Jennifer Slattery's Blog, page 8

A Difficult but glorious trade

When I feel frightened or overwhelmed, my first response tends to be self-reliance. But this has never gone well. In fact, the more I turn to myself–my faulty wisdom and insufficient strength–the more I distance myself from the mighty, loving, faithful hand of God. Not because He has or ever will push me away, but because in those moments, my pride and anxiety seem to speak louder than His voice.

I’ve heard from others that their greatest struggle is overcoming a conditioned response developed from years of relational hurt and betrayal. Due to past pain, they’ve come to equate trust with danger. While God understands, He also gently and lovingly invites them to experience the transforming power of His love. 

I’ve discovered, beauty comes whenever I timidly release my grip on all those things I try so desperately to control and entrust my life, dreams, hurts, and fears, to my Savior’s care.

This is the promise Jesus made, “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it” (NIV).

At every moment, He beckons us to “lay down our lives,” not so that we would remain in the dust, but rather to place ourselves in a position for Jesus to pick us up and remove from within us everything that hinders His freedom giving Spirit.

In his book, The Holy Spirit Or Power From on High, Reverand A. B. Simpson tells a story about missionaries who shared a meal with an impoverished group of people. Prior to their arrival, the couple told their hosts to prepare for them their best feast. The woman of the home responded that she had nothing but a little fish to share. Still, the missionaries insisted she serve what she could.

Then, on the day of their “feast”, the couple, who were the guests, arrived with a dog sleigh filled with bundle after bundle of food, much more than needed for their shared meal.

This is a picture of what it means to lay down our lives. To lay down everything within us that doesn’t honor Christ, knowing that He always has good planned for us.

We give Him our selfishness, and in its place, receive the ability to love more freely, which results in deepened relationships.

We relinquish our pride, and in our humility, receive grace upon grace.

We hand over our bitterness, and experience soul deep freedom and a heart open to connection.

We relinquish our dysfunction and self-deception and take instead a healing and growth that radiates the loveliness of Christ for generations.

This is what I must remind myself of, in my most reluctant and frightened moments. Whatever Jesus asks of me, it is always to lead me to into a more thriving life. And when wounds and lies from my past challenge my trust, may I reflect upon the contrast presented in John 10:10 when Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

This reminds me, with every choice, that I’m heading in one of two directions– further from or closer to the thriving life my soul needs and craves.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

God’s Love game – guest post by Cheri cowell

Before we launch into today’s post, fun news! My latest book has released, and apparently hit some Walmart shelves (although, not ours yet but hopefully will here soon, also.) You can also grab it on Amazon.

On another note, reading Cheri’s first paragraph, I have to begin by saying, if someone says they love you more than ice cream, hold tight! That’s some intense love! And if you feel like you’ve never experienced that depth of love, can I gently suggest you keep reading? And for those of you who find yourself struggling to believe the truths Cheri discusses, perhaps try to implement what she suggests in my last bold-texted statement.

God’s Love Game

by Cheri Cowell

“I love you more than vanilla ice cream with hot fudge,” my friend will say to his daughter, to which she will reply, “I love you more than kisses from a puppy.” Instead of sharing the usual I love you, they share in this lighthearted game. Each time the other tries to top what was named.

God plays this game with us, too. He gives us a breathtaking sunrise, and then whispers in our ear, “See this? I love you more than that.” He sends someone into your life with an unexpected blessing and then whispers again, “I love you more than that.” God’s love is so great there is no way we could have ever comprehended it—until He sent Jesus so there would be no doubt.

Do you still have a few doubts? Read today’s scripture carefully. The word used in the Greek for inner being means in the secret depths of one’s soul. God longs for us to know Him deeply, intimately, from our most personal, private place. To love from this place requires a depth of vulnerability and trust.

