Janice Hanna's Blog, page 9

Don’t Do It

When the righteous cry for help, the  Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:17-18 ESV

I once heard evangelist Winkey Pratney share a story about a young woman who was mentally and emotionally disturbed. She fled the country, abandoning her husband and children. This woman wanted to get away from it all, to run from the pressures of life that had apparently been weighing her down. 

The distressed young woman fled to a foreign country, where she subsequently contracted a terrible, life-threatening illness. A period of time went by, and she was unable to earn a living due to her health problems. Penniless, she found herself on a ship, headed home. She had determined that she would not go back to her husband and children. Instead, she would go to her brother’s house. 

Standing at the ship’s rail, this hopeless young lady had a sudden desire to jump overboard. Though she had not made any indication to others onboard that she was contemplating this act, she determined to end it all. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she faced a man, a stranger.

“Don’t do it,” was all he said.

Flabbergasted, she made the decision not to kill herself. She reached shore with the others on board, and went immediately to her brother’s home. She was so very ill that all she could do was lie on the floor, vomiting blood. This poor woman was without hope. 

Suddenly, lying there, she felt God’s presence in the room. She called out to him. Like a dream, He was there, with her. Miraculously, he healed her, both body and mind. She was made completely and totally whole, and returned once again to her family, where God continued His work of restoration.

Winkey Pratney enjoyed the telling of this story immensely. You see, that young woman was his mother, and when God healed her, He began a healing that would include the entire family, including Winkey. He is forever grateful that God chose to heal his mother, body, mind and spirit. But isn’t that just like our supernatural God?  Isn’t He is interested in every part of us?

Maybe you’ve been at a low point in your life.

You’re standing at the ship’s railing contemplating your choices. Oh, friend! God stands behind you, hand on your shoulder, crying out, “Don’t do it!” Turn to Him and be healed!

Challenging Thought: Think of a time when the Lord delivered you from an exceptionally low place. Today, take some time to thank Him. 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Don’t Do It  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Divine Encounters

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Proverbs 16:31 ESV

I went into a local restaurant, ordered a sandwich and looked around for a table where I could quietly sit and write. The place was crowded, far too many people for my liking. I snatched a larger table for four as the busboy started cleaning it. I hated sitting there alone, but with no alternative, I sat, pulled out my laptop, and waited for my name to be called to pick up my food from the counter.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed an elderly woman sitting alone at a much smaller table. I didn’t pay much attention. After all, I had work to do. My name was called, I got up to get my food and returned to my table to settle in. 

Then I heard a very shaky voice.

I looked up. The elderly woman stood at my table with food in hand. “They took my table,” she said. She pointed to her little table, now crowded with strangers. While she had gone to pick up her food, others had taken her space!   

She asked if she could sit with me and I said, “Of course!” She sat, introduced herself as Evelyn and we talked for nearly 45 minutes. I found her to be extremely social, and completely wonderful. She told me of her children, grown and living in other cities. She talked about how she spends her week, going to aerobics classes, getting her hair done, and visiting with neighbors, who take such good care of her that her children don’t have to worry about living elsewhere. In short, she was the most independent eight-three-year-old I had ever met.

But that’s only half the story.

You see, I was sitting at that very table working on a novel, a women’s fiction piece about five females of varying ages. I had a compilation or “prototype” for every character in the book, except one. That particular character?  An elderly woman who lives alone in the city, has grown children who live elsewhere, and who is looking for things to do to fill her time!  In the end, this “character” ends up being the most critical person in my story, for she ultimately brings all of the other characters together. 

And yet I knew no one like this in real life. Until she sat down to lunch with me. I didn’t have to ask any questions; she willingly shared all the information I could ever need and more. I simply sat in stunned silence, taking mental notes and enjoying every moment in her presence. What a heavenly gift! 

Has the Lord ever surprised you with a divine encounter like that? He’s so good to give us what (and who) we need, right when we need it! 

Challenging Thought: Are you open to surprise encounters with strangers?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Divine Encounters appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Those Messy Storms

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

When you live along the Gulf Coast, you grow accustomed to seasonal storms. They blow in, do their damage, and leave as quickly as they came. I experienced the effects of one such storm first-hand. Hurricane Rita made her debut along the east Texas shoreline in October of 2005. A few weeks later, I drove through the area, amazed at the devastation. Billboards, trees, buildings. . .toppled and torn. The entire landscape of southeast Texas had been re-written. 

