Being Popular

Before we can truly follow God's plan for us, we need to determine who it is we want to please. It's human nature to want people to admire us and to be held in high esteem, but seeking the praise of others can be a huge pitfall. It can lead to sin.

"For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).

The Bible shows us over and over again that following God isn't always popular. Moses wasn't well-liked in Egypt, and even the Israelites complained about him. Most of the prophets, like Jeremiah and Elijah, remained largely unpopular. In fact, that's one of the reasons Jonah ran in the other direction when God told him to go to Nineveh. He didn't want to be scorned in Israel for going to Nineveh and delivering a message from God to these pagan Assyrians. Even Jesus was unpopular with the Jewish establishment, and the crowds that once loved Him, turned against Him in the end.

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blesssed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).

One of the benefits of growing older is that Christians began to care less and less what people think of us and desire more and more to please God. As someone once said, "The problems of old age offer the final opportunity to rely on God." I'm finding this truer all the time. We all should live to please the Lord first and foremost. Serving Him is so much more important than anything else.

"Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you" (1 Samuel 13:5).

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Mountain Mishap

I just published my tenth novel. Mountain Mishaps returns to the Appalachian Mountains, the setting of the first four books I published in my Appalachian Roots series. This one is a standalone, however; and since I grew up in the culture of the Appalachians, this is the setting that comes the easiest to me.

In the novel, Anna Allen grew up in the Charleston Orphan House in South Carolina, but at eighteen, she must now leave. Her best option is to wed; and when a man from the Appalachian Mountains comes looking for a wife, she hesitantly agrees to marry him. However life with Elbert Ramsey and his father turns out to be miles from her dreams.

In 1851, Levi West decides to go stay with his brother in the Appalachian Mountains. His parents had died, leaving the farm in debt, and a brazen woman had caused a rift between him and his best friend. Although his sister-in-law’s younger sister acts almost as bad, Levi finds he loves the rugged mountains. When a hunting accident endangers his life, help comes from an unexpected source. Dare he hope for a family of his own, or will another woman just disappoint him again?

So, come back with me to the rugged life in the Appalachians in the 1800's and visit for a while with some families who will steal your heart, experience their hopes and dreams, and live their happy-ever-after. You can check the book out today online at places like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, or you can get it at favorite place to buy books in a few days. Happy reading.

All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children,

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St. Augustine

Spanish galleon replica

 On August 28, 1565, the men aboard Pedro Menendez de Aviles's ship spotted land that would become St. Augustine. Spanish Admiral Aviles became Florida's first governor. He named the city he founded "St. Augustine," because August 28th marked the feast day for St. Augustine.

Fort San Marcos

St. Augustine would remain Florida's capital under Spanish rule for over 200 years. Great Britian took the region for a short while, and when Spain finally ceded the area to the United States in 1819, the city remained Florida's capital. However, this changed in 1824, when the territorial government moved to Tallahassee. But by the latter part of the 1800's, St. Augustine had already become a tourist attraction.

Aviles Street, the oldest street in the U.S.

St. Augustine has continued to hold the title of the oldest city in the United States established by Europeans. It has also held it's position as a top tourist attraction. The historical sections of the city and its beautiful beaches draw crowds year round. In 2015, it celebrated its 450th year. Now that's a birthday to celebrate.

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Front Lines or Sidelines

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8: 12).

Most Christians would agree that the world today needs God's light. However, we should ask ourselves what we're doing to shine His light to others. Are we carrying His Word like a high-powered flashlight to lead people out of the darkness? Are we looking for ways we can show His love, especially to the destitute?

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few (Matthew 9:37-38).

If each person who professes to be a Christian would get out of the recliner, develop a servants heart, and follow God's commandments in obedience, the Christian faith wouldn't be declining, and our churches would be packed each time the doors opened. We need workers for the harvest. Where are they? Where are you?

Wherefore take unto you the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

Christians need to be willing to put on the armor of God and move to the front lines instead of remaining on the sidelines. God didn't mean for us to sit but to serve. Faith demands action. Love for our fellow man requires that we get involved. When we come to the end of our lives on earth, what we've done with Christ and how well we've served God in obedience will be the only things that matter. How's your heavenly report card looking? Are you working for his kingdom on the front lines or are you sitting on the sidelines?

