Author Carol James has visited the blog many time in the past. It’s a joy to welcome her back again and learn about her new book, Christmas Lights and Moonlit Nights.
As I sat studying the nearly completed puzzle, some gaping holes stared back at me. No matter how many times and ways I tried, the remaining pieces on the table in front of me wouldn’t fit the empty spaces. They must have been from another puzzle. And to top it off, the box lid had was missing. Despite the hours of diligent work combined with trial and error, I was no closer to knowing what the completed puzzle should have looked like than I’d been before I started.
I’ve always enjoyed jigsaw puzzles. I love finding that singular treasure that has the special combination of “innies” and “outies” and colored designs that make it the one and only piece that fits into the waiting gap. I love the sense of accomplishment and victory gained when each piece is correctly placed, the guesswork is over, and the whole reveals a beautiful masterpiece. In contrast, little is more frustrating to a puzzle solver than lost pieces that leave gaping holes.
Christmas Light and Moonlit Nights
In Christmas Lights and Moonlit Nights, Jed has his life planned. All his pieces are fitting together perfectly. A Navy SEAL, he believes God has called him to be a warrior, to fight evil, and he’s willing to sacrifice his desires for a family and risk his life if necessary to fulfill his calling. He’s decided to never marry or have a family. His work is too dangerous.
Jed’s approach to life was somewhat like working a puzzle. He thought he had all his pieces, everything he needed, in hand. When put together, they’d make the life he wanted and treasured. The life to which he was called.
However, when he meets Leah, some of his pieces no longer fit. So after years of planning and arranging, he realized his puzzle, like mine, was flawed. He was faced with the choice to make this flawed, incomplete puzzle work, or find a new one.
When A + B doesn’t = C
We often approach life like Jed did. We want everything to work out the way we think it should. The way we’ve planned. But life isn’t a math problem where A+B=C. Or a puzzle where all the pieces fit and make a beautiful picture.
In First Corinthians 13:12, Paul tells us, “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” Paul reminds us that our current ability to understand and perceive the divine is clouded. Yet, that cloudiness doesn’t indicate a flaw or an omission. It simply means that, as solvers, we are limited by our abilities to perceive reality, no matter how badly we want to solve the puzzle.
So what do we do when life presents us with a puzzle we can’t solve? When some of the pieces seem to be missing or the box lid has been thrown away? While we may not be able to visualize the image of the completed puzzle, it exists. The fault is not in the puzzle, but in the limitations of the the solver.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Our job then, like Jed’s, is to trust. To trust the One Who is the Master Puzzle-Designer. The One Who choreographed and knows the solution.
Barbara and I have never met in person, but, through the internet, we have traded emails and encouragement. She publishes through Pelican Book Group, the same publisher that released my debut title, The Builder’s Reluctant Bride. It’s always a joy to welcome Barbara to the blog. Today, Barbara is writing about prayer. Welcome, Barbara!
The Bible tells us to pray continually (I Thessalonians 5:17). How is this possible when there is washing to be done, bills to be paid, and kid activities to coordinate? I have tried to be more intentional with prayer these past few years.
Memorize the Lord’s Prayer
Have you been asked to pray for a situation where you have no idea what to petition God for? In those situations, I recite the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught us to pray this prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. You can add a personal request to this prayer.
Turn off the Radio
I love to listen to the radio, but it takes up precious praying time. If I am going for a drive, I pray for at least half of my car time.
Conversational Prayers
Many times, I am on the phone with someone who asks for prayer. I tell them that I will pray for them, but I also try to pray right then. Why wait? If I text on social media that I will be praying for someone, I make sure to pray before I leave that post.
Thankfulness
Did something good happen to you today? Did you wake up? Hit every green light? Be intentional to praise the Lord for little blessings throughout the day.
Praying Continually
Prayer is a blessing for the believer. We can bring our fears, worries, wants, and praise to Jesus, Son of the Most High God. In my latest novel, you will see Emma pray while she is troubled, worried, stressed, and about relationship problems. Emma memorizes Scripture and recites her favorite verses to give herself comfort. Psalm 18:2a is Emma’s favorite verse: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer.
Of course, Emma is also thankful for her friendship with Samantha, which brings her to Whispering Creek.
