Black Ice by Kathy Carmichael

Posted on February 11, 2021 by kathc2

This morning I saw a video about a young woman slipping and sliding on black ice. Because of the familiarity (haven’t most of us been there and done that?), it struck me as particularly hilarious.

Here is Wikipedia’s definition of black ice. And even the definition brings a smile to my face!

Black ice, sometimes called clear ice, is a thin coating of glaze ice on a surface, especially on roads. The ice itself is not black, but visually transparent, allowing the often black road below to be seen through it. The typically low levels of noticeable ice pellets, snow, or sleet surrounding black ice means that areas of the ice are often practically invisible to drivers or people stepping on it. There is, thus, a risk of slippage and subsequent accident due to the unexpected loss of traction.

Here is a video that’s hilarious, too! It’s very cute! Click here. 

But then I got to thinking about black ice and how it hides in clear sight for us to miss seeing, to our misfortune.

Black ice leads to thoughts of thin ice. Do you remember hearing the phrase, “You’re skating on thin ice?” Here’s the history of the idiom, according to the English Language & Usage Stack Exchange:

This idiom, which alludes to the danger that treading on thin ice will cause it to break, was first used figuratively by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay Prudence (1841): “In skating over thin ice our safety is in our speed.“

Thank you, Mr. Emerson.

How often have there been pitfalls in my path that I failed to see? How often have I missed warning signs that were there to give me a heads up? I think about how I missed signs that I was going down the wrong path in life, choosing the wrong direction, and how the quiet voice of Holy Spirit told me to slow down and think. Sometimes I didn’t listen, to my regret. But when I did pay heed, I was blessed with avoiding danger or catastrophe. It’s happened recently and I’m so grateful I have Holy Spirit looking over me. If you’re a believer, you do, too.

13However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you. 15Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you. ~ John 14:13-15

Watch out for black and thin ice, but know that you will receive a warning of what is to come from Holy Spirit. And, learn what you can from your spills and falls, then try to laugh at yourself.

Posted in Kathy Carmichael, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

To a Young Couple Contemplating Marriage by James R. Coggins

Posted on February 10, 2021 by jrcoggins

This blog is adapted from a talk I gave at a wedding some years ago.

Dennis the Menace famously said, “You can’t tell how deep a puddle is from the top.”

When my wife and I married, we decided that: I was going to become a university professor; we would never move away from the province we were then living in; we would have four children, two boys and two girls; and we would own a ranch with horses.

It didn’t work out that way. We moved to another province so I could complete my doctorate. I earned the degree but never became a professor. Instead, I had a very fulfilling career as a writer and editor. We lost a couple of children to miscarriage and ended up with two daughters, one of them chosen. And six grandchildren. And we never came close to having a horse ranch. Or a horse. But we saw one once.

When a couple enter into a lifelong commitment, as you are doing, they usually have a lot of hopes and dreams and plans and expectations. But life has a way of not turning out the way you think it will. Things will come into your life that are harder than anything you have ever imagined. One of you may come home one day and announce, “Honey, I lost my job,” Honey, I crashed the car,” “Honey, I have cancer,” or “Honey, I shrank the kids.”

You may think you know each other and love each other, but you’ve only begun to scratch the surface. You will find out things about each other that you never expected. You may discover that those cute little quirks that attracted you to each other can become pretty annoying after you’ve experienced them twenty or thirty or fifty or a hundred or a thousand times.

You may think you are compatible, but you will discover that you have completely different ideas about things as insignificant as how to mount the toilet paper roll and more important issues such as where you want to live.

You may find yourselves at some point flat on your face crying, “This is too hard. I can’t handle this.” And you will be right. You can’t. That is when you are going to need help from your family, your friends, your church, and God. It is impossible to love someone completely without first receiving love from God.

But just as there are terrible things that will come into your life that you never expected, there can come into your life wonderful things that you may have hoped for but which are far more wonderful than you could ever have comprehended ahead of time.

I remember when our first daughter was born, after a very tense night and morning when I was afraid both mother and daughter would die. They wheeled our daughter out of the delivery room, I reached down my hand, and she clenched my finger in her tiny hand. It was an incredible feeling. I had a similar feeling when we adopted our second daughter when she was less than two years old. We went for a walk, and she reached up and held my hand with absolute trust.

You cannot comprehend the terrible things that might happen. But if you hang in and keep your commitment, you cannot comprehend the incredible joy and fulfillment that come from going through those difficult times with someone who shares them with you, loves you, and supports you. You think you’re in love now, but you have no idea how wonderful married life can be twenty or thirty or forty or fifty years from now.