I shot off an email to a good friend who lives in the area and she responded with an intriguing comment: “You should have seen it before they cleaned up.” Those words stopped me in my tracks. I had been looking at the “new and improved” devastation, the cleaned-up version. I hadn’t seen the real thing.

The Storms We Go Through

My friend’s words gave me pause to think about the storms we go through in our lives and the images we portray to one another in the midst of them. How many times are we beaten and battered, yet rush to present ourselves to a watching world as one who has it all together. Often, we just want to quickly tidy up. Put our best foot forward. Put on the happy face. 

But devastation is nearly impossible to hide. When you’re going through a messy divorce, a struggle with a drug addiction, a battle with depression, it’s tough to pretend everything is all right. I find myself moved by the words of Thomas Hardy, who said: If all hearts were open and all desires known — as they would be if people showed their souls — how many gapings, sighings, clenched fists, knotted brows, broad grins, and red eyes should we see in the market-place! 

The problem is, we rarely let others see.

We hide. We pretend we’re okay when we’re really not. Why is that? Why is it so difficult to let people know what we’re really dealing with?  Why do we struggle with vulnerability? We all go through storms, after all. We should be able to relate to one another in our moments of weakness.

Today, if you’re walking through a storm, reach out to a friend or loved one. Come clean. Share your struggles. And keep your heart open for others who need you during their stormy seasons, as well. And remember, God is bigger than the storm. The winds will die down, and He will have His way. 

Challenging Thought: How have you handled the storms you’ve walked through? Are you stronger or weaker after they’ve blown over? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Those Messy Storms  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Martha’s Tiered Wedding Cake

FRESH FROM MARTHA’S KITCHEN

The Tie that Binds

INGREDIENTS (This recipe will make three 6” layers of cake. To make a full wedding cake you will need to multiply this recipe by ten. Yep, you read that right!)

CAKE:

1 box white cake mix

1/2 cup oil

4 egg whites

1 cup plus two tablespoons water

1 teaspoon clear vanilla

1 teaspoon pure almond extract

Bake cake as per instructions on box, substituting four egg whites instead of three whole eggs. Add vanilla and almond to the mix. Bake in three 6” pans. Allow to cool on wire racks, then level the cakes off in preparation for stacking. 

FROSTING:

1 8-ounce block cream cheese

2 sticks (one cup) butter

1 cup Crisco shortening (white)

1 bag powdered sugar (7-8 cups, sifted)

1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract

1 teaspoon pure Almond extract

1-2 tablespoons Italian Sweet Cream creamer

While cakes are baking, allow the butter and cream cheese to come to room temperature. When they are ready, whip them for 2-3 minutes then add the shortening. Turn your mixer down to low speed and carefully add the 7-8 cups of powdered sugar until frosting reaches the desired creamy consistency. Add extracts until fully incorporated. 

FILLING:

1 jar strawberry preserves

INSTRUCTIONS: See Author’s Note below. 

A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

I loved adding the scene where Martha bakes the wedding cake because I’ve been in her shoes more times than I can count! I love to bake and have done plenty of wedding cakes over the years. With that in mind, I thought it might be fun to tell you a little more about my baking process. 

Let’s Make a Wedding Cake!

Most people are surprised to learn that my cake recipe (listed above) begins with a boxed mix. To giving wedding cake that amazing “Just Married!” flavor, I add both vanilla and almond extracts. You’ll notice that I use only egg whites instead of whole eggs. This keeps this cake a pristine white. Some folks substitute butter for oil, but I love that bright white color, so oil is just fine for me. When baking in large pans (12” or higher) I usually lower the temperature of the oven. If the recipe calls for 350 degrees, I’ll lower the temperature to 335 and cook the cakes a bit longer. I also rotate the cakes on the racks of my oven to ensure equal baking. For a typical three-tiered wedding cake I start with three 6” round cake pans, three 9” round cake pans, and three 12” round cake pans. I bake my cakes until they are golden in color (timing them according to the directions on the boxed cake) then turn them out to cool on cooling racks. At this point I have a total of nine cakes.  It’s important to cool your cake layers completely before decorating. Mine sit out for a couple of hours then go into the fridge to chill. 

