Interview with Sarah S. Brown, author of "Even the Ashes Bloom" (book)

Author Interview with Sarah S. Brown about her book “Even the Ashes Bloom: Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken”

Alexis: What inspired you to write this book?

Sarah: There were seasons in my life where I felt deeply broken. Disappointment, heartbreak, unmet expectations…the kind that shake your identity and leave you wondering who you even are anymore. And in those moments, I found myself asking: God, what are You doing here? Can anything good really come from this?

As I began to heal, I realized something powerful—God wasn’t just meeting me after the hard parts. He was present in them. Gently restoring, reframing, redeeming. This book was born out of that journey and the answer to a prayer I prayed for many years—that God would use my story to help others.

I wrote Even the Ashes Bloom for the woman who feels like her life didn’t turn out the way she prayed it would. For the one sitting in the aftermath—of loss, betrayal, disappointment—wondering if beauty is still possible.

This book is a reminder that God does some of His most tender, redemptive work right there in the ashes.

Alexis: How did you create the title “Even the Ashes Bloom: Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken”?

Sarah: The title came from this image that kept coming back to me—How, after a wildfire, certain seeds only open because of the fire. They’re called “fire-followers.” What looks like complete devastation becomes the very condition for new life. That felt like my story.

Even the Ashes Bloom is a reminder that the very places that feel destroyed aren’t beyond redemption. They’re often where God is doing His most meaningful work. And the subtitle—Finding Beauty When You Feel Broken—speaks directly to the heart of the reader. Because most of us don’t walk around saying, “I’m in a season of transformation.” We say, “I feel broken.” And I wanted to meet women right there.

Alexis: How did God bring beauty out of the very thing that broke you? Share the story.

Sarah: There was a season in my life where everything I thought my life would be…wasn’t. A marriage that didn’t last. Expectations that unraveled. A deep sense of shame I didn’t know how to name, much less release.

But as God began to untangle the lies I had believed about myself and replace them with truth, He showed me that my identity was never rooted in my circumstances—it was rooted in Him.

What I've come to see now is that the very thing that broke me became the place where God rebuilt me. Not into the person I thought I was supposed to be, but into someone more grounded, more honest, and more anchored in Him than I had ever been before.

He took what felt like ashes—loss, disappointment, shame—and grew something new in that same soil: deeper faith, restored identity, and a hope that isn't dependent on everything going right. He didn't waste a single part of it. And that's the beauty I didn't see coming.

Alexis: What was it like to share your journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope? Was it hard to be transparent?

Sarah: Yes…and no. There were definitely moments when I paused and thought, "Do I really want to say this out loud?" Because once it’s on the page, you can’t take it back. But I kept coming back to this: Someone else is living this too. And if my willingness to be honest could help someone feel less alone, less ashamed, or more seen by God, then it was worth it. I didn’t want to write from a place of perfection. I wanted to write from a place of healing.

Alexis: In what ways do you hope your story will help your readers?

Sarah: More than anything, I want readers to find peace in the middle of pain and uncertainty—and to release the shame that has told them they are too far gone. I want them to rediscover their worth in Jesus Christ, to see how faith can flourish even in barren seasons, and to embrace healing through reflection, journaling, and prayer. And above all, I want them to trust that as long as they are alive, God is still writing their story.

Alexis: What do you mean when you say God is planting seeds of new life in scorched places?

Sarah: Sometimes growth doesn’t look like growth. It looks like loss. It looks like silence. It looks like everything falling apart. But just because we can’t see what God is doing, doesn’t mean He isn’t working.

I know this to be true because I’ve lived it. The areas I wanted to hide, the ones that felt the most barren, those became the places where He began reshaping me from the inside out. Not all at once, and not in ways that were always obvious. Because seeds don’t grow overnight and they don’t grow where everyone can see them. They grow in the dark. In the waiting. In the quiet work that feels hidden but isn’t wasted. Over time, what once felt lifeless begins to tell a different story.

Alexis: Was it hard to make the book part memoir and part devotional?

Sarah: It was a balancing act. The memoir pieces required vulnerability—going back into real moments, real emotions, real memories. And the devotional pieces required clarity—Asking, “What is God inviting the reader into here?”

The most challenging part was making sure the story always served the reader—not just my own processing. But the most rewarding part? Watching those two elements come together in a way that doesn’t just tell a story but transforms one. Because it’s not just about what I’ve been through—it’s about what God wants to do in them.

Alexis: How did God help you find peace in the middle of your pain and uncertainty?

Sarah: Peace looked like small, quiet moments. Sitting with Scripture, whispered prayers, and choosing to trust God when I didn’t understand what He was doing.

There were still questions and uncertainty. That part didn’t magically disappear. But over time, I began to realize that peace wasn’t the absence of pain—it was the presence of God in the middle of it. It was the sense that I wasn’t alone in what I was walking through. That even when everything around me felt unstable, I was still being held.

Alexis: How did God help you release shame and discover your worth in Jesus Christ?

Sarah: Shame has a way of convincing you that you are what you’ve been through. It doesn’t just remind you of your past—it tries to redefine you by it.

For a long time, I carried that weight. I believed the lie that my worth was somehow tied to my mistakes— that I had to spend my life making up for them or proving I was still enough. But God began to show me that shame is not from Him. It’s something He came to remove.

And He didn’t do that all at once—it was a process. Through Scripture, prayer, therapy, and the steady encouragement of people who spoke truth over me when I couldn’t see it for myself, God started to gently unravel the lies I had believed. He kept reminding me that my past does not define my worth—and that I don't have to earn His love. It was already mine. Little by little, that truth began to take root. I started to see the difference between conviction and condemnation. One draws you closer to God, and the other pushes you into hiding.

Over time, I began to understand that my worth wasn’t something fragile I could lose—it was something secure in Christ. I realized that God was never asking me to carry shame. He was inviting me to lay it down. And when that finally settled into my heart, it didn’t just change how I saw myself, it changed how I lived.

Alexis: What has God taught you about how faith can flourish in barren seasons?

Sarah: He taught me that barren doesn’t mean empty.

Some of the deepest growth in my life didn’t happen in seasons of abundance. It happened in seasons where I felt stripped down to almost nothing. The things I once relied on were gone or shaken, and I didn’t have the answers I thought I needed. But that’s where something shifted. Because that’s where my faith stopped depending on circumstances and started depending on God.

In those barren seasons, I learned that faith isn’t proven when everything is going right—it’s formed when you choose to trust God when nothing makes sense. When prayers feel unanswered. When the outcome is unclear. When all you can do is take the next step in front of you.

God showed me what looked like a barren season was a season of preparation. God was strengthening my foundation, reshaping my understanding of who He is, and teaching me that even when life feels still or uncertain, He is always at work.

Alexis: How did reflection, journaling, and prayer help heal your pain?

Sarah: They gave my pain somewhere to go. Instead of carrying everything internally, I was able to process it with God honestly and openly, without filtering or trying to “clean it up” first.

There were moments when I didn’t even know what I was feeling, just that it was heavy. Journaling helped me slow down enough to name it. To get it out of my head and onto the page. It was in those pages that I began to see patterns—lies I had been believing, fears I hadn’t acknowledged, and places where I was still holding on instead of letting God in.