God knows this so He demonstrated His love and vulnerability to us first in the life and death of Jesus. Now, everyday of our lives, He continues to send us reminders of His love and His desire for a deep relationship with us. The challenge for us is to be tuned in to the game enough to keep from missing God’s often subtle communication. The world tries to tell us we are too busy, or that these things are coincidences. But when we slow down and look, we’ll see God saying He loves us everywhere we turn. May you and I have eyes today to see His call, and Hear His whispers of, “I love you more than this …”

In your prayer time today, praise God for His great love expressed in the life and sacrifice of Jesus. Thank Him for the work of the Holy Spirit in your life that continually woos you and seeks to draw you closer to Him. Express to God your willingness to join in His love game by noticing the blessings He puts before you today. Then return the favor by adding your own, “I see that God, and I love You more than ___________.”

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19, NIV

***

Jen here. I recognize, some of you really struggle to recognize God’s love. If that’s you, consider trying Cheri’s suggestion on looking for unexpected blessings throughout your day or week, and tell yourself that each one is an expression of His love for you.

Get to Know Cheri Cowell

 As an author and sidewalk theologian, Cheri Cowell writes and speaks from a refreshing vulnerability about her own struggles with the deep questions of faith. A graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary, she shares her passion to help others apply biblical principles to the sidewalk issues of life.

Cheri is also a publisher (owner of EA Books) and writing coach. She is passionate about helping others see God’s Word come alive, and she is excited to expand that mission by helping fellow authors take advantage of the new publishing trends. For a list of where you can meet or hear Cheri, or to learn about publishing your own books visit http://www.eabookspublishing.com/ Cheri is the author of 365 Devotions for Peace. Learn more about Cheri and her ministry and other books at CheriCowell.com.

About her book, 365 Devotions for Peace:

365 peaceful days add up to a life-changing year.

This affordable daily devotional walks readers through the peace that comes from knowing God in a simple and accessible format. Each entry focuses on ways God offers peace, how to let go of stress and panic and let God guide you, and how to hold onto peace even in the most stressful and hectic of times.

Sample excerpt:

“The world was dark. For 400 years God had been silent. Not a word. Not a peep. Had he forgotten his people? Did he no longer hear their cries? Then the most incredible thing happened. The heavens broke forth in praise. Shepherds shouted their joy, and that joy reverberated over the mountains. The Lord had heard their cries. He has heard yours and has come to comfort. He brings comforting peace into this dark world, peace into your world. Are you in need of comfort and peace? He has come for you.”

Buy it HERE.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/living-in-resurrection-power-part-1

Between Some math and a hard place – guest post by Rhonda Rhea When we feel stuck- guest post by

I’ve experienced long, uncomfortable seasons where I legitimately felt unsure regarding how God was leading me. But I’ve also fed my inner angst wrestling with myself and cloaking my hesitation in demands for one confirmation after another. I’ve found, while God hasn’t yet revealed that ten-year plan I’ve repeatedly asked Him for, He has always revealed where I’m to step today. Speaker and rom-com author Rhonda Rhea has a word for that–and shares the anecdote.

When We Feel Stuck (AKA, Between Math and a Hard Place)

by Rhonda Rhea

When I was in junior high, anytime I felt like I needed a good cry, I’d just ask my dad to help me with my math.

I’d like to say something about the “sums of the fathers” right here, but any way you pun it, it was actually all me. Even in high school, I remember going up to my algebra teacher’s desk saying, “Mr. Showalter, I’m stuck on number 5.” At which point he would do the problem for me with a smile. Mind you, I was also stuck on numbers one through four, but I didn’t want to overwhelm the man.

From early on, I understood that there was a reason they were called math problems. The stages of grief over math ineptitude went something like this:  1) Denial. 2) Trying to bargain—but let’s face it, bargaining can require math, so… 4) Realizing there was probably a missing step. What number are we on again? and 7) I really want a sandwich.

There was always something I would rather do than math problems. And those somethings were big-time distractions. I wish I’d thought to call them “weapons of math disruption” but I was probably too distracted. Sometimes I had a choice between picking up that math book and finding myself stuck on number 5, or instead … sandwich.

Ever feel a little stuck? Sometimes it’s about studying a problem long enough to decipher what to do next. It seems like it’s even more often that we’re stuck because we know what we’re supposed to do next, but we’ve lost count and allowed someone or something to move us in the opposite direction. Stuck.