Before I Begin Stacking and Tiering. . .

Here are the items I have on-hand before stacking and tiering my wedding cakes: A good turntable is a must-have. It makes the stacking and decorating process so much easier. I use a sturdy cake drum (foil covered board at least 3/4” thick) to build the cake on. I’ve been known to make my own out of cake rounds but they can be purchased online, as well. The key here is to have a strong base. Each tier will have its own “round” (a cardboard cutout the same size as the cakes on that tier). I usually dowel my layers with Boba (milkshake) straws or wooden dowels. Of course, I also use an offset spatula for adding that yummy icing!

My “Tiering” Process

I start by placing my cake drum on the turntable. I level off my three 12” cakes and begin the process of stacking and filling them. I always make sure I have plenty of frosting and fruit filling on hand. There’s nothing worse than running short midway through the stacking process! Many of my weddings cakes have a fruit filling between the layers, most often strawberry or raspberry preserves. I pipe a “dam” of frosting around each cake before spooning in the fruit filling. When I’m done stacking, it’s time to crumb-coat the cake (add a thin layer of frosting). Then I put it in the fridge for about half an hour. When it’s chilled, I remove it from the fridge, add 8-10 Boba straw or dowels, cut the exact height of the cake. Then I add my final layer of frosting and decorate in whatever style the bride has requested. I repeat this process for my 9” cakes and 6” cakes. I rarely put the cake layers together until I get to the reception hall. I’ve had cakes fall over in the car on the way to the event!) When I’m ready to stack my tiers, I pipe a buttercream trim across the seams then run a dowel down through the center of all three cakes for stability. Most wedding cakes are topped with flowers or some sort of wedding topper. And there you have it. . .a beautiful tiered wedding cake! 

P.S. What About That Naked Cake?

To make a “naked” cake, I add a thin crumb-coat and then scrape most of the icing off. The cake isn’t completely “naked” but I do allow bits of the cake peek through. It might seem a bit odd at first but when it’s all put together and greenery (or fruit) is added, you’ll see that the result is pretty amazing. Some folks even sprinkle sifted powdered sugar over their naked cakes at the last mine, coating the berries in a soft white haze. Yum! 

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A Nail in the Can

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

With the help of an interpreter, a missionary to Papua New Guinea attempted to explain to the local natives how Jesus Christ went to the cross and offered Himself as a sacrifice for their sins. However, when he reached the part of the story about the nails piercing Jesus’ hands and feet, they ran into a dilemma…these natives didn’t understand the word “nail.” They had never seen one. The missionary tried his best to explain through the interpreter, but closed the message feeling frustrated and concerned. It was evident that the people weren’t going to get it. 

 He quietly slipped away to the side of a cool creek to rest awhile and think. He reached down into the cold water and, as was his habit, pulled up several cans of orange juice that he had tied to a string and immersed several hours earlier to cool. He chose a particular can, opened it, and began to drink. As he sipped the cool juice he thought about his dilemma, and wondered what he might be able to say to make the people understand. The sad missionary turned the can over to take one last swallow. As he did, he heard a light “clink” coming from inside the can. Surprised, he turned it over and out dropped a small nail!

Can you imagine?  

Somewhere in Florida a worker had “accidentally” dropped a nail into a can of juice, (who knows why or how)! That particular case of juice was shipped to California where the missionary’s sister had purchased it at a local grocery store. From there she sent the case to the remote area of the world where the missionary was stationed. That particular morning the missionary had chosen several cans of juice, submerging them all in the cool creek. When he pulled them out of the water, he chose the very one can that held the nail!

 Excited and full of newfound zeal, the missionary ran back to the people, hurriedly calling for the interpreter. “This is a nail!” he exclaimed. He then passed the small, miraculous, metal nail from person to person, asking each one to lightly press it into his or her palm. The people immediately understood just what Jesus had gone through for them, and their response for salvation was overwhelming!

 Don’t you see, my friend…God will go to any length to draw men and women to salvation. The chances of a nail being in that particular can of juice were certainly more than a million to one. But God knows how to put a nail in our can of juice just when we need it!  