Prayer became less about saying the “right” words and more about being real with God. Sometimes it was just a sentence. Sometimes it was silence. But it was a space where I could bring everything—the questions, the anger, the grief—and trust that He could handle it.

Reflection helped me look back and recognize something I often missed in the moment: God had been with me all along.

Even in the seasons that felt the most confusing or painful, I could begin to trace His presence—through people, through small moments of provision, through the quiet ways He sustained me when I didn’t think I could keep going.

It didn’t take the pain away overnight. But it helped me process it, release it, and slowly begin to heal instead of just carry it.

Alexis: What is the BLOOM framework? How does it work?

Sarah: The BLOOM framework is a simple, intentional way to move from reading to transformation. Each chapter ends with this rhythm:

• Believe – Anchor yourself in a core truth
• Linger – Sit with Scripture and let it speak to you
• Observe – Notice what God is doing in your life
• Offer – Respond through prayer
• Magnify – Shift your focus to God’s presence and respond through action

It’s not meant to be overwhelming. It’s meant to be invitational. My hope is that readers don’t just close the book feeling inspired but equipped.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Sarah! God bless you and your book.

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Author Bio: 

Sarah S. Brown is a Christian author and speaker who helps women anchor their identity in Christ and find renewed confidence through life’s hardest seasons. 

A former teacher, she contributed to Hope for the Holidays, A Year of Hope, and bestseller Stories of Good Grief, Vol.2. Sarah was named a Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. Her book, Even the Ashes Bloom, invites readers on a faith-filled journey from brokenness to spiritual renewal. 

Sarah lives in Tennessee with her husband and two sons and believes strong coffee and shared stories can change the world.

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Book Blurb:

Have you ever wondered if God could bring beauty out of the very thing that broke you? 

In Even the Ashes Bloom, Sarah S. Brown invites you on a heartfelt journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope. After walking through the devastation of divorce, Sarah discovered a God who doesn’t discard broken soil—He restores it. Through her story, you’ll find comfort in knowing that your pain isn’t wasted, your story isn’t over, and God is already planting seeds of new life in the very places that feel scorched.

Part memoir, part devotional, Even the Ashes Bloom weaves together Scripture, storytelling, and soul-nourishing reflection to help you:

• Find peace in the middle of pain and uncertainty
• Release shame and rediscover your worth in Christ
• See how faith can flourish even in barren seasons
• Embrace healing through reflection, journaling, and prayer

Each chapter ends with Sarah’s signature BLOOM framework—a guided rhythm of believing, lingering in truth, observing, offering prayer, and magnifying God’s presence in your life. Perfect for personal reading, small groups, or quiet time study, this book will meet you tenderly in the ache and remind you that God’s grace writes better endings than we ever could.

Even when all you see is ashes, God is already growing something beautiful.

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Buy Sarah’s book:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Books-A-Million

Walmart

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Connect with Sarah:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsarahsbrown/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahsbrown

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authorsarahsbrown/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/authorsarahsbrown/

Website: sarahsbrown.com

Devotionals for the Heart: How to find beauty in the winter seasons of life

Finding Beauty in Our Winters
A devotional by Lynette Allcock Yoon

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

—Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)

“It’s snowing, Teacher!” My students bounced into the classroom, their young faces bright with smiles. Melting flakes dripped onto the floor from their boots.

“Really?” I looked outside with a shiver. I wasn’t as excited as the children. The snow meant an icy commute home!

In fact, as the winter dragged on, I was finding it harder to appreciate snowfalls. It felt like all I could see was endless grey, black, and brown. Muddy sidewalks, stark trees, towering grey apartment buildings. I missed green! I missed beauty!

A thought suddenly came to me: “Perhaps you’re looking for beauty in the wrong places. There is beauty in winter, even if it’s a different beauty to summer.” The thought felt like a playful challenge from God. How could I widen my perspective?

On my commute the next day, I looked out the train window at the trees and fields. Yes, they were brown and bare. But the branches made striking shapes and patterns against the vibrant blue sky. Tall, golden grasses waved at the edges of the fields. They glowed when the sunlight hit them just right. Even the endless browns had variegated shades. There was beauty here, after all; I just needed the eyes to see it.

Some seasons of our lives feel like winter—long, cold, bleak, seemingly unproductive. We may miss the beauties and abundance we experienced in our “spring” or “fall.” But what if God is inviting us to look again and find hidden gifts and loveliness in this season?

Winter is a time of rest and retreat for the Earth, and there is a beauty in that. We, too, need time to slow down, contemplate, and refresh our energies, especially in harder seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) reminds us that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Perhaps in this winter, God is inviting you to pause. Jesus Christ’s invitation to His disciples then could also be an invitation to you now. He said in Mark 6:31 (NIV), “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

As much as there is beauty in slowing down, it may feel frustrating to experience disruption to our plans and productivity. But God can give us new opportunities in winter.

The apostle Paul experienced a literal “wintering” on his way to Rome. His ship faced winds and storms as the crew searched for a suitable harbor to winter in (Acts 27:1-26). Eventually, after lost time and even a dramatic shipwreck, Paul and the other passengers and sailors arrived in Malta (Acts 27:27 – Acts 28:2). The islanders showed them “unusual kindness” (Acts 28:2). Paul healed the sick father of the island’s chief and then healed all the other sick islanders too (Acts 28:7-9). And, as Luke reports in Acts 28:10 (NIV), the islanders “honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.”

Even though the winter storm threw the ship off course, this disruption ultimately led to blessings for both Paul and the islanders. What unexpected blessing—or opportunities to bless others—might be waiting in the disruptions of our winter?

Winter may indeed seem bleak at times, but there are gifts here still, because the Creator makes everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Let’s Pray: Father God, winter feels long and frustrating. Sometimes it’s hard to see goodness in this season. Renew our perspective! Open our eyes to the beauty and blessings that you have prepared for us even here. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection #1: “Winter Snow” by Chris Tomlin feat. Audrey Assad. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #2: “In His Time” by Maranatha Music. Listen to it here.

Song of Reflection #3: “Shelter” by Pat Barrett. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Lynette Allcock Yoon is a writer, teacher, and former radio host. 

She grew up in three countries and now lives in South Korea with her husband.

Lynette writes about life abroad, faith, and relationships from an expat, Third Culture Kid (TCK) perspective.

Outside of work, Lynette enjoys musical theatre and long walks with good friends.

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Connect with Lynette:
Website: https://www.lynetteallcock.com/

Devotionals for the Heart: When God gives you good things to enjoy in life

When God Gives You Good Things

A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”—Psalm 103:2-5 (NIV)

Isn’t it wonderful to pause and smell the ocean? To take in a pasture scene with grazing cows and sheep? To observe a newborn baby with his or her mommy? Or to take that first bite of a luscious lasagna complete with herbs and cheese?

There is something so satisfying about these things. The sea salt scented air is breathtaking and soothing all at once. It smells like home for me because I grew up in Southern California with all its beautiful beaches. Nothing can quite replace that scene or nature-made fragrance.

These places are not forgotten because they are etched into my heart and into my mind. They bring up feelings of peace, joy and fun for me. How about you? When you need to escape the doldrums of reality (such as our commute to work, the piles of laundry, the stack of dirty dishes), are you able to recall a place that brings you joy and a smile?