God’s chosen people have a recorded history of more than a few instances of that “stuck-ness.” Many of their rock-and-a-hard-place kinds of experiences were a result of not being obedient to what the Lord had commanded them to do. One little distraction, then one little compromise that turned into another, that turned into another, and—well, you get the math. One compromise after another turns into … stuck.

Compromise is trading God’s will for us for something that our flesh wants instead. Our sin nature often loves to adjust the equation, trying to force God’s plan to fit our own selfish desires. Talk about not adding up. It’s just plain sin.

Our call is to obey Him. When we choose to follow distractions of compromise, we’re denying His grace. Paul said, “For the grace of God has appeared with salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession, eager to do good works.” Titus 2:11-14 (HCSB)*.

How can a list of instructions like this come from God’s grace? Grace is undeserved favor—there’s nothing we can do to earn God’s love and salvation. So why all the directives in how we should walk with Him?

They are given to us to keep us on a healthy path, focused on the author of our salvation. The same grace that saved us? It’s that very grace that trains us to say no to compromise. No to sin. Yes to cleansing. Yes to good works. Choosing to live in light of God’s precious gift of grace.

Training in refusing to compromise is an integral part of living well (even though “integral” sounds a little “math-y!”)

Maybe this is all a good reminder that the infinite God who created numbers and who fits them together in all kinds of creative ways uses math to show us Himself. Even me.

And I can honestly say that I use math all the time as a writer. For material.

Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:13b-14 NASB*

Get to Know Rhonda Rhea: 

Rhonda Rhea is an award-winning humor columnist for great magazines such as HomeLife, Leading Hearts, The Pathway, and many more. She is a multi-award-winning author of more than 20 books, including the hilarious Off-Script and Over-Caffeinated co-authored with her daughter, Kaley Rhea. She is a publishing consultant and has been a TV and radio regular for many years. Rhonda and her pastor/husband live near St. Louis where she says you can usually find her drinking entirely too much coffee and laughing entirely too loudly with her big and still-growing family. You can read more from Rhonda on her website or Facebook page.

About Her and Her Daughter’s Romantic Comedy, Off-Script and Over Caffeinated:

If there’s one thing Harlow Cruise hates more than those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies, it’s the fact that she loves those schmaltzy Heartcast TV movies. She loves them angrily. With popcorn. Pop-scorn?

As if she doesn’t get enough drama in her day-to-day–directing a ministry-minded community theatre that cranks out three shows a month and trying to keep up with her aspiring screenwriter bestie, Teagan, a self-described “dramagician.”

When the Heartcast Channel Movie division announces they’ll briefly be allowing submissions for new, original Christmas movies, Teagan is convinced this is her time. Roped into workshopping scenes from Teagan’s in-progress spec script, Harlow finds herself paired with an even more reluctant co-star. Jack Bentley might have the most Heartcast Original Movie name on the planet, but he is anything but formulaic.

How different can two people be? It’s fine. Made-for-TV plot-points do NOT a romance make. Right? Right?

Grab a copy HERE.

*Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used with permission by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

*“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

How to Respond to a Depressed Loved One

What can you do when someone you love has landed in such a dark place, it feels—to you and them—as if no amount of light can break through? This is how Teresa, President of Wholly Loved Ministries, described her experience with depression. In the latest Faith Over Fear podcast episode, she said she knew logically that God, her family, and her friends loved her, but she “wasn’t in a right state of mind.” Wonky chemical processing in her brain had hijacked her emotions and perception of reality. During that painful and discouraging time, she needed, and received, a lifeline through the steady presence of a gentle and empathetic friend.*

Someone who didn’t quote Bible verses at her, shame her with a series of “you shoulds” or get frustrated when Teresa’s battle appeared to make no sense to either of them.

In this, her friend mirrored the heart of her compassionate Father who draws close when we need Him most. Psalm 34:18, written by a man accustomed to overwhelming sorrow and fear, states, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit” (ESV).

The Lord, Yahweh in the original Hebrew. The self-revealing, ever-present, relational God who steps into our messy and often turbulent lives, bringing supernatural strength to our weaknesses. Through His faithful and continual presence in our lives and pain.     

The Lord is near. He responds to our pain, confusion, and even our rebellion and sin, by coming close. In love. This is an irrefutable truth that isn’t dependent upon our feelings or perceptions. This means, He remains with us, even when we don’t “feel” Him.

