A beloved Bible passage is 1 Thessalonians 4

“… to aspire to live quietly, & to mind your own affairs, & to work with your hands …”

Recently I came across this devotional from one of my favorite authors, Paul David Tripp. I highly recommend his devotional books. This is from Everyday Gospel: 

“For many of us, social media dictates how we spend our time, & it dominates how we act, react, & respond to others. Social media is the place where you go not to live quietly. The power of social media is that it gives you a voice-& it rewards loud voices. It encourages you to weigh in & to make your presence & opinion known. Social media encourages you to live loudly, & it rewards you if you do.

You do not go to social media to mind your own affairs. No, social media encourages you to to mind other people’s business. It rewards you for sticking your nose into things that have nothing to do with you … It gives you the false impression that you are a part of something, when in reality your involvement is just a bunch of keyboard clicks.

Two things result when we fail to live quietly & to stay out of others’ affairs. First, if your attention is dominated by the business of others, then you are not investing time in examining your own heart & life, in confessing what has been revealed, in seeking God’s forgiveness, & in surrendering yourself once more to him. This harms your spiritual growth & worship. Second, the time you invest in social media takes you away from developing & using the gifts God has given you, & employing them in the work he has given you.

Paul David Tripp

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Time is truly flying & somehow writing happens in the midst of it all. I wish I could slow time down & am often glad eternity has no clock. I can’t imagine it but I think it will mean we enjoy these fleeting joys forever! Every summer does have its own story & the blessings are many. American flags. Fresh strawberries. Book stuff. Sunshine. Long walks. Lake days. Good meals. The pool. Our garden. Trips to our unfinished little house down south near our boys. I could write a book about the blessings. There’s always a down side but it’s better not to dwell on it as Philippians 4:8 says.  And then there’s Paul’s words in James … Count it all JOY! And so I am. Hope you are, too.

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Our Independence Day Giveaway is now open!

If you’ve read my novels, our country’s founding in the 18th-century is a major theme, thus July 4th or Independence Day is a beloved holiday for me & many. In light of this, four author friends & I have teamed up to host a giveaway with some fun perks! Just enter to win a signed copy of four historical novels highlighting faith & freedom at America’s founding.

The Shenandoah Road by Lynne Basham Tagawa, An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz, Many Sparrows by Lori Benton, Preacher on the Run by Jayna Baas

Earn bonus entries by joining these authors’ social media followers or sharing this opportunity with a friend! All entrants receive a list of historical novel recommendations from participating authors. ENTER HERE!

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One of my favorite podcasters is Alison Treat who asks wonderful questions & is a writer herself. We had quite an enjoyable time discussing books, life, & more. Have a wee listen below!

Historical Fiction Unpacked

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April is such a special month. It’s Easter, a wondrous event. While I miss creating Easter baskets for my littles and Easter egg hunts, now I get to dwell on the significance of the holiday in its truest form. As I grow older, the risen Christ means more to me than ever before.

What I most remember about Easters past is my granny’s big dinners after church overflowing with country ham & side dishes & deviled eggs & her wonderful yeast rolls (her one departure from daily cornbread). Since April is my birthday month, she always made a big German Chocolate Cake & would store it on the back porch in a closet to keep it cool. How I loved opening that door!

Times & celebrations change but I’m so thankful for wonderful memories & the fact that God & His love & faithfulness stay the same. We are having a different Easter this year, just us two. The next months will be a whirlwind of travel & books so being home for a quiet holiday is a welcome gift. So, this year, however you’re celebrating…

A blessed Easter to you!

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To enter, just visit my Instagram HERE

And this lovely giveaway is on Facebook as well as Instagram & other socials:

Just follow this link to enter via Rafflecopter

I hope you win!

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If you’re like me, sometimes looking at someone else’s Christmas list is fresh & inspiring. Here are a few ideas you might find helpful for you & your loved ones this season…

You probably already know, unless you’re in the 5 unfortunate states bereft of Cracker Barrel, that the restaurants have delightful giftshops with ideas for the entire family. They’re my go-to for lovely gloves among other things! Games, clothes, decorations, vintage items, gift cards, even quilts…

Since I was small we’ve celebrated the season with advent calendars like this one on sale at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon. “What did the Washington family coat of arms look like? What is the key in the Central Hall? What was Martha Washington’s china like? All of these questions are answered in this insightful and fun Advent Calendar.” This season my oldest son gifted me with this sweet advent assortment from Bonne Maman on Amazon which delights my scone-loving heart…