King David, who prior to becoming a king, spent his time as a shepherd, wrote Psalm 103. He begins this Psalm with a call to remembrance of all God’s benefits. Not some, but all. That is a lot of remembering. One of the things David wants us to remember is God satisfying our desires with good things. Notice it is not just one desire, but multiple ones.

What are you desiring right now? A good job? Better communication in your family? Restored relationships? A few more dollars leftover at the end of the month instead of leftover month at the end of your dollars? God does satisfy our desires with good things. The Bible says every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of the heavenly lights (James 1:17). God still gives good gifts in this modern day. He meets our needs, but even more, He satisfies our longings, our desires, the deep cravings of our heart.

What are you craving? Yes, there are the “here and now” things, but do you have a deep desire you have shared with no one because it seems absurd? Audacious? Far out there? Have you spoken these out loud to God? He already knows, but He loves to be included in your thoughts and dreams. It is how God shows you His love and direction. He demonstrates His provision and His goodness.

Are you experiencing a season of silence from God? Have you been praying for things for quite a while and yet no answer is the answer? I’ve been there—for five long years, at one point in my life. God was silent even though I wasn’t. I still read the Bible, prayed, went to church, and served, but there was this void in my life because I wasn’t hearing the voice of God.

Looking back, I can see He was there, but without words. He was enjoying my presence and wanting me to do the same with Him. I’ll admit I did a lot of complaining because I felt words were necessary, but it turns out they are not.

God satisfied me by sustaining me through that time with more than I could ask for—a place to hide in, a shelter, and a strong tower. A yoke to step into, and a green pasture to lie down in. He gave me water from a Rock, and faith handcrafted by His Son, just for me. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus Christ is the Author of our faith. Because of this, we can rest assured Jesus created our faith and He is daily writing our faith journey with Him and giving us what we need to trust Him.

God is good and He does good (Psalm 119:68). Always. He wants us to acknowledge this and to live in faith knowing that whether we choose to see the good does not negate the good He is and does. Let us recognize God’s loving hand in our lives and forget not all His benefits—all of them—and thank Him for all of it. It starts here with a heart of thankfulness. At the end of our time of thanking and remembering, God is there, meeting our desires.

If you’re in a season where you don’t hear God’s voice or receive answers from Him when you pray, just hold on and keep praying. He will provide in His perfect time. God is never late!

Let’s Pray: God, sometimes I forget all Your benefits. I look at the immediate, but You have been there all along taking care of my needs and even my wants. Thank You for blessing me with good and perfect gifts from above. Help me to see them as from Your mighty, powerful and loving hand of provision that is perfectly fashioned just for me. Thank You for satisfying my desires with Your goodness.

Song of Reflection: “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Kerry Sue’s life is very full because she is a wife and Marmee to three adult children—two of whom are married—and a new grandson. 

Kerry Sue met her husband in college and served on the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 24 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s. Whether it’s singing in the church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for four years, and a devotional writer for more than two years.

Kerry Sue feels led to write about finding God’s Sovereignty in our suffering because of her own ongoing journey of more than four years, with the hope to encourage others.

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Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sovereignblog

Devotionals for the Heart: God loves the original you He created you to be

Loving My Oddities Like God Does
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Have you ever noticed that the little personal oddities and quirks we bring to our family or friendship group are a lot like the gifts we bring to the Kingdom of Heaven?

Recently, my family—four teens, my husband, and me—went bowling for the first time in ages. Our oldest was home from college on spring break, and we had so much fun. About halfway through, I just started laughing to myself. That’s because every one of our family members has a different style, and they’re all hilarious.

Our youngest, a football player, brings all his muscle power to the table, but he does this little leap at the end that almost makes throwing the ball look like a dance.

Our second youngest walks up to the very edge to the line and then she stands there, swinging the ball vigorously back and forth before launching it. Her sister, our second oldest, does what I can only call “the thump”—sort of dropping the ball and letting the weight of it slowly gain momentum as it rolls toward the pins (more often than not, she hits dead center). Our oldest, the family perfectionist, approaches the game much like you’d expect—with laser precision, which sometimes results in a strike and sometimes not.

My husband brings his boundless enthusiasm to the game, and me? I’m wildly inconsistent. I switch up balls every other turn, trying different weights and finger holes. Sometimes I use my left hand just for variety, and sometimes I get a strike while sometimes it’s a gutter. I’m all over the map.

It occurred to me driving home that it’s much like the different spiritual gifts we all have. A lot of our gifts are really different—some of us are healers, some are teachers, and some encouragers. Some of us are leaders, while some of us serve quietly in the background with as little notice as possible, thank you very much. Others bring infectious joy to a group, while others have deep wells of compassion and mercy.

Can you imagine how boring it would be if every single one of us were the same? If each of us looked the same, spoke the same, and brought the same gifts to the world? How monotonous! How tedious!

Yet sometimes we human beings act like all we want is conformity. We want all our students to act the same way in the classroom and our political leaders to be the same. We think sometimes that there is one standard for beauty instead of celebrating what makes us different.

What makes us different also makes us special. It’s also something God designed on purpose. He likes those quirks, those oddities, those differences. He likes the things about us we sometimes try to conceal, thinking they’re so strange and different. Those are the things he likes best, perhaps.

Why does it take us so long to recognize this? Some of us go to lengths to tuck away and hide the seemingly strange or unique aspects of our personalities or skills or looks instead of simply owning and celebrating them. I speak from experience—I spent a long time molding myself into what I was certain would be “socially acceptable” and “pleasing”, only to finally realize what I liked best about myself were the things that made me different, for they were what helped make me, well. Me. And guess what? Others liked the real me, too, when she finally came out of hiding. Maybe not everyone did, but by then I wasn’t too worried about pleasing everyone else, only about pleasing God.

Sometimes we think there’s one standard of a successful or blessed life, too—someone happily married with children and eventually grandchildren, living their best life with money in the bank and a neat home and investments and a career at a job we’ve worked at all our lives. Yet that doesn’t have anything to do with success. Just like our gifts and our looks, our blessings look quite different, too, and yet all are good!

Today, remember this: God loves you, quirks and all. He loves the real you—makeup free and just waking up in the morning. You are precious to Him because He made you, and you belong to Him.

Consider the words of Psalm 139:1-6 (NIV): “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

And because You (God) love me, because You loved creation in the first place, I, too, can share love with others in your name. Amen, and thanks be to God.

Let’s Pray: Lord, thank You for your great love for the world and for me. Help me to appreciate the quirks and oddities about myself, knowing that You created these differences intentionally and with love and care. Please help me to appreciate the differences of others all around me. All of us were created by You, and You are only and always good. In your holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Many Gifts, One Spirit” by Allen Pote. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning journalist, author, blogger, editor, writing coach, and devotional writer with thousands of articles to her name. 

Since 2010, she has served as the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won 123 journalism awards during her tenure. Her latest book is Preparing Our Hearts: An Advent Devotional to Draw Closer to God at Christmas.