Challenging Thought

Have you ever faced a situation that seemed too impossible, even for God? How did it end? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post A Nail in the Can appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Angel Unawares

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Hebrews 13:2 ESV

Years ago I met a young man by the name of Joseph. When he shared his testimony with me, I could immediately see God’s hand at work in his life. You see, Joseph was raised in witchcraft. Unhappily, his family members are still involved in its deception today. Joseph had left the witchcraft scene years prior, but still did not know the one true God. 

Jesus introduced himself, however, in a rather incredible way.

Joseph was riding on a local city bus. It had been a long day, and he must have looked down in the dumps. An elderly woman approached him, and said, “You look depressed.”  

Joseph just shrugged. He didn’t really feel like getting into a lengthy discussion with anyone about his feelings right now, especially someone he didn’t even know. (Have you ever been there?) 

“No, you really look depressed,” the woman said. “You need Jesus.”

Joseph rolled his eyes. Another religious freak. A do-gooder out proselytizing. He pretended to listen as the woman carried on about her relationship with Jesus. 

Oh brother.

When the conversation ended, the elderly lady handed him a Gideon’s Bible. Joseph placed it on the seat, standing to move toward the front of the bus. He needed to speak with the driver, to ask him a question. (I personally think he just wanted to get away from the woman!)

Returning to his seat moments later, Joseph was surprised to see the woman had disappeared. On the seat was the Gideon’s Bible with a note on top: “Jesus Loves You.”  Joseph quickly looked around the bus. How did she get off?  The bus never stopped!  

I’ll leave that conclusion to you, my friend…for I have come to a conclusion of my very own, and so has Joseph! 

God will go to any lengths to draw people to Him. Don’t be surprised, as the hour of His return draws near, if you hear more stories just like this one! And He will even use angels to accomplish His goals from time to time!

Challenging Thought: Have you given much thought to angels?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Angel Unawares appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

The Big Freeze

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

Luke 14:28 ESV

A couple of years back, Texas went through a terrible winter storm. We’re not accustomed to snow and ice in the Houston area, so it caught most of us off-guard. Though the beautiful scene captivated us, the experience was also a little frightening, since most of our roads were completely shut down and stores were closed. 

Now that my kids are grown, I live alone. I’m rarely frightened by anything, but when the power went out and the temperatures inside my tiny duplex dropped into the 40s, I got a little nervous. I did everything I could to take care of myself, but, unfortunately, I was ill-prepared for this blackout. 

It’s Good to be Prepared

Oh, I had a few essentials—a flashlight, candles, and so on. And, I was so grateful to have a gas stove so that I could keep the water in the kettle heated for coffee and soup. But there were so many other things I didn’t have, and this situation only seemed to complicate itself when I tried to use the charger in my car, but ended up running the car battery down. (Foolish mistake, I know!) 

For three days, we struggled through low temperatures before the power finally came back on. I was grateful and so were my puppies, who were tired of being cooped up in the house! 

As soon as the storm ended, I went online and ordered all of the things I wished I’d had during those difficult three days—a heavy scarf, gloves, thermal underclothes, and sweaters for my dogs. I also bought battery-operated lanterns, a small portable generator, plenty of AA batteries, a head lamp, and a variety of other things, including hand warmers and a heavy blanket for my bed. 

Next time I won’t be caught off-guard! 

Maybe you’ve been there, too. It’s tough when you’re unprepared! God wants us to count the cost before the storms of life come. Don’t be caught off-guard, wishing you had what you need. 

Are there areas of your life where you need to be better prepared? Let this story be the nudge you need to get those things taken care of. 

Challenging Thought: Have you ever jumped into a situation without counting the cost? How did that end? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post The Big Freeze  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

M.I.A.

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Matthew 24:44 ESV

Traveling with a large family can be fun, but complicated! In 1987 we took our daughters and my five-year-old nephew on a road trip from Texas to Montana, to visit my in-laws. 

Along the way we drove to Estes Park, then to the tippy-top of Rocky Mountain National Park, before heading north to Wyoming. 

We didn’t plan strategically. Instead of scheduling a hotel room for that night, we decided just to drive through. At this point we were all exhausted. As my husband drove, the kids and I slept soundly. 

Until we felt a thump. And a groan. 

Flat time. 

Time to find the tire iron. I helped unpack all of the suitcases as my husband grumbled about the missing tire iron. I wasn’t must help because I wasn’t even sure what a tire iron looked like. Finally, I asked him, “Explain what we’re looking for so I can help you.” 