This one thing I know. If you think you can do all of this in your own strength, you will find to your sorrow that you are sadly mistaken. On the other hand, if you build your life together on a shared faith in Jesus, incredible blessings are possible, and everything will turn out well in the end.

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The Paths of God by Mary Alford

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Author Mary Alford

Well, hello, everyone. My name is Mary Alford, and I’m happy to be back here with you again. Some of you may not remember me, but I was a blogger here at Christians Read a few years back.

Don’t you just love the paths that God leads us down? You just never know where He will take you along the way, but you do know, you won’t have to go down it alone.  

The 23rd Psalm is one of my favorites because it defines this walk of life so beautifully. Sometimes our paths lead us beside still waters, others through the valley of the shadow of death. But through each step we can rest assured God is with us and His goodness is there for us to receive.

I can certainly say that’s what I’ve experienced through my walk of life, and particularly my writing journey.

In the past, there were many times when I questioned whether of not this was what God called me to do. I thought about quitting, but it seemed God kept prodding me to keep going—even through those valleys when my dream of being a published author felt impossible.

And so, I kept going and I’m so glad that I did. God has blessed me so much. I’ve had the honor of writing for Love Inspired Books. My 10th LIS is coming out in April of this year. God has put some amazing authors in my path who have helped my writing career.

In June of 2020, I sold my first book to Revell and I’m excited about this new path God has set me on.

And the road ahead? Well, that’s in God’s hands, but I know wherever He leads me I won’t walk that path alone. He is there. What an amazing promise.

All the best…

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

What Strikes Your Fancy? by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

What do you fancy? What is something you long for and dream of having? 

A new car? A bigger home? A huge screen television? Or, maybe something simpler like a favorite food. A getaway to a favorite spot.

We all have those longings of the heart, and that is okay, but sometimes the longing can turn into an obsession. Maybe we think about that favorite bakery we used to go to and the delicious pastries they make that can only be found in that one spot. At first, it’s an occasional thought, a memory that pops up and makes us smile. But, then it turns into more than a thought and we plan to drive out of our way to get to that bakery because we just have to have one of those pastries. Or a dozen.

The desire to have that pastry becomes so strong we make excuses for buying them. I’ll get some to take to the office. Or, I’ll buy some for my women’s Bible study. But, deep down, we are feeding our longing for something we don’t really need, but something that has become an obsession to the point that’s all we think about.

Psalm 78 talks about the Israelites in the wilderness. There is a reminder of all God did for them: parting the sea, giving them water from a rock, providing food in the desert, going before and after them to provide protection. But, what did the people do?

“And they tested God in their heart, by asking for the food of their fancy.” Ps. 78:18

After all God did for them, after all He promised, they still looked back at Egypt and longed for the food they had there. They did not see that God was enough. That He was all they needed and that He would provide for them. They had no real trust in Him.

Are we so much different today? Don’t we all find ourselves seeking something to make our lives more comfortable, which isn’t a horrible thing—until we do it to excess. Until we are consumed with pleasing ourselves. Until we forget to seek out the Provider while seeking the provisions we want. 

The challenge of having such excess has been weighing on me lately. Not that I have an abundance compared to some. I’m not wealthy, but I do have more than I need. 

Maybe it’s time to consider cutting back on whatever strikes our fancy. Cut back on buying something just to please ourselves. 

Instead of allowing that longing to grow to obsession, consider praying first. Is this a need? Is it something you should have or just something you want? When we trim our lives and consider what God wants for us, the obsessions will fade, and our joy in God will become the most important part of our lives.

Posted in Nancy J. Farrier | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Nora’s Review of: On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Vicki Hinze

Nora St. Laurent, Review of Susanne Woos Fisher, book review, Christians Read

 

Nora St. Laurent review, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Christians Read

 

 

On a Coastal Breeze (Three Sisters Island Book 2) 

By Suzanne Woods Fisher 

Published by Revell

320 Pages

 

 

 

NORA’S REVIEW: This story is focused on Madison Grayson who is a therapist. She has just set up her office and is ready for business. All is well until it is not. Rick O’Shea literally drops in on three Sisters Island to be their pastor. Great for the Island bad for Maddie she remembers the guy she went to school with. He wasn’t the pastor type. Sparks fly and not in a good way. What was she going to do? It wasn’t like she could attend another church. Each person deals with their own situations, learning what it means to be family, boundaries and all.

