No Regrets

Several years have gone by since I read the entire Bible from start to finish. This year I’m reading through the Bible chronologically. After reading several books of the Old Testament, I’m reminded of how grateful I am to live under God’s grace and not the law.

During my reading of Leviticus 17, in the New Living Translation, I stopped and reread verse 11.

For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible. 

That’s what Christ did for you and me. He shed His blood as a gift to us to give us new life through the forgiveness of our sins.

This time of year, we remember what Christ did for us when He went to the cross, died, and rose from the dead.

When growing up, my parents and the church taught me about Jesus. I understood He gave His life for my sins, but I never realized I needed to make a personal decision to follow Him. The teaching I remember was to attend church whenever, partake in communion once or twice a year, and try to be good.

At twenty-one, my relationship with Christ changed. When I committed my life to Him, He became my Savior, Lord, Deliverer, Friend, Healer, Provider, and so much more. I wanted to serve Him every day of my life. To not only follow His ways, but to surrender my life to Him. The head knowledge I accepted as a youth became heart knowledge and a personal part of my life as a young adult. 

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:9-10 (NLT) 

When I understood my need to repent and surrender my life to Christ, I gladly followed through.

I have no regrets.

That decision transformed my life. God changed me because I allowed Him full access to my heart and soul. He is mine for eternity, and I am His.

Have you given Him full access to your heart and soul? If not, surrender your life to Christ and experience the joy of Easter as a child of God!

---

Photo by Ray Shrewsberry - Unsplash

Our Faithful Love

Today I’m posting an interview with Melanie Meadows, heroine in Our Faithful Love, the newest release in the Love in Pleasant Springs series. She just moved back to her hometown here in Tennessee after being gone for several years and agreed to chat with me at Mama Lou’s Café.

Thank you, Melanie, for agreeing to meet with me.

She smiled and nodded. “Please call me Mel.”

Mel? Didn’t the café owner call you Lanie a few minutes ago?

“Yes. But Mel suits me better.” She sipped her coffee. “I’m not the same person who grew up here in Pleasant Springs.”

How have you changed?

“I realized I couldn’t trust anyone, and I had to be strong all on my own. The name Mel conveys more strength than the name Lanie.”

Interesting. Tell me about yourself. What brings you joy?

Her eyes sparkled, and she grinned. “The kids I serve. I’m a caseworker. Doesn’t matter if I’m finding them a good foster home or reuniting them with their birth parents. I love working with the kids.”

That’s good to hear. As a Christian author, I’d like to know where God fits into your life.

“My parents and church taught me about God, but I’ve learned that He doesn’t care about me.” She fidgeted in her chair and stared at her coffee cup. “I haven’t gone to church in a while.”

Why? Do you no longer believe in Him?

She lifted her head and widened her eyes. “I think He exists. But He doesn’t care about what I do.”

Oh, but He—

“I’m sorry.” She leaned toward me and furrowed her brow. “Could we please change the subject?”

Okay. You moved back to your hometown after living in Chattanooga for the past eleven years. Are you excited to be home?

“If you include my time in college there, I’ve been gone for fifteen years.” She sighed and picked at a piece of fuzz on her shirt. “Coming home wasn’t my first choice.”

Why did you return?

“My sister Jill talked me into coming back. But it’s a temporary arrangement. The agency I worked with in Chattanooga had to downsize and let me go.” She took another sip of her coffee. “I’ve applied in Nashville at two private agencies and hope one of those will come through soon.”

What will you do in the meantime?

“Jill arranged an interview for me two weeks ago with Clancy County Children’s Services here in town. I’ll start on Monday.” She pinched her bottom lip. “I moved in with Jill and will try to make this work for now.”

You said, “try to make this work.” Do you and your sister not get along?

“Oh, no. I love my sister. We get along well.” She rested her elbow on the table, placed her hand on her forehead, and squeezed her eyes shut. “It’s just that I vowed to never return home. There’s a person here. Someone I don’t want to see. I must avoid him.”

Sounds like a story worth sharing. Care to elaborate?

“No.” She lifted her eyes to mine and placed her hand on her chest. “I haven’t shared what happened between us with anyone.”