How do you add more prayer time to your life?
In Escape to Whispering Creek, Emma Uranova enjoys her office job until her boss disappears with the investors’ money. To avoid the media storm and false accusations, Emma flees to Whispering Creek, Tennessee to live on her best friend’s secluded property. When a temporary position opens up in Nashville, Emma leaves small-town anonymity to pad her depleted bank account. With a handsome new boss and a steady income, Emma believes life is looking up… until she discovers she has transported the scandal in her backpack. Where is God when her life is falling apart?
Wade Donoven is recuperating from a crash that sidelined him from the family electrical business. Worse yet, his prodigal younger brother is getting the glory for Wade’s accomplishments. Desperation, and physical setbacks, have him agreeing to let Emma help him manage the business office. But when trouble follows her to his doorstep, Wade must make some difficult choices. Sending Emma back to Whispering Creek may unknowingly place the woman he’s come to love in danger.
Jodie and I share a publishing house. My debut novel, The Builder’s Reluctant Bride, my second novel In Too Deep, along with my Christmas Series set in Mistletoe Meadows are all published by Pelican Book Group. It’s always a pleasure to give a shout out to my fellow PBG authors. I love what they stand for – clean, uplifting, faith-inspiring titles.
Jodie starts her guest post with one of my favourite bible verses, Isaiah 43:2. Welcome, Jodie!
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
It’s easy to say you trust the Lord, but what about when you go through continual storms, fires, and struggles? Do you begin to doubt and wonder where the Lord is or perhaps feel like He’s abandoned you? This is the premise of my (Jodie Wolfe’s) new book, ConvincingLou. My heroine, Ellie Lou Williams has always had a deep faith in God. But when she’s hit with continual storms, one right after another, she starts to doubt. Have you ever been there?
During the time of my writing this book, the Lord took my husband and me through the most difficult storm we’ve ever encountered in our lives. In fact, we’re still walking through it. But through it all, the Lord has remained faithful. We may not know the future, but we know Who does.
It’s especially in those times of doubting, that I turn to God’s Word. I love this verse in Isaiah. It doesn’t say if you pass through rivers, fire, and flames but when! God knows our future. We can trust Him to work even when we don’t see a respite from the waves threatening to crash over us.
Look to Him when you’re in the midst of trials. He promises to be with you.
*To open Convincing Lou’s buy page click the photo cover.
How hard can it be to round up one delinquent groom?
Ellie Lou Williams will do just about anything to save her ranch, even going undercover as a man to round up a fella who is late to his own wedding. The reward will more than cover the money she owes the bank and solve all her problems.
Caleb Dawson agrees to one final job as a deputy US Marshal before he starts his new life away from the trail and tracking criminals. What he isn’t counting on is a mysterious bounty hunter who’s determined to undermine his every step.
Will one reach their goal first? Or will they learn to lean on God and work together?
Jodie Wolfe creates novels where hope and quirky meet. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW). She’s been a semi-finalist and finalist in various writing contests. A former columnist for Home School Enrichment magazine, her articles can be found online at: Crosswalk, Christian Devotions, and Heirloom Audio. When not writing she enjoys spending time with her husband in Pennsylvania, reading, knitting, and walking. Learn more at JodieWolfe.com.
One of my greatest joys as an author is being able to celebrate the publishing victories of my friends because I know so well the difficult journey from idea to product. Today, I’m celebrating with Marie. You might remember her from some old social media posts. Marie and I attended my FIRST seminary class together five years ago.
Since then, Marie has gone on to write a beautiful collection of devotional-style reflections. Today, she’s sharing one from her new release: Monday Morning Moments. (Isn’t the cover pretty?)
From Monday Morning Moments
I bought this hydrangea plant called “Endless Summer.” I do love hydrangeas, and at present, I have one that blooms beautiful white blooms in the spring and another that blooms beautiful rose-colored blooms in the fall. However, this hydrangea was different because it promised blooms all season long. Continuous blooms from spring to fall? Oh, how I needed this plant.
The other thing that made this hydrangea different from the two I already owned was the color of the blooms were unknown. It would be so neat to plant this beautiful flowery shrub and wait to see the color. The greenhouse where I purchased the hydrangea enclosed a pamphlet with gardening tips and such. The pamphlet stated that the color of the blooms depended on the soil in which the hydrangea was planted. What was inside, and hidden in the ground, would determine the color of the blossoms.