Jessica has won more than 100 writing awards. She is a seasoned speaker and frequent contributor to Christianity.com, BibleStudyTools.com, and Crosswalk.com, among many others. She has a weekly faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com and is part of the team at Wholly Loved Ministries, with her work included in many of their devotionals and Bible studies.

She’s also produced a free eBook, A God-Centered Life: 10 Faith-Based Practices When You’re Feeling Anxious, Grumpy, or Stressed.

Brodie holds a Master of Arts in English, and she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in communications/print journalism from Florida International University. Born and raised in Miami, Brodie now lives in Lexington, South Carolina, just outside Columbia. She has also lived in Ohio and in the mountains of western North Carolina. She and her husband, Matt Brodie, have a blended family of four teenage children and stepchildren.

Brodie has written several novels and is actively seeking publication through her agent Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency. Her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for Contemporary Fiction from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Tangled Roots won a third place Foundation Award in Contemporary Romance at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in 2019. She is finishing the third in the series, Hidden Seeds, now.

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Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicabrodie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorjessicajbrodie/
Twitter: https://x.com/JessicaJBrodie
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jessicajbrodie
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicajbrodie/
Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/jessica-brodie
Download her free e-book:
https://www.jessicabrodie.com/ebook-god-centered

Devotionals for the Heart: Life lessons learned from traveling across Texas

Storehouses New and Old
A devotional by Karen Marstaller

He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”—Matthew 13:52 (NIV)

As a young teenager, I had the opportunity to travel across the state of Texas by myself on a train! My boarding time was around 10:00 p.m. from Alpine, down near the Big Bend, and we finally arrived in Beaumont the next day. It was only about seventeen hours of travel, but it was an even longer journey of the heart.

When the sun came up that morning, we were still in the arid region of the state. Mesquite trees, greasewood, and sage were the only vegetation. It looked the same as my hometown of Van Horn, only flatter. I paid little attention to the view outside and took a little nap.

After a brief doze in the hot, dry air, I awoke to a sight never to be forgotten. The greenest trees I’d ever seen grew all along the great railway and there was no sign of an irrigation ditch, let alone a water hose. We even passed a school with a beautifully manicured lawn, and they weren’t even watering it! I couldn’t believe my eyes. As the miles rushed along, my face was glued to the scenery right outside my window. It was like racing through the Garden of Eden.

Later I grew up and moved away from my home in the desert, and eventually settled down in central Texas. The trees and grass and flowers flourish here, and I’m still amazed at the natural beauty of growing things in my backyard.

But part of me still longs for the scenes of my childhood. My heart cherishes the lessons I learned. Honesty and integrity. Helpfulness and neighborliness. A love of a challenge and, win or lose, good sportsmanship. A handshake is your word, and a promise made is a promise kept.

Added to that is the person I’ve become with the help of the Lord. A wife and mother. A teacher and mentor. A friend and confidante. A lover of God and a lover of the people He has created. And in my heart is something new, too. Joy and peace. Gentleness and kindness. Faith, hope, and love—the love of the Lord that is always more than any of us can imagine.

Both parts, the old and the new, come together more each day. The radiant sunsets that turn the desert hills a rosy pink are a favorite memory. And the plop of a fish on a misty morning lakeside brings a smile. The child who sat on the hot sand to sketch a picture of snow-capped peaks far to the western horizon is the same child in the woman who sits beneath a massive live oak to write a story of an imagined time. The old and the new. Both treasures of sweet moments that are to be cherished for a lifetime.

Granted, not every treasure is a pleasant one. The times of pain and suffering are also in the chest. But today is a time of rejoicing; it’s a day to remember and to bow in grateful adoration to the great God of Heaven and Earth. So, we reach deep into the storehouses of our days, and we give thanks to God who the Father of us all for giving both sorrow and beauty.

A remembered joy is to be shared. As we go through this day, let us give to others what has so freely been given to us. We pass along God’s provision, His patience, His tender mercy, and always, we love as He loves us—openly, joyfully, lavishly. I can only imagine God speaking to us like so: “Go,” He says to our hearts, “Go and teach My people to follow Me.” That is the message our Lord wants us to share.

Let’s Pray: Dear Lord, the God of all creation, we lift our storehouses to You. Please use them as You see fit and help us to love one another. In the great name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “The Maker” by Chris August. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Karen Marstaller is a retired high school teacher who spent most of her career challenging creative students to write. Her heart is for her readers. 

She writes to encourage them, to make them laugh, to show them that life is a beautiful journey, and regardless of their past, to show them that there is joy ahead if they will just keep looking.

Karen and her husband live in central Texas in a sweet little home that they completely remodeled. They enjoy spending time with their family, which includes seven precious grandchildren.

Most of all, Karen writes in obedience to the command to love your neighbor, to offer a cup of water to those who are dying of thirst, and to comfort others with the comfort she has received.

You can reach Karen by emailing her at this address: klmarstaller@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Reflections on Mother's Day and leaving a legacy

Living a Legacy
A devotional by Joy Beless

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”—Proverbs 31:30 (NLT)

May 12 was Mother’s Day in the United States and Canada.

It is a time to set aside to remember to call or visit your mom—perhaps even send a bouquet of flowers and let them know how much we love and appreciate them! For some, Mother’s Day is complicated and triggers a whole punchbowl of emotions.

Although not the norm, it worked out for some of our family to celebrate together. Four generations of women laughed, told stories, and absorbed the moment—with the newest being two months old and the oldest 87.

There are a lot of opinions and ideas about what being a woman encompasses, one popular idea is from the long-standing Maybelline beauty product slogan, “Maybe she’s born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.” Another idea is about experiencing “Real Beauty” when you use Dove (brand) bar soap. Media and movies portray popular stereotypes for women—perfect body size, flawless complexion, flowing hair, always youthful, healthy and fit, yet somehow juggling it all.

The Bible also has plenty to say to guide and encourage us in every area of life—including this one. A famous passage about women is Proverbs 31:10-31, noted in the Bible as “The Wife of Noble Character.” It is all-encompassing and can seem overwhelming unless we view it as a description over a lifetime rather than a snapshot. One of my favorite verses (for any woman and not just for mothers) is Proverbs 31:25 (NIV) that says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

I’m thankful my mother has lived this out for me. One of four daughters born to a farming and ranching family, Mom had plenty of chores to do inside and outside. A favorite story shared is about her wedding day to my father. She had a daily chore of milking the cows every evening for their dairy business. This chore could not be missed or skipped over, even on her wedding day. A neighbor saw her milking and thought the wedding was called off. Nope, she just had to take care of the cows first! We laugh every time she tells this story.

More recently, I witnessed my mother's strength and faith as she cared for my father in his last years after suffering several strokes and losing mobility. As dreams for their future were worn away into daily caregiving tasks, Mom continued to do what she could on the farm and care for my dad. Those were difficult years and she could have understandably become bitter. Instead, she clung to her faith, family, and her church community for support. My father did pass away eventually, and Mom made the difficult transition into widowhood and a new chapter of life. She currently is “laughing at the days to come” as she leads a grandparent’s prayer group and chapel in her residential senior community.

What have I learned from Mom about strength, dignity, and looking forward with confidence in the days ahead? Here’s a shortlist:

*Strength begins by leaning on Jesus in the small obstacles and difficulties as we build up to the larger waves that knock us down. It is the “prayer without ceasing” that builds a habit of praying when we are at the end of ourselves.

