Devotionals for the Heart: God's Plan

God Has A Plan
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” 

–Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)

It was “Back to School” season.

My husband and I ventured out to the store to buy some new clothes for our growing boys. We decided to go in the middle of the afternoon so that we did not have to deal with the crowds and the long lines at the register. Because we live in Florida, “Back to School” season is also the middle of hurricane season. This means heavy rain almost every afternoon.

Fortunately, sometimes the rain does not last too long. It just downpours and then moves along to another area. On this particular afternoon, the sun was shining, and the beautiful blue skies were filled with big, puffy, white clouds. But I brought my umbrella inside the store just in case.

As we were completing our purchase at the register, my husband tapped me on the shoulder and pointed to the window. I looked in dismay at the torrential rain showers that were pouring down with a fury. It had come without warning. We still had to go to the store next door, so the plan was to stay under the awning and make our way down the sidewalk.

The exit doors opened and all you could hear was the sound of the rain beating on the pavement. We stuck to the plan and made a left toward the other store, while staying close to the building and underneath the awning. On the way there, we noticed that the awning suddenly stopped. There was about 20 feet of uncovered sidewalk with puddles of rainwater everywhere.

I had my umbrella, but the wind started blowing, so I knew from experience that an open umbrella would be to no avail at this point. My husband looked at me and held my hand to prepare to run to the next store. I was not ready. I didn’t want to be soaked and risk slipping and falling in the puddles. I convinced him that we should just stay in our safe spot, under the awning, until the rain slowed down or stopped.

We were waiting for only a minute or two when the wind abruptly changed direction. Our safe spot was no longer safe. The rain we were trying to avoid was now blowing straight at us. I felt every pellet of rain against my arms, legs and face. We had no other recourse but to run to the other store, now even more soaked than if we had just run there from the beginning without stopping!

In this journey called life, there will be adversity ahead of us. In some cases, God wants us to head directly into the adversity because the experience will be to our benefit. He also knows that it will be detrimental to our well-being if we stay where we currently are instead of moving forward with His guidance. But too often we procrastinate, and we remain stagnant because of fear, doubt, or lack of trust. We would rather stay where it seems comfortable and safe, not realizing that we are delaying the journey to our destination. Sometimes we must be forced out of our safe place in order to move forward.

Through it all, God promises to be with us. He wants us to move because He has a plan, He knows the end from the beginning, and He knows what’s best for us. Our delay from lack of trust in God can be detrimental. We are more susceptible to issues and misfortune because of our decision to do things our own way instead of His way. When we truly trust in God, we will move forward without any hesitation, allowing us to experience the joy of being in His will.

Let’s Pray: Father God, thank You for caring so much about us so much that You will do whatever it takes to guide us through life. Help us to believe that Your plan is what is best for us. May we trust in You even though the path ahead seems uncertain. Help us to hold on to You as You lead the way. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

Song of Reflection: “I Know the Plans (Audrey’s Song)” by Damaris Carbaugh. Listen to it here.

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Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood.

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled, Just When I Thought I Knew God, and a children's book that is not yet published.

In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

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Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/

Devotionals for the Heart: Thrifting

Spiritual Thrifting
A devotional by Heather Martin

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” – 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)

I’m not exactly sure if they loved thrift shopping because we were poor, or they just loved the thrill of finding good things at discounted prices. Either way, it doesn’t matter. Growing up, my mother and grandmother religiously made weekly visits to two thrift stores in our neighborhood with my sisters and I in tow.

Whether it was an old book, a pair of skates, a doll, jeans, a church dress (my all time favorite one that had ruffles and a bell on the bottom), or a shirt, I always found something I just couldn’t go home without! It felt like a weekly adventure that I learned to look forward to and love! This was the beginning of my love affair with thrifting. 

I have found some of my most treasured things at the thrift store. Recently, I was so excited to find a vintage Gucci purse at the thrift store for a whopping $3! I get joy when someone walks into my house and admires this beautiful picture that I found at a thrift store. It is exhilarating! I could go on and on, but you get the point, I love thrifting!

In case you’re beginning to wonder what this has to do with God, here it comes…I highly recommend thrifting, but not when it comes to your relationship with God.

It can be so easy to go to church and listen to a sermon without going home to study the Bible for yourself. That’s spiritual thrifting. Or to listen to someone else’s testimony without being introspective. That’s spiritual thrifting. Becoming a member of a church not because you are convicted of the message, but because it is a family tradition. That’s spiritual thrifting.

Am I saying that spiritual thrifting is entirely wrong? No. I am just suggesting that the basis of our relationship with Jesus should be personal, not passed down or “thrifted.”