The characters are honest and grow in their faith, and their maturity, as each discover who they are individually and are as a family. I liked the natural faith message woven throughout the story. I loved the honesty, and realism, of what these sisters go through. The author sprinkles encouraging nuggets in the mix of things like this one, “Once you know a truth, you can’t unknow it.”

I liked how the author had readers experience the highs, lows and the unexpected with this fun-loving family and its quirky residents that create a well-rounded cast. This is a sweet, heart-felt, enjoyable story filled with tender, fun and suspenseful moments I couldn’t put down. I look forward to reading more about this family and finding out where Blaine ends up.

This book would work well for your next book club pick as there are discussion questions and a great recipe you can serve at your meeting. It’s called, “You’ll Never Buy Store Bought Granola again” that includes a few variations on the theme. It’s a win win for everyone.

FROM THE BACK COVER:  For Madison Grayson, life is good. Newly licensed as a marriage and family therapist, she can’t wait to start her practice. Despite the unfortunate shortage of eligible bachelors on the island–they’re all too young, too old, or too weird–Maddie feels like she’s finally found her sweet spot. Not even one panic attack in the last year. Not one.

And then Ricky O’Shea drops in. Literally. Floating down from the pure blue sky, the one man in the world she hoped never to see again–the one who’d been her arch nemesis from kindergarten through her senior dance–parachutes into town, landing on Boon Dock, canopy draping behind him like a superhero. Ricky O’Shea. Now Pastor Rick, the new minister on Three Sisters Island.

With wit and a bit of whimsy, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Three Sisters Island where family, forgiveness, and a second chance at love await.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from 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 http://www.bookfun.org

Posted in Nora St. Laurent, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Lord, Open Our Eyes by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Bridget

There is a story in the Old Testament that I love, found in 2 Kings 6. First a little backstory. The king of Aram did not like the prophet Elisha because Elisha was always one step ahead of him. When the king of Aram would plan to attack Israel, Elisha knew what he was up to and would warn the king of Israel. One day the king of Aram was fed up with Elisha and decided to go after him. But in 2 Kings 6: 14-17, it says:

Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

I like this story because it reminds us that God has angels surrounding us and protecting us. And indeed Psalm 91:11 also confirms this by saying, “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

But there is something else that I have been focusing on in this story lately. The simple prayer of, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Lately I have been asking God to open my eyes in new ways. I want to see His goodness around me. I want to see His presence in my life. I want to see His love and care. I want to see His footprints all around me.

I fear we may miss out on so much that God wants to reveal to us, merely because we are not looking. Our eyes are closed, in a sense. Or we are focusing on the wrong things. Our lives keep us busy and distracted. Slowing down and turning our attention to the things of God will help open our eyes in a new way. Let us pray that the Lord will open our eyes.

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray that you will open our eyes in a new way. Help us to see Your goodness around us. Help us to be more aware of Your presence in our lives. Help us to fully embrace Your love. Help us to realize that Your footprints are on every detail of our lives. Help us to slow down so we can eliminate the things that are distracting us from You. Help us to focus on only the things You want us to focus on. And help us to fix our eyes on You. Thank You, Lord. It is in Jesus’ holy name that we pray, Amen.

Photo by Rakicevic Nenad on Pexels.com

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

Posted in Bridget A. Thomas | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Truth Hurts…and Heals by Vicki Hinze

Posted on February 1, 2021 by Vicki Hinze

Love Hurts and Heals, Vicki Hinze, Christians Read

©2021, Vicki Hinze

Sometimes we are hurt, played or used by others.  It can be painful, and the effects can be long-lasting.  It’s wrong to treat others poorly, we know, but being on the receiving end of that ill treatment isn’t without value.  We know the impact because we’ve experienced it firsthand, which serves to warn us not to treat others that way.  It makes us aware of the true nature of those who do this to us, and it makes it harder for that person or others to do this (or worse) to us again.  We learn to protect, to guard, to be aware in all our interactions.

In that way, while not fun or comfortable or painless, we discover that disappointment, betrayal and even anger can be constructive and useful for future protection.

Often, we’re mired.  In trying to be fair, to not judge or falsely attribute actions to someone innocent of them, we elect to wait and figure it out based on their actions and words and deeds.  This can carry risks, but we’re intensely aware now, and that enables us to engage in self-protection in ways we couldn’t and hadn’t done when we were unaware.  As we observe during the wait, we gain insights that give us a clearer picture, and we arrive at a point where we know exactly what to think about what is happening.  Truth, you see, presents itself in many forms, and paying attention, we notice them.  Being aware, we are open to them.  Being attuned, we assess them.