The Lord is near the brokenhearted. Those whose spirits are crushed.

Have you ever experienced grief so intense, your chest literally hurt and it felt as if someone was squeezing your heart in a vice? I have, and in those moments, I didn’t want anyone to list reasons as to why I should or could feel better. Nor did I want to hear a sermon on the goodness of God. In other situations, yes. But when guttural sobs wracked my body, all I wanted was to be held.

To know that I wasn’t alone.

And to receive the space I needed to cry.

I want to better mirror the gentle love and grace of my Savior. The One revealed in Isaiah 42:3, which states, “A bruised reed He will not break and a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish…” (NASB).

To rephrase, our Lord doesn’t belittle or berate the downtrodden. He doesn’t douse a person’s wound-weakened inner spark.

Instead, like a gardener nurturing a wilting and battered orchid, He kneels beside His hurting children, takes them in His arms, and nurses them, steadily yet slowly, to full bloom.

That is the Savior I represent—and was created to reflect. He doesn’t ask me to change or fix anyone. While He might, on occasion, encourage me to speak truth, most often, He simply invites me to walk beside my hurting friend as an instrument of His love, knowing He alone has the power to save the crushed in spirit. Knowing as well, whenever I step outside of His leading, regardless of how well-intended, I’m apt to start trampling upon those the Lord is working to lift up.

Those He is, at this moment, making ‘new.’ (Isaiah 43:19)

*Please note: Whenever we seek to offer others support, it’s important that we listen for and follow God’s lead to ensure that we ourselves are strong enough and in a safe place.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Is God Always Good – Guest Post by Ava Pennington

When I read Ava’s post below, I immediately thought of my friend Iris Peters, who died of brain cancer about five years ago. Prior to her death, when the tumor was slowly stealing her eyesight, speech, and mobility, she took a picture of the passage Ava quotes below, with her personal declaration written in her Bible’s margin. I know, from conversations she and I had during that painful time, that she wrestled with the question Ava poses. Perhaps you do as well.

Is God *Always* Good?

by Ava Pennington

A friend recently posted on social media about her successful recovery from illness. She announced the results with the observation, “God is good!” You can probably imagine the resulting comments:

God is good!God truly answers prayer!God is an awesome God!

We rejoiced in her results because we understood the magnitude of what might have been. Still, our collective responses started me wondering. What if she had not recovered as quickly as she did from the illness? Would we still have said:

God is good!God truly answers prayer!God is an awesome God!

. . . or would we have questioned God’s goodness?

I’ll admit, it’s easy for me to proclaim God’s goodness when life is going well. But what about when we find ourselves besieged by illness or loss? Or by relational or financial obstacles? That’s when we’re called to be intentional about what we say we believe. And not just what we say, but how we live it out.

We read these words in Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV). The prophet Habakkuk wrote:

“Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,
       though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,
     though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,
     yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

It’s difficult to rejoice in the midst of trial and suffering, isn’t it? But notice, Habakkuk is not saying we’re to be joyful for the difficulty. He said he will rejoice in the Lord. He will be joyful in God his Savior.

Can you and I say the same thing? It means being intentional about our perspective. I’m not suggesting we plaster fake smiles on our faces as we hear fearful news or experience loss. No, this is about responding to reality without allowing fear to overwhelm us. Will circumstances determine how we view our faith or will faith determine how we view our circumstances?

We are living testimonies. Think of family, neighbors, and friends who have not been interested in the gospel. The ones who give us figurative pats on the head and say something like, “That’s nice for you if you need it.”

This is our opportunity to live differently because of who we belong to. To live out the reality of the relationship between what we believe and how we live. To show God’s peace is real. And we are the recipients of His peace because we belong to the Prince of Peace.

So would you allow me to paraphrase Habakkuk for us? Today, we might say:

         Though the cancer is not healed

                   and I can’t pay my mortgage,

                   though my marriage has failed

                   and the economy produces no jobs,

                   though I have been misunderstood,

                   and I have lost someone I love,

         yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

                   I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Be encouraged. No matter what happens, God is good.

