He Strengthens our Hearts

Following Jesus is not for the faint of heart.

The good news is, God will strengthen us. 

Bible reading, prayer, and relationship build spiritual muscles that include our hearts.

I pray He strengthens your hearts as we live for Him.

 

A Wombat Tale

Psalm 62: 5-8

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
    my hope comes from him.
 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
    pour out your hearts to him,
    for God is our refuge.

Sometimes I want to curl up in a ball.

When I worked at the elementary school library, I enjoyed reading a book to the children about a cute little wombat. This little guy jumped in the mud, danced in a circle, and eventually curled up in a ball. The children giggled at his antics.

The book reminds me how I often go about working, playing, and living life, then something comes along that makes me want to curl into a ball. Exhaustion, excitement, exuberance, fibromyalgia, frustration, sadness—emotions  that even when they are positive may leave me weary.

The last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. Joy that our youngest daughter is getting married. Excitement for signing a contract for my debut novel. Empathy and sorrow for one of my best friends who lost her husband, who was also a dear friend. Sadness laces the edges of joy even as I rejoice for his homecoming to heaven. Plus, grabbing the last few days of summer before my grandkids go back to school. Granted the joy and happiness carry my heart, but I'm tired. Worn from the moments of life.

The good news is—I have a place to go when I need to refuel, sort through, rest, or just be for a little while.

When that little wombat wound himself into a ball he thought, because he was so small, he could hide in the flowers. But where can I go? Not in a bed of posies. Instead, I'll curl up and find rest in my Father's arms. God, my fortress, rock, salvation, and refuge, gives me joy and hope. He's the one who understands my emotions and physical struggles, and He offers strength and peace. I trust in Him to carry me through.

Historical Fiction Book Review: Freedom's Song by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Book Description:
Her voice made her a riverboat’s darling—and its prisoner. Now she’s singing her way to freedom in this powerful novel from the bestselling author of The Librarian of Boone's Hollow.

Indentured servant Fanny Beck has been forced to sing for riverboat passengers since she was a girl. All she wants is to live a quiet, humble life with her family as soon as her seven-year contract is over. However, when she discovers that the captain has no intention of releasing her, she seizes a sudden opportunity to escape—an impulse that leads Fanny to a group of enslaved people who are on their own dangerous quest for liberty. . . .

Widower Walter Kuhn is overwhelmed by his responsibilities to his farm and young daughter, and now his mail-order bride hasn’t arrived. Could a beautiful stranger seeking work be the answer to his prayers? . . .
 
After the star performer of the River Peacock is presumed drowned, Sloan Kirkpatrick, the riverboat’s captain, sets off to find her replacement. However, his journey will bring him face to face with his own past—and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to be free. . . . 

Uplifting, inspiring, and grounded in biblical truth, Freedom’s Song is a story for every reader who has longed for physical, emotional, or spiritual delivery.

My Thoughts:
Freedom. We all love being able to move about freely and believe what we want. But what if you couldn't? What if you are sheltered in a room in the lower chamber of a boat and only allowed out to perform? To what measure would you go to escape? Kim Vogel Sawyer writes an amazing story of Fanny Beck's brave journey to find the freedom she longs for. Fanny is a lovely character who has a lot to give. Walter is a kindhearted man who needs love in his life, and his little daughter is adorable. I like that the author took a historical situation, a river boat singer, and created a tale of compassion. The thread of forgiveness and kindness is woven in beautifully. If you enjoy historical fiction, Freedom's Song is an enjoyable read by Kim Vogel Sawyer. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In His Arms

Summer flowers nod in the sunshine.

As I watered my little garden the other day, I admired the bees 

and butterflies that flitted about.

The bees nuzzled into the blossoms and sucked nectar into 

a little sac on their body called a crop.

Those little creatures took refuge in the buds until they filled up on the sweetness.

When I seek refuge in God's arms, 

I rest there until I fill up on his love and peace.

When life is hard, seek shelter in God's arms.

 

Exciting News!

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. 

The time will pass anyway." -Earl Nightingale 

Once upon a time I dreamed of having a book published.

Through the years, the dream changed here and there, 

but I never closed my mind to the possibility.

I'm excited to announce I signed a contract with Mt. Zion Ridge Press. 

My debut novel, Home Where She Belongs is set to enter the world spring 2022.

I'll post more about this great adventure in the coming months.

To get updates first, sign up for my monthly newsletter at 

Hope for Today's Heart.

I'm so thankful God has given me this opportunity to use the talent he's given me.

Click to Tweet: Share my exciting news!

 

Happy Book Lovers Day!

 

Scribbled on my Heart

Proverbs 3:3-6

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

The word tablet has a very different meaning today.

It's interesting how, through the years, the definition of words has changed. When I was a child, I rested on a blanket in the yard and watched the clouds float past. Now I save my stories, devotions, and book reviews to an invisible cloud I can access from my computer or phone. In college I listened to my professor drone on and on, now a drone flies in the sky (with those clouds I mentioned earlier) and snaps photos. The birds in my trees tweet in the morning, so do my friends on Twitter. The tablet I mentioned is an electronic device I use to connect with social media. Wow!

In the Old Testament, people often wrote the words from scripture on a small scroll, tucked it into a tiny box, and tied the box to their heads, arms, or necks. That way, they could remember God's intervention at the time of Exodus, and his promises to them.

I scribbled Proverbs 3:5-6 on the tablet of my heart years ago. Trust in the Lord. In this world with its sorrow, blessings, sadness, and joys, what else could I do? For the one thing that never changes are the promises and love of God. He calls me to trust him no matter the circumstances. He asks me to seek him, whether through scripture, prayer, or the new Bible app my daughter showed me.

I may still watch the clouds and listen to the bird's tweet. But I can also use the new tools God gives me to seek him and glorify him.

What have you written on your heart?