He held up his index fingers and crossed them into an X. 

And that’s when it hit me.

That big metal X-shaped object I’d taken out before leaving our house so that we would have room for all of the luggage. Our tire iron was missing. . .because of me. 

And so, I had to tell him. I’ll never forget the look on his face or the pit in my stomach. 

We somehow hobbled the van into a nearby town where he borrowed a tire iron to change the tire. But by then, the damage was already done to the rim, since we’d driven on it. My mistake had cost us a lot—financially, emotionally, and mentally. 

God wants us to be prepared at all times.

That’s especially important now, in the 21st century, as end time prophecies seem to be coming true all around us. We have to be watchful. Alert. Not snoozing in the van with a MIA tire iron. 

Stay in the Word. Keep your prayer life active. And keep your eyes peeled on the heavens for the One who will soon come to take us home!

Challenging Thought: Would you say that you are a “prepared” individual? What are some areas where you might do better?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post M.I.A. appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Winnie’s Snickerdoodles

This recipe for Snickerdoodles is actually my mama’s, but I used it in my Guideposts book, The Secret Ingredient, a fun cozy mystery. One of the main characters, Winnie, is an amazing baker and even competes in a big competition!

I’m happy to share it with you now, as well as a snippet of the story, which you will find below the recipe.

Enjoy, y’all!

Snickerdoodle Ingredients

These are simple ingredients you likely already have in your pantry or refrigerator.

1 cup shortening2 eggs1 cup sugar2 ¾ cups flour2 tsp cream of tartar1 tsp soda½ tsp saltHow to Make Winnie’s Snickerdoodles

Cream together shortening, sugar, and eggs until rich and cream.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well.

Shape dough into 1” balls. Roll in cinnamon and sugar mixture (2 T sugar/2 T cinnamon). 

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 – 11 minutes. 

That’s it! These are simple and delicious cookie.

Enjoy a scene from the book!

Winnie buzzed through the room with a tray of cookies in hand. “Sorry to interrupt, but speaking of midnight snacks, I made Snickerdoodles before bed last night.” She gestured to the tray. “Left them in the pantry. Did you get one? I’m about to put the rest out at the registration table.”

“No.” Janice bit back a yawn as she reached for one of Winnie’s yummy cinnamon sugar cookies. “Wish I’d known before I headed to bed. Would’ve taken a couple up with me. Couldn’t sleep.”

Winnie gave her an empathetic look. “Sorry to hear that. I told the guests last night before bed. Gave them free reign of my kitchen and pantry. Told ‘em to come down and help themselves, if they felt like it.”

Tess pressed her palms against the table. “Well, for pity’s sake, why didn’t you just tell us?”

“I thought I did, just now.” Winnie shrugged and grabbed a cookie. She took a bite and headed toward the lobby.

Janice chuckled. “So, there you have it. Violet Newberry was simply coming down to the kitchen for a midnight snack. And she knew exactly where to find them because Winnie told her.” 

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Imprisoned

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Mark 11:25 ESV

A man in a third world country was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs, held in a prison cell because of his faith in the Lord. His wife, still free to come and go, liked to cook for him, bringing his meals up to the prison. 

This man never had a chance to enjoy her home cooking, however. Every time food was brought to him, the prison guard took it instead, eating it in front of him. How awful it must have been to watch this take place time and time again!

Can You Imagine?

Was there any hope of reaching the prison guard with the gospel message?  It might not have seemed so, but that’s just exactly what happened some time later. You see, the prisoner was finally released, freed to go back to his family. After arriving home, God began to deal with him about forgiving the prison guard who had wronged him. 

The Lord impressed on the man a unique way to show his forgiveness. He sent a note to the prison guard, inviting him to come to dinner at his home. The note said, “I remember how much you enjoyed my wife’s cooking.” Remarkably, the guard came!  Under conviction of the Holy Spirit, he repented for the wrong he had done, and accepted the gift of salvation that same night!

 There truly is power in forgiveness!  

The man offering forgiveness received the power to get on with the rest of his life. The man who received forgiveness received power to see with spiritual eyes. That’s truly supernatural!

Challenging Thought: Perhaps someone has hurt you badly. What steps can you take to begin to forgive that individual?  

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Imprisoned appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.