Whether we understand our circumstances or not, God is good.

                   Whether our days are difficult or easy, God is good.

Do we believe this—truly believe this in the midst of our present circumstances? An unbelieving world is watching to see if this faith of ours really does make a difference in the face of trouble.

Believe it in your heart and speak it aloud because it is always true:

         God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good!

***

Jen here. I wanted to circle back to my opening introduction to Ava’s post. I mentioned that my friend, for a time, questioned God’s goodness. But I can also say that He met her in her wrestling and gently, lovingly led her to a place where she came to say, like Ava, God is good, all the time–even when life feels hard. If you are currently wrestling with a similar question, I encourage you to listen to my conversation with Bible teacher and radio host Susie Larson on a recent episode of the Faith Over Fear podcast titled “Is God Still Good When Life is Hard?”

***

Get to Know Ava Pennington:

Ava Pennington is an author, speaker, freelance editor, and certified writing and speaking coach. She teaches a weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class. Ava also received an Adult Bible Studies certificate from Moody Bible Institute and is trained as a Precepts Ministries instructor. She is the author of Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully, and has contributed to numerous magazines and anthologies. Visit www.AvaPennington.com to learn more. 

Check out her book, :

Every name God calls himself and every name his people call him hold clues to who he is, how he relates to his children, and the promises he has made—and kept.  
Spend time each day getting to know God more intimately by exploring his names and attributes with Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully, a giftable devotional from Ava Pennington.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

When God Calls Your Name – Guest Post by Kelly Hall

When God Calls Your Name

by Kelly Hall

Bundled against the freezing Midwest dreariness, I burst into my house and without removing a single item of wintry protection, collapsed into the couch. The wet, snowy trail I left behind normally would have prompted a quick flurry of activity to dry and protect the hardwood floors, but today I barely noticed.

I’d moved halfway across the country with my four young children so our three daughters, born with profound hearing loss, could undergo surgery to receive cochlear implants and attend a school where they’d be trained to speak. My husband, a fighter pilot in the Air Force, had managed to secure a one-year assignment about six hours away so he could join us on weekends.

Although we were starting to see great benefits from the school, I was overwhelmed with the daily demands of parenting and facilitating communication between our four “littles.” But what really surprised me was the pain of loneliness. Adjusting to an unfamiliar city without the nearby support of family, friends, military community or church home was harder than I expected.

I poured out my heart to God. “Thank you for leading us to a place where our girls are finally getting the help they need. I’m grateful for Your presence and care. But Lord, I’d really like to talk to a physical person. Please send someone who can understand, someone who won’t feel burdened by our story or feel they have to travel across the country to help.”

After skimming through a mental list of names, I gave up and told the Lord, “If you want someone to call me, You’ll have to figure it out.” As I prepared to drive to a nearby bakery for some comfort food, my phone rang. A woman from a church we’d recently visited explained the reason for her call, “For three days God’s whispered your name, telling me to call you, but I kept putting Him off because I didn’t know how to help. But today, when He started shouting your name, I could no longer ignore Him.”

This dear older woman had four grown children, three of whom were also deaf. Her husband had been in the military and they had moved to this same city for the same reasons we had. God sent me a precious new friend who could understand our complicated story. The wisdom, insight, prayers, and laughter that flowed through the phone were a healing balm to my heart.

After I hung up, I fell to my knees stunned by this extravagant outpouring of God’s intimate care. “Lord, I can’t believe You love me enough to arrange a phone call from just the right person at just the right time. You started orchestrating it three days earlier because You knew precisely how long it would take!”

My friend never could have imagined how her one simple act of obedience would become my favorite memory of God’s faithfulness and love.

The Bible reminds us when the overwhelm of life makes us feel isolated, we don’t have to be afraid for the Lord knows our names. The One who created us, who formed us, who redeemed us, is deeply invested in our stories (Isaiah 43:1). His fingerprints are on our very souls (Psalm 139:14). Our names are inscribed on His hands and on His heart (Isaiah 49:16). Before a word is on our tongue, the Lord knows (Psalm 139:4). Before our needs arise, He has positioned the perfect provisions (Matthew 6:8).

