Back to regular programming . . . Truly some great music here in spite of the times that produced many of the lyrics.
Father, only you reach the lost hearts. You reached mine. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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A Beautiful Mess by Brenda S. Anderson presents one of the most unique heroines in the Women's Fiction genre of today.
Erin Belden is a divorced single mother of a pubescent 13 year old girl (Michaela, aka "Mik") whose ex-husband (Corey) takes up a whole lot of what little emotional reserves she carries. Erin is bitter and resentful and those seem to be the only real feelings she can fully identify and understand.
On a weekend set up with Erin's best friend Debbie (and professional counselor) for a cabin retreat when it's her ex's weekend with Mik, Erin manages some civility when he picks up their daughter but is confused and repelled by his desire to set up a time when they can talk.
That weekend never transpires as tragedy strikes a terrible and unexpected blow.
The unwanted conclusion to the tragedy is Erin is now the legal guardian of Corey's and his wife's three year old daughter Clara (aka "Lolli" for a nickname "Lollipop") who Erin volunteered to babysit occasionally so that Mik could get to know her little (half) sister more. For Erin, this will never work.
As lovers of Women's Fiction know, there are multiple dramas, internal and external, going on with various characters in the stories. A Beautiful Mess is no exception. The most striking character is Erin who never knew her father and whose mother suffered with mental illness – something Erin constantly fears in herself. Suffering occasional panic attacks, unable to process others' emotional responses and body language, having built a wall akin to concrete around her emotions to the point where she rarely reacts appropriately with the usual emotional responses to people or circumstances, resisting touch and hugs, she manages to break her own rules for her beloved Mik in spite of the attitude the young teen displays.
Erin is an enigma because she has the feelings of anger, resentment, bitterness, and the unforgiveness they produce toward her ex-husband down to a practiced science but has a hard time with any feelings that require her to accept physical contact without flinching or to react with smiles and encouragement to or from other adults. At times her behavior mimics that of a sociopath, but her underlying concerns and kindness as she tries to figure out "how" to feel in different situations instead suggest she's experienced real emotional trauma and in that experience she's shut down what others know instinctively.
A Beautiful Mess is a story of broken people and circumstances, of Christians who lose their way, of sacrificed friendships that need mending, and of pain redeemed by the Lord's constant interference and immense patience in rounding up his prodigal people, allowing them to truly feel His kind of real love.
(Just a side note: this cover is exquisite and speaks to the entirety of the story.)
Father, please keep those stories coming for Brenda, give her the time she needs to write them, and help her in every area of this challenging life. Encourage her as only you can do, and please meet her every need. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked where the Christ was to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
"'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
Then Herod call the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrhh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12 (NIV)
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To each his own of course, but I found these to be hilarious and perfect ways to make selling a product funny and entertaining. Hope you can enjoy them because laughing is so good for the soul.
Father, thank you for laughter. It makes a person feel so good for the span of time that humor ignites the soul. I believe you have the best sense of humor of all. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Remember, reflect, renew, receive, recover, reset, review, resound, resolve, redeem the time . . .
2020 arrives like any other day, except it's not. Day 2 brings whatever it has for us and it can appear with actions from one extreme to the other and anything in between. We go on. Or we don't.
Take a deep look at your life. Are you thankful to have this day? What do you feel as you enjoy the last of your vacation, return to work, clean your house, get your car washed . . . do what you do?
I conclude these simple reflections with what I want to be reminded of every and any day of my life:
"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 (NIV)
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Approaching a new year is different for many, difficult for some, demanding for others, and disastrous for a few – all for unique reasons. There are no guarantees that fears will be realized, that plans will be fulfilled, that happiness, contentment, tragedy, or harm will be present or absent. There is only each moment.
However, there is one guarantee. An absolute. Something anyone can truly count on. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He saves. Forgives. Provides grace. True redemption is still available. Our choice.
May your new year be filled with the presence of the Lord. That one thing will change your life eternally. It won't eliminate all your problems in this life, but it will provide a peace between you and your Creator and the opportunity to communicate with Him and seek the answers you need for the hardships life can bring. There is no better way to improve life on earth.
Happy, Merry, Joyful, Meaningful New Year to you and yours.
Father, may your Spirit bring those who are willing to Jesus. Change hearts, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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The final Christmas tune of 2019. Hope you enjoy it. The message is eternal.
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit, thank you is never enough. We're so grateful for Christmas. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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Wild Fire is the latest release in the Dustin Stevens' Hawk Tate Novel series.
Hawk Tate and all of his closest former DEA FAST cohorts and friends who busted the cartel drug lord Junior Ruiz are suddenly in danger. With Ruiz in jail assigned a 40 year sentence, none of them expected this threat when rumors leak of his release after serving only 8 of those years after meeting with unidentified government agents.
Tragic news and a foiled attempt on Hawk's life at his place of business provide the impetus to contact his friends, reconnect with his San Diego colleague who is a DEA Director (Diaz) and who goes above and beyond to accommodate him and his friend (Diggs) who's flown in from across the world for their specialized, unauthorized "mission".
There's no conceivable reason for Ruiz to get released, but Hawk knows he's the direct threat to his and the others' lives who put him away.
Dustin Stevens writes entertaining suspense thrillers with plenty of action-packed scenes and an all-man character in Hawk Tate. This series is wildly entertaining, Hawk is a surprisingly good character, and if you enjoy shoot-'em-up action stories where bad guys are eliminated by any means possible, the Hawk Tate novels will provide you with quick reads and imaginative storylines.
Some profanity.
Father, only you reach those who don't lean into you for all they need – and still you provide it. May those who fail to see the ways you provide for them be awakened to your kindness, love, benevolence, and redemption. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."
Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation for the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul, too."Luke 2:21-35 (NIV)
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What better thing to do than to finish a new novel and get it published in the new year? Few things feel better to an author than brandishing a new book, and my new one is in its final stages before the publication process begins. I know the ending and I'm close to writing it. The title is Seeing . . . , and I'm touched by this story.
Of course writers feel that way about their stories – some more than others. We get involved with our characters, we slip in and out of their skins to feel the excitement, the traumas and pain, the joys – whatever emotions we set upon them. We search for their purpose(s) and make them as credible as we can.
Goals vary for different authors as to the novel's intention, but mixed in with the aesthetic goals are those that involve the value of the story, the hope it will sell well because not many people will read it if it doesn't. Some authors are so successful it's not a matter of "if" the books will sell but rather how many thousands – sometimes millions – of copies. I'm not one of them.
I had to set aside my dream of being a famous, best-selling author a long time ago and let God do what He wanted with the novels I write to honor Him. And write those stories He gives to me using my particular skills while hoping the audience He selects to read my novels will enjoy and somehow experience a divine touch while reading them.
So. That's what I'm aiming toward for the new year.
Father, I'm always desperate for you, thankful beyond words, and ask that you would continue to help me be all that you designed me to be. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