This made me think about my life. It made me think about the soil of my heart. What was deep in the soil of my heart, and what was that soil producing outwardly? I can say with certainty that when my heart has held on to bitterness, unforgiveness, anger, and resentment, the outward blossoms usually produced were hurtful words or actions.
So, what does the soil of your heart look like, friend? What kinds of blossoms are being produced by it?
God’s Word reminds us in Luke 6:45: A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
Prayer
Lord, we ask that You reveal the condition of the soil in our hearts. May we be like David and cry out, “Create in me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Lord, may our hearts’ soil be rich in love, kindness, and gentleness, and may that be expressed through our words and deeds. Amen.
You can find Marie’s book on Amazon (UK), Amazon (CA) and Amazon (USA). Check them out and be encouraged in your walk with the Lord.
The Garden Girls is a psychological thriller/crime thriller by Jessica R Patch that follows Tiberius Granger who works for the Strange Crimes Unit, and this case leads them to the Outer Banks where a disturbing killer is collecting women and imprisoning them in cages.
Why does Jessica R Patch write such macabre stories?
I’ve been asked this repeatedly and it’s a great question! I never tire of it. The Garden Girls is about how the enemy often masquerades as an angel of light. What he offers is packaged pretty. He’s pretty. And once we’re hooked, he imprisons us. Evil isn’t always in red horns with a pitchfork. That kind of evil we’d run from. It’s the pretty we fall for. The seemingly innocent. And that’s what this is about.
My villain is dark but masquerading as light. And yes, it’s disturbing in some chapters. I don’t shy away from the super dark stuff—I’m not super graphic either. I know how to give enough detail that you fill in the blanks and that’s what probably is most chilling—your own imagination! But the reason I don’t sugarcoat or just create villains who shoot at you is because the world is a very dark place. Hearts are dark—including yours and mine. Jeremiah tells us the heart is the most deceptive and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Not us. But God.
God doesn’t sanitize Scripture
In God’s story, He doesn’t sanitize it. He doesn’t edit out the disturbing, uncomfortable details. He doesn’t approve of it. Nor does he endorse it. If you don’t believe me, just read the book of Judges and see what God’s chosen people are doing—how far they’ve fallen. How depraved they’ve become. Rapes. Mutilation. Murder. It’s all in just one story involving a man’s concubine. And while it’s hard to read, it always reminds me of my own dark heart. And the potential I have (and you) to become just like God’s people. The hopeful part is that God uses these severely broken, flawed people to accomplish His redemptive purposes. That means He uses me and you too!
Set free
This story isn’t just a shocking villain doing shocking things. It’s about cages that imprison us and it’s about Jesus opening them up and setting us free. It’s about sacrificial love and surrendering a life to God. And sometimes it takes hurricane force to do it—as in Tiberius Granger’s case. Being raised in a cult will do that to a person. Being raised in a legalistic church can do that to you. Turn you off to the things of God. To relationship. To truth. But God doesn’t give up. He does, however, allow a storm to come to set your straight. And that’s what this book is really about.
You can’t bloom in a cage. You’re planted and rooted in Christ.
Check out The Garden Girls by Jessica R Patch
On a remote Outer Banks island, a serial killer collects his prized specimens. And to stop him, an FBI agent must confront his own twisted past.
FBI agent Tiberius Granger has seen his share of darkness. But a new case sets him on edge. It’s not just the macabre way both victims—found posed in front of lighthouses—are tattooed with flowers that match their names. There’s also the unsettling connection to the woman Ty once loved and to the shadowy cult they both risked everything to escape.
Bexley Hemmingway’s sister has gone missing, and she’ll do anything to find her—including teaming up with Ty. That may prove a mistake, and not just because Ty doesn’t know he’s the father of her teenaged son. It seems the killer is taunting Ty, drawing everyone close to him into deeper danger.
