Into the Fire

. . . give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

Be honest. Thanksgiving is a day to honor many traditions of the old America. It's a day to remind us of true thankfulness. It's a day that might be filled with fine food of all different kinds, maybe lots of football, and/or family, games, and for some it is the day before all the Christmas decor is brought out and put up. 

Giving thanks is easy when life is easy. "All circumstances" don't seem to include those days of loss, sorrow, regrets, pain, and any other negative existence in our lives. Why would God tell us to give thanks in all circumstances when life can be so hard, so tough, so painful for so many?

My thoughts? He tells us this because He has given us life, He has chosen us for a purpose, He has blessed us with His presence if we're not too busy, too lazy, too out of tune with Him to notice, and He desires to be our Heavenly Father, the Great I AM, Savior of the world, and the One who wants us to eventually dwell in His heavenly dwelling with Him where all the curses of sin will be left behind and ultimate joy will the norm – no matter how unimaginable it might seem while we're here.

As hard as it might be to be thankful at times, give thanks with a grateful heart and lean into the presence of the One who loves you beyond what you or I can imagine. 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Have a truly blessed and happy Thanksgiving. 

D. L. Wood's The Choice is from The Deadly Decisions Collection. 

Have you ever thought about what you would do with an unexpected guaranteed million-dollar gift? How about 90 million? 

Sadie Miles is raising her best friend's son Matty with help from an older neighbor (Kyle) while she struggles to make expenses as a waitress. Her mom has passed away without ever answering a single question about who Sadie's father was, and it's always been a hurtful place in her heart to not know anything about who the man is or was.

A short note appears one day with two sentences that allude to Sadie's past, and she knows without a doubt if she has the opportunity to discover anything about her father, she will not refuse that chance. 

When the mystery continues with meeting an attorney (Liam) who assures her he can answer her questions if she will follow the unusual directions without deviating from the plan, against Kyle's recommendation, Sadie is onboard — which turns out to be literally. When everything is provided for her, she is taken to a super-yacht and introduced to four half-siblings she never knew she had. 

To say they're hostile to her and to their father is an understatement. 

From that moment on, this is the cruise from you-know-where. The only measurably good thing on the boat is Liam and staying in her cabin seems like the safest choice for her. 

There's a lot going on between her newfound relatives and none of it's good. 

The Choice is an interesting, conflict-infested story of the power of and love for money over family relationships. What does it mean to be without either or to have one and not the other? 

My favorite few lines from the story comes early at the end of Chapter 3. Kyle responds to Sadie's assurance that she won't "do anything stupid" after agreeing to meet someone about the mysterious notes left for her:

     "The thing is, people always say that. But most the time even smart people don't realize they're in the middle of stupid until it's too late." 

It's a good story for mystery lovers, and even the readers will do some soul-searching at the premise. 

Father, please continue to provide all that D. L. needs to write the stories you have just for her to tell. Bless her and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Go tell it: Jesus Is the Reason for the Season! 

Thank you, Lord Jesus! 

I recently got a review of my novel Then . . . you. It was a good one and I actually enjoyed it in spite of it being the only one who gave it 4 stars instead of 5. 

Here is the line in the review that made me smile: 

"The only thing was that I couldn't relate to Jenna since she cried every day over pretty much everything." 

"Jenna" is the co-protagonist in this story referred to by this reviewer who no doubt prefers a female heroine with a less emotional personality. The thing about Jenna is she's a strong young woman, but she is definitely inclined to allow her emotional responses to result in tears. 

If I do say so myself, I can be pretty tough – not so much physically anymore although I used to be fairly tough for my size. Working with Thoroughbreds tends to make you tough or occasionally suffer the consequences. However, tears can come to me over just about anything. I've been known to sob at certain commercials, cry with others who weep, definitely tend to tear up if I see a strong man moved to tears, and the list goes on. In that respect, I "know" Jenna – the deeply felt and acted upon emotions that made up her inner female. Plus, serious regrets play a part in those kinds of emotional reactions, and Jenna had some of those to deal with. I can testify personally about when some memories of my past conduct come to mind, tears play an immediate part in reaction to them and getting them shut down. 

The point being, as an author we're not going to write characters that everyone can relate to with personalities that fit their concepts for either men or women. Almost all of us have our favorite authors who write characters we love, but even then a particular reaction to a circumstance by that favorite will disappoint or annoy us. 

I appreciate this reviewer who told it like it was – in their opinion. An honest but favorable review. Thank you.

Father, thank you for words, stories, characters, the works. As always, I can never thank you enough. Please help me to keep writing stories you have just for me to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

"I, even I, am the Lord,

     and apart from me there is no savior.

I have revealed and saved and proclaimed —

     I, and not some foreign god among you.

"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "that I am God.

     Yes, and from ancient days I am He.

No one can deliver out of my hand.

     When I act, who can reverse it?" 