John 8:32 tells us: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 

It does.  Truth removes doubt, the fear and anxiety of being unfair and wrongly accusing another.  When the truth manifests, we recognize it at soul level.

At times, on certain issues, we discover that what we thought had been significant, isn’t.  We permitted worry and frustration, upset to dictate and feed our fears.  But in exercising restraint, the truth revealed that the matter was not significant or intentional or purposeful.

It’s important to mention that we are not required to have opinions or strong feelings about everything.  Nor are we required to share our opinions on many things.  We are not obligated to invest deeply in everything.  In fact, I daresay we’re not supposed to do that.

As homes to unique individual gifts and created by the Divine for specific purpose, we must also exercise our discernment and choose in what we invest and opine upon.  Some things are not part of our purpose, or our mission.  We notice those things often, but we focus on things that are part of our purpose and mission. 

If we don’t exercise that discernment, we find ourselves splintered into a thousand directions.  While it’s good to know bits of this and that, distraction carries the risk of replaying the old adage, “Jack of all trades, master of none.”  Distraction can be interesting, intriguing, spark your imagination. Shiny objects snag our attention.  But if given too much weight, they can also put you on a path that isn’t yours to travel and steal the steam from your purpose and mission journey.  Who does that benefit?

It isn’t you.  It isn’t He you serve.  It isn’t those whose lives you are intended to touch.  To see clearly the real benefactor, answer this:  If you don’t reach your purpose, complete your mission, we know who loses, but who wins?  Who fills that void in your life and in the lives of those it was your mission to touch?

This, too, is a reason that truth is so important.  Knowing the truth.  So that you know what you need to know when you need to know it, and so that you travel your path, focusing on your mission and fulfilling your purpose.

That reveals knowing the truth isn’t merely important but is critical. It resides within you.  Guides you.  Protects and provides you with what you need to make wise decisions for yourself and those you serve.

In 2 Chronicles 19: 8-11, we’re told, “And he charged them, saying, “Thus shall ye do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.”

That’s an alarm to us on the importance of our intentions.  A signpost of why we don’t deliberately inflict injury, use or betray or harm others.  Why we use reason and logic but also our hearts (our compassion and empathy and understanding) so our heart is aligned with God. 

Reacting God’s way to wrongdoing is a process.  We learn as we go, as we do in many things.  We figure it out, we determine who we can trust, who we can’t; where we are safe and accepted and treasured, and where we are not.  We work our way from wherever we are to an understanding that we’re all okay, that everything is okay, and everything will be okay.  No matter what.

We conclude that when we grasp the inevitable truth:  Life is short.  Eternity lasts much, much longer.

If we remember that, and we do our best to do right by ourselves and others for the right reasons (our intentions), His way (through our hearts), we’ll be just fine.  Perfect?  No.  But far better with far less chaos and upset.  This side of Heaven, that’s pretty good, and it carries the added benefit of our focus moving us along on the journey on purpose and mission.  We’ll get farther, accomplish more and be more content for those gains.

The truth can hurt.  But it can also heal.  And when it does, it often heals far more than we thought or knew needed healing…

Posted in Uncategorized, Vicki Hinze | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Updating Tech by Kathy Carmichael

Posted on January 28, 2021 by kathc2

Sometimes, even when you want to do anything but, you’re forced to update your password. At least for me, that’s a big “ugg.”

I went through this recently. Very recently. The aggravation still clings to me like a static-soaked sock stuck to a shirt as it emerges from the clothes dryer.

My iPhone needed to be updated, because, for my financial records with Apple, I needed 2-factor authentication. And, since I hadn’t updated my password since 2012 (when I bought this computer), even though it was an excellent and very secure password, I was forced to change it — by the tech overlords.

Changing it on my laptop meant changing it on my desktop computer, and on my iPhones and iPads and other Apple technology (of which I have too much I suspect) in my household.

I haven’t yet changed it on my hubby’s iPhone because his is really old and I’m not sure it will take the software changes required, which probably means I’m going to be forced to upgrade his phone first before I can update the password on it.

After making all of these changes, I realized I needed to update my wifi access on my iPhone in order to use my internet provider rather than the data-chugging cellular service offered by my cell provider  when I was away from home.