I finally got the story from both her and the man she never wanted to see again, Luke Gibson. Learn why Melanie lost her trust in people and in God and the circumstances that led her to trust again. Join her, Luke, and a full cast of characters including Billy, an eight-year-old boy in need of a foster home, a dog named Grizzly, and a cat named Mims. To discover their story, check out Our Faithful Love, a tale of forgiveness and reconciliation available from Amazon! 

Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Proverbs 17:9, NLT 

And coming soon, for one day only, the Kindle edition for Book One of the Love in Pleasant Springs series will be available on Amazon for $0.99. Mark your calendars and grab your copy of An Odd Request on Friday, March 17!

---

Photo by Gemma Evans - Unsplash

Strength and Courage

Last month I shared that my word for 2023 is courage and my verse is Joshua 1:9.  

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (NKJV)

To remind me of my word and verse for the year, I ordered this cup. (Notice my cat, Paka, looking out the window at the bird feeder!)

I enjoy a homemade mocha most mornings while focusing on God’s Word, praying, or writing.

Along with my word and verse, last month I posted this acrostic created using the word courage, reminding me of areas to focus on to draw closer to the Lord in 2023.

 Call upon the Lord with both big and little decisions.

Open my heart to Him in worship.

Unite with others for fellowship and accountability.

Remember the Lord is always with me.

Allow God’s love to lead me—not fear.

Grow in His Word.

Endure through the hard times and never give up.

Three weeks ago, the Lord directed me to step out in strength and courage to incorporate five of the seven letters above by doing one thing—joining a women’s Bible study. This Bible study is fifty miles away from my home. And if you remember from my last blog post, driving is not my favorite thing to do.

Which five letters? O—open my heart to Him as we gather together in worship; U—unite with other women for fellowship and accountability; R—remember the Lord is always with me even while driving; A—allow God’s love to lead me and not fear on the long trek; G—grow in His Word through participating in the Bible study.

Fortunately, after thirty miles, I’ll join a couple of other ladies and ride with them the rest of the way. And God will be with me ALL the way. Even while driving on the Interstate.

Although it’s a long way to travel, I’m looking forward to meeting new people and growing closer to the Lord through this time of study with other ladies.

I hope your 2023 is off to a good start and you’re growing closer to the Lord too. May He lead you into the truth of His Word and guide you with strength and courage to fulfill His plan and purpose for your life.

---

Top Photo by Greg Rosenke - Unsplash

Winding Roads

For the past three years, I’ve chosen a word and Bible verse to focus on during the new year. This year, my word is courage, and my verse is Joshua 1:9.

Webster’s New World Dictionary defines courage as the attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful, instead of withdrawing from it; quality of being fearless or brave; valor.

I dislike driving. The older I get, the more difficult it becomes. And the Interstate is the worst with people flying by me at fifteen to twenty miles per hour over the speed limit.

This week I had an eye doctor’s appointment. A drive that could have taken me twenty-five minutes took me at least ten minutes longer by avoiding the highways, and it was worth it to me. But I’ve found that I don’t care to drive the back roads either. Here in Tennessee, the roads I often drive on are hilly, narrow, and winding with drop-offs along them. Not wanting to drive causes a problem when I need to go somewhere or meet with someone.

I need to face this difficult situation before I become a hermit. I need courage. Fortunately, I know the Lord promises to be with me wherever I go. My strength and courage grow in knowing He is by my side.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God
is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9, NKJV

I need courage in other areas of my life, too, but I’ll spare you that list. Below, I created an acrostic, using the word courage, of areas to work on to draw closer to the Lord in 2023 and to develop more courage in my life.

Call upon the Lord with both big and little decisions.

Open my heart to Him in worship.

Unite with others for fellowship and accountability.

Remember the Lord is always with me.

Allow God’s love to lead me—not fear.

Grow in His Word.

Endure through the hard times and never give up.

May your year be filled with love, joy, peace, and courage. And please share below your word or verse of the year for 2023 if you have one.

---

     Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2nd college ed. (1984), s.v. “courage.”

---

Photo by Jason Leung - Unsplash