What a comfort to know our God is not only immensely powerful, but also intensely personal.

(c) Kelly Hall, KellyHall.org

About the author: Kelly Hall is a speaker, author, Bible teacher, and podcaster. Her Unshakable Hope Podcast: where Real Life intersects Redeeming Love, brings Biblical hope to the weary and highlights the unchanging faithfulness and love of God.

Her Bible study, Courageous Faith, is framed around Proverbs
3:5-6 and expands on the faith lessons learned in her personal journey of raising four children, three with special needs, in the constantly challenging world of Air Force military life. She enjoys the beauty of the Sonoran Desert with her husband, two adult daughters, and a super smart service dog, Skylar.

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Learning to Wait on God’s Direction

Do you typically start your New Year with a solid plan and a list of things you want to accomplish? Normally, that’s where I land. That doesn’t mean, however, that God has always been leading the way. I’ve become increasingly aware of how much I’ve done automatically, especially when it comes to ministry. In some areas I’ve presumed upon God’s will—because I saw a need, received joy in the endeavor, and felt a certain degree of competence—without taking the time to hear from Him.

I wonder, how often have I invested in the “good” while missing His best for me?

If you listen to the Faith Over Fear podcast, you might have heard me share how I’ve handed over leadership of Wholly Loved Ministries to the woman who previously led my content development team. This news felt shocking to some, but God had been leading me in this direction for some time. However, He hasn’t yet shown me what’s next.

This means I’ll enter 2024 with less actionable goals but more intentionality—to rest, to seek, and to listen—with my shoes on and feet ready to obey, whenever and however God directs.

Today, I’m reflecting upon Psalm 33:20-22, which states,

20 We wait in hope for the Lord;
    he is our help and our shield.
21 In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord,
    even as we put our hope in you (NIV).

I wait in hope, in faith-filled expectation, knowing God’s plans for me are good, because He is good.

This includes when He calls me to act and to wait.

He is my help. He doesn’t expect me to figure out my five-year agenda, nor does He want me scrambling forward out of fear or obligation. Instead, He wants me to trust in His guidance, His timing, and His promise to perfect, or complete, all that concerns me.

And to remember that He alone is my prize, the only One who can fill and nurture my soul. In my busyness, I tend to forget this and begin seeking fulfillment in my roles, goals, and achievements rather than my Lord. But in this quiet, still place, with my schedule reduced and my margin increased, I more clearly recognize that my heart most fully rejoices not in successes or even Christ-led vision, but instead, in Him, the Maker and Sustainer of my soul.

In my experience of His unfailing, never ending, merciful love poured freely upon me, when I’m serving, when I’m resting, and while I wait on Him.

When I’m tempted to feel guilty for my more relaxed pace, I’ll instead remind myself that I’m right where God wants me to be. And that, as the One who guides me and illuminates the path before me, He’ll let me know when it’s time to start moving forward once again.

Let’s talk about this! What does your 2024 look like? Have you sought direction from God regarding where and how He wants you to invest your time? Do you have clarity on that yet, or are you, like me, in a season of listening, resting, and waiting?

Note: Please know, I’ll still be writing and podcasting. I do have clarity on those things.  

https://www.lifeaudio.com/faith-over-fear/

Join my book launch team

Hello, friends! If you love fiction, specifically clean cowboy romance novels, and if you love telling others about fun books, and would like to support me, then you’re invited!

Read about the book HERE.

A launch team is a group of readers united via email and through a Facebook group that helps promote an author’s book, shortly before and after it releases.

What team members do:

Team members share reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, and, if applicable, their blog. They also share posts on social media (preferably at least three times weekly; content that they compose, copy from me, or copy from me then tweak as they desire).

What team members get in return:

A free ecopy (now) and print copy (once it releases) of the book.

The opportunity to interact with other book lovers

Access to team exclusive content (such as scenes or sections that never made it to print)

If interested, contact me through my contact page on this site.