By this time, I admit my head began to spin. That trebled when I learned I had to install a Provider (!?!) on my iPhone. Don’t get me started about how many hoops I jumped through to accomplish this.

Next I emailed my son who is on our account with extremely detailed instructions on how he can accomplish this, too.

All of this happened after a sleepless night spent trying to understand a complex (at least to me) religious question when ultimately, around 5:00 am, Holy Spirit said, “Kathy, it’s simple, not complex, and here’s why.” Once He explained it, I saw what He meant.

Just like updating my password, sometimes I have to do things the long way and overthink things. More often that not, it seems.

I’m so grateful Holy Spirit has hung in there with me. I’ve got to be incredibly frustrating to deal with at times, and maybe even most of the time.

I feel exceptionally fortunate that Jesus blessed Christians with God’s Spirit. Holy Spirit has frequently helped me out of tight squeezes and advised me in a manner that led (I hope) to pleasing our Heavenly Father. This is something I strive to do all the time.

I pray the task is much easier for you should you need to update your password in the near future!

Posted in Kathy Carmichael, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Moving Experience by James R. Coggins

Posted on January 27, 2021 by jrcoggins

A couple of months ago, three men wearing masks backed a truck up to our house and took away all of our furniture, completely emptying the house.

Before you ask, yes, we paid them to do this. So they emptied our bank account as well as our house. They didn’t get much. There was more in the house than in the bank account. (I’m a writer.)

It was time to downsize from the 1600-square-foot house we had lived in for three decades to a 2200-square-foot townhouse. (As we have grown older, we have begun to see the value of having a place with four bathrooms.)

A complicating factor was that there was a gap of a few days between moving out of our house and moving into our new townhouse. It felt as if we were living back in the stone age. We had no permanent dwelling place, only a temporary shelter. Every morning we would go out to forage for food. Fortunately, Tim Hortons has been around since what seems like the beginning of time. We had no way to predict the weather or to find out what was happening in the rest of the world beyond our narrow circle. We had no books, magazines, or newspapers, no phone, internet, computer, or television. In the evening, my wife and I had to mindlessly stare at each other for four hours.  We didn’t even have an address where we could receive mail, not even air mail (known to most of you as “flyers”).

But we were together and worked together to support each other. We had good friends and family members to help us. And God was with us, and He really has been around since the beginning of time—and even before that.

The interlude ended, we moved into our townhouse, and all of our possessions reappeared. Well, most of them anyway. It took only two hours after our phone was connected for the telemarketers to find us again. I had over 500 accumulated emails to plow through, most of them spam. And the nightly news on television was bad. It almost made us long for a return to the stone age.

For a while, it was like Christmas. We kept opening boxes not knowing what is inside. We found a lot of interesting stuff, just not necessarily the stuff we needed. On a Tuesday, we went to the store and bought coffee. On Wednesday, we found the coffee pot. On Thursday, we found the coffee maker and cups. On Friday, we found a spoon and could finally have coffee.

Now we are back in hunter-gatherer mode. Every day, we go on a quest to try to find the stuff we unpacked and put away but can’t remember where.

The great problem with moving is that it necessarily puts the emphasis on things, not just on the house, but on all of the things that go into it, what to move and what not to move, what to add and what to throw away, instead of putting the focus on God and people, who, unlike things, are eternal.

It still feels as if we are living in someone else’s house or a very good hotel, nice but not necessarily home, certainly not our home.

My wife thinks it is because we have no memories of events, interactions, and happenings that we have experienced in this place.

I think it might have something to do with the fact that, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we can’t have any visitors. A house warming party is out of the question. We have a much larger dining room, but we can’t invite anyone to dinner. We have a beautifully furnished guest room, but no one will sleep there for the foreseeable future. It feels as if we need someone else to come in and validate that this really is our home.

It all feels so temporary, so unrooted. Perhaps it is a reminder that this world is not our home and we are just passing through, as these verses point out: “These men of faith…agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven” (Hebrews 11:13-14 New Living Translation).

Posted in James R. Coggins | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Looking Ahead by Tara Randel

Posted on January 25, 2021 by tararandel

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25

After the kind of year we just went through, keeping our eyes on the path before us might seem a little strange. Let’s face it, things went haywire last year. Our world was turned upside down. So many things we took for granted suddenly became things we couldn’t be part of. Voices coming from many different directions easily distracted us from what we considered…normal.

