The Compassionate Church by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on September 6, 2021 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Meghna R on Unsplash

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I were on the church patio area talking with one of the members. We were having a nice chat when, as often happens these days, the subject turned to Covid and the mask mandates and restrictions. 

“I refuse to wear a mask anymore.” The man shook his head. “I don’t have to worry. I’m protected by God. I trust Him. And if something happens and I die, I know where I’m going.” 

I don’t know how many times over the course of the past year and a half I’ve heard versions of this same statement. It makes me angry. Comments like this make me question what happened to the Christian church. Where is the compassion we are to have for those around us? While I realize not every Christian would espouse these beliefs, the thought is prevalent among today’s congregations.

Why am I angry? What is wrong with that statement? Isn’t it true that we don’t have to worry? That God takes care of us? That we have a home in Heaven that is pain free, disease free, etc.? 

Yes. Yes, those are all true statements. But Christianity goes beyond that. Christianity means putting others before ourselves. Christianity means considering the needs of others, not just the inconvenience to us, or our pride in who we are in Christ. 

Where’s the proof? How do we know what is the right thing to do? 

Take a look at the story of Stephen in Acts 7:57-60 after Stephen preached the truth of Christ. He was taken out and stoned to death by the mob of religious leaders. Did he stand there and spout something about not being afraid to die? Did he tell them he knew where he was going and wasn’t worried? No, instead of thinking of himself and what he faced, he said, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” Stephen thought of others and their spiritual welfare, even at the very last moment of his life.

Jesus, when he faced death on the cross, didn’t brag about how He didn’t have to worry about death because He knew where He was going. He wasn’t full of pride. Instead, He made sure to reach as many people as possible with the truth that God loves them. He did His best to prepare the disciples for His death and their role in the church. He thought of others, not Himself. Even as He was dying on the cross, He made sure His mother was cared for and showed compassion for the theif on the cross.

As I listened to the gentleman at church, I took a deep breath and prayed before giving input. Then I told him I didn’t wear a mask out of fear for my life. I didn’t take the vaccine or social distance because of fear. Instead, I was concerned for those who are immunocompromised, for those who might need a little longer for the Holy Spirit to work in their lives, for those whose spiritual lives would be in danger if they got the virus and died. 

Wearing a mask, social distancing, and getting the vaccine were never about me. And they shouldn’t be. As a church we need put aside our pride in the certainty we have in Christ and consider the needs of others. We need to become the church that reflects the love of Christ to those around us.

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When Things Go Wrong by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on September 2, 2021 by Bridget

Have you ever felt as though God has abandoned you? In Psalm 88:14, the psalmist asks, “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” At times in life, we might feel these words deep in our core. This is how I felt recently. It wasn’t that anything major had happened, but there were countless little things in my life that seemed to be going “wrong.” Sometimes life feels just plain hard. I was discouraged and I felt as though God wasn’t with me.

I don’t always remember this in the moment, but the truth is that the enemy is the one who wants us to feel discouraged. He wants us to believe we are all alone, and God has forgotten about us. But God promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8).

In times like these, it is important for us to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and to turn our thoughts around. We must remind ourselves that God is beside us, no matter what we are facing. And we must keep in mind that as children of God, He allows everything that comes into our lives. So He must have a reason and a purpose.

I am reminded of the incident that happened over 60 years ago in Beatrice, Nebraska. There were 15 members of a church choir who were never late to choir practice. Yet on one particular day, every single person was late. With a roar heard in almost every corner of Beatrice, the West Side Baptist Church blew up. The building was flattened and no one could have survived. Yet because of matters such as a soiled dress, a catnap, an unfinished letter, a geometry problem and a stalled car – every member of the choir was late and no one was injured. I have read about this true story numerous times, yet it always leaves me in awe of God’s goodness and miraculous power. Only God could do something like that! (I first read about this incident in A Treasury of Christmas Miracles by Karen Kingsbury. You can also read a bit about it in this article.)

This reminds me that when things seem to go wrong in our lives, we can trust that God is in control. We can trust that He is still on the throne. And we can fully trust Him with all of the problems we face, no matter how large or small.

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

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Midtown Bus: A Short Story by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 25, 2021 by jrcoggins

The midtown bus lurched along, carrying its random assortment of humanity.

“Someone should do something,” muttered the old woman, squeezed between two middle-aged businessmen on the seniors’ bench near the front.

The driver, balding with a spreading middle, hunched over the wheel, his eyes on the road, his ears closed to what was happening behind him.

