And God Inspired Books

In this world of constant attention grabbing and alarm creating social media and news, I am thankful for the solid consistency of books.

When I write books, the words go through a process. The stories are not just thrown together and posted without forethought. Instead, they are vetted by me, my critique partner, my beta reader, and finally my editor.

I thank God for books, especially the book He inspired most. I find myself excited to read the stories in the Bible. David’s Psalms inspire me and give me hope and confidence in God. Luke’s accounts in the book of Acts teach me perseverance and inspiration. The gospels teach the truth of Jesus.

God created words for us to communicate truth, to tell stories, and to learn and share.

Do you have a favorite book? A favorite book of the Bible?

Listen for the Voice of Truth

Psalm 25: 4-5
Show me your ways, Lord,
    teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.

The Playhouse Square in Cleveland sparkled.

A chandelier draped the middle of the street between the playhouses, theatres, and eateries. On a sign overtop the Keybank State Theatre a picture of the music group Casting Crowns greeted us. Tim and I will be celebrating 31 years of marriage on October 31. We planned an early celebration that included the twenty-year tour concert of Casting Crowns.

God’s fingerprints were all over their twenty-year story. Mark Hall, the lead singer in the group is a youth pastor. He used music to get his kids to read their Bibles. Mark is dyslexic and has an attention deficit, yet God filled him with a desire to reach youth and adults with his humble beginnings in the music world.

Casting Crowns has not wavered from God’s truth in their twenty years of fame. Their songs speak straight to the heart. Tim and I were both blessed by their testimony and their music. Enhanced by a symphony of violins, their words resonated through the crowd. We lifted our hands and voices with them and praised God.

My favorite song they sing is Voice of Truth. So many voices call out to us every day. Social media, the news, people around us, fear, and so much more. The Bible teaches us to discern the voices by weighing them against God’s word and whether they acknowledge Jesus. (1 John 4:1-3)

The psalmist calls to God to show him God’s ways and guide him in His truth. In this world of constant attention grabbing by outside voices, seek God’s voice and truth and teach your children to listen for God.

Celebrate Jesus and His truth.

Seek His Truth

Luke 24:45-49
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

I’m a little late to the game.

A couple of months ago, my daughter and grandson asked me if I had watched The Chosen, a television series depicting the life of Jesus and the disciples. They told me how much they enjoyed it, so I tuned in. I soon discovered I’d been missing out on one of the best portrayals of the Bible I’d seen. The show closely follows scripture and reveals the lives of the men and women who followed Jesus as well as the ones who denied him as the Messiah.

To see them and relate to them left me wanting more of Jesus and His experience with people. Although I read about them in the Bible, seeing the actors portray the disciples and give credence to their faith, and yes, their confusion at times, makes the stories I’ve heard for sixty years more believable. Matthew, the tax collector, portrayed as anxious and intelligent, writes everything Jesus says down on parchment. Peter is emotional and ready to fight for Jesus, while Thomas questions everything, and John keeps a cool head. Mary Magdalene’s heart shines after Jesus heals her and forgives her.

I don’t usually enjoy television that tries to portray the Bible, but The Chosen, so far, has captured the scripture and portrayed the men and women as believable.

I’m sharing this because in my heart, Jesus is as real as you and me. To see Him portrayed on the screen as a kind, caring man who bears the ultimate burden has increased my faith. We all know God moves in mysterious ways, and for me it has been through diving into my Bible as I watch The Chosen, checking references and moments against scripture. Because I long to grow in my faith every day, I’m open to opportunities for the Holy Spirit to fill me. Did I mention the grandson who loves this show is thirteen? A teenager. And that makes my heart sing. I’m so glad I can share this with him.

This isn’t an endorsement for the show, but rather one more way I’ve found to connect to scripture. Maybe it’s for you, maybe it’s not, but I urge you to continue to find what does make you want to read God’s word and talk to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you delve into His word and seek His truth.

Children's Book Review: Odder by Katherine Applegate

This beautiful children’s book, Odder, written in free verse is simply delightful. From beginning to end, Odder is one of those books that feeds the soul with joy.

Here’s a bit about the book:
Meet Odder, the Queen of Play:

Nobody has her moves.
She doesn’t just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs.
She doesn’t just somersault,
she triple-doughnuts.
She doesn’t just ride the waves,
she makes them.

Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself―and about the humans who hope to save her.

Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature’s most beloved and charming animals.

As a fan of children’s literature, this is one of the best I’ve read in a while. It’s in a similar vein as another favorite of mine, Love That Dog. Plus, the cover is adorable! 

P.S. Odder is not just for kids. Adults will love this story based on true events.

5 stars.