I’d wager to say I’m not the only one who had a year of questions. Perhaps doubt. In that category, I believe we could all find each other at one point or another. Thankfully, trusting in the Lord does not change. God does not change, pandemic or not.

My husband and I own a service based business. When the country first went on lock down, we lost seventy-five percent of our business overnight. But the most miraculous thing happened. We didn’t panic. We prayed, asked the Lord to take care of us, and we were able to live on the twenty-five percent and survive. Eventually, businesses opened again and we were back where we started, with at least five new accounts added. I got two different book contracts during this time. We’d had many years serving God under our belts and knew that He would be gracious and supply our needs if we asked. He did. Not well meaning-leaders or political bureaucrats. It was God, pure and simple, and I will say that until the day I die.

So what will 2021 look like? Will there be more distractions if we allow it?

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Psalm 37:3-6

This year:

Commit to the Lord.

Keep walking, no matter the circumstance thrown in your path.

Remain faithful to the God who is faithful to us, the God who gives us peace even in the midst of a storm and times of turmoil.

Remember, God loves us, always. Always.

We are all praying that this year will be more upbeat, more promising. With God in control, things have a way of working out. Be encouraged. Seek God. And thank Him.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Let’s make 2021 a year when we turn to the Lord in all things, for all things.

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 next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, available July 2021 . 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.

Posted in Tara Randel | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Three Keys by Bridget A. Thomas

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Bridget

I was recently reading a book called Fasting by Pastor Jentezen Franklin. He pointed out how in Matthew 6, Jesus gave us three important keys to our spiritual walk – Give, Pray, Fast. They are three things that we might be familiar with. But how good are we at actually doing them?

Give

Verses 2-4 say, “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

The miraculous thing about giving is that it not only blesses the recipient, but it also blesses us as well. We feel so good about helping someone. And often times, God will bless us in return for what we did. And as Hannah Alexander mentioned recently, it is so much more fun to bless someone when the recipient does not know who did the blessing.

Pray

Verses 5-13 are familiar ones as they contain what we refer to as the Lord’s Prayer. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’”

Prayer is our direct line to our Heavenly Father. We can reach Him at any time and He is always there. We will never get a busy signal. We will never get voicemail. God wants to hear from us and He eagerly awaits our call.

Fast

Verses 16-18 say, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Fasting might be the most difficult item of these three. Food is a crutch for many people. We look forward to each meal, especially if we are sharing meals with our loved ones. Many are addicted to sugar. Some of us have an especially difficult time just giving up coffee. The truth is that fasting is painful. But when we fast, if we go about it the right way and with the right motives, we are opening a door for God to come in. We are telling Him that we love Him above everything else. And we are allowing Him to come into our lives in a miraculous way. I love the way Pastor Franklin put it: “When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God.”

One thing that Jesus points out for each of these, is that we should not boast about them. So before speaking, we might pause and ask ourselves if we are mentioning something for recognition. If we are not sure, then it might be best to not say anything!

And one thing that Pastor Franklin pointed out in his book is that Jesus used the word when not if. Jesus said, “When you give…” and “When you pray…” and “When you fast…” He didn’t say “If you give…” or “If you pray…” or “If you fast…” So that is telling how important they each are in our spiritual walk.

Giving, praying, and fasting are three vital parts of our walk with God. Doing these things will draw us closer to God. I also believe they will open the door for miracles and blessings in our lives. However, that should not be our motive. We do them to honor God, which should be our motive in all of our actions. I aim to improve in these three areas this year, and I hope you will join me!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

© 2021 Bridget A. Thomas

Posted in Bridget A. Thomas | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

It’s the Who that Gets You Through by Julie Arduini

Posted on January 20, 2021 by juliearduini

For the last couple weeks my sister and I have been perusing social media and watching videos. There has been so much information out there concerning our nation and her past, her presidents, their choices, and our future.

Heady stuff.

And just we needed as a distraction.

For the world will remember December 6 for the election certification and your narrative concerning the Capitol building.

For my sister and me, it was the day we lost our mother.

She’d been ill, but was recovering. That week was the best she’d been in months. It was a shock we’re still reeling from. Now both parents are gone. It’s me, my husband, our children, my sister, and her son. It felt so surreal in the house and the days no one dared to sit in mom’s chair.

The chair she watched so many newscasts in. Whether I was still living at home or out of the area with my own family, mom and I were about the news. We had opinions on all the current events, the politics, and the anchors/reporters delivering it all.

As loved ones dropped off meals and condolences, the television was on in the background. No matter what you think about the last couple weeks, we knew one thing.