Don’t get me wrong, we do need and use the testimonies and experiences of others to help make us stronger, and better Christians. However, God wants each of us to have a personal relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18). He also wants us to work! 

According to 2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT), He wants us to “work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”

The God who “knows how many hairs are on our head” (Matthew 10:30) and “knew us when we were being formed in our mother’s wombs,” (Jeremiah 1:5) desires for us to know Him just as intimately and personally.

There is a gospel song that says “I had a praying grandmother,” and this is great. But will you pray? Will you study God’s Word (The Holy Bible) for yourself?

Would you want a doctor to operate on you if He could only tell you of the experiences his fellow doctors had doing the surgery? No, you’d want the doctor who actually had tons of experience doing the surgery himself to do your operation because he has an experience that equips and qualifies him for the job.

As a Christian, it is our duty not to solely rely on the testimonies and prayers of others, but to have our own personal encounters with God. It will make us more powerful and qualified to live this life, and be a witness to others.

Don’t allow your relationship with Him to be completely second-handed or thrifted. Get to know God on a first hand basis and oh, the treasure you will find!

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Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! 

She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelor's Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University.

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy-nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have four children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5.

In 2016, Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

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Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Interview with Diane Dean White, author of Winter Wonderland

It's the most wonderful time of the year, almost! Join me as we celebrate the joy of the Christmas season a few weeks early (before it all starts in December) with this interview of author Diane Dean White! 

She's stopping by the blog today to talk about her book, Winter Wonderland and to host a book giveaway contest! Yes, you guessed it, Diane is giving away one e-book copy of her book right here:

Isn't it a lovely picture for the book cover? The winner will receive their copy of Diane's book well before the 25 Days before Christmas countdown! All you have to do to enter the contest is to: 1) Leave a comment below this blog post and (2) Leave your e-mail address with your comment so we can contact you if you win the contest.

The contest starts today (Nov. 15) and will end on Sunday, Nov. 29. After an old-fashioned random drawing conducted by me (Alexis), the winner will be announced here, in the comment section of this blog post on Monday, Nov. 30.

But the first step is to read Diane's interview. Enjoy! :)

*Questions from Alexis are in bold, answers from Diane are not in bold.

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Alexis: Thanks for agreeing to this author interview, Diane!

Diane: Thank you, Alexis for inviting me into your world of readers. I hope I can contribute something worthy and put a smile on some faces.

Why don’t you start by telling my readers about yourself? What’s your passion (outside of writing)? Why did you choose a writing career? What do you love the most about being a writer? Anything you don’t like about your work as an author? Feel free to talk about your family and favorite season too!

Writing really is my biggest passion now. Our children are grown and live around the globe, and I’m fairly restricted due to a back injury, so I’m up early with my portable keyboard on my lap, on my chaise lounge in my office. I’ve written since a young age; poems first on an old Royal Manual. I did newspaper reporting when the kids were young, and then put that on hold and did my best job ever, raising our three children.

During those years I did stringer work for area newspapers, ancestral history and I wrote appeal letters for large non-profit organizations. I’ve written over 300 hundred short-stories and had a four year weekly column in a Michigan magazine. Many stories have been published in Chicken Soup for the Soul (book series), Ideals Magazine and various other books and magazines. My first book was Carolina in the Morning, written when we lived on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and loved the research that took us to Charleston.

I think what I enjoy most about writing is creating my characters and make them come alive. I feel bad when the book ends, having to say good-bye to them. I dislike mostly the promotional part. Since it’s hard for me to sit I no longer do book signings like I did for my first couple of books, and it’s something I enjoyed. Meeting people, talking and sharing with others and getting their feedback is wonderful! Now I do it via email and Facebook!

Your novel, Winter Wonderland, is set in 1951 after the end of World War II. Why did you choose that timeline for your story?

I was born after the war and my father was in both fleets of the U.S. Navy. I was raised in the college town of East Lansing, Michigan, across from Michigan State (University now). We had a large older home and Mom and Dad rented rooms to the students, and the time period was very special to me. We had family in Grosse Pointe Woods, a Detroit sub, and often went to visit them. When I got older, Mom and I often went to JL Hudson Company in Detroit. We’d visit Sander’s Ice Cream Shop and enjoy the Gingerale Company. They were all special places, as well as other stores and Detroit. This was in the mid to late 1960’s. But back to 1951, the economy was booming. The Big Three Auto companies were drawing people into Detroit from all over the US to work in the automotive industry. I tried to capture this, and the feelings some may have experienced coming different areas.