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Turning into a Series

My characters drive my novels, and lately I've had a number of books that began as a standalone but turned into a series. The last one is my In from the Storms series. It began with a book set in Wyoming in the 1870's that I was calling In from the Storm. At first, I wrote it in two parts. Part One had Ian MacGregor and Aileas Douglas as main characters, and Part Two focused more on Ian's sister, Jeannie. However, the book became too long, so I divided it into two novels. I then called the first one Mountain Storms and the second one Past Storms. Lo and behold, when I finished the second book, Brady Sharpe, Aileas's stepbrother, demanded that his story be told, so Dust Storms was added. I'm writing on it now. They should be available sometime next year.

Just before the three books in the In from the Storms series, I wrote another standalone, Off the Streets, about a homeless man and the family who wanted to adopt him but met opposition. When I finished it, I realized I'd left the story of the teenage boy from the family hanging. Therefore, I'll also need to tell Brandon's story in a sequel. I've entitled this series of two "Another Chance," and the second book will be called Without a Dream.

The first set of books I published evolved the same way. I actually wrote Sown In Dark Soil first, but Granny Em kept telling me I needed to back up and tell her story, so I did; and Cleared for Planting then became the first book in the Appalachian Roots series. Uprooted by War told about the characters during the Civil War, and Transplanted to Red Clay finishes the series with Rachel, Granny Em's great granddaughter.

Promise was actually the first book I ever wrote, although not the first one I published. It became The Farmers series with Promise being about Isaac Jackson; Peace about him and his sister, Jasmine; and Pardon about Kevin, the younger brother, who ends up on the streets for a while. 

Although I do have two standalones out, When Winter Is Past and With Summer's Songs, my readers seem to prefer my series. Mountain Mishap, another standalone set in the Appalachian Mountains, should be released next week, and It All Started at the Masquerade, my fourth standalone, is going through the editorial process now. It's always part of the writing fun to find out which novels will turn into a series. I never know.

All my profits go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.

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National Senior Citizens' Day

August 21st is National Senior Citizens Day. Current statistics say there are almost 50 million seniors 65 or older in the United States and nearly 1 billion worldwide. At one time, these citizens garnered much respect. However, gradually society is beginning to look at what they aren't able to do anymore rather than what they can do and their vast knowledge and wealth of experience.

There is a delightful lady, Jewel Tolson, living in a nearby town to me who just turned 107 on July 4th. She is still sharp-witted, full of laughter, and fun to be around. The former oldest person in the world just died in Indonesia in May. He was 146 and may hold the record of being the oldest man to ever live in modern times. Now, Violet Brown of Jamaica is the oldest living person at 117.

Regrettably, there are many forgotten seniors living in nursing facilities with no visitors. Going by and saying hello to some of the residents would be a great way to celebrate the day. In fact, a character in one of my books does just that and ends up adopting a senior friend. That friendship was special to both Isaac Jackson and Jobe Hamilton in Promise. Maybe you could find one special to you.

(All my profits from my books go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

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How to Be Holy

Be ye holy; for I am holy (1 Peter 16b).

As God's people, we are called to be holy. Unless we are, we can't be in His presence. Many people realize their inherent sinful nature and think this is impossible, and it is on our own. Thankfully, however, Christians are not on their own. We have the Holy Spirit living within us to be our guide.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments (1 John 2:3).

The first step in being holy is to accept Christ as our Savior so His blood will wash away our sins. We trade our sinfulness for His righteousness. Then, with the Holy Spirit as our guide, we seek to follow Christ in obedience. When we live in God's will, we glorify Him and walk in holiness. 

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

The Holy Spirit makes us whole, shows us the truth, and grows our minds to be more Christ-like. As we begin to feel and understand God's love for us, our love for Him increases. As our love and trust increase, we submit more and more. Sin is conquered as we surrender our lives to the One who created us. This is how we live obedient, victorious, holy lives.

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