she would use her reporter skills, for the sake of their friendship. Faith was shocked by the news and the fact her parents and friends never told her of Heather’s situation. She had written her several letters which had gone unanswered. This explained so much. Faith hoped that by doing this podcast it would help bring closure to this family.

The main character Faith Byrne was visiting her grandmother the summer 10-year-old. Heather went missing. Heather lived next to Faith’s grandma and became fast friends as they spent a lot of time together that summer, which included male pal Nate, who had a crush on Faith. Telling the story through the eyes of Heather (the missing girl), Faith and Dora (Heather’s mother) added a depth to the story, with an element of mystery. and suspense.

I appreciated that the story did not get super graphic. Faith starts digging through the cold files and interviews people, hoping to gain a new insight. The towns people are not fond of this digging. They knew who did this deed, no need to stir the pot. They kept an eye on the man and made his life miserable.

Through the search, Faith discovered she had to deal with some grief of her own. She realized she needed to find hope, mourn her divorce, learn to live in her new normal and find forgiveness along the way. This story is well-written and heartfelt. It shows how one person (Dora the mother) in a family can get stuck in the past while other family members try to move on. The disappearance affected their lives in every way. It’s not that they don’t love Heather, but there were other children and a husband to love.

The author shows how emotionally damaging it can be to hold onto grief, anger, and the past. The investigation was very well written, I liked how she dropped clues throughout the journey. This plot will tug at your heart, make you tear up in parts, and cause you to wonder. There was a splash of romance, a dash of hope, and a trail of new beginnings.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent

TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! 

The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

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Plastic Bags Are Fragile by James R. Coggins

Posted on May 31, 2023 by jrcoggins

I have an acquaintance who, through no fault of her own, is a single mother. No matter what their skills and resources, single mothers have it rough. The responsibilities are heavy.

A while back, I got a call for help. My acquaintance had cleaned the cat box in her basement and put the litter into a plastic bag. She was carrying the plastic bag to the trash when it broke, spilling litter all down the carpeted stairs. When she attempted to clean up the mess with the vacuum cleaner, the vacuum cleaner became clogged and stopped working.

Hence the call for help.

I managed to help get the mess cleaned up and the vacuum unclogged. She was deeply discouraged that she had not been able to solve the problem on her own and needed help.

I reminded her that plastic bags are fragile. If you put too much weight and stress on them, they break. Sometimes it is necessary to double bag.

I also reminded her that human beings are fragile. If they are put under too much stress, they, too, can break. We all often need help, and we cannot do it all on our own.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Galatians 6:2 says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”

It is not good for anyone to live alone. We weren’t designed that way. Human beings are fragile, we need each other, and we cannot make it on our own.

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