Tell us about your character Jeb Willis. What makes his role in this story significant? What are his character flaws? Describe his looks.

Jeb is a good provider and brings his family from a rural area in Florida to secure a job with Ford Auto Workers. He has contacts and makes a wise decision to buy a home in the area, and his family is his life. He’s in his late forties and a rugged good-looking kind of man; with a natural type of wisdom that comes with a good heart and easy manner.

Tell us about your character Cora Willis. What is her role in this story? What are her greatest strengths? What is her secret passion? Describe her personality.

Cora is Jeb’s helpmate in every way, and a kind loving mother to her children. Ruth is their oldest, and after one year of book keeping out of high school, has her sights set on continuing with a career. Cora encourages Ruth, and they are close. Cora sees to the needs of her family as they adjust to the Detroit suburb Dearborn, and she gets involved in an area church and women’s group.

How does Ruth’s business savvy and independent spirit play into your telling of this story?

Ruth is a go-getter and learns as much as possible about the new area, taking instruction from a knowledgeable man who knows the city. She takes advantage of her benefits working at Hudson’s and knows her siblings needs, purchasing things on lay-away; something we don’t often see today, and she helps her family.

Ruth meets a man named Clint who you say, “changes everything.” Who is this Clint fella and how does he go about changing everything?

The best laid plans…and with Ruth she continues to keep her eyes on her goal, but they take a second glance at Clint too. Clint has a good position with Vernor’s Gingerale Company, and a chance meeting with Ruth at the revolving doors on her first day going for an interview at JL Hudson’s, gives him pause to reconsider his priorities in life too.

Why did you choose Detroit for the city in which to set your story?

JL Hudson Company was once the largest building in Detroit, and it’s during the time period, after WWII I wanted to capture. My mother, now age 90, speaks about going to JL Hudson’s with her parents and older brother as a young girl. Consider the early 30’s and young children were safe to walk from the Vernor’s plant with their free cream ales, and back to meet Mom and Dad at Hudson’s. Steve and I went shopping in Detroit when we were first married, but the malls started taking over and although people continued to shop in the motor city, Hudson’s was well known in many malls around the state. 

What did you enjoy most about writing this Christmas story? Explain.

Although I was a little one during this time period, I enjoyed the research, the styles and the gentle spirit people had, helping one another. The excitement of the booming city and simple walks along the sidewalks looking into store windows, night or day; with snowflakes falling is something I’ve experienced, and wanted to share that with readers.

What do you want your readers to remember most about this book? Why?

The excitement that happens when change takes place and setting a goal, trusting God to provide can lead through detours, but also wonderful experiences.

Thanks for stopping by today, Diane! Do you have any final thoughts?

Wishing you and your readers a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas, Alexis! Thank you for the opportunity to share my book, Winter Wonderland, with your readers!

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Author bio:

Diane started her writing career at an early age when she asked for a typewriter for Christmas. She pounded the keys writing poetry and short stories in grade school on an old black Royal manual. It wasn’t until her husband’s work took them to a southern town she wrote her first column, “Yankee Viewpoint’s” for a local newspaper, covering hard news and feature stories in the area. 

Upon returning to their home-state of Michigan, she did stringer work, ancestral history, and donor appeal letters for non-profit organizations; while doing her favorite job ever, a stay-at-home Mom. She is the author of Beach Walks and Carolina in the Morning, On a Summer Night, Stories from a Porch Swing, Winter Wonderland and Texting Mr. Right. Diane was a columnist for a weekly magazine, for four years, and her stories have appeared in a number of magazines and books. She is the author of over three-hundred short stories. 

Diane and her hubby Stephen have been married for 43 years. They are the parents of three grown children and three grand-gals. Diane thanks the Lord daily for her loving husband, three great kids and for giving her the desires of her heart. Her next book, This Side of Heaven, will be released in Winter 2016. 

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Book blurb for Winter Wonderland:

In 1951 WWII has ended and the economy is booming around the country. Jeb and Cora Willis are excited about a new start. 

Like many families, they decide to move to the city of Detroit for a factory job that will bring prosperity and a better life. 

While most young women are looking for husbands, Ruth tries to further her career and concentrates on obtaining a job with her business skills at Detroit’s JL Hudson Department Store. She feels good about her new office position and then meets Clint…who changes everything. Was he part of the reason for their move? 

Celebrate the Christmas holiday and follow Ruth in this romantic story, during Detroit’s heyday, in Winter Wonderland.

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Buy Diane's book:

Amazon - http://amzn.to/1L11GwZ

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Connect with Diane:

Facebook - Diane's Author Page 

Website - www.DianeDeanWhite.com