He Leadeth Me

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters (Psalm 23:1-2),

The hymn “He Leadeth Me” was written in 1862 by Joseph Henry Gilmore, a young Baptist minister, during the American Civil War. Inspired by Psalm 23, Gilmore penned the words after a sermon in Philadelphia, never imagining they would later be set to music and become one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian faith. Gilmore (1834–1918) was a seminary professor, Baptist minister, and later professor of literature at the University of Rochester.

Gilmore was preaching a sermon on the Twenty-Third Psalm at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia when  he became so captivated by the phrase “He leadeth me” that he never moved beyond it. Afterward, in conversation with friends, he wrote down the verses that became the hymn. Gilmore first considered his words as a poem and not a hymn. His wife sent it to the Watchman and Reflector magazine without his knowledge. Later, Gilmore was surprised to discover his words published as a hymn. Composer William B. Bradbury, known for "Jesus Loves Me," set the poem to music, giving it the melody we know today.

"He Leadeth Me came about, not because of some literary ambition, but from a moment of spiritual clarity as the simple truth of God's guidance gripped a young pastor as he delivered his midweek sermon. He couldn't get the words, "He leadeth me," from Psalms 23 from his mind, so he penciled the poem after the service. What began as a few penciled lines became a hymn sung across generations. It continues to offer comfort in seasons of uncertainty and anchors believers in the assurance that God's hand still leads his people, one of God's important truths.

He Leadeth Me

                He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
                O words with heav'nly comfort fraught!
                Whate'er I do, where'er I be
                Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
                He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
                By His own hand He leadeth me;
                His faithful foll'wer I would be,
                For by His hand He leadeth me.
                Sometimes 'mid scenes of deepest gloom,
                Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
                By waters still, o'er troubled sea,
                Still 'tis His hand that leadeth me.
                Lord, I would place my hand in Thine,
                Nor ever murmur nor repine;
                Content, whatever lot I see,
                Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
                And when my task on earth is done,
                When by Thy grace the vict'ry's won,
                E'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
                Since God through Jordan leadeth me.

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Book Review Rates

Leaving book reviews on Amazon matters far more than most readers realize. A thoughtful review—whether it’s one sentence or a few paragraphs—signals to Amazon’s algorithm that a book is alive, relevant, and worth showing to more potential readers. Reviews build trust for hesitant buyers, offering valuable affirmation. They also help authors understand what resonated, what surprised readers, and what lingered after the last page. For independent authors especially, reviews are the lifeblood that determine visibility, credibility, and long‑term discoverability. In a very real way, every review becomes part of a book’s momentum, helping it reach the readers who need it.

Yet review statistics are dismal. The estimated review rate on Amazon is 1-2%. This means for every 100 books sold, only 1-2 reviews are likely to appear. A book with 50 reviews might have sold around 2,500-5,000 copies.

Why is the review rate so low? Research shows that most Amazon shoppers read the reviews, but very few will write one. Please don't be one of those. I write a review on every book I read or listen to, and I encourage you to do the same. It takes only a minute, and it means so much to both the authors and potential readers.

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 Laying Up Treasures

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matthew 6:20-21).

How do we go about laying up treasures in heaven? The question could have many answers, but here are some important ones. 

1) Put God first in your life, far above everything else. This is more than just giving lip service; it's arranging your daily choices to reflect this truth. When God holds the highest priority in your life, everything else finds its proper place. Decisions become clearer. Worries lose their grip. And obedience ceases to be a burden but becomes a joyous response to His love.

2) Open your heart fully to Jesus Christ and give him full ownership. What you do with Him makes all the difference, both now and in eternity. He's looking for more than a corner of your life on Sunday mornings. Christ desires, and deserves, your whole heart. So, surrender to the One who knows and loves you best.

3) Give of yourself, sacrificing time, money, and prayers to the church and godly causes, according to God's leading. Make a habit of witnessing to others. Love people along the pathway to heaven. Practice a Christlike character. Heavenly treasure grows wherever love is planted.

4) Read and study God's Word. It's God's journal, allowing you to get to know Him and your guidebook to living the way He wants you to. The more you immerse yourself in His Word, the more your thinking will align with His truth. It will become your life's compass.

5) Develop a strong prayer life. It's where you develop an intimate, personal relationship with God and where you tap into the power of heaven. Prayer becomes your lifeline where burdens are exchanged for peace, weakness transforms into divine strength, and God molds you into who you should be. A life rich in prayer becomes a life rich in heavenly treasure because prayer keeps your heart close to the One who rewards those who diligently seek him. Be a prayer warrior.

When we choose to invest in the things of God, we anchor our hearts and lives in treasures that last forever. Earthly wealth and possessions fade, but every act of obedience to the Lord, every moment spent with Him, every sacrifice made in love becomes part of eternity that can't be taken from us. This is a daily invitation to live with open hands, surrendered hearts, and a steady focus on Christ. May our lives always reflect Him.