*Dignity is synonymous with honor and is earned through small actions and speech that are full of grace and truth. It is cloaked in humility and the fruit of the Spirit that is attractive to be around. A life of honesty and integrity in the small and big experiences and daily decisions.

*“Laughing at the days ahead” is being confident that no matter what may come you can trust the Lord with the outcome–even one of hardship and grief. You are seen by a loving God and never alone, even in the darkest of nights.

*We move through the valleys of hardship and loss and will reach the other side of hope.

As we gathered over Mother’s Day this year, I looked around at the women surrounding me. My mother and mother-in-law are both 85, my aunt is 87, my two daughters (32 and 30) and their children (2 months, 1 year old and age 13), and I realize I’ve received a legacy of strength and dignity. The choice is mine to make whether to stand on the foundation of God’s Word, pray without ceasing, walk in humility, honesty, and integrity–to continue the legacy (or for some to begin the legacy).

Oh, how deceptive and fleeting beauty and charm are. A futile race of time and resources to run. Like my mom, I want to embrace the youngest little one in our family and laugh at the days to come–whatever they might be.

Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us how to live life abundantly. You know the ups and downs of life and never leave us but guide us through to the other side. It is because of You that we can laugh at the days to come! In Jesus’s Name, I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “Legacy” by Nichole Nordeman. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

Joy Beless is a worshipper of God and lover of people. 

A practicing Spiritual Director, she is a speaker for retreats and conferences and facilitates guided solitude retreats at the family ranch in North Texas.

A seasoned worship leader and songwriter, she frequently weaves worship, God’s Word and spiritual practices together. She is a chapel provider for a shelter for the houseless and a certified Grief and Trauma Healing Facilitator. Serving at global retreats for Kingdom-minded women delights her soul.

She has written for Global Trellis and Missio Nexus. She connects God’s Word with the reality of our daily in all the ups and downs.

Joy is married to Roger. They live in Coppell (Texas). Joy is called "JoJo" by her nine adorable grandchildren. She enjoys the outdoors and encourages flowers to grow in the Texas heat.

~*~
Connect with Joy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joy.beless
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joy.beless/
Website: www.joybeless.org

Devotionals for the Heart: God can turn your brokenness into beauty

A Good Work
A devotional by Kerry Sue Teravskis

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”—Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

It’s hard to be confident in our comparison-heavy society.

Mustering up courage is a monumental feat. Standing your ground in knowing that God is true, faithful and for us, can be a challenge. We can succumb to the challenge more than we realize.

Not that we intentionally succumb, but we allow ourselves to entertain subtle lies from the enemy that erode our confidence in God.

How can we overcome? For starters, we can note the promises of God as we find them in Scripture and record them in an accessible place to go to when the doubts or lies creep in. We need to immerse ourselves in the Truth.

Once we have this going, we can begin to see what God is capable of and is already doing in our lives for His glory. One of those things is working good in us. He is doing a good work in us. He is molding us and making us into the image of His Son. He is sloughing off the rough edges and causing us to shine more brilliant with His light.

He is allowing us to be a broken vessel so more light will shine through to reach more people, the people who need to hear how God is working through each of us. Our story may not be for everyone, but that is God’s decision. We need to be a willing vessel to let Him work in us.

I will admit being a broken vessel is painful. I’ve been in suffering for more than three years and it does not get easier with each passing day. It gets harder. New realities set in, old habits die hard and expectations either go unmet or unnoticed.

But God allows brokenness in us to shine His light brighter. It is when we are weak, He is strong in us. When we admit our weakness and boast about our weaknesses as the Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, we boast so the power of Jesus Christ may rest upon us. We admit our brokenness to a lost and hurting world so God can use our vulnerability to minister to others.

Aren’t you more attracted to the one who is vulnerable, weak and honest? Doesn’t the mere message of humility shine forth from one who recognizes God’s work and knows this work is good?

God’s work is good. It may be hard. Even excruciating, but it is good. Our loving Father calls it good. If we look closely at Philippians 1:6, we see that He is working in us. Circumstances can be quite difficult around us, but God will use them to do the good work in our hearts, minds, souls and strength. He is causing all things to work together for our good through Christ Jesus (Romans 8:28).

He is good and does good things for our good (Psalm 119:68). And He is working good in our hearts. That’s a lot of good. I happen to circle the word good every time I see it in my Bible because I want to see it and remember and be comforted in knowing His goodness is here for me.

With God working good in us, one fruit displayed by the Spirit is goodness (Galatians 5:22) pouring out for all to see. By walking in the Spirit and allowing God to have access to our hearts, we in turn can be used as a light with fruit demonstrating to others the good work He is doing in our lives. God is continuing this work and will not be done until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6).

What God has set out to do He will complete, and He will do this in His goodness.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for being good. This is so reassuring in this topsy-turvy world because I can trust in Your faithfulness to be the same, always. May I allow You to carry on the good work in my life and may I truly boast of my weaknesses and my brokenness so Your light will shine brighter to those around. May my thoughts center on You and Your goodness and not on my brokenness because I truly want all the glory to be Yours. In the Name of Your Son, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

~*~
Song of Reflection: “All Things Are Working” by Fred Hammond. Listen to it here.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a wife and Marmee to three adult children and one brand new daughter-in-love, Kerry Sue’s life is very full. She met her husband in college and served in the mission field with him for a few years before settling down back in the United States of America to raise their family.

Kerry Sue’s family was a homeschooling family for 20 years and they enjoyed it immensely. For the last 23 years they have lived on a small farm in Northern California where they have raised many farm animals, along with growing and preserving their food. Kerry Sue’s family farm has been a great source of enjoyment and a place to host many family gatherings. She maintains an open-door policy for dear friends—old and new.

Following and serving Jesus Christ is an integral part of Kerry Sue’s life as well as her family’s.

Whether it’s singing in our church choir, teaching children or leading and lecturing at a women’s Bible study, Kerry Sue loves to demonstrate her love for Jesus by giving to Him in service. She’s been a blogger for more than eight years, a Bible study writer for two years, and a devotional writer for about one year.

Kerry Sue writes about finding God’s Sovereignty in our pain and suffering.

~*~
Connect with Kerry:
Blog: https://www.sovereignblog.com/home
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.teravskis
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ksteravskis/

Devotionals for the Heart: True Beauty

You’ve Got the Look
A devotional by Cyndi Staudt

“When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.”– Exodus 34:29 (NLT)

I’ve never been good at doing my makeup … or my hair.

In fact, beauty skills have eluded me my whole life and I grew up never feeling fully “girlie”.

When I would have a dance recital or, as I got older, an aerial performance, I vividly remember being backstage getting ready while many girls came in with large makeup cases full of foundation and false lashes, brightly-colored shadows and glittered glosses, leaving me feeling completely inadequate.

I remember venturing out to buy myself a trendy case of my own, filling it with all the goodies a girlie makeup case needed (and the sales girl recommended). Next performance, as I sat in front of the lighted mirrors, I proudly opened my metallic treasure box, dreaming of stepping onto the stage where I would no doubt stand out wearing my face that was sure to look like a Michelangelo masterpiece. I quickly realized I had no clue how to apply this smorgasbord of face paints. So back to the store I went.