Our extended family has been visiting & ordering from Marie’s Candies for 50 years. My husband, Randy, loves their chocolate box assortments while I’m partial to their malted milk balls and fudge-dipped cookies. Shopping local is a treat if you’re in Ohio & the chocolatier mails almost anywhere…

A beloved bookstagrammer on Instagram has a wonderful shop devoted to literary art. I have A Bound Heart candle that I love {& will probably never burn!} but take a look at those bookish wreaths & other creations at Once Upon A Page Designs…

This new nonfiction release is on my personal Christmas list as it tells the untold story of my favorite British monarch, the much maligned but honorable King George III. Quite an intriguing title, too – The Last King of America. Available at book retailers worldwide…

Novelly Yours has created custom book candles for me & reading friends & has another candle in the works for A Heart Adrift this January. Her site is like a visit to a beloved book shop and showcases her love for literature…

I ordered two of these beautiful Artisan Collection Bibles for gifts but am so smitten I might have to keep one. There are several styles/designs that wrap God’s word beautifully. I’ve never seen lovelier Bibles…

This large & small tote are right down my historical alley, especially given they’re from my favorite U.S. historic site. The online gift shop at Colonial Williamsburg has unique gifts for everyone or is just plain fun to browse…

Bliss, Books & Jewels is where custom jewelry from Christian fiction comes to life. I love getting & gifting from Christy ~ & also reading her finely crafted book reviews which inspire her beautiful jewelry…

Last but not least, here’s an in-depth look at a catalog from my publisher, Revell, that most readers never see! Take a peek right here to peruse upcoming releases while learning a little about the authors behind the stories, too!

Wishing you a wonderful, hope-filled holiday season!

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 Today I woke up and my first thought was, “I don’t want to live in a world without Ginger.” I don’t usually post something like this in my journal here but amid a pandemic that has suddenly turned personal, I can’t help but write in the hope it might help someone else whose heart is broken.

Yesterday my dear friend – my sister of the heart, as we called ourselves – lost her life to Covid pneumonia. A Kentuckian like me, Ginger shared my love of the Lord & family & books & essential oils & Cracker Barrel. She even introduced me to fried cornbread on Cracker Barrel’s hidden menu:) She checked on the cabin when I was gone. She sent me laugh-out-loud memes at midnight her time which proved she was a lively night owl. When we got together we’d order BIG Sonic Coca-colas and drive around Appalachia talking & laughing & edifying. When I fell down the cabin steps to the concrete basement, she was the one who showed up after I said I was fine & took me to the hospital to be sure. I wasn’t fine and if not for Ginger, I would have been a whole lot worse.

I could always count on Ginger to pray and share any burden. She was getting ready to be married and had a beautiful, bright future before her in North Carolina where she’d recently moved. She was a redheaded whirlwind and I loved her so much. In short, she was my forever friend and my life suddenly feels dim without her. And I’m among her many friends & family who are saying the same.

Day before yesterday, I was reading my favorite devotional – New Morning Mercies – my heart heavy with the knowledge Ginger lay in ICU on a ventilator far away. Though this particular devotional book isn’t for writers, this was July 1’s reading:

“Every single day of your life was written into God’s book before you lived the very first of them. None of those days and none of the things that you have faced or will face in those days are a surprise to your Lord. He carefully authors the content of every one of those days with His own hands. He controlled every twist and turn of the plot that is your story. He introduced all the characters and determined all the locations. Nothing will happen to you that He has not written into His book. He has already determined how your story will end.”

In hindsight, though I didn’t know what July 2nd would bring, the Lord did. Ginger’s life story would end and her homegoing would begin. He also knew how my heart would break when our prayers for Ginger led to complete healing in heaven, not here. And He even arranged that day’s devotional to be written in the language of my writer’s heart when the other 364 devotional posts aren’t. That is how specific and tailormade God’s grace and comfort are.

If you’re grieving, I urge you to look at how God is uniquely comforting you in ways only known to Him and you. Grace only He can give. Not only that, we have the hope that this isn’t the end of the story. For Ginger it became a new, flawless beginning the moment she stepped into eternity. And though I miss her more than I can express, I hold close the priceless promise that I will see her again. Glory!

*New Morning Mercies, A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul David Trip

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I’ve joined two of my favorite authors to celebrate our brand new releases with you! Sarah, Tara, & myself wish you a bight new reading year with fresh fiction…

To enter the WINTER FICTION GIVEAWAY for all 3 new releases please follow the link below. Happy reading!

WINTER GIVEAWAY 

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