Staying Our Minds on Jesus

 If we leave our quiet time with the Lord without taking Him with us, we are the losers. I know this from experience. I'd have a wonderful time in the Word and in prayer, leave my room assured I was loved and heard. Then forget all about it within 30 minutes because of problems that arise or people I needed to talk to or things that needed my attention "right now!" The Bible tells us "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you." This is where the battle takes place--staying the mind on Jesus come what may. But I've found if I simplify my life, live at a slower pace, take "time-out" moments to reconnect with God, maybe by keeping a meaningful verse on an index card and reading it slowly, I have a better awareness of God with me. I'm a happier person. I don't strive so hard. And my priorities stay aligned. God wants to help us get our lives in order making our top priority walking with Him, abiding in Him. I'd like to encourage you to keep Scripture meaningful to you handy--on index cards, post-it notes, whatever works for you. We need our minds humbly and prayerfully stayed on Jesus. With all the anger, unrest, and havoc in this world, He is our peace.

Devotional: All Nature Sings Preview Video

Free eBook, Foul Weather

 

My short short story, Foul Weather, is free on Amazon in its eBook format.
https://a.co/d/d3jx7w5
I had fun writing it, and I hope you enjoy the humor of this mystery spoof. If you read it, I would really appreciate your honest rating and/or review.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The One who has called you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thess. 5:23-24

Claire

New Cover Reveal

 

New cover reveal! Coming in the near future—all three books in the Lindell High School Series in one volume!! Paperback and eBook. #bookcoverreveal #christianteengirls #newedition #highschoolromancebooks #christianfictionauthor

Now in eBook and Paperback: Joy to My Soul and All Nature Sings!

Excited to announce my two photographic devotionals are now available in paperback! Here’s the link to Joy to My Soul: 

https://a.co/d/hgSiceW

And here’s the link to All Nature Sings:

https://a.co/d/9vncUSU     

These books are 8” x 8” and the photographs are about 4.5” x 6.5”.

Our Chihuahua, Esther

Our son and his family came in for a week last week, and our chihuahua, Esther, had a great time playing with them. However, she was not above stealing toys left on the floor. She chewed the legs off a toy dinosaur and was going after a Lego piece when I stopped her. Yesterday, she found a toy my granddaughter left outside, picked it up, and carried it around the yard. She looks very pleased to have it in this picture. But she is a good girl and dropped it when I told her to. I gave her a treat and the toy is undamaged. 

The Lord bless you and keep you,

Claire

All Nature Sings, Charles Spurgeon, and Depression

 The title for my latest photographic devotional, All Nature Sings, came from one of my favorite songs, "This Is My Father's World." One line says, "All nature sings and round me rings the music of the spheres." I was singing that song when it hit me that "all nature sings" was perfect for my book title. Here's an excerpt from the book:

Day 1

Psalm 94:18-19

When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.

“’Ah,” saith the soul, “whatever this trial may be, one thing is clear, my heavenly Father knows all about it; there is not a circumstance in my present condition which is hidden from him. That eye which has watched me from my childhood is not closed towards me in this dark hour. He understandeth and knoweth the way that I take, and if I be surrounded with the thick darkness, it is no darkness to him.’”    ­--Charles Spurgeon

I love this excerpt because C. H. Spurgeon was a great theologian, yet he suffered from depression. But though surrounded by darkness, He knew who to call on. It's a lie from the Enemy that believers cannot suffer from depression. Christians battle deep emotional upheavals just like everyone else. The difference is we have a Helper to lift the heaviness and hopelessness that threatens to overtake us. We need only to cry out to Him. Moses, David, Elijah suffered from bouts of depression and in the midst of it, they brought their depression to the Lord. We can do the same.