Mom could not have handled what’s happening.

The irony is in her death, my sister and I started watching together. Then we found a third party who shared the same thoughts I had been prayerfully seeing and reading since 2019. Things regarding the election and even today’s inauguration I have believed with all my heart that mom in her pain and frustration couldn’t grasp. Our last political conversation ended in disagreement. “Give it up, Julie.”

As we planned mom’s services, carried them out, and finished the week out together in what is now my sister’s house, we hung on all the Gab/Rumble/Clouthub notifications. As we said goodbye, wondering while I drive would an alarm go off signaling the beginning of our theories or the end?

All of our chat and pending excitement thinly covering up the reality. Mom’s gone and we have to adjust to life without her.

As I type this, my sister and the group text we are on is blowing up. So much politically will happen today. It might go exactly how we think, or not. It’s hard not knowing.

Between the current events and personal grief, I have peace. Although I’ve read a lot of articles on both death and the news, I know one thing about where I am right now.

It’s not about what I place my trust in.

It’s Who.

Whether I see Biden, Harris, Trump, or the military take control, I’m going to be okay because all my hope is in Jesus. He is my rock, my anchor, my everything. Even in the worst circumstances, He has been faithful.

Same for you. Whatever’s going on, whatever you hope to happen today, my prayer is you aren’t clinging to your what’s but that you have a Who.

Jesus. King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Hallelujah.

Posted in Julie Arduini | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Uplifting Beauty of Music

Posted on January 19, 2021 by Kristin

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95:1

It’s been a long year. Right before this pandemic started, I moved to a new city in a new state. Cue: lockdown. It’s not the best way to make new friends or find new hobbies so it has been a lonely time for me and I’m sure, many others.

As we have all learned, phone calls and Zoom meetings are not the same as being with others, as worshiping together. I’ve been watching my son’s church in L.A. every week so I’m not completely out of church practice. http://ERC.LA However, during this time, I want to sing my praises to just that, PRAISES!

Music has the power to transform us and our moods to a different place. It’s so powerful because no matter what mood you need to be in, some musician has provided for you. For example, I’m a big fan of the 1940’s (minus the war, of course.) I think about how while the world waged war, Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers danced and sang about mundane, ridiculous scenarios to get us through. (The plot of “Swing Time” is about a groom calling off his wedding and leaving because the cuff on his pants is all wrong.) Yet, they brought the world through some dark times by reminding us of the light.

If you think all is lost, “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller will remind you there is something to be happy about. And what about worship music? When we sing praises to our Lord, we are in communion with Him and reminded that He is in control. He knew this pandemic would happen and like Christians in bad times before us, we’re called to remember He has us in His hands.

Music has already done that for us. Some musician has been in the worst peril of their lives and created in the darkness. The composer of “It is Well with My Soul” being one of the most obvious. I’m sure many of you know that Horatio Spafford lost his son and wealth in the Great Chicago Fire, then planned to return to England with his family. He sent them ahead so that he could clean up loose business ends in Chicago. Later, he learned that their ship has been lost at sea. The man lost everything and yet he found comfort in God’s sovereignty and he left us a worshipful hymn that reminds us our problems are small compared to his. And that worship in our darkest times is the proper response.

So I encourage you that if you’re tired of being in the house, tired of not worshipping with your church family, get out for a walk and listen to some praise music. It will restore you.

This is my daughter and I with my favorite worship musician, David Crowder. Truly, there is power and connection in song.

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Proverbs of Ashes by Nancy J. Farrier

Posted on January 18, 2021 by Nancy J. Farrier
Photo by Jens Johnsson on Unsplash

Sickness. Death. Loss. All difficult to face no matter who you are. Especially when they come close to home, touching a friend or family member. We don’t want to lose someone or face death. We want to cling to life as we know it and hold those who are dear to us close. 

But, there are times we can’t do that. When those we care about are struck down in one way or another. An accident. Cancer. Covid. Whatever touches them, also touches us.

Job, is one who had so much. But, he lost almost everything. His children died. His riches were stolen. He suffered from terrible disease. And, the friends he thought he had, were not there for him. 

In Job 13:12, Job says to his friends, “Your platitudes are proverbs of ashes, Your defenses are defenses of clay.”

Your platitudes… What are platitudes? Webster’s Dictionary says it is, “a banal, trite, or stale remark.” Something overused with little meaning that pertains to the situation.

God won’t give you more than you can bear.