And There Was Light

Genesis 1:3-5

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

Such a simple yet powerful word—light.

Try to imagine a universe void of anything except the power of God. A vast nothingness until the Creator put everything in place. He made night and day. Can you even comprehend the largeness of that statement? God called into the void and said, "Let there be light." And the light appeared. The brightness projected from the sun creates an intense contrast from the night. Even though we see stars and the moon, those don't compare to the brightness of day.

I'm not a night owl, I'm not really a morning person either. I joke that I'm the tired pigeon in the middle of the day. Seriously, I am more productive in the daytime, when the light shines through my window, or I'm out working in my tiny flower garden. My plants reach their little leaves up and soak in the sunlight and work through photosynthesis in order to grow. As I work in the sunshine, vitamin D gives me much needed energy.

Aside from the great purpose of the sun, God gave us another light, His Son. Jesus is the light of the world. Sometimes the night falls and with it come fear, anxiety, and depression. Instead of leaning into the darkness and letting the negative suck me in, I want to bask in the light of the Lord and have hope, peace, and truth.

Jesus' light shines this truth on a weary world. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." John 3:16 & 21

Living a life for Jesus draws me into His light where I find help in troubled times, forgiveness and grace, and lots of love from the One who created me.

Walk in Jesus' light.

Plant Roots in His Truth

 Jeremiah 17:7-8

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”

"Jesus found the muddiest parts of my heart and planted flowers." -the soul doctor

Crocus, daffodil, hyacinth and tulip leaves have pushed through the soil in my tiny garden. A few of the daffodils are already showing their pretty yellow heads and the crocus are waving goodbye to winter. When I planted the bulbs for each flower, I made sure the root of the bulb turned toward the earth. The roots needed to be where they could shoot down into the soil and draw up nourishment for the leaves and blossoms. If I had turned them the wrong way, the bulb would eventually rot.

A few years ago, I had a bush removed from the flower garden, most of the roots came out, but occasionally a little sprout from the bush pushes through the soil. Even though the plant went through trauma, the deep roots survived and still produce foliage.

Plants depend on their roots to provide what they need. With my feet planted in Jesus' mercy and grace, I continue to grow in Him. When I bloom, it doesn't matter what I look like on the outside, my roots in Jesus give me strength inside. No matter what I have gone through, I know Jesus is with me because I've planted my feet in His Word. Even when I've been cut down, my roots in Jesus give me strength. I often pray that my children and grandchildren have their roots firmly planted in Jesus. I pray that for my readers, too.

Each year my flowers fade as winter comes to visit, but the roots continue to grow and gather. By spring they're ready to sprout their green leaves and bloom with joy, like believers who love Jesus.

Plant roots in the truth of Jesus. Soak in His love and strength.

He Can Handle It

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Cool weather, apple cider slushies, and grandkids at the pumpkin farm made for a wonderful fall day.

Photo by Sara Hatch

My daughter, her husband, and three of my grandkids took our annual trip to the pumpkin farm to celebrate the arrival of autumn. The day progressed from chilly to cool as the sun shined on us. We climbed on a wagon and road through the fields on an old-fashioned hay ride. The kids played games and climbed on the hay bales in the barn. They peddled three wheelers and looked at a python (I kept my distance.) Then we discovered an obstacle course and mini-zipline. Zeke wanted to run the obstacle course, and I said, "Sure, go for it." I asked Eli if he'd like to do it. He replied, "If you go, I will." Being the Grammy I am, I couldn't say no. We walked tight wires, uneven bars, treaded through tires, and climbed bridges, and I only fell off once. Thankfully the course sat low to the ground, and I didn't have much chance of getting hurt. Eli, Zeke, and Ella Cate tried the course several more times while I basked in the glory of going once.

Sometimes, God tests us, He gives us challenges. If we think about them too long, fear may creep in. An attitude of "I can't" may color our decisions. But God won't leave me hanging if I take the challenge, or face the test. There is a saying "God won't give us more than we can handle." The truth is God won't give us more than He can handle. I can't rely on myself when I'm faced with trials, challenges, or circumstances beyond my control. I can however, depend on God. He has the power to overcome. He takes my fears and turns them into courage. Whether I believe in myself or not, I'm comforted by the fact that God believes in me.

Trust God with the challenges of life.