A line of swaying passengers, dangling from hand straps, stretched halfway down the aisle.

A 30-something man with tattoos on his bulging arms sat stoically on an outside seat, no one daring to squeeze past him to the empty inside seat.

In the back, a half-dozen older teens in jeans and black T-shirts lounged on the benches.

“Hey, Paki! What you doing on our bus? Why don’t you go back to India where you belong?” one of them called.

Their target was a wiry, middle-aged Latino with a brown face and black hair, last in the line of swaying standees. He kept his face down, staring at the floor.

“Hey, babe! Want to come back here and give us some honey?”

Their target had switched to a young woman in a black skirt and a white sweater. She glanced up, horrified, then turned her face away to stare at the back door.

Two burly men in a middle seat glanced back at the commotion, then turned up the volume on their iPods.

“Paki, when you get off this bus, we’re going to stick you real good. You should’ve stayed where you belong.”

“Somebody should do something,” muttered the old lady again, perhaps a repetitive phrase of burgeoning dementia.

The bus lurched to a stop to let on one more passenger, a middle-aged woman in a wrinkled business suit. She joined the line of standees.

In the pause, an old man near the back doors slowly pulled himself to his feet, leaning heavily on a wooden cane. He lurched out of the row into the swaying line. He looked back, into the face of a dowdy, middle-aged woman in green slacks. He bowed slightly and waved his gnarled free hand toward the vacated seat.

“Ma’am, would you like to sit down?” he said.

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Can you imagine?

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Author Mary Alford

Have you ever just sat and thought about what Heaven would be like?

My tiny human imagination just can’t quite imagine how beautiful and glorious it will be, but I love to try.

We know that the Apostle John got a glimpse of Jesus in His heavenly glory and was so overwhelmed that he fell at his feet as though dead.

Heaven will be perfect. There will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more sorrow. Sin and decay will not enter its gates. And we will recognize our loved ones and they will recognize us. We won’t miss our old lives at all.  

Revelation 21:4 says,

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Imagine a city filled with brilliant and costly stone. It will be Eden restored. And the best thing will be we will be face to face with Jesus and God for all eternity.

Revelation 21: 1-5 says,

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

As the song I Can Only Imagine says,

Surrounded by Your glory,

What will my heart feel,

Will I dance for you Jesus,

Or in awe of You be still,

Will I stand in your presence,

Or to my knees will I fall,

Will I sing hallelujah,

Will I be able to speak at all,

I can only imagine.

I can only imagine.

Can you?

All the best…

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

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Summer Getaway by Tara Randel

Posted on August 23, 2021 by tararandel

Earlier this month my daughter and I went on a summer vacation. That might not sound like a big deal to most people, but because of the business my husband and I own, the summer months are busy and we can’t get away. But I’ve upped by fitness routine over the last year and wanted to go hiking. We love the mountains of north Georgia and typically go there in the autumn, but once I mentioned the idea to my daughter, she was all in. So we booked a cabin and off we went.

We weren’t entirely sure what to expect from the weather, but boy were we pleasantly surprised. The first morning we got there, I went out to the deck to drink my coffee. It was so chilly, I had to drape a blanket over my knees. Trust me, coming from Florida where it’s been in the 90’s, this was a treat. Thankfully the weather held out at cool mornings and low 80’s during the day.

View from our cabin.

Since our objective was hiking, I planned trips to areas we’ve never been before. On our first day, we did a six mile hike. I’m not an expert, so I would say the trail was moderate.  We were thrilled that we walked the trail without giving up. It took forever. (Not really, it just felt like forever, especially when we’d pass people on the way out and they’d say, not much longer, and it was longer!) But eventually we made it to the waterfall at the end of the trail. The scenery, the quietness of the forest, and following a fast moving stream, made it all worthwhile. We even learned to navigate around and over the never ending tree roots and large rocks without any injuries.

That was our longest adventure; the remaining trails we tackled were one to two miles or so. A breeze after our first day. My favorite was viewing Duke Creek Falls for the first time. The trail wasn’t difficult and another lovely trip, but to see the waterfall at the end was a sight I’ll never forget. I now have two favorite places in the entire world, Duke Creek Falls and Ann Ruby Falls.

Duke Creek Falls
Anna Ruby Falls

We spent four of our five days on a few other trails that were challenging. The views were spectacular. As always, the scenes put me in awe of God’s majesty.