Isaiah 43:11-13 (NIV) 

One of my older novels Breath of Life, from Chapter Seven:

I sat in my chair, slumped and slouched really, disillusioned once again with my possible appeal to this woman who had suddenly and dramatically become the solitary objective of my desire and affection. It was absurd in some ways because it sort of felt like breaking out of this self-imposed cocoon, and I wanted so badly to fly with it now. To rush into this new air I was breathing which no longer seemed suffocating and cramped and binding. Part of me wanted to jab my arm in the air in the sign of victory or at least celebration of some kind of goal. A score. A treasure. A miraculous discovery even! I was starting to feel life again. Shaylen Price or Cabin LuCaine had slapped the paddles on my flat-lining self and jolted me back from the dead. I shouldn’t wonder that the woman was cautious. And I certainly shouldn’t begrudge her that. If in fact she was a virgin, going out with the likes of what she might’ve gathered me to be—well, that was a potentially intimidating adventure for sure. Wasn’t it? To someone like her?   

     Ken Pauley snapped me out of my pondering. 

     “Ready?”

     “For what?” I questioned, totally unaware that I needed to be.

     “Our meeting with Reuben,” Ken informed me as if I’d lost my sensibility which wasn’t entirely inaccurate.

     I sat up rigid. I wasn’t prepared for this meeting I’d forgotten. I could wing it I was sure, but just in case I grabbed a notebook from a bottom drawer and reached for my favorite pen while standing and coming out from behind my desk. “Ready as I’ll ever be, I guess,” I decided taking a look at the time on my watch. At least Reuben would be quick—he was never one for long meetings—and I was never more grateful for the fact than at this moment.

     As we headed down the hall to the boss’s office, the corporate bigwig’s grand headquarters, Ken said to me, “You forgot about this meeting, didn’t you?” His eyes remained steadfast on the goal which was at the end of the corridor.

     “I did,” I confessed.

     “You seem distracted lately, Mike. Something going on?”

     He meant no harm. I got that. He was actually concerned, I thought momentarily.

     “You’re right. I have been distracted. And edgy. And, no, there’s nothing ‘going on’ per se. My head’s in the game. I’m just trying to figure out how to go about some things, maybe make some changes. Nothing I can really elaborate on because it’s all fairly vague right now. Sorry I can’t be more specific,” I conceded.

     We only had a few more feet to go before coming to Reuben’s palatial office, and I sensed I’d satisfied his request. Men don’t generally choose to get beneath the surface with each other, especially business associates, and that’s all Ken Pauley really was. We couldn’t justifiably be termed friends—certainly not close ones anyway.

     “Still think we should go clubbing, big guy.” His way of saying things were cool, and everything would be better with a good one night stand.

     I gave a gratuitous laugh, and we were escorted into Reuben’s office by Miss Moneypenny—my endearing name for Barbara Hutchins, Reuben Barclay’s secretary.

Father, thank you for these characters, their voices, their desires and circumstances. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

She's broken, desperately needs what she doesn't know or have, and he needs what God has for him. 

Seeing . . . a love story. 

Father, thank you for giving me inspiration I never knew I'd write about in so many of my stories. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Strong winds were to occur Tuesday in late afternoon. They started earlier than expected and are supposed to last well into the middle of the night. We attempted to get things squared away, but sometimes there's no accounting for what that wind has in mind. The power blinked out briefly, upsetting the digital clocks, but resuming its light and holding. For now.

Storms are inevitable in most places on earth. They vary in substance, depth, distance, and always in power. Some are catastrophic, others are inconvenient, and still others linger in their disturbances. 

The parallel in a Christian's spiritual walk is defining. We're buffeted by the strengths of spiritual storms we face. And like any other storm, it's best to be prepared. The devil and his minions are liars, haters, attackers, and deceivers. Without the Holy Spirit's supervision, we can be brought down for a moment in time or for too-long periods of time because of our enemy's deceitful ways. Forcing ourselves to remember: "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world," it is a must to know where our true power source is inside of us. Rely always on the Name above all names to fight the inevitable battles we face in this life: the Name of Jesus. The power in the Name of Jesus is unequaled – and we're desperately in need of Him.  

Keep fighting the good fight under the stormy skies. If you choose, the Lord will be with you in spite of all the horrific battles faced. I've been without Him in personal battles in my lifetime so I can tell you firsthand, there is no comparison to going through this life with Jesus. Far, far better. Now and in eternity. 

Father, I can never thank you enough for rescuing me, for waiting until the best time to get my full attention and come before you in repentance and in need of Jesus, the Savior of the world, and definitely the Savior of my soul. Please, keep me serving you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

It's time. God Bless You. Jesus Is The Reason for The Season. 

Father, thank you for rescuing me. I can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

. . . in a love song is the novel I wrote taken from the lyrics to The Marshall Tucker Band's hit song "Heard It in a Love Song."

I asked myself what kind of man would write those lyrics and/or think that way about relationships, falling in love. "That" man turned into Dale Rivers in my novel. 

Raw  Romantic  Redemptive 

Available in e-book only. 

Remember: "Nicole Petrino-Salter writes love stories with a passion." 

Father, thank you is never enough for the words, stories, characters you've given me. Thank you for novels and the ability to write them. You asked, and, thankfully, I wrote. Please help me to continue doing as you ask. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.