Everything happens for a reason.

It is what it is.

Think about how much worse other people have it.

And the list of platitudes goes on and on. In some situations, these statements might have merit, but when someone is suffering they “proverbs of ashes.” Something that blows away with the wind and has no real impact, only hurts. Something worthless or better left unsaid.

So, why do we say them? Because they are easy. We’ve heard those sayings over and over so they pop into our heads without thought. We freeze in the moment and don’t know what else to say. We feel we have to say something because we want so much to help the other person.

In order to break this habit, we must train ourselves to think differently. We must relearn our automatic response patterns and train ourselves to say or do something that has more import and is helpful to the person who is suffering.

Note that Job’s friend may have made mistakes later on, but their early desire to help their friend shows compassion. First, they banded together in a show of support. Visiting as a way to show empathy is good. The solidarity in knowing one has friends that care can bring a modicum of comfort.

 “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. Job. 2:11-12a

When the three noted the change in Job, the way his mourning gave him a different countenance, they grieved aloud from afar. They didn’t walk up to Job and start weeping, tearing their clothes, and sprinkling dust in the air. But, they also didn’t approach with light hearts and jokes, or blunt honesty, such as, “Job, you look awful.”Job could see they mourned along with him, without the weight of their grief being too much to bear.

“And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.” Job 2:12b

Then these men did something very beneficial. They didn’t tell him to snap out of it. They didn’t start off with the platitudes. For days, they sat with him without speaking. They supported him in their silence. Silence in this case is a good thing. There is no pressure to have the right words. There is no worry you might have spoken the wrong words. There is only a time of support and love. 

 “So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.” Job 2:13

After the seven days, the three friends couldn’t keep quiet. As soon as Job began to express his own feelings, they opened up to what they had been thinking. They accused Job of sinning. They told him he should repent and get right with God. Without understanding the nature of the work God is doing in Job’s life, they sit in judgement and throw out platitudes. Platitudes that wounded and caused so much pain.

It’s God’s will.

God has a plan.

Time heals all wounds.

Platitudes may couch truth within them, but they are not always appropriate. The next time you visit a grieving or sick friend, consider showing empathy. Consider sitting in silence and waiting. Maybe even holding their hand or touching, if they show that’s what they want.

And, when they want to talk—listen. Just listen. If you talk, just reaffirm what they are saying and give them time. Don’t think you need to throw out words of wisdom they aren’t ready to hear. Words that will blow away like ashes. 

Just listen.

Posted in Nancy J. Farrier | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

NORA’S REVIEW OF: Airborne by Diann Mills

Posted on January 15, 2021 by Vicki Hinze

 

 

Nora St Laurent, Christians ReadAIRBORNE

By DiAnn Mills

Published by: Tyndale House Publishers

384 Pages

  • #Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance
  • #Action Adventure
  • #Clean and Wholesome

 

 

Nora’s Review:  

Given our current situation it makes reading books about virus outbreaks fascinating to see how a slightly different scenario would play out. Some of the situation mirrors what we have experienced this year, some not so much. Intriguing all the same.

Unlike other books I have read by this author where the spiritual side of things were lighthearted but given the life and death situation these characters find themselves in, I understand the topic of faith can come on strong. There is a scientist atheist Dr. Chad Lawrence exploring faith from all angles, its relevant for many people but it’s a number one priority for Heather and her husband Chad.

FBI agent Heather Lawrence is on the flight that has the outbreak. They go through protocol in dealing with people that have contracted the virus. The powers that be are determining where they should land? Then what should they do? As they are trying to determine who did this. Heather cannot believe the situation she finds herself in. If only she had done, had known etc…. The list was long.

Both main characters are in a fight for their lives as they seek answers that will lead to the person behind this virus, an antidote that will stop the out-break, and in the middle of it all hang on to their marriage. This author makes you care about the FBI Agent and her Dr. husband, plus all the people on the flight. This is a fast moving, complex plot, woven through like-able main characters that are insightful. I enjoyed this suspenseful read with lots of ups, downs, and everything in-between. It is a thought-provoking story with some ethical issues I had not thought of before, mixed in a wonderful nail-biting story that has surprises and a splash of romance. Something to take you away from what is going on today.

 

From the Book’s Back Cover:

Heather Lawrence’s long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn’t supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she’s witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living―but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.

While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s husband. The Lawrences’ marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.

As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from 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 www.bookfun.org

Posted in Nora St. Laurent, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment