Jessica R. Patch's Blog, page 9

Friend With Benefits? Uh...Yes, Please!

A friend WITH benefits. Kind of a no-brainer, right?  No strings attached. Just a solid good time and you can walk away. 

Negative. 

I'm watching a show right now and the female character has decided she wants a friends with benefits relationship and the male has agreed. Guess what? It's caused all sorts of issues. 

Because emotions get tangled up when intimacy is involved.  I turned the show off and thought about this whole "friends with benefits" thing. A movie was made about it for crying out loud. Many movies actually, and it never stays that way "no strings attached." Oh, in a perfect movie world, they end up falling in love and then commit (which is backwards) but not before wave after wave of disasters happen. And sometimes it ends terribly. 

But there is one no-brainer friend-with-benefits I'm all over, and no it doesn't involve anyone on the silver screen or TV. 

It begins with wooing...then a commitment on my part (because He's already been committed) then intimacy comes. 

I'm talking about Jesus. Yeah. We can be friends with benefits. 


"A person who has friends may be harmed by them,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 NET

I'm all for a friend who won't harm me, betray me, leave me or treat me without dignity. Now, I know we're human and we're going to make mistakes even in friendship, but there is Someone we can be vulnerable around, Someone we can be fully "naked" or transparent, if you will, with. Someone who won't mishandle our hearts. A Friend who will stick closer than a brother. I'm all for that friend. 

And we reap all the benefits which He is totally okay with!

"My soul, praise the Lord,and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases." Psalm 103:2-3 HCSB

Two are right there in the verse. Here's just a few more:

Compassion that never fails
Faithfulness even when we aren't faithful
Hope 
Grace
Provision
Strength
Unending and unconditional love
True intimacy
Commitment 
Loyalty
Kindess
Discipline (yes, it's a benefit)
Purpose/Destiny
An advocate
Intercession on our behalf
Guidance
Wisdom
Joy
Peace
Comfort
Freedom

You can fool yourself all you want for temporary pleasure, but you can't be friends with benefits and truly be free to come and go. You can't have true intimacy without commitment and commitment comes first. It should anyway. 

We can never create a list, a truthful list, of benefits, by the world's standard, for the whole Friends with Benefits idea. Maybe a few good times. Temporary pleasure. Sooner or later it will and does fall apart.

I'm all for something that's eternal. Truth is, I think we're all looking for an unconditional, eternal love. We'd be stupid not to want that! :) 

So, Friend with Benefits? Yes, please! Give me Jesus. 

If Jesus said, "I'm going to come down from heaven just for the day, and we can go wherever you want"...where would you go, and how would you spend your day with Him?" 

I'll be back to regularly posting in the fall. Have you signed up for my newsletter? More Than Words will be hitting inboxes in just another week, FREE to subscribers only. So what are you waiting for?


photocredit: freedigitalphotos/stuartmiles 

Gone without a Trace Giveaway!

Welcome back Patricia Bradley to the blog today. She and her characters are playing Would You Rather and she’s giving away a copy of her newest Logan Point series book: Gone without a Trace! Yay! You can enter to win below.
Would You Rather…  
…be shot or stabbed? (Hey it’s suspense so…) Alex: Uh, neither? But if I have to choose…I guess be stabbed. Livy: I’m with Alex for once—neither. But I’d rather be shot. Patricia: I can’t stand the thought of a knife slicing me, so to be shot.
…be happy because you’ve been lied to or feel emotional pain knowing the truth? Alex: Since I don’t like to be lied to, I’d rather feel emotional pain knowing the truth.Livy: Hmmm. I can’t believe I’m going to agree with him again.Patricia: Lie to me.
…fall in love but lose it or never fall in love?
Alex: Where do you get these questions? I want to fall in love and keep it.Livy: Why does he always get to go first? He stole my answer. Patricia: For once, I agree with both of them.
Thanks for playing! Tell us what you’re working on right now.
I’m working on a Christmas anthology with several Harlequin Heartwarming authors and at the same time I’m laying out the plot of my next series, Cold Cases set in Memphis. The first book is due October 1.
Here is Gone without a Trace back cover blurb:

The past is repeating itself—and time is running out
It’s been more than two years since homicide detective Livy Reynolds’s cousin disappeared from Logan Point. Unlike most people in her hometown, Livy has never believed that Robyn left voluntarily. When Dallas private investigator Alex Jennings contacts her concerning a senator’s missing granddaughter who was last seen in Logan Point, Livy notices eerie similarities between the two disappearances. With self-doubt plaguing her after killing a teenager in the line of duty and an almost instant dislike of the self-assured PI, she’s finding this investigation an uphill battle. But with the prospect of finding her cousin on the horizon, she’ll have to find a way to work with Alex—before it’s too late.

Patricia Bradley lives in North Mississippi and is a former abstinence educator and co-author of RISE To Your Dreams, an abstinence curriculum. But her heart is tuned to suspense. Patricia’s romantic suspense books include the Logan Point series—Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect, and Gone Without a Trace. Her workshops on writing include an online course with American Christian Fiction Writers and workshops at the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference in Collierville, TN. When she’s not writing, she likes to throw mud on a wheel and see what happens.
Connect with Patricia: Website: www.patriciabradleyauthor.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PTBradley1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ptbradley/

More books by Patricia Bradley:Shadows of the Past: CBD; Amazon; B&N; Books A MillionA Promise to Protect: B&N; CBD; Amazon; Books A MillionGone Without a Trace: Amazon; CBD; B&N; Books A Million
Matthew’s Choice:  to buy a paperback—Harlequin: http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=53665For an e-book: B&N, Kobo Amazon
Shadows of the Past, A Promise to Protect and Matthew’s Choice can be found at my Author Page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FFR8T1U


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Win a Book and Play A Fun Game w/ Sandra Orchard!

Buy the book!
Only $3.99Welcome back Sandra Orchard to the blog. Today, we’re playing a game with her characters from two of her newest books! And you have a chance to win Emergency Reunion.
Would You Rather…
…be shot or stabbed? (Hey it’s suspense so…)
Desperate Measures:
Tom: Your questions are seriously warped. You do know that, right? I’d rather be stabbed in the arm than shot in the head, but I’d rather be shot in the leg than stabbed in the chest.
Kate: <rolls her eyes> He’s usually very friendly. I think you probably hit a nerve with the question. The worst I’ve been stabbed is as a cooking casualty. It was pretty painful, but I think I’d rather that than be shot.
Emergency Reunion:
Sherri: In the wrong place, neither are pretty, but if we’re not talking hollow point bullets or something, I’d say a bullet in the same location as a knife would be less traumatic. Not that I want to experience either, thank you very much. I’ve seen more than my fair share as a paramedic.
Sandra: Well, I’ve been stabbed, so I’d rather go with the trauma I know than the one I never want to experience.
…be happy because you’ve been lied to or feel emotional pain knowing the truth?
Desperate Measures:
Tom: I’d rather know the truth. Being told a lie, only delays the inevitable.
Kate: I couldn’t agree more. I want to know the truth. I don’t like people trying to spare me heartache.
Emergency Reunion:
Cole: You know, I feel as if I should agree with Tom and Kate, but the reality is, I would rather have happily gone on believing that my parents were happily married than have my family torn apart.
Sherri: I prefer the truth. It’s like removing an adhesive bandage. Do it quick and get the pain over with.
Sandra: Hmm, when it comes to incidental things, such as Madame X thinks my writing stinks, I’d rather be happy because she lied. When it comes to monumental things…hmm.
…fall in love but lose it or never fall in love?Desperate Measures:
Tom: What do you do, sit around and dream of ways to make people miserable? I’d rather fall in love.
Kate: Me too.
Emergency Reunion:
Cole: Me three.
Sherri: Um…Cole, you’re not going to leave me, are you?
Sandra: Fall in love
Thanks so much for being here today, Sandra! Okay, everyone, you have the chance to WIN Sandra’s newest Love Inspired Suspense: Emergency Reunion! You can enter below with Rafflecopter.

Here is the back cover blurb: SAVED BY THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY 

Paramedic Sherri Steele refuses to believe someone's out to get her—until she's held at knifepoint in her own ambulance. It'll take her high school crush to convince her she needs protection—and deputy sheriff Cole Donovan is as persuasive as he is handsome. But when his brother rises to the top of the suspects list, Cole's torn between family duty and the woman he's never forgotten. With every emergency call to the paramedics turning into an attack on Sherri's life, Cole's convinced Sherri has a stalker. Cole needs to know whether his brother is the culprit before things spiral out of control. Survival—and a future with Sherri—depends on discovering who wants to cause trauma to this EMT.


Sandra Orchard is a multi-award-winning author of mysteries and romantic suspense with Revell Publishing and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense imprint. A mother of three grown children, she lives in Niagara, Canada with her real-life-hero husband and writes full time…when not doting on her young grandchildren. Subscribe to Sandra’s newsletter to receive a subscriber-exclusive mini-novella. Learn more about Sandra’s books and bonus features, as well as writer helps, at www.SandraOrchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
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Would You Rather with Keli Gwyn! Plus, a Giveaway!

I’m excited to host one of the sweetest women on the planet today! The kind and lovely Keli Gwyn is in the house and we’re playing a few rounds of WYR with her and her characters in her newest novel through Love Inspired Historical. Let’s get right to it. Also, you can enter to win a copy of Family of Her Dreams (US residents only). See how below!
Would you rather…
…fly or read minds?
Spencer: Fly. I’d like to get a bird’s eye view of my ranch.
Tess: I’d love to read minds, especially Spencer’s. I’m eager to find out what goes on in his head because very little of it comes out of his mouth.
Keli: I’m with Tess. I’d love to read minds. Learning how different people think would make it easier to get into my characters’ heads.
…fall in love and have your heart broken or never fall in love?
Spencer: I did fall in love. My heart was broken when my wife was taken from me, but I kept going. I had to. I have two small children to care for, but now I have the help of my headstrong housekeeper, Tess. She’s brought light and laughter back into my life.
Tess: Having been raised in an orphanage, I long to love and be loved. I dream of the day I have a husband and children of my own. Even though I could get hurt in the process, the rewards far outweigh the risks.
Keli: I’m all about love and romance. Loss and broken relationships are an inevitable part of life, but the pain eases over time, enabling a person to experience love anew.
…be wealthy and successful but never find love or find love and live meagerly?
Spencer: I’d choose love and a modest life. The pursuit of wealth robbed my father of happiness, and I want no part of that.
Tess: Love is essential. With it, one is rich even if she has little.
Keli: What a timely question. Gwynly retired just last week. As a teacher’s family, we’ve lived modestly, but we’ll be cutting down even more now. I’m up for that. My guy and I have a wonderful marriage, and I’m dearly loved. Talk about being blessed. That’s me.
Keli, tell us what inspired this story?
I love California’s Gold Country where I live. There’s a wealth of history here, which fascinates me. When I learned that the sleepy Gold Rush-era town of Shingle Springs nearby was once home to the busiest rail station in the state, my curiosity was piqued. I imagined what life would have been like for the stationmaster, and Spencer introduced himself. A grieving widower, he needed help. Who better than Tess, a confident, outspoken woman who has a heart overflowing with love she’s eager to shower on two motherless children—and their handsome father?
What are you working on currently?
I’m writing a story set in my historic hometown of Placerville. Once again I’m working in local history, which I love to do. I’ve fallen hard for my hero and heroine. Flynt and Jessie are bright, determined people eager to overcome their shameful pasts. When they’re forced to spend time together both on and off the job, secrets come to light. Secrets that could destroy everything.
Thanks for hosting me, Jess. It’s great to be here. I have a question for your blog’s readers.
 Since I’m learning to live on less, what is one money-saving tip you’d recommend?
(Jess here) I’ll chime in with my answer. I’ve discovered that if I create the weekly menu, then go through the pantry to see what I’ve got and only add to the grocery list what I need, I save money. I also include a snack or two for the kids but they know when it runs out, it’s out until I hit the grocery store the following week!
Award-winning author Keli Gwyn, a native Californian, transports readers to the early days of the Golden State. She and her husband live in the heart of California’s Gold Country. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, historical museums and other Gold Rush-era towns. Keli loves hearing from readers and invites you to visit her Victorian-style cyber home at www.keligwyn.com, where you’ll find her contact information.
Here’s a look at Keli’s novel Family of Her Dreams:  Buy Now!  A Family to Cherish 
Headstrong Tess Grimsby loves her new job caring for the children of a recently widowed man. But she never imagined that she’d fall for her handsome employer. Yet Spencer Abbott is as caring as he is attractive, and Tess can’t help but feel for him and his family. Though, for the sake of her job, she’ll keep any emotions about her boss to herself.Between his stationmaster responsibilities in a gold-rush town and trying to put his family back together, Spencer has his hands full. He soon finds his new hire’s kind personality warming his frosty exterior. But could he ever admit to seeing her as more than just an employee?Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
or its affiliated companies, used under license.


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Hey Guess What?

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know that Just the Way You Are is on sale through May 29th! After the 29th, it'll go back to $2.99!  BUY THE BOOK 

What are you reading this summer? 

Gilmore Girls or From the Start with Melissa Tagg!

I am beyond stoked for today’s post. The fantabulous Melissa Tagg is here and if you know anything about her, she’s a huge fan of Gilmore Girls. So we’re going to play a few rounds of Would You Rather with her and she has to choose from Gilmore Girls or her newest novel, From the Start! Oh yeah, it’s a blast! PS, I'm over on her blog today sharing comparisons in relation to my newest novella, Just the Way You Are, so hop over ther next! CLICK HERE.
Let’s do this!
Would You Rather…
…live in Stars Hollow (GG) or Maple Valley (FTS)?
ACK that’s so hard. But I’m going to go with Maple Valley and here’s why: It’s in Iowa. As quirky and wonderful as Stars Hollow is, it’s in Connecticut and I know no one there.
Then again, if Jess was there…

…go canoeing with Luke Danes (GG) or your very own star, Colton Greene?
Luke! I love Colton, I do. But he’s got this bad shoulder from a football injury so what if we get stuck in the middle of a river and he can’t row and the current is crazy and I’m too wimpy to get us back to shore? Luke, to my knowledge, has no such injury so I feel confident in his rowing abilities.
Plus, he could entertain me with one of his anti-Taylor Doose rants. Plus, I appreciate his style—flannel shirts and that green army-ish jacket. So that gives him an edge.

…sit in a town meeting under Mayor Taylor Doose (GG) or the Mayor of Maple Valley who, if I remember correctly, used a megaphone in one of the town meetings?
I like my mayor, I do. But other than his megaphone scene, he’s a pretty brief shadow in From the Start. So I’m going to go with Taylor because I would get immense enjoyment out of listening to him talk about the dangers of ticks or the need for better leash laws or his intense competition with the farmers market people in the Town Square.

…have a first kiss with Jess (GG) or Colton (FTS)? Oooooh! That’s gonna be tough for you, isn’t it since you’re such a big Jess fan?!
Honestly, this is not even hard for me. I would absolutely pick Jess. Thing is, I LOVE Colton. I really do. But he is so firmly connected to Kate in my mind that I’d feel like a cheater if I kissed him. Whereas Jess, last we heard from him, is happily unconnected. (Because stupid Rory doesn’t know a good thing when she has it.) So I would feel zero guilt about kissing him. 
…hang out for a day with Lorelei Gilmore or Kate Walker (FTS)?
Kate Walker. I think Lorelai is awesome…we have some striking similarities. But Kate…Kate would get me. Kate would understand my deepest emotions and shallowest quirks. And she would talk about writing and watch old movies with me. We’d totally bond.

…be best buds with Rory Gilmore or Hailey (FTS)?
Hailey, no question. Here’s the thing with Rory: By the end of Gilmore Girls, she’s kind of an idiot. I’m sorry, but she makes the most ridiculous decisions from season 5 on. Now, if we were talking strictly early seasons Rory, I might have a different answer.
But the great thing about Hailey in FTS is that she isn’t afraid to challenge Kate. We see it early on in the book and we see it later on at the end of the book. She’s hugely influential in Kate’s life and she’s wise. So I’d definitely go with her.

…have Richard Gilmore as a father figure or Kate’s dad, Case Walker.
Kate’s dad! Not hard at all to decide on that one. Richard Gilmore is a wonderful character and we definitely get to see his loving, caring side in Gilmore Girls. But…we also know he wasn’t all that emotionally available or understanding as Lorelai’s father. And a lot of Lorelai’s mistakes in the show are side effects of feeling unaccepted or misunderstood by her family.
Case Walker on the other hand is, of course, not perfect. But he is a wonderful listener. He’ll challenge his daughter, but always from a place of love. He somehow manages to be stern and gentle at once. And he sees past the fronts his adult kids put up.

…go to a Gilmore Friday night dinner or a Friday night football game in Maple Valley?
Gilmore Friday night dinner! I’m sure a football game would be fun, but a Gilmore dinner would include crazy amounts of wit and banter and snark. And I would highly enjoy the awkward moments…highly.

…erase Logan Huntzberger from Rory’s life and make sure Jess stays in the picture or go on romantic date with Logan Walker which includes a glorious kiss at the end? (I’m torn here so I’m personally not answering ha!)
Oh my gosh! When I first read this, I thought the second option was a romantic date with Logan Huntzberger and I was like, “Why would you even ask me this? Logan Huntzberger is so far from my type it’s hilarious. There’s not even a decision to be made here!”
Then I realized you said Logan Walker…my Logan. And things got DIFFICULT. Because I adore Logan Walker and have an amazingly unreasonable crush on the guy who portrays him on my cover (that I wish so badly I could share!).
And yet, I love Jess…I will love him forever.
But you know, in my imagination, Jess DOES stay in the picture for Rory. And Logan Huntzberger may not be my thing—not even a little bit—but he does have his good moments and there are ways Rory does grow (I suppose) from her relationship with him. (Even if mostly he just encourages her stupid decisions and spends the bulk of his time on screen whining.) I don’t think he needs to be entirely erased from her life.
So my choice is a romantic date with Logan Walker which includes a glorious kiss at the end.
And now I realize half of this post has been talk of kissing fictional people. I’m not sure how I feel about this…lol!
(Jess here) Well, I feel good about it so that’s what counts, right? Great answers, Melissa! This was so much fun!
Okay, friends, are you a Gilmore Girls fan? If so, we’d love for you to answer a few of the questions in the comments. If not, who would you share a fictional first kiss with?
Visit Melissa on Facebook, Twitter @melissatagg and her blog! 
Take a peek at From the Start then go buy the book! I loved it! Buy the book!
Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays...until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley.

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

A Taste of Texas w/ Julie Jarnagin

I am so excited today to have my good friend Julie Jarnagin here. Julie is one of my favorite authors too! And today she’s talking about her novella. Take it away, Julie!
Hi, everyone. Julie Jarnagin here. I’m so excited to be on Jessica’s blog today. Jessica is one of those friends who can always make me smile even when I’m having a bad day!
Do y’all love comfort food as much as I do? When I think of comfort food, the first thing I think about is the potlucks we used to have in the basement of my small hometown church. The entire table would be covered in fried chicken, ham, broccoli and cheese casserole, deviled eggs (someone always brought deviled eggs), and more delicious dishes than I can list. And then there was the dessert table! Coconut cream pie, Texas sheet cake, banana pudding...yum!
My goal in writing my latest series, Taste of Texas, was to give you that same feeling that I got at those potlucks full of great food and warm people. And I’m having a blast writing them. These books are all set in central Texas and have plenty of good food and cute cowboys. What could be better? :)
I recently released the first book in the series, a novella titled The Art of Falling where you’ll meet Heather, a cautious art museum fundraiser, and Wyatt, a bull rider with a big heart. I actually wrote my upcoming novel Kiss the Cowboy first, but as I was working on it, I realized that two of the secondary characters, Heather and Wyatt, had their own story to tell. That’s where the idea for The Art of Falling was born.
What are some of your favorite kinds of comfort food?
Below is my mother-in-law’s famous chocolate sheet cake recipe.
Pat’s Chocolate Sheet Cake
2 cups sugar2 cups flour1 stick oleo1/2 cup shortening1 tsp salt1 tsp vanilla4 Tbsp cocoa1 cup water2 eggs1tsp soda1/2 cup buttermilk
Mix flour and sugar in a bowl. Bring oleo, shortening, cocoa and water to a boil. Add hot mixture to sugar and four, mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes in an 18x12x1 inch pan.
Icing:1 stick oleo6 Tbsp milk1 Tbsp cocoa1 box powdered sugar1 tsp vanilla
Bring oleo, milk and cocoa to a boil. Then add powdered sugar and vanilla. Frost cake while still hot.
Here's a peek at The Art of Falling
Heather Tornsten needs a man…a celebrity, more specifically, for a fundraising gala for the Dallas art museum, where she works. And what better headliner than bull rider Wyatt Lawrence? Although why people idolize grown men who make their living falling off animals, she’ll never understand.
When his mom was diagnosed with cancer, Wyatt determined to focus on doing what she wants—like visiting some art museum. But when his mom teams up with Heather Tornsten to get him involved in a fundraiser, he knows he’s been set up. The more involved he gets with the pretty events coordinator, the more he realizes falling off a bull is far safer. Because falling for Heather–who has made it clear that she won’t risk her heart on any man who courts danger–might break a whole lot more than his bones.
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Julie Jarnagin is a multi-published author of inspirational romance. She grew up in a small Oklahoma town where her family farmed and ranched. These days she lives in a not-so-big city with her amazing husband and two young sons who tolerate all her nerdy quirks. Julie earned a B.A. in Journalism / Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.  www.JulieJarnagin.com

Why We Left Our Church: The Simple Truth

When you leave a church sometimes the following questions are asked and statements are made: "They must be mad or holding a grudge."
"Who do you think offended them?"
"I bet they didn't get their way on something and called it quits."
"I guess they weren't happy so..."
"Well, something must have happened and ticked them off or they wouldn't have left."

Something did happen. It had nothing to do with a feeling. It had to do with a holy stirring.

In Mary Poppins, Burt is playing along in his one man band, entertaining the crowd. Happy. Routine. And something breaks his "day as usual." 

The winds changed. 
The atmosphere around him stirred. 
He pressed pause, and looked UP.

In wonder, anticipation, and maybe even a bit of confusion, he slowly sings, ""Somethin's 'bout to begin. Can't put my finger on what lies in store..." Then he goes back to singing, "Step in time...step in time..."


That's what happened to us. Something in our spiritual atmosphere stirred and we knew something was about to begin, though we couldn't quite put our finger on it. So we went back to stepping in time, all the while, waiting...watching...praying for clarity and direction. We looked UP--to Jesus. We did this for over a year. 

"To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Some seasons are relatively short. And some...some are long. We spent fifteen years in the church we left. I grew up spiritually there, we dedicated our children, watched them get saved and baptized there. I stepped into all kinds of ministry and stretched...grew. We poured our hearts, our service, our time into the people of this church. We don't regret a minute of ministry. We cherish those memories. Every. Single. One.  


But God began to place the direct community we do life in on our hearts. He strategically placed us in areas of the west end of the county where we have unique opportunities and great relationships. He opened our eyes to see things here we haven't seen before. 

We knew where God was calling us to focus ourselves. Here. Living #thewestlife (as I like to call it).

God's timing has fallen perfectly into place. One small step at a time. From an established church accepting God's call to Go West with a 3rd campus to my book contract coming exactly when it did, to snow days that moved dates around to help me finish out my committment to people and God, with grace in a class I love to teach. I could go on and on about things that were divinely set up, but it wouldn't be a blog. It'd be a book.   My son, front and center, about to be baptized! Good times.

Not only God's timing, but His fingerprints, blessings, confirmations constantly reminded us that we were in the center of His will. And that's a peaceful, joyful, wonderful place to be. If we were leaving over hurts, disappointments, anger, bitterness, offense, name the poison, God wouldn't be showering blessings. He'd be laying on conviction for us to repent. To say we've never been angry or upset, disappointed, let down, or frustrated would be a lie. In fifteen years that's to be expected. For anyone. I mean, good grief I get irritated with the people who came from my body. You think I'd never get miffed at someone who didn't? 

But it's not a reason to leave a church. If you've been in my F.O.R.W.A.R.D. class, you've heard me say that. If you know Tim and I well, then you know the kind of people we are, and our hearts, and it wouldn't cross your mind that we might leave because we're bitter or angry.  We're not quitters. So right here, right now, if you're reading this and your feelings have been hurt and you're considering leaving your church over it, DON'T. Go to that person. In love. Talk about it. Forgive. Always forgive. Make things right. You're a family. Family should love each other. The Bible says, "They  (the world) will know us (the church) by our love for one another."  
On a Missions trip in Thailand. We had lunch at the governor's home
in Chaing Rai, but here we are at her office. Good times.

A few questions that might need answered:
Does that mean we don't love the people in the church we left? No. Does it mean we love the people in our new church more? No. Because guess what? At the end of the day, we're all ONE BODY. Church #1 isn't a body. Church #2 isn't a body. Church #3, 4, 5, and 6, aren't a body. They are all PARTS of ONE body and Christ is the head. In fact, gospel preaching churches ought to be working together not competing for who can have the coolest programs, biggest attendance, and more photos on Instagram to brand them, but that's another post for another day. And thank you so much for those of you who wrapped your arms around me at book club and last night after F.O.R.W.A.R.D. who have cheered us on and are excited for us. It. Meant. Everything!!

Does this mean when we champion our new church and post updates on how amazing the preaching is, the worship is, the events/LifeGROUPS, Youth is that we're slighting the church we left or other churches in general? NO. If you personally take it that way, then you need to personally deal with it. Sheesh, my most favorite female voice on the planet is still singing on stage at church #1. Waves to my BFF Heather Williams! Will she take offense if I post how beautiful another woman's voice is that sings on Sunday? No. Because she's secure enough and knows me well enough to know I'm not slapping her in a passive aggressive way by saying something nice about someone else or the fact that I can be moved by someone else's voice and anointing. I doubt Beth Moore gets upset when folks talk about how great Priscilla Shirer is. She's probably overjoyed because that means a woman is getting the Word into her soul. And really...isn't that what we should be doing as well? Being excited about people growing and maturing in Christ wherever God chooses and by whomever God uses. As I've matured in Christ, I've come to realize this more and more. 

Does this mean we have to stop doing life with the people in Church #1 because we're not sitting in a Sunday service with them? NO. Faith Readers book club isn't a leisure group under church #1 anymore, but it is a community Christian women's book club that meets at the Southaven library. Love you, ladies, and appreciate your amazing outpouring of love and support! Anyone can come and I hope they do! From churches all over the county. We're all sisters in Christ. Aren't we? It means I still go to movies and dinner with couples from church #1. It means I still ask them to pray for me. We still go to lunch, shopping, and the zoo. We text and talk over the phone. It means you don't have to dodge me, hide from me behind Walmart or Target end caps, or pretend you don't see me in the grocery store (not that you would but just in case). It means you can still send me that invite to lunch you promised and text to check in on me. It means you can still love me.  You don't have to feel awkward around me. I'm still me. I still love the same Jesus. I still care about you.  Because we've established a friendship over faith, not over a building we attend two or three times a week. And this goes for anyone leaving a church or for those who haven't left. Love each other. Don't let awkwardness or "territorialness" (is that a word?) keep you from continuing to be friends. Love. Love. Love one another. Even if someone DOES leave over anger or bitterness...those who stay behind, LOVE them, text them and tell them that but mean it. Those who left under those circumstances, pray about that heart condition. Those who stay behind, give a call or text those who have left due to God's leading and say, "Hey, we love you no matter what and we're glad about what God is doing in your life. Can't wait to see how He uses you to reach others. We're proud of you. We appreciate all you've done in this season with us and if you ever need anything...we're here. With open arms. Always. (cue Journey). And if you can't say those things, if you don't feel those things...you should pray about that heart condition.  Okay so I might look angry here, but I'm not! I'm flipping cold! This is the BBQ team serving at Springfest. Good times.

Does it mean that we're going to secretly try and get members from Church #1 to come to our new church? NO. Sadly, that happens all too often in churches and it shouldn't. But not with us. This isn't about trying to take our friends where we're going. It's about reaching out to the West end of the county and seeing lives changed for Christ. Seeing broken hearts mended, wounds healed, marriages restored, crime rate dropped because people are coming to know Jesus! It's not about manipulating already-Christ-followers into coming to a different church. That's shallow and ridiculous and if you know Tim and I we are not shallow. Sometimes we're ridiculous--in a good way, though! :) 

Does it mean we are over-the-moon excited to be where we are and making new friendships, ministering with new people and sitting under new leadership? YES!!! We are thrilled to be a part of Life Fellowship WEST (I only mention the name because many of you either already know or are going to ask anyway, and we're proud to be there). We are committed and on board with their vision! We have no clue where God will place us as far as ministry. We didn't walk into the church saying, "Well, we are gifted in XXX areas so we need to do XXX and XXX." No. I may never teach another F.O.R.W.A.R.D. class again (until it's published and I have to have DVDs recorded, gulp!) But maybe I will. Or  maybe I'll work the cafe and put a little cup of chocolaty goodness into the hands of an eager child who needs to hear and know that Jesus loves him/her. That's the thing about God's plan. You don't have every detail when you want it. You have to take steps of faith.  Will I miss ministering with those of you who I've been in the trenches with? YES! Am I anticipating getting in the trenches with new friends? YES!   This is the first Trunk or Treat event we ever did. I had a blast working
with my BFF Melanie to organize one of the largest outreaches we've ever done! Good times.

This is a good thing for our family. Part of God's purpose and plan. So we celebrate it. We love you, Church #1 and hope you'll celebrate it with us as many already have. 

It's time for us to move forward. And this is the next step. 

We're excited about a new START at a  new place. God is doing a new thing Waves at Amanda as I see you, girl! 


"My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." 1 Cor. 16:24 NKJV




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It's Been Awhile...Coffee with Jess A VLOG!

Hey everyone! It's been a long time since I've done a vlog and today I want to share the inspiration behind the Seasons of Hope novella series that I've been working on. 

As of right now book 1 & 2 have been FREE (limited time) to subscribers, so if you haven't subscribed to the Patched In newsletter, do it now and you'll be receiving 2 more novellas for FREE this year. Right now both books, Hope Under Mistletoe and Just the Way You Are are available for purchase at Amazon . 

I say "know-vella" and I think up north it might be pronounced "nah-vella." Well...I live near Memphis so it's "know-vella." Also, be aware, this is totally off the cuff, no retakes. Um...sorry? Not sorry. Okay, let's chat about the inspiration behind the series. Get your coffee...settle in for just a few moments and let's do this! 


What's your favorite season and why? 

Love Is In the Air...and Also Pollen & a New Book!

Hey everyone! I hope wherever you are, you have sunshine and and blue skies. Speaking of sunshine and blue skies, it's spring time in Mistletoe and love is in the air...along with pollen and some news that will change Audrey's life forever! 

That's right, Just the Way You Are, book 2 in the Seasons of Hope series has released and is available for purchase for ONLY $2.99! Whaaaaat?! :) It can be read as a standalone but why not grab up book 1 Hope Under Mistletoe for only .99 while you're at it! Two more books in this series is coming. Next is Cassie and Jax (set in fall) and it ends with Sierra and Ezra (set in summer)! I love this small town and quirky cast of characters and I hope you do too! 

BUY THE BOOK!


What is your favorite thing about spring?