As the slashing winds and rain of a deadly hurricane approach the coast of North Carolina, the search leads Ty and Bex to an island that hides a grisly secret. But in his quest for the truth, Ty has ignored the fact that this time, he’s not just the hunter. Every move has been orchestrated by a killer into a perfect storm of terror, and they will need all their skills to survive…
I rarely post about children’s books, but this one sounded super cute, and I expect some of you readers have sweet little ones that would be encouraged by the story of Phooey Kerflooey by Kristen Joy Wilks. Welcome, Kristen!
My husband (Scruffy) and I live and work off-grid at a remote Bible camp. The peaceful setting alternates between calm and chaos as herds of campers come to play and then rush home to be with their families once more, leaving us surrounded by the quiet of the forest and the rustling emptiness of our mountain meadow.
Maintaining the camp facilities adds its own brand of chaos even when the campers are gone. We don’t have water if the pump breaks or power if the generator has an issue, and when pipes freeze, water can flood the buildings.
When I was writing Phooey Kerflooey and searching for a theme that would truly push my young characters to their limits, helping them grow into their strengths, I settled on peace amidst chaos. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that theme is such a clear reflection of our own life here at the camp.
The protagonist wants a puppy to help calm down his daredevil brother, chase away an invading squirrel, and bring just a bit of peace to their chaotic home.
Our Newfoundland dog, Princess Leia Freyja, was such a comfort during the eight beautiful years that we were her people. Now, she was a crazy puppy. But she matured into a calm and loving dog who did therapy visits with me to local schools and always watched out for my husband.
One time, Scruff had to climb onto the roof of the camp’s main lodge to break away large chunks of snow and ice that wouldn’t slide down. With a worried slant to her ears, Leia watched him work. He was standing in the wrong spot when the last chunk started to slide and Scruffy barreled off the roof along with a small avalanche of snow! Leia was horrified!
She galloped over to where Scruffy lay atop a pile of snow, laughing. She did not think it was funny. Our worried dog leapt on top of his chest and licked and licked and licked him. Scruff could barely breathe for all her urgent care. He tried to sit up, and she slammed a paw down on his chest and pushed him back down. Then she licked him some more. Our girl wouldn’t let Scruff move until she was satisfied that he was both unhurt and well-washed.
Leia was such a gift from God. She brought us so much comfort during the chaos of camp work. When days were long and the needs of the people who were under our care were heavy, Leia always greeted us with a wagging tail and kind, understanding eyes. Stroking her soft fur brought us a moment of peace and her joy was contagious.
Losing Leia
Our three sons asked that I base a book character on our sweet Leia and thus Phooey Kerflooey was born. Before I could get the book polished and published, we lost our gentle dog to a brain tumor.
Both my husband and I have lost so many people over the years, but the loss of a dog is an especially difficult kind of pain. Dogs show love in a way that us humans can only aspire to with Jesus’ help. They love completely and with absolute forgiveness. Losing that made the chaos of ministry overwhelming.
Honestly, Scruff and I didn’t know if we would make it through that summer after Leia died. But with the Lord’s care, we limped along and He did amazing work in the lives of kids and staff despite our pain. Even using our pain for His work.
Comfort in a surprising place
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3
For the entirety of our twenty-three-year marriage, my husband has refused to get a cat. But this fall, on a wet November day, someone dumped a half-grown cat into the forest near our mountain home. The neighbors found her and wonder of wonders, my husband, the man who couldn’t abide cats for any amount of time, suggested that we take her in.
What a gift from God as we struggled with the loss of our Leia. Whisper Persnickety is a gentle soul with a soft meow and velvet paws. She curls up on Scruffy’s lap while he works on his computer and she twines around our feet all day, just wanting to be close. Her soft coat and gentle purrs bring that glimpse of God’s peace into our chaos once more.
Isn’t it just like God to answer our prayer for peace with the very kind of fuzzy friend my husband refused to consider? But God is like that. The peace He gives doesn’t have to wait for the roar to die down. It is stronger than whatever kind of chaos we find swirling around us. A gentle whisper in the storm, such is the peace of God.
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
I Kings 19:11-12
Kristen Joy Wilks writes from a remote mountain meadow that alternates between quiet and chaos. She can be found tucked under a tattered quilt at 4:00 a.m. writing a wide variety of implausible tales or at www.kristenjoywilks.com. Sign up for her newsletter and enjoy a free book!