A kind sales lady with a flawless face painted me up. She then proceeded to take a piece of paper with a diagram of a face and step-by-step colored that piece of paper with each of the items she used on me. Surely I would join the ranks of supermodel armed with my products and paint-by-number instructions. It was foolproof! But apparently not Cyndi-proof. Somehow I felt like I always looked like the toddler that had gotten into her mom’s makeup stash. Sigh. 

Did you know on average, women will spend approximately $300,000 on makeup in their lifetime? Just as interesting, the average woman spends 29 minutes per day applying make-up in order to achieve a “natural look”. Wait, what? What if we spent that 29 minutes in the Word instead? Or that money on Kingdom pursuits? Or at least some of it.

While it’s okay to want to look nice, the Bible has some great advice when it comes to our appearance. And we would benefit from not just reading these verses, but taking time to let them really sink in. 1 Peter 3:3-5a (NLT) says, “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful.” With my makeup skills, or lack thereof, this is a plan I can get behind and maybe even get good at.

It’s no secret spending quiet time with the Lord is good for our soul and spirit. However, the Bible shows us repeatedly how time with the Lord can dramatically, and visibly, change our outward appearance as well. Numerous verses throughout the Bible reveal to us how others were able to visibly see a difference in those who spent time in the Lord’s presence. Countless other verses give us insight on this matter. Read these verses, for example: Luke 2:9, Psalms 50:2, and Psalm 80:3.

Just like Moses who spent time on Mt. Sinai in God’s Presence (Exodus 34:29), others can tell when we have been spending time with the Lord (and when we haven’t for that matter). Though they might not be able to put their finger on exactly what is different, they recognize something is different. These are some ways that people know something is different about you: You have a “certain glow”. You remain calm under the pressures of work. You seem to have a gravitational pull that makes others want to be around you or share their worries and struggles with you.

While they may not know what the difference is, we do. And it can be summed up in one word: Jesus. As you pray in God’s Holy Spirit, you begin to fill with the unmistakable presence of God that emanates from within and shines for all the world to see. And as you read through the promises of God, you get the confidence and reassurance that you are not alone and the worry lines begin to soften on your face. It’s like natural Botox only better because it’s free and you can access it daily for a touch up anytime!

So next time you are craving a spa day for relaxation, restoration, and a rejuvenating facial but don’t want to spend $250 or more on a spa package, just open the Word of God (The Holy Bible) and enter into God’s presence. You may just come out of your prayer room looking like a Spirit-filled supermodel!

Let’s Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for being the Master Aesthetician. Help us to turn to You and Your Word for the rejuvenation and replenishment our bodies and spirits crave. Remind us that nothing in this world will ever satisfy us or develop in us the qualities and characteristics that You can and will, if we simply seek You with our whole hearts. Give us hearts that always seek more of You and a soul that longs to be near You. And when we finish our time with you, let us relish in the internal serenity and outward radiance that is evidence of time spent in Your presence. In the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.

*Note from Alexis: Cyndi's devotional today reminds me of the song, "Alone in The Presence" by CeCe Winans. Listen to it here.

~*~

Author Bio:

Cyndi Staudt is a Jesus-loving, adrenaline junkie who is devoted to living her life for Jesus Christ until the day she is living with Him.

With a passion for cultivating a craving for God’s Word, her devotions and Bible studies are saturated with faith and hope to stir your soul to connect with God in deeper, more intimate ways.

Through her writing she hopes to ignite your desire to read God’s Word, invite your heart to experience God’s love, and inspire you to live your live life “souled out” to the One whose love has no limits.

~*~
Connect with Cyndi:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/souledoutcyndi/

12 Days of Christmas Joy: The Prince’s Fake Fiancée (book) by Darcy Flynn

Interview with Darcy Flynn about her book, 

The Prince’s Fake Fiancée:

Alexis: Why did you write this Christmas holiday story?

Darcy: I’ve always loved any news about the royal family in England and having lived there for a year with my husband, I became even more enamored. I’d been brainstorming ideas for a Christmas story and my love for all things royal seemed to be a great place to start. I’ve always enjoyed Cinderella retellings, as well, so it seemed only natural to combine the two. My stories tend to lean toward more light-hearted, romantic comedy themes, so I let my heart guide me from there.

Alexis: Tell me about your story’s heroine, Samantha Keller. What does she look like? Sound like? Act like? Believe in? What are her deepest desires and most obvious weaknesses?

Darcy: Samantha is a no-frills kind of gal. Having been compared with her beautiful stepsister since childhood, she’s grown to accept her looks with practical indifference. As a girl from Queens, New York, she’s not afraid to speak her mind, nor is she afraid of work. She has a deep desire to protect others, even those who’ve been unkind to her and who have taken advantage of her.

Alexis: Why does Samantha love her job? What is her role? Is she good at her job? Explain.

Darcy: Wearing a badge affirms her desire to protect and serve others. Even though she is no longer with the New York Police Department, she’s still able to protect clients through the security firm she works for. She is conscientious and takes her role with the firm seriously.

Alexis: Why does Samantha enjoy being unnoticed and overlooked by most people, especially men?

Darcy: After her father’s death, during her childhood, Samantha came to accept the continued and sometimes hurtful comparisons with her gorgeous stepsister. As a practical girl, she accepted her looks as less than those of the beautiful Tiffany. She convinced herself she was okay with that and being a young woman of character she found other things in life far more important than preening over one’s looks and going out of one’s way to attract a man. She found it safer and less painful to hide behind her no make-up, “Plain Jane” façade.

Alexis: Tell me about your story’s hero, Prince Marcus de Blecourt of Sterlyn. What does he look like? Sound like? Act like? Believe in? What are his strongest features and most noticeable flaws?

Darcy: Prince Marcus is dark-haired and enormously handsome. He’s tall and physically fit, and a polo player like his father before him. When he speaks, his deep voice is every girl’s dream of what a prince should sound like. He believes in the Crown and the Sterlyn’s monarchy. His father’s death was difficult for him and without his presence and guidance, Marcus found, that in some areas, he’d lost his way. On the surface he presents utmost decorum and respectability…until he doesn’t, of course. And that’s usually when he’s traveling abroad doing his best to put an end to Lady Pricilla’s determination to marry him.

Alexis: How does Samantha feel when she learns that she has been assigned to guard a playboy prince?

Darcy: Samantha has mixed emotions upon discovering she’s to guard Prince Marcus. At first, she refuses, but when that refusal threatens her job, she relents. She’d grown up crushing on the poster of the prince that hung in her bedroom throughout her teen years, but as she followed his life and career she’d become disappointed at his playboy lifestyle in his adult years.

Alexis: What is the prince’s first impression of Samantha? Does that ever change? If so, how and why?

Darcy: He sees a very plain, unremarkable looking woman, but he’s intrigued by her forthright attitude and the fact that’s she’s not at all impressed by his royal standing in the world. He finds it refreshing that she speaks her mind. He begins to see in her a rare beauty and is amazed she thinks so poorly of her looks.

Alexis: Why doesn’t Prince Marcus like the lady who his family wants him to marry?