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 Books Coming in 2026

As you may know, if you read my blogs, I like to plan ahead. Because I have so many book ideas and MAP (multiple-author project) opportunities, I am now booked through 2028. This doesn't mean I can't juggle some of my non-MAP books around if I need to. Still, my 2026 schedule is finalized, and I would like to share those books with you here at the beginning of the year. They are an entertaining group, and each has an important underlying message.

(MAPs have collection name in parenthesis.)

Jan 6, 2026 - Violets for Veronica (Victorian Valentines)

Feb 10, 2026 - Gwendolyn's Groom (Westward Home and Hearts Mail-Order Brides) 

Apr 21, 2026 - Malachi's Mountain (Mountain Men - Echo of Thunder)

May 5, 2026 - He Leadeth Me (Hymns to Stir the Heartstrings)

June 2, 2026 - Ava, Disabled Daughters

July 7, 2026 - Jo, Disabled Daughters

Aug 4, 2026 - Chloe, Disabled Daughters

Sep 1, 2026 - Veiled Intentions (Mail-Order Brides Undercover)

Nov 2, 2026 - In from the Cold

Dec 7, 2026 - Wesley's Winter Watch (His Winter Watch)

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 Reflecting on Prayer

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

"Have we ever spent one hour in meditating upon this, our Savior's sevenfold invitation to pray? ... He yearns to grant us according to His riches of His glory, that we may be strengthened with the might of His Spirit in the inner man. He tells us that our strength and our fruitfulness depend upon our prayers."

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made unto God (Philippians 4:6).

"And yet we allow the Devil to persuaded us to neglect prayer. He makes us believe that we can do more by our own efforts than by our prayers, by our own conversations with men than by our intercession with God. How dare we work for Christ without being much on our knees. Edward Payson is right when he says, 'If we would do much for God, we must ask much of God. ... Pray, then, my dear brother, pray, pray, pray.'"

.... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16b).

Too many of us don't recognize the power of prayer. We give lip service to it, but we don't put it into the practice. When we pray, we pray with doubts that God will answer, but the Bible tells us otherwise over and over again, which brings into question how much we believe what the Bible says. Study what it says about prayer for yourself, and then, as Edward Payson said, "Pray and then pray, pray, and pray." It's your strongest Christian weapon. Besides formally praying, whisper little prayers all through the day. Live your life as a prayer to God.

Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

(Quotes from The Kneeling Christian - Albert Richardson)

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My Best-Selling Books in 2025 

I enjoy keeping up with my books and have all kinds of statistics on them. I even enjoy doing some of the marketing, which many authors hate. I looked back at the eleven books I wrote in 2025 and put them in the order of which ones sold the best. Of course, the ones that published first have more sales in general because they've been on the market longer. However, that's not true across the board. There is some variation. Here are the books in order of sales:

Feb 2025 – The Writer’s Rescue (the top seller)
Jan 2025 – Willa’s Woes
Jul 2025 – Daphne’s Determination
Mar 2025 – The Miner

Nov 2025 --  Morrow’s Mishaps
Sep 2025 – Building Something Beautiful
Apr 2025 – Mistaken Bride
Oct 2025 – Heather
Dec 2025 – Annie’s Uncle
Aug 2025 – South to Freedom
May 2025 – Satan’s Wiles 

Of course, this list just helps determine what was popular with readers. It doesn't indicate which books are the best to read. Some of these were in MAPs (multiple-author projects) that had a large following already, so my books in that collection also sold well. There are many variables involved, but I still find it interesting. Hopefully, you have read some of these. If not, please give one a try.

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 New Year's Reflection

Behold, I will do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19a).

As we step into a brand‑new year, there’s something special about the clean slate stretched out before us. The turning of the calendar reminds us that God is always doing a new thing, even when we can’t yet see it taking shape. New Year’s Day invites us to pause, breathe, and remember that every season—joyful or heavy—has been held in His hands. Whatever last year carried, God was present in every moment, and He goes before us into every moment still to come.

This is also a beautiful time to realign our hearts. Instead of chasing resolutions rooted in pressure or perfection, we can ask God to shape our desires and guide our steps. Scripture reminds us that His mercies are new every morning, which means we don’t have to manufacture our own strength. We can walk into this year with open hands, trusting that the One who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it (see Philippians 1:6). Growth in Christ is not about striving harder but surrendering deeper.

So today, let hope rise. Let gratitude soften the edges of the unknown. Let’s commit this year to the Lord—not as a list of goals to achieve, but as a journey to walk with Him. May this New Year be marked by peace that doesn’t make sense, courage that comes from His Spirit, and a renewed awareness of His presence in the ordinary moments. God is already in our tomorrow, and that is the best reason to step forward with confidence and joy.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Have a Happy, Blessed New Year!

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