As I was preparing to write this blog, I knew I would share about my trip, but one question kept going through my mind. My daughter and I had joked about moving, but would the place where we love to vacation lose its magic if we lived there? Is it better to imagine how lovely it would be to live in a house on the side of a mountain versus visiting at different times of the year and loving every visit? Would we miss the hunt of finding new trails to hike or hidden waterfalls to discover if we lived there all the time and had weekends to explore the places we can’t get to when we vacation and have limited time?

I don’t have the answers to those questions. Once we got home, we immediately jumped back into our regular routines and jobs, but as I looked over the photos I’d taken, I still can’t help but wonder, what if?

What about you? Would you want to live in your favorite vacation destination or keep it strictly to enjoy on family trips?

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, STEALING HER BEST FRIEND’S HEART, 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 and receive a link to download a free digital book.

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Handing Our Concerns to God by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Bridget

Many years ago, I was headed out of town on a business trip with two coworkers. We had a layover in Chicago, but sadly learned that our connecting flight was cancelled. It was late and there were no other flights going to our destination that evening. They could send us the next morning, but then we would miss part of the class that we were to attend.

We then learned that there was another option. We could take a bus for the last leg of our trip. One of the airport employees gave us directions to get through the airport and catch the last bus going out. We walked and walked, down long and empty hallways. “This is how scary movies start,” I told my coworkers. Thankfully, no one jumped out of the shadows to attack us. We made it to the bus. Then several hours later, we arrived in our destination city. We then took a taxi from the bus depot to our hotel. We made it and we wouldn’t miss class. What a relief.

A couple of days later as our trip was winding down, I decided to check on my flight home. The evening before I was scheduled to leave, I called the airline to make sure all was well. But all wasn’t well. I talked to a very nice man with an accent who told me that because I was a “no show” on my flight in, I was booted off of my return flight. I explained to him that I wasn’t a “no show” but that my flight had been cancelled. He understood and worked diligently to get me back on my flight home. I was on the phone for two hours. This man put me on hold most of the time. But he would get on the line every so often and would encourage me by saying, “Do not worry. Do not worry.” (I can still here these words in his accent and it makes me smile.) Finally, in the end, I was safely scheduled for my original flight home.

Looking back at this trip, I remember how frustrating these incidents were. It can be frustrating when our plans don’t go the way we expect. It can be frustrating when we feel circumstances are out of our hands. It can be frustrating when we are at the mercy of other people. All of these frustrations point to a much scarier feeling – as if we have no control. At times it feels like the plans in our lives are slipping through our fingers, like grains of sand.

However, when we walk with God, it makes all the difference. When we walk with God, we learn to trust Him. When we walk with God, we are able to hand every frustrating situation into His hands. When we walk with God, we are able to find peace, even the midst of circumstances that leave us feeling helpless.

During this trip, when different obstacles arose, I sought God and His divine help. It might not always feel like an easy thing to do – handing our concerns to God. But as we walk with Him, day by day, year by year, we see firsthand how trustworthy He is. Then allowing Him to have control becomes easier and easier.

And no matter what we face, we can proclaim with confidence the words of King David found in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.“

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

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Surrendering My “A” Game by Julie Arduini

Posted on August 18, 2021 by juliearduini

My brand is surrender. I add chocolate to the mix because that is my constant struggle and there are times we aren’t ready to surrender. I’ve been there, so my tagline is “Encouraging you to surrender the good, the bad, and—maybe one day—the chocolate.”

I’m waist deep in a new contemporary romance series, Surrendering Hearts, and my goodness it has been a bear to write. The characters talk to me all the time but my own life has been a steady flow of grief and the unknown.

Last blog post I shared how I went on vacation and emotionally froze so hard that I physically injured myself. The Sunday I returned to church, the pastor called to pray for anyone that had a knee or back issue. Well, that was certainly where my pain ended up.

I went to a trusted prayer warrior and before I could even get the words out, I blurted it wasn’t really the knee and back that needed healing. I needed healing from the grief and anxiety.

In that prayer time came a huge a-ha moment.

I don’t have to carry it all.

I don’t have to bring my A game to every single thing.

And there it was. The root of my issue. I’ve been believing for as long as I can remember that the success of others depends on my perfection. No wonder I fell apart. No one can live under that kind of pressure. We weren’t created to.

There was yet another trip our family took, a quick one, but it involved flight at an airport I don’t enjoy. I knew it was a huge test for what I was learning. I practiced breathing techniques. I exercised my knee and hamstring. I laid down boundaries that weren’t pressure on others, but were necessary for me. I hate those walking sidewalks and escalators at airports. I am terrified of falling or tripping. I walked and took the elevator. It made a great difference.