Darcy: Lady Pricilla Rothschild is perfect in every way…outwardly. But she is a snob and at times says cruel things about others. She openly admits their marriage would be one of convenience and is more enamored about the position she’d hold as Princes of Sterlyn than any love for him. She is fond of him, of course, but that simply isn’t enough for Prince Marcus.

Alexis: How does Samantha compare to the woman who the prince’s family chose for him?

Darcy: They are complete opposites in the looks department and even more so in their character. Samantha thinks of others and goes out of her way to be kind and thoughtful. Pricilla thinks only of herself and her position in society. She has little use for those she feels are beneath her.

Alexis: Why does Marcus think he has to turn Samantha into a supermodel?

Darcy: Marcus is used to wealth and position that comes with his office as Prince of Sterlyn. In trying to thwart Lady Pricilla and his mother’s insistence he marry Pricilla his plan when he travels is to be seen with a beautiful woman by his side—to set the press to speculation as to who his “latest” is. Samantha’s no fuss – no frill façade would never do. He must keep up appearances for his ruse to work. Who would believe it, otherwise?

Alexis: What brings Samantha and Marcus together then what threatens to tear them apart?

Darcy: The Queen’s hiring her through Colfax Security brings them together. There is something in Samantha’s past that threatens to tear them apart. This comes to light by the scheming duo of Lady Pricilla and her stepsister, Tiffany.

Alexis: Why did you choose New York as the setting for this story? What makes it a special place for your main characters in this story?

Darcy: There’s something about New York City at Christmas time. I’ve had several visits there at Christmas and it is one of the most spectacular and festive places I’ve ever seen during the holidays. Truly magical.

Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about this holiday story?

Darcy: I’d like for my readers to remember two things: #1: Angels are real. #2: That God doesn’t give us dreams to frustrate us, but to motivate and inspire us. Dreams are what keep us positive and hopeful, anticipating what very well may come. They get us through disappointments and the rough patches in life and who knows, an angel may even help us along the way.

Alexis: Did you play Christmas music while writing this story? If so, which song was your favorite and how did it inspire your storytelling?

Darcy: I’ve read of authors who listen to music as they write, but I’m not one of them. I tend to prefer quite as I write. I do occasionally create playlists to help set a mood or inspire my writing, but I didn’t for this book.

Alexis: What is your favorite Christmas holiday treat? Did it help you while writing this story? If so, explain.

Darcy: Caramel cake is a holiday favorite in my home. It was the perfect dessert for Miss Ellie to serve Samantha and Prince Marcus in her attic apartment.

Alexis: If you could give one of your characters a Christmas gift, what would it be? Why?

Darcy: I’d have Samantha give her stepmother a book of memories, but only the good ones. Sometimes memory loss needs a little help.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Darcy. Merry Christmas!

~*~
Author Bio:

Award-Winning Author Darcy Flynn, is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. 

Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.

Darcy lives with her husband and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She stargazes on warm summer nights and occasionally indulges in afternoon tea.

Although, published in the Christian non-fiction market under her real name, Joy Griffin Dent, it was the empty nest that turned her to writing romantic fiction. Proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.

~*~
Blurb for Darcy's book:

No nonsense, Samantha Keller loves her job at Colfax Security Agency. 

The no-frills environment is the perfect compliment to her simple hair cut and no makeup lifestyle. After living in the shadows of her glamorous but hateful stepsister for so many years, Samantha’s quite content to be unnoticed and overlooked.

When she discovers her latest assignment is to guard a popular playboy prince, she’s anything but elated. Even worse, when she finally meets him, she learns her job has nothing to do with protection.

Prince Marcus de Blecourt of Sterlyn is looking forward to visiting New York on what could be his last trip abroad as a single man. But he hasn’t given up his freedom yet. This trip could be the perfect opportunity to thwart the family’s ‘arrangements’ with Lady Pricilla Rothschild.

Prince Marcus is anything but impressed with the unattractive woman from a security firm who arrives as his escort. Unless he can turn her into a super model overnight, it will take a minor miracle to pull off his plan. But when he learns who’s responsible for the setup, he’s even more determined to succeed. He decides to turn the tables, only to find the tables have indeed already turned…but on him.

~*~
Buy Darcy's book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble

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Connect with Darcy:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarcyFlynnAuthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2975929.Darcy_Flynn
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dflynnauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/darcyflynn/

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

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Little Lamb Book Spotlight on "God’s Blessings of Fall (Bountiful Blessings)"

Interview with Jean Matthew Hall about her book, 

God’s Blessings of Fall (Bountiful Blessings):

Congratulations on writing this book “God’s Blessings of Fall” for children! Let’s talk about it …

Alexis: Why did you write this book?

Jean: I love God’s creation in the natural world. I find the Fall season to be especially beautiful. I want young children to appreciate the beauty and gifts of Fall, too.

Alexis: What was your inspiration behind this story?

Jean: When my grandson, Mikey, was about four years old we were playing in my backyard one fall day. He was so delighted by the falling leaves and having such a wonderful time that I wanted to capture that feeling for other children.

Alexis: Why did you choose the Fall season to be the theme of this book?

Jean: There are four books in the Bountiful Blessings series. God’s Blessings of Fall was the first one we published. Hopefully the next book will be coming out soon.

Alexis: How does your real-life faith in God impact your storytelling?

Jean: Wow! That’s a mouthful. Every manuscript comes out of the mind God gave me, the imagination He blessed me with, the hope and joy and peace He gives me. I hope the manuscripts all reflect His gifts, His love, His redemption to those who read them.

Alexis: What role does belief in God play in this fictional story?

Jean: The animals, the colors, the signs of the season of fall are all gifts to us from God’s Hand. I don’t think I can write anything without remembering that it all comes from Him.

Alexis: How do you tell this story? Do you use main characters or do you tell it through your voice as the narrator speaking about all of the elements that make up the Fall season?

Jean: I told this story as a narrator. I am trying to give the reader a panoramic view of the natural world around them in the Fall of the year.

Alexis: What lessons are you trying to teach children through this book?

Jean: That all the beauty around us is a gift from our loving God. It all flows from His creative heart to ours.

Alexis: In what ways do you hope that parents will bond with their children as they read this book?

Jean: Each great picture book is designed to be an experience shared between adult and child. I hope many parents and grandparents spend chilly afternoons cuddled up with their kids, reading and oohing and ah-ing over God’s Blessings of Fall. I also hope they make it a Fall family tradition to read it to their kiddos at Thanksgiving to remind their kids to be grateful to God during that season.

Alexis: What is your favorite feature about the Fall season? Why?

Jean: Oh, my goodness! The colors, the smokey/musty smells, the chilly winds, warm sweaters and hot teas.

Alexis: Do you have a favorite Fall treat that you like to indulge in every year, such as pumpkin flavored drinks from Starbucks or cinnamon apple flavored candy from the store?

Jean: I bake! During the fall I try every apple, pumpkin and squash recipe I can find. And then, I share the goodies with people I love.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Jean! Would you like to share closing comments?

Jean: Thank you, Alexis, for letting me share about God’s Blessings of Fall. Your readers can purchase it on any online book store. Or, they can go to www.littlelambbooks.com to buy it.

~*~
Author Bio:

As a pre-teen Jean dreamed of being an architect or an interior decorator. 

As a high school student she dreamed of being anything BUT a teacher. As a college student she dreamed of being a vocalist. As an “over-fifty” woman she dreamed of writing stories for children. But, as life unfolded it seemed that none of those dreams would come true.

But, Jean spent twenty-six years teaching children and teens–and loving it! Then twenty more years teaching women’s Bible studies. She never designed a house, but she lived in, and decorated on a shoestring, more than a dozen houses. She never performed before thousands, nor recorded any music. But she sang hundreds of times leading people in praise to the LORD. Now, she is working hard and trusting God to lead her down the road to traditional publication.

In 2016, Jean signed her first book contract with Little Lamb Books for the Bountiful Blessings series of four picture books about the seasons. The Blessings of Fall was released in September 2019.

Sometimes our dreams come true in ways we couldn’t imagine. Jean’s have. Jean has spent most of her adult life singing songs, reading books, playing games, cutting, coloring and gluing with children of every age. And she has loved it! Creating encouraging board books and picture books is her idea of fun, but her favorite times are those she spends with her own eight grandchildren.

Both things are HUGE blessings!

It is Jean’s daily prayer that The Christ within her shines through the cracks and broken places of her dreams, and that Christ shines through the things she writes to uplift, encourage and inspire others through: 

Poems and devotionals for adults and children 

Picture books and board books 

Stories and poems for children’s magazines

~*~
About the Book:

The whoosh of the wind, the crunch of the leaves, squirrels skittering about, the aroma of freshly baked pie: these are God's blessings of fall!

Children will love getting up close to the sights, sounds, and smells of fall. See an owl swoop to her nest in the hollow tree. Watch a mouse roll an apple all the way home. A spider weaves a web, while bear prepares for a long winter's nap.

With lyricism and whimsy, debut author Jean Matthew Hall celebrates the beauty of this magnificent season and the One who created it all.

~*~
Connect with Jean:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JeanMatthewHallAuthor/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/jean_hall/

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/jeanmatthew_hall/

Devotionals for the Heart: Flowers

Comfort Flowers
A devotional by Wade Webster

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
– 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

“Keep them coming.”

“Please keep them coming.”

This has been the most popular response to something I've been posting on Facebook recently. I knew it would help folks get through this virus quarantine. That's why I do it.

Most of these friends are either family members or folks I went to school with in Michigan. Winter is depressing enough. Early spring isn't much better. When my mom was alive she said April was her least favorite month because the snow melt leaves everything dirty until things begin to grow in May.

I moved to Texas to get away from the long, cold days that seemed to never end. October was my favorite month to drive in Michigan because of the abundance of color on display from the fall foliage. April is my favorite month to drive in Texas because of the incredible wildflower show on the roadsides.

We had a mild winter this year with plenty of rain. That makes for an especially vibrant flower show So now I stop when I safely can and take pictures of these marvels of God's creation. People are now longing for my next exposition...even Texans who are cooped up in their homes.

As a truck driver, I get paid to get out to see this color show. I know I shouldn't hog it all to myself, especially with the technology available to me these days. There were too many times in my youth I longed for a camera. Now I have one built into my phone that I carry with me. Life is good.

I know how therapeutic the flowers are to me so I share it to apply 2 Corinthians 1:4 in a very real way. God comforts me with His beauty. I then in turn comfort others with the same flowers.

This is only one way this verse can be applied. There are several hardships we endure that give us an audience that will listen to us only because we've gone through the same thing they're going through.

I'm in a couple of Christian divorced groups where I can encourage others going through this same life stage that we never expected. My encouragement is accepted because of the stories I share about my divorce.

Nothing is wasted in God's economy. God will use your pain to comfort others after you learn to trust Him more. Jesus Christ’s disciples were only beginning to grasp His resurrection the day after it occurred. Their stories now inspire us in remarkable ways.

Find those who need to hear what you've endured. You can help build their faith now.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father help us pass along the hard lessons you taught us through this life. Don’t let anything go to waste. In Jesus's name I pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Wade Webster lives with his best friend (Jesus Christ) in Plano, Texas.

He attends Stonebriar Community Church and derives most of his income from driving 18-wheelers.

He enjoys running, dark chocolate and being in nature...but not necessarily in that order.

He's the author of 100 Prayers of a Writer and blogs at http://wadewebster.com.

Devotionals for the Heart: Spiritual insight from watching pinwheels

Pinwheels
A devotional by Glynis Becker

“One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple.” –Psalm 27:4 (NASB)

Spring comes relatively late where I live. The month of March can be anything from snowy and cold like winter or rainy and warmer like spring should be. Right now there is no snow on the ground, but also no green grass or buds on the trees. There are no gardens and no flowers. Add in gray skies and the world can seem exceedingly drab.

But the other day, on my drive to work, my eyes were drawn to something colorful. I drive the same way every day, but this time I noticed a row of bright garden pinwheels planted outside a plain white house. I’m sure they’ve been there since last summer when they stood in the midst of flowers and plants. It may have been the contrast of the rainbow colors against the brown grass and the white siding, but I think what my peripheral vision really caught that day was the movement.

There was very little wind that morning, and a line of primary-colored pinwheels stood still as stone. But one, the one on the edge, spun in place. Just a few degrees off its axis and the one pinwheel that was not absolutely in line with all the others had caught the breeze and been able to accomplish what the others hadn’t: fulfilling its purpose.

What is a pinwheel meant to do? It’s not a windmill or a water wheel, so there is no energy generated when it spins. There’s really nothing for it but to catch the wind and be beautiful.

I continued to think about that pinwheel and how it compares to us as believers.

In Acts Chapter 2, the coming of the Holy Spirit is described as a “noise, like a violent rushing wind” (Acts 2:2 NASB). It’s no wonder we’ve come to think of The Spirit of God as a wind, a breeze, or a movement we feel but can’t see because it feels like the perfect analogy.

But here’s a good question: If we are all given the Holy Spirit when we become believers, why do some people seem to “catch the fire” or seem more “in tune” with the Holy Spirit than others?

Maybe, like that pinwheel, some of us have positioned ourselves just a bit differently, in order to catch the wind of whatever God is doing. So what might happen if each of us, instead of facing the same way everyone else is, turned our faces toward Him a little bit more? Would we catch a new movement of the Spirit? Would we be able to better fulfill the purpose for which we were created?

All the pinwheels are beautiful. All of us are beautiful. But when we all spin in the direction of the Holy Spirit? Well, no one will be able to look away!

Let’s Pray: Sweet Holy Spirit, turn our faces to You today. Make sure we are in tune with Your movement in the world and not going our own direction. We want to catch the fire. We want to be part of what You’re doing. Allow us to be beauty in a colorless world. We love you. In Jesus Christ’s beautiful name we pray, Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Glynis Becker writes devotions and inspirational fiction, hoping someday to have a published novel on her resume.

She has co-written several screenplays, including the film Sinking Sand, available on DVD and digital streaming.

Glynis, whose childhood was spent all over the country as an Air Force brat, has called South Dakota home for many years, along with her husband and two teenage children.

When she’s not writing or reading, she is watching more television than she should and crocheting. You can find her at www.glynisbecker.com.