Creating Our Own Plans

 

My second book in the Fulton Ridge Family Series, Jessie’s Hairy Christmas, has some tense moments for those who need life to go according to plan. 

Since Jessie is good at planning, she loves her calendar and spreadsheets. But sometimes the plan looks like it just isn’t going to happen. What then? 

How do you deal with it when your plans blow up in your face? How do you and I stop ourselves from the slippery downward spiral that leads to the dreary depression of our darkest days when our plans fall flat?

Jessie and Tim have to work things out when things don’t go according to plan. When things get tough, they have to pull together and use teamwork. Maybe you and I can learn a thing or two from them. 

One of the things I love about Tim is his dog. I grew up with sweet dogs, so I know they can make me feel better when they sense I'm having a bad day. 

I hope you enjoy Jessie's Hairy Christmas or one of my other sweet and happy Christian romance novels. Here’s the four-book box set so you can one-click the whole series.

It's All About the Ending

 

Since I write Christian Romance and Christian Romantic Suspense, let me update you on one three-book series.

The Protectors Series has a female main character, Sharla, who is in need of help. Even though she doesn’t think she needs help, . . . she does.

Can you relate? 

I think a lot of people can see that side of her and appreciate how similar we all are. Maybe you and I can think back to all the times we thought we could handle what we were facing. Just like Sharla, we realize that we need help.

We must first recognize our need for help, then we can see that life gets easier when we have the right kind of help. Sharla has to decide between two different kinds of help. At the time of decision, it’s hard to tell what the future holds. For Sharla, both of her options appealed to her in different ways. For us, we have to decide for ourselves which path is trustworthy and which isn’t.

We sometimes fail. 

You and I have an opportunity for a happily ever after, but we have to stop choosing the wrong path. As an audience member, I watch a movie or read a book that shows characters obviously making a bad decision, and I want to yell out to them a warning not to open the door or not to go back inside. But the characters are on the path that leads them toward the consequences of their decisions.

When I listen to God’s warning and submit to the wisdom of God, it’s a lot easier to find my happily ever after.

Sharla has a story that weaves through the ups and downs of three Christian romantic suspense novels. One Man’s Treasure is the third book in the series and has a final happy-sigh ending, but you’ll want to start reading One Man’s Haven first.

What will your final happy-sigh ending look like? You and I can’t tell what the future holds for us, but we can trust God to help us through it all. I had a blast writing this series. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Making Changes

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Matthew 6:6

I’ve enjoyed watching Desk Set, starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. This classic film shows the trouble that goes with upgrading technology. It’s a romantic comedy which is funnier today than it was when it was first released in 1957. Although it’s kind of about making improvements in the workplace, it’s really about relationships.

Technology helps us communicate more effectively today than ever before. We learned in 2020 that technology isn’t all you need.

We need relationships.

Our relationship with God is a protective influence as we deal with today’s problems. God gives us guidance and wisdom if we will seek Him before making decisions.

Sometimes our goal should be to cut back on computers and phones so we can communicate more effectively without distractions. God isn’t against technology, but He expects us to use the wisdom He makes available.

Matthew 6:6 mentions praying in a room, in secret. The Old Testament shows a picture of a prayer room when we read about Daniel (chapter six) in an upstairs room where he prayed. However, he didn’t pray in secret. The windows were open. (Probably no air conditioning.)

You and I can go into a bedroom, closet, or bathroom and pray without distractions. Years ago, my husband took an upstairs room of our house and turned it into our prayer room. When we needed uninterrupted time with God, we could go there to pray and listen for God’s answers.

God wants us to communicate with Him in prayer without distractions.

Praying by yourself in a room or on a park bench or some other specific place will help you focus on what God wants to say to you. Take your Bible, a notepad, and a pen to write what God is guiding you to do. Some people have a prayer journal where they record their prayer requests, answers, and ideas they get from God.

I’ve used a few different journals to write my prayers and God’s answers. Here’s one to use for your next 31 days. I’ve just published The Prayer That Works Journal. It was designed as a companion journal for my new short nonfiction book. You can find the Prayer That Works eBook at Amazon or in other bookstores.

You can subscribe to my emails and get this free prayer journal prompt eBook.