The biggest difference was even though I’m still not at regular pace, I was okay with it. I kept repeating I didn’t have to try to be perfect or bring my “A” game. That surrender was key.

Last trip, not even a month ago, I was so overwhelmed by anxiety I could barely walk and had to buy a cane. This last trip, I brought the cane and barely used it.

I remember writing Entangled and being surprised that God was bringing up things from my past for healing as the theme was surrendering regret. Each of my books has carried a surrender theme that God has first tapped me to experience.

This series isn’t any other different. The heroine in Anchored Hearts, Jordyn Hart, loves to think she is in control and she hates change. When everything around her crumbles, she struggles.

Funny. That sounds very familiar!

If you are a real go-getter, I suggest you step back in prayer and ask God if anything needs changing. Are you involved in something God never asked you to do? It doesn’t even have to be anything sinful. Remember, my tagline mentions surrendering the good. There’s a lot I had to let go of that wasn’t sinful or a rebellious choice, it wasn’t where God wanted me.

If you feel the need to be perfect, remember only Jesus is perfect. We don’t even come close. Sure, we should do our best, but if you believe the lie that you’re a failure if things don’t go exactly right, please learn from me. Surrender those lies to Christ today.

Have you read the preview to the Surrendering Hearts series? The sneak peek to Anchored Hearts?

Free preview: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/sreqjn1tin

I’ll email you when there are updates on release/promos. One email will be chosen to receive ANCHORED HEARTS. USA only. https://us1.list-manage.com/contact-form?u=d3f0e89711a9a2d81f58adc92&form_id=d9c525cb026979dc875f5af75557d4e3&fbclid=IwAR2HqcEuwpv-De-GMs4OGzGxy6R8nv-x-Jd8JgYrclQmYmXzxg5AUSes0CM

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Doing It My Way by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Damian Siodłak on Unsplash

I did not want to become a Christian. I still remember the struggle all those years ago. I didn’t want to give up my decadent lifestyle. I didn’t want to give up certain friends who strongly opposed Christianity. I didn’t want to give up choosing to do things my way. I wanted to make my own choices and do what I thought was best for me.

The problem was—I wasn’t doing such a great job. My life was a mess. I was a mess. At that low point, I concluded that what I’d been fighting against was the very thing I needed the most. God. His forgiveness. His grace. His mercy.

If there had been a physical road to salvation, you might have seen drag marks in the pavement from my feet. Not that God dragged me. Christianity was clearly my choice, my decision. 

I know I’m not alone. There are many who fear becoming Christians for the very reasons I did. They want to make their own decisions and live the lifestyle they deem appropriate for them. To do it their way.

The people of Judah had a similar problem. In fact, God sent Jeremiah to them with this message.

“Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” ’ ” Jeremiah 18:11 (NKJV)

The people of Judah had strayed so far from God’s intent for their lives that God sent a strong warning for them to listen to Him and follow the path He had for them. He wanted them to give up the detrimental lifestyle they’d adopted. He wanted them to return to putting Him first instead of doing what they wanted. He wanted them to choose Him. But what did the men of Judah say?

“And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” Jeremiah 18:12 (NKJV)

Despite the imminent threat of disaster and the fact that the Lord God would turn against them, the Judeans said this was too hard. It was hopeless to try to do good. They didn’t want to give up their evil ways. They didn’t want to listen to God. They didn’t want to follow His plan. Instead, they would do it their way, and they even admitted their way was evil. 

I have to say I can relate to these Judeans. There are times I don’t want to wait to see what God wants me to do. Instead, I want to do things my way, or do what seems best to me. I barge ahead with my plans without stopping to consider what I’m doing and it never ends well.

Yet when I stop to remember those early days of being a Christian, the awe of the rightness of surrender returns. What I had feared—the giving up of self—turned out to be the best for me. Not once when I’ve surrendered to God’s will and waited for His direction has He let me down. He is trustworthy and knows what is right for me.

He knows what is right for you too. When you are tempted to live life your way, take a moment to consider and pray. And give the reins over to God. You won’t regret living your life His way.

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The Freedom of Dependency by James R. Coggins

Posted on August 11, 2021 by jrcoggins

For a number of years, my wife and I belonged to the same church as Patricia Mussolum and her husband Barry. But it was a large church and we never met. I did hear about them though. I cannot recall now what their official position was in the church. I do know that they were widely respected as spiritual leaders, which to my mind was more important.