Book Review: The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

Book Description:
Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons--but she'll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she's pregnant with her deceased fiancé's baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

My Thoughts:
You know how you bite into a multi-layered cake and taste each sweet ingredient, then savor the last bite. The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery is like that. I sliced through the layers of family and place and tasted an incredible story of love and forgiveness. Amanda Cox is a gifted writer who delivers a beautiful story of women whose lives have been affected by one another as well as circumstance. When Sarah goes home to the Old Depot Grocery, her grandma is excited to welcome her enthusiasm, but her mother, Rosemary, is concerned her daughter's return is a waste of her time and talents. As secrets are revealed and new friendships are made, the characters hearts open to trust again. I absolutely enjoyed the dynamic relationships of Glory Ann, Rosemary, and Sarah as they navigated the waters of truth. This is a book you want to take your time with and think about the sacrifices made to make life better for the next generation. Cox's mastery of the time-slip novel is excellent. If you enjoy a good story about family, this is a read for you. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fruit, Suit, and a Royal Crown

Ephesians 6:13-17
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Moms and daughters circled the fire.

Photo courtesy of Woodland Lakes

I was honored to be asked to speak at mother/daughter camp at Woodland Lakes Christian Camp. I joined my daughter, Sara, who led the music and granddaughter Ella Cate. With the theme “Daughters of the King,” I wanted to concrete the idea God created us to be part of his kingdom. 

In the evening, we gathered around a campfire in a circle created by porch swings. I loved the cozy family feeling the swings added to the gathering. As I introduced the idea of being a princess in God’s kingdom, I considered the girls impression of a princess. Most, if not all, knew many of the Disney princesses. You know—the ones with the big, bright eyes, gorgeous gowns, and long flowing hair. While those stories are fun, I wanted the girls to understand the verse in 1 Samuel 16:7—"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

God created “royal fruit” to fill the hearts of his princes and princesses. Galatians 5:22-23—"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” God’s guidance for the heart was only one element of royalty. He also gave us a suit of armor—the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

With the fruit, suit, and a royal crown, I deemed each mom and daughter a warrior princess who stands and fights in honor of her kingdom.

God doesn’t want his princes and princesses to sit on thrones and look handsome and pretty, he wants us to raise our swords and fight the battles against the enemy.

We can be warriors who raise prayers, sing to fight battles, protect the innocent, show love and kindness, encourage the weary, discipline ourselves to be the best we can be for God, and fuel ourselves on God’s word.

Fill your heart with the Spirit’s fruit, cover yourself with God’s armor, and wear the crown of Jesus’ righteousness.

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Voices of kindness, listening for compassion, generous charity, 

minds for truth, and hearts of love...

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Planting Seeds

Acts 4:1-4

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

Our neighbor plants hyacinth bean vine every summer. From the large terracotta pot, he strings wire from stakes in the dirt to a beam, so the plant will train its way up and stretch toward the sun. I enjoy watching the progress as the seeds germinate and push through the dirt and become seedlings. As they grow, large heart-shaped leaves emerge with pretty purple veins. By the end of summer purple blossoms spike from the stem, and deep purple seed pods dangle.

Like my neighbor's plant, my faith started from a seed sown by folks in my life who loved Jesus. The seed germinated because someone watered my faith with teaching and love, as God poured his grace over me. During challenging times I've pushed through the dirt of grief, stress, and sin to reach the Son. My stems have grown and stretched until I've produced flowers to encourage others and seeds to plant in someone else's life. What a beautiful process God has established. Love for Jesus begins with the tiniest kernel and stretches and grows throughout life to produce the glorious blossoms of his love.

In Acts 4, Peter and John planted the seeds of truth as they preached about Jesus. Even though the Sadducees were angered and threw Peter and John in jail, the people who heard the message took that seed and believed. "But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand." Jail time didn't stop Jesus' seeds of truth from sprouting and growing.

Who plants seeds in your life? Are you planting seeds?

My Hope

The Choice to Love

1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

John 11:3-5
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

I've been reading a novel where the main character flees from her abusive husband. Here's the kicker—the husband who physically, mentally, and emotionally abuses her, says he loves her. The story breaks my heart, but thanks to God, she's surrounded by friends who love her and help her. Even though this is fiction, the story resonates with truth. People say they love others, but is the love reflective of evil or God's truth? Does the "best friend" gossip behind her BFFs back? Maybe a sibling's anger over who-knows-what creates an uncomfortable situation. I could go on, but I think you see where I'm heading with this.

The love I have for my spouse, my children, my parents, my siblings, my friends, my church— must rejoice in truth. Just like Jesus loved his family and friends. In the book of John, we read about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus could have said, "sorry sisters, I can't do a thing to help out Lazarus." He could have left them to mourn their brother. But instead, Jesus went to them and healed his friend who he loved. He rejoiced in the truth that Lazarus' restored life brought glory to God.

Life brings choices. Decisions on how I treat the people I'm called to love. Do I belittle them to make myself look better? Do I yell at them? Do I ignore their needs? Or do I reach out to them as Jesus did, with love?

Choose to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 

Love rejoices!

Who Guides Me?