Pat contacted me out of the blue last year for help in getting a book published. (Besides my own writing, I operate a small imprint called Mill Lake Books.) The result was a book called The Freedom of Dependency, which is now available in the usual bookstores and online retail sites. The back cover summarizes the content: “In this small book, Patricia Mussolum explores a big idea—that the Creator of the universe invites human beings to enter into a loving relationship with Him. In the same way that a branch can produce grapes only if it is connected to the vine, she argues that human beings can only have life, freedom, and fruitfulness if they are connected to Jesus. The intent of this book is to encourage readers to discover the freedom that comes in a life of dependence on Jesus.”

Pat is a retired school teacher and piano teacher and an avid water color artist (good enough to produce the artwork for her own book covers). Her abiding passion is to share God’s truth with others. She is the author of two other books, Wilted Bouquets and Dancing in the Reflections.

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We’re All Just Walking Each Other Home!

Posted on August 10, 2021 by Author Mary Alford

A few years back, my husband and I along with two of our good friends went on a Four-Wheel adventure together.

To this day, it is one of my favorite memories and we’ve had quite a few with our good friends.

These pictures were taken on the Continental Divide Trail outside of Lake City, Colorado.  Yes, that’s me behind my husband all bundled up in the helmet. This was during August but it was still quite cold in the high country.

We’ve had some amazing adventures with our friends from this trip to the top of the mountain to the time we were stranded with two flat tires outside of Platoro, Colorado on the 4th of July.

Whether on a four-wheeler or a car with two flat tires, getting to the mountaintop isn’t always easy. It’s a path that can be paved with heartbreak and broken dreams. Sickness and even death.

In Psalm 23: 4 David writes, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

What an amazing promise. No matter how dark our valleys are, or how euphoric the mountaintops can get, we are on a journey that will have bad days and wonderful ones.

But as you pass through this world filled with troubles, look up! Heaven is our future home and we are all just walking each other home.

Blessings always,

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

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Battle Ready by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Nancy J. Farrier
By Billy Hathorn – Wikimedia Commons

Man the fort!

Watch the road!

Strengthen your flanks!

Doesn’t that sound like something a military leader of old would have shouted. I can almost picture a cavalry officer or Civil War officer yelling this to the troops. Can’t you?

But this is part of a verse from the Bible. Here is the whole verse:

He who scatters has come up before your face.

Man the fort!

Watch the road!

Strengthen your flanks!

Fortify your power mightily. Nahum 2:1 (NKJV)

When I read this very this past week, I was struck with how timely this advice is. These words, written thousands of years ago, still apply today. To us. As a warning.

He who scatters has come up before your face – Who scatters? Every Christian knows this answer. Our enemy, the devil, does his best to scatter us or keep up from fellowship. He is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (I Peter 5:8) and he wants to get us alone and vulnerable.

Man the fort!  We must be aware of the danger. Being alert to the wiles of Satan can keep us from falling into his traps. To do that, we must watch our home, our workplace, our family. Be aware of what is going on around you. Note changes in atmosphere and pray for God’s wisdom and guidance. Carry His word with you in your heart.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

The God of my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation,

My stronghold and my refuge;

My Savior, You save me from violence. 2 Sam. 22: 2-3 (NKJV)

Watch the road! Be aware of what is coming. We know difficult times are ahead and we need to be ready for them. To stand strong a soldier of the Lord needs to be prepared. Watch for what is coming against you. Face the attack with grace and strength, not in fear and hatred. Watch the road and be prepared.

Strengthen your flanks! Know what is happening close around you. Encourage those who come alongside you. Spread words of wisdom. Know your scripture. Act with the love of God. Be a mighty Christian who stands on the rock of our salvation. Be strong in the Lord.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Eph. 6:10 (NKJV)

Those words of old do apply today. The battle we face is the same. The enemy seeks to destroy us.

Be strong.

Stand in the Lord.

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Hearing God’s Voice by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on August 5, 2021 by Bridget

Quite a few years ago, my husband and I went to watch a middle school softball game. Two of our coworkers had daughters on opposing teams. We enjoy baseball and softball, no matter who is playing. But this was a bonus to see these girls in action.

There was an incident from this game that I still giggle about to this day. For those of you who don’t know a lot about the game, when a particular team is at bat, two coaches from the team (often times they are assistant coaches) stand at first base and third base. They are called first base coach and third base coach. The purpose is that they can help watch where the ball goes, and let the runners know if it is safe to proceed to the next base or not.

During one part of the game, there was a girl on first base. The head coach was also the third base coach. (Since this was middle school, I imagine some schools don’t have assistant coaches in their budget.) While another girl was at bat, the head coach was trying to get the first base runner’s attention. As you likely know, in baseball and softball, teams have different hand signals that they use to relay different plays. So in this case, he was trying to signal for her to steal second base. However, the girl was not paying him any attention at all. So finally, the coach shouted across the field for all to hear, “Rebecca! Steal!” And finally Rebecca knew what she was supposed to do, and she stole second base. I am giggling as I write this, because the whole incident was quite comical.

I was thinking about this recently and it made me think of God and how He attempts to communicate with us. Sometimes He will give us gentle nudges, like when a coach uses hand signals. I love the story in the Bible when the Lord whispers to Elijah. This is a beautiful reminder that we should always keep our ears open.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” – 1 Kings 19:11-13

Unfortunately, I fear that often times, we are not paying attention to Him. We are doing our own thing, distracted by life and the things around us, and we miss God’s whispers. So there are other times when the Lord has to seemingly shout at us to get our attention. He might use a big incident to finally make us tune into His voice. Unfortunately, this still isn’t a guarantee that we will listen. Some of us can be too stubborn to open our ears and hearts to Him.

I would much rather hear God’s quiet voice the first time, instead of waiting for Him to shout. And I certainly don’t want to be too stubborn to obey when I do know He is speaking to me. Sometimes there could be dire consequences of not listening to God.

A good example is Jonah. In Jonah 1:2, the Lord told him to “go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” Jonah did not want to do what God commanded of him. This is because he knew the people of Nineveh were evil, and he felt they didn’t deserve the Lord’s mercy. So Jonah ran the other way. Well, Jonah got into a bit of a pickle. Long story short, he spent three days and three nights in the belly of a whale. Finally when he prayed, the Lord rescued him. The Lord once again commanded him to go to Nineveh, and this time Jonah obeyed.

This is a good lesson for us to listen to the Lord’s leading at all times. But I admit in today’s world, it is more difficult than ever. We have many things vying for our attention, and the Lord’s whispers can easily be drowned out.

So how can we learn to hear from God?
1 – From my experience, reading the Bible and praying daily are important steps that help us to better distinguish His voice amongst all the other voices we hear. As Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.“
2 – Also, for me to better hear God’s voice, I need to eliminate distractions. We live in a world full of devices that are constantly dinging and pinging. It is easy to get sucked into a vortex where we are constantly checking our email, texts, social media, and more. We can and should create boundaries in our technical world. This helps to clear the clutter in our heads and leaves room for God’s presence.
3 – Practice listening. Too often our prayer life consists of us doing all the talking. We don’t stop to listen to see if God has something to say. So during your prayer time, try to create space for God to speak.

Those tips have helped me to better hear God’s voice. If you have any tips, feel free to share in the comments. If we are consistent, we will continue to grow in this area. When we are intentional about seeking God and listening to Him, we will be amazed at how much He shows up in our lives.

Photo by Simon Migaj on Pexels.com

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

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Family Vacation 2021 by Julie Arduini

Posted on August 4, 2021 by juliearduini

Trying to guess how things will go after 2020 has been quite the game. We make plans and they have been delayed. We think all is well, and then find out it is not. We start to lose hope in things only to discover blessings and progress.

Planning a vacation post-quarantine? I had no idea how it would go.

For starters, our original plan was to mirror our parent’s dream vacation to Hawaii. We thought it would be a great way to heal and honor their memory. The vacation was canceled and although we believe one day we’ll take that trip, it won’t be this year.

So, Ocean City, Maryland it was. My husband, daughter and I were driving from Ohio, and my sister and nephew were coming from Upstate NY. Lancaster, PA seemed like a good halfway point for both of us, so we decided to meet up there.

Mom loved Amish country and it was her 78th birthday when we met up, so we thought to remember her we’d stay overnight. We went to Sight and Sound and watched Queen Esther, which was so amazing. Esther’s story has been one of my favorites for years. This year it has been extra special as I have shared it with my sister in relation to current events. If you have the opportunity to go, take it! It’s worth it.

We then journeyed to Ocean City. Our accommodations were beautiful, including views of the bay. We went to the ocean, the boardwalk, Assateague Island, and of course, souvenir shopping. The weather was storybook summer—hot with a nice breeze.

I wish I could say the experience was storybook. Unfortunately not long after arriving in Ocean City, my hip locked up and that usually threatens my knee. I have knees that dislocate easy and it’s happened on vacation. That got in my head.

Fear flew in the mental door I opened. And took up residence.

By the time we reached the boardwalk the second full day, I was having trouble walking. I feared any ground I wasn’t familiar with and a boardwalk just felt dangerous to me. That was before it started raining. In the middle of our walk, a storm came out of no where and poured heavy rain on that boardwalk for close to two hours. Once we felt the rain was light enough to head back to the car, I was stiff from sitting and the cold rain. My feet were soaked and I didn’t have supportive shoes on.

Thank God I have supportive family.

That trek should have taken a few minutes, but I inched along, grabbing the boardwalk wall and the backs of benches for security. By the next day, I needed two knee braces to walk at all, and even then, it was painful.

Was it all in my mind? Did it start in my mind and then become an actual ailment? I was driving myself mad trying to figure it out. All while slowing everyone down with my small steps.

I wondered if it was a post-Covid introvert fear of being in such a touristy place, because I didn’t struggle in Lancaster, or when we went back there on the way home, it wasn’t as bad. Whatever the issue, I was determined not to let fear win. I kept up with the agenda the best I could. Assateague Island was so pretty and we had the nicest hosts who are local friends of my sister’s. The wild horses don’t give way to the tourists, you give way to them. It was a beautiful sight.

We returned to Lancaster and enjoyed a dinner at a railroad restaurant (Casey Jones) and then ended our time with a buggy ride at the same location. We agreed Lancaster was more our speed. Ocean City offers a lot, but it is wall-to-wall tourists. It was a bit overwhelming for us.

Once home, I spent a lot of time in prayer and a phrase came to mind from a book I read a couple years ago.

Pain has to go somewhere.

As I prayed I realized I had a lot more anger and grief stored inside me than I thought. I confessed every thought and lamented my feelings. When I finished, I did feel lighter.

The chiropractor was able to immediately see me and I learned my back and neck were out of alignment, and I strained my knee and hamstrings. He showed me exercises to strengthen those areas. I also felt it was time to talk to a Christian counselor as I have more travel planned, and I do not want to receive the spirit of infirmity or fear. I’d like to learn strategies so if I have an issue with my walking, it doesn’t consume me when in an unfamiliar area.

What about you? Have you traveled since quarantine? Did you have expectations? Were they met?

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New Book Release by Tara Randel

Posted on August 2, 2021 by tararandel

I’m excited to share the release of my new book, Stealing Her Best Friend’s Heart, available now. This is the first book in a new series, The Golden Matchmakers Club.

I always enjoy starting a new series, creating new characters and story lines. But as for the setting? The book takes place in Golden Georgia, a fictitious small mountain town I introduced to readers in my last series. I love this place, it is truly the location where I would love to live. And I adore small towns, so this book, and the ones to follow, are close to my heart.

A home renovation…
Could change this friendship forever.

Heidi Welch has her eye on the perfect home…until Reid Masterson buys it! Now Heidi has one last chance to get back the home of her dreams from her childhood friend and longtime crush. If she helps Reid with the renovations, he’ll sell her the house. But “just friends” seems just about impossible…especially when friendship keeps getting in the way of falling in love.

I had a wonderful time with Heidi and Reid. And the Matchmakers Club? They took on a life of their own. Secondary characters are fun to write because they can get away with so much! As you’ll find out in this book.

I know down deep in my bones that God gave me this incredible career. I start every project giving Him glory, call on Him many times during the process, and dedicate each story to Him. If not for His favor, I don’t know if I’d be an author. I don’t take it lightly, but must confess, every minute writing is a gift.

Here is a short excerpt:

In the bright light, his eyes were the same deep shade as his hunter green shirt. He looked so good, so solid so… Reid. It hurt.

She stumbled and the tote slipped down her arm, landing on the floor. Two small cans rolled out and she got down on her knees to retrieve them.

Reid hurried over, placing his toolbox on a table before he joined her.

“You okay?”

“You just startled me. I thought I was alone.”

Reid reached for the can. Held it up and smiled. “Cat food?”

“I stopped by Masterson House earlier. Alveda gave them to me. She’s always buying toys or food for Mr. Whiskers.”

“I need to meet that lucky guy.”

Reid at her apartment? She nearly choked. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.

“Usually she makes his food from scratch and sends it home with me. He’s picky, so I try to bribe him with fresh chicken, fish…”

Why was she going on about her cat?

Once she had her belongings inside the tote, she rose. Reid took hold of her arm to steady her. Actually, it was his casual touch that set her off-balance, but that seemed to be a regular reaction these days.

“Thanks.”

He tilted his head. “Are you okay?”

“Of course. I’m always good.”

He sent her a knowing look.

“I have a lot on my plate at the moment. No biggy.”

“Maybe you should slow down.”

So she had more time to spend with her ridiculous thoughts? No, thank you.

“I’ll be fine. Thanks for being concerned.”

“That’s what friends do.”

Ah, right. It was official. Reid did not have romantic feelings for her.

This was good, she told herself. Now she could move on. Get back on track. Look at Reid as her old buddy, not the hunky contractor who had a starring role in  her daydreams.

“I’m glad you said that,” she confirmed. “We are friends.”

There. She’d made a public declaration she wouldn’t take back.

I hope you get a chance to read Stealing Her Best Friend’s Heart. It’s is a fun summer read that will keep you occupied by the pool or at the beach.

Also, I have a book tour this week. Stop by Prism Book Tours for the schedule and enter to win a giveaway.

Amazon

Harlequin

B&N

Apple

Kobo

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Four Dark Books

Posted on July 28, 2021 by jrcoggins

In the 1800s, Africa was considered a “dark continent” because its interior geography was unknown to Europeans and because it was considered uncivilized.

The Christian missionary and explorer David Livingstone is credited with shedding light on the continent by exploring regions Europeans had not previously visited. One of his motivations was to open up the continent to trade as a means of bringing an end to the slave trade.   

But it was not Livingstone who popularized the idea of Africa as a dark continent. Rather, that was Henry Morton Stanley, the journalist sent to Africa to find Livingstone, the man who reportedly greeted Livingstone with the phrase, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume.” Stanley was himself an explorer, adventurer, and author of some note, publishing several books. Through the Dark Continent (1878) described his journey of exploration which confirmed that Lake Victoria was the source of the Nile River and that the nearby Lualaba River (discovered by Livingstone) was actually the Congo River flowing west into the Atlantic Ocean. In Darkest Africa (1890) described the second of two trips up the Congo River that Stanley undertook at the request of King Leopold II of Belgium. Stanley established trading posts along the river and laid the groundwork for the colony of the Belgian Congo.

Playing off the idea of Africa as a dark continent,William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, wrote In Darkest England and the Way Out (1890). While many Europeans considered that it was “the white man’s burden” to bring civilization and economic prosperity to areas such as Africa, Booth argued that England had its own areas of darkness. He wanted to rescue the unemployed urban poor from city workshops by sending them to farm colonies and then to overseas colonies. His scheme provided the foundation for the Salvation Army’s extensive social services, which continue to this day.

Another significant book was published shortly after the other three. Heart of Darkness (1899), is a novella by Polish-English novelist Joseph Conrad. The story is narrated by a character named Charles Marlowe while sitting on a ship anchored in the Thames River in London. Marlowe begins his tale with the words, “And this also has been one of the dark places of the earth.” He was referring to the time when the ancient Romans brought civilization to barbaric England at the far reaches of the civilized world. The story shifts from the Thames River to the Congo River, where civilized Europeans were said to be similarly bringing civilization to the Belgian Congo. Marlowe describes how he had earlier piloted a steamboat up the Congo River in search of a European trader name Kurtz, who had written a report for the International Society for the Suppression of Savage Customs. The report eloquently summed up the European mission of bringing civilization and enlightenment to the dark continent.

Heart of Darkness is a masterful novel, full of stark images, biblical allusions, and ironic observations. Without ever stating it, the book marvelously demonstrates that the darkness does not reside in some supposed uncivilized outpost but in the human heart, not least of all in the hearts of supposedly civilized men. It presents an unflattering and realistic portrait of colonialism, an unpopular thing to do at the time. Conrad knew what he was talking about because he himself was a sailor who had travelled on distant seas and had piloted a steamboat up the Congo River.

Conrad’s novella has a special significance for me. It was on the curriculum one year when I was in high school, and I decided to read the book the summer before to get ready for the fall. I finished the book and said, “What an odd book. Nothing happened. Why would someone write a story like that?” Essentially, Marlowe went up the river and came back without anything significant being achieved. So, I went back and re-read the book. It was on my second reading that I realized that the events (or lack of them) didn’t really matter. The insights into human life below the storyline were profound. That book showed me what was possible in a novel, that a novel could convey deep meaning. It was the book that got me hooked on novels and inspired me to try writing fiction myself. It set a high bar for fiction that I have striven to emulate. I doubt that I have achieved it, but I have continued to try.

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