Resting in God Our Rock When Our Enemies Attack

Note: This first published on January 15, 2020In 2006, my husband stepped into an ugly power struggle that nearly cost him his job. In the span of a year, he’d changed employment three times, landing, precariously, at the company he’d started with, but in a different location and with a pay cut and demotion. The organization he initially quit, with zero notice. Therefore, though my husband’s former boss, through God’s grace, invited him back, Steve’s position felt shaky at best. Like he was one mistake away from unemployment.

Adding to this mess of uncertainty was the fact that my husband was coming in both equal and under the current shop director. A man accustomed to little oversight, and whom we soon discovered was behaving unethically in countless ways. He was allowing employees to “steal” time, was misreporting injuries, misusing his company credit card in outlandish and grievous ways, and gave those with influence special privileges. Worse, he pressured my husband to comply with his dishonest tactics.

Though anxious, my husband refused, knowing, however his boss responded, whatever occurred, his allegiance was to Christ and Christ alone. He made the right hard choice. The result: the truth eventually came out, his boss and numerous managers were fired and walked off the property, while my husband was promoted.

We rejoiced at God’s goodness and grace, celebrating the fact that righteousness and justice had prevailed. Soon, however, our praise turned to desperate prayers for God’s intervention and protection as evil, power-hungry men used to getting their way slandered and attacked him.

One man in particular, the union rep, determined to make it his mission to get my husband fired. Every day, he bombarded my husband with accusations and demands in an attempt to wear him down. When this didn’t work, he turned to the Chief Executive Officer telling him how “terrible” my husband was. Once sent, he printed and prominently displayed the letter he wrote, in which he’d twisted everything my husband had or hadn’t done in an effort to make him look bad.

While walking down the hallway one morning, my husband happened to see this letter, tacked on one of the union bulletin boards. He felt attacked and deeply fatigued. Not only had his continual decision to make the right hard choice not produced positive results, but it’d landed him in a mess. One that felt never-ending and in fact appeared to be gaining momentum.

With every interaction, my anxiety climbed. What if this man succeeded and Steve’s company let him go? Where would he work? How would we pay our bills? Our mortgage? What if we lost our home?

Initially, our world felt out of control. Our security only as steady, as sure, as my husband’s next paycheck. But then we remembered our sure foundation, the immovable rock upon which we stood.

Psalm 18:1-2 says, “I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliver.”

This was written by ancient Israel’s second king, a mighty warrior who’d once defeated a tyrannical giant without displaying a hint of fear. But this warrior found strength not in himself and his military prowess, but instead in His sovereign, all-powerful, ever-present God. He recognized how insufficient, how vulnerable, he was apart from God, but more so, how protected, untouchable, he was when raised upon the crags of God’s love.

Towering rocks or bluffs dotted the landscape of ancient Palestine, providing places of refuge, of protection, for all who scampered upon them. These elevated geological edifices were difficult to reach and offered shelter within their caverns. Therefore, they became places of safety in times of danger.

Fortresses offered similar protection. The people built heavily-fortified cities high upon a cliff, where they could see enemies approach for miles. Then, they erected stone towers at the highest point in the city.

Can you sense the layers of protection revealed in the Psalm 18 passage? In Christ, we stand high upon an immovable rock of power and grace, further hidden within the clefts of His love. His strength is greater than anything or anyone that comes against us. We are triply protected within His steadfast embrace. He is our sure and constant deliverer, the rock beneath our feet, and the fortress surrounding us.

In 2006, as attacks continued to barrage my husband and our family, we hid ourselves deeply in God. When anxiety arose, we reminded ourselves of where our true security lay, and all we knew to be true about God. He was faithful, loving and attentive—unconquerable. He was our ever-present provider, the only One with the power to sustain us.

That year, He proved Himself to be all those things and more. I’m confident He’ll do the same for you. Whatever you’re facing, whatever is coming against you, rest in this: God’s got you. He’s standing beside you, within you, and is camped around you. He is your refuge, your rock, and your strong, fortified tower.

You don’t have to be strong or know all the answers—that secret that will somehow whisk you to safety—because in Christ, you’re already safe.

Let’s talk about this! When has God proven Himself to be your rock and your fortress? How might remembering this time help you when future problems hit?

If you’re facing a difficult, uncertain period, how might it help to shift your thoughts off your ever-changing circumstances and onto your immovable Savior?

 

 

https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

A Broken Marriage Tranformed

(This first published on Dec. 22, 2016.)

Christmas, the celebration of the day the Light of the World brought light into mankind’s darkness, reminds us of the transformative power of God’s love and grace. It also reminds us of the lengths God will go to to bring life, light, and hope to our wounded souls.

A Mountain of Hope
by Kelly Klepfer

Though my co-written novel, Out of the Frying Pan, is full of humor and quirky characters, and I’m someone who loves to laugh and find joy in the moment, I’ve had my share of sorrow and seasons steeped in darkness.

I trusted in Christ for salvation as a young child. Billy Graham scared me straight at age six. I didn’t want to go to hell so I said a prayer. Years later, I was still saying those prayers. Often. Throughout high school I managed to juggle being a good Baptist with hating myself for my inability to be a good Baptist.

My high school sweetheart and I married when we were just 19 and 20. He’d dabbled with pot and we’d both spent far too much time drinking. All grown up we continued to drink, had a child, and he began drinking other places. When I was pregnant with our second child, seven years into our marriage, he began to drink heavily and with a group of friends I didn’t know. A month before I gave birth he finally admitted he didn’t love me anymore.

Devastated, I asked him to leave and began building a life without him while he moved into a home with a barely functioning alcoholic. He insisted on being with me when our baby was born but when my water broke a month early I couldn’t reach him. His roommate said he wasn’t there.

My father took over trying to find him once they had taken me to the hospital. I was prepped for the C-section when he finally arrived. I’ll never forget the loneliness in the following few minutes. The anesthesiologist placed a mask over my face. I was strapped down and unable to communicate. The spinal anesthesia numbed a vertebra higher than my previous C-Section so I couldn’t feel my lungs moving.

I began to panic that I wasn’t breathing. So I tried to communicate with my half-drunk stranger of a husband with my eyes. The anesthesiologist had buried himself in a Stephen King novel. My husband finally said something. The doctor leaned over. “She’s hyperventilating.” My world had grown gritty gray and white by this point, and finally he placed a breather mask over my face, and I was able to resurface.

A few months later, on Christmas Eve, my husband had a nostalgic come to Jesus moment. He did love me after all, and wanted back into our home. My heart had hardened, grown bitter. I looked at the options I had and decided if he was willing and would treat me better I’d be open to it. As long as the good outweighed the bad I’d let him stay.

My husband began to slowly increase in drinking again though he kept it at home. I continued to grow in bitterness and my mantra that as long as the good outweighed the bad he could remain.

Five years later he got scared and cold turkey stopped drinking. Within months there was something weird going on with him. He admitted to me that he felt restless and that he wanted to do dangerous, risky things. I asked him to talk to different males and to please let me know should he really find himself wanting to cave in.

A couple months later, on our anniversary, while I was getting ready to go out on a date with him, the phone rang. My aunt had just arrived to pick up the kids for an overnight and I gave them quick hugs and kisses and sent them out the door before saying hello. That hello changed my life in so many ways. It was the other woman who revealed not only the affair she’d been having with my husband but also that she was pregnant.

Dark, dark, dark days followed. We entered counseling again. He voluntarily went through the alcohol addiction program that is court ordered for those receiving DUIs. We began to attend church again for the first time in years. Somehow, in spite of very close friends and relatives telling me to leave, accusing me of having battered wife syndrome, being foolish, I stood firm. My reason–I wasn’t going to give up if he was done being an addict just to see someone else benefit from my pain. I wanted to see it through to the end just in case he might actually be able to beat this thing.

Our lives were changed in so many icky ways. The betrayal and the hardness of my heart toward him was just ugly. But I trudged through. Early after finding out about the affair I was out of town with unbelievers who loved a good party. They decided that I needed to get all dressed up and get drunk and find myself a little payback.

God delivered me.

I went to the hotel bar by myself to get drinks for the three of us while my friends were doing their hair and makeup. While there my eyes connected to those of a man at the bar. Looking into his eyes was like looking into his soul. I saw such emptiness there, such hurt, such loneliness that it called to me on a very primitive level. I wanted to connect with that. Scared, I hurried back to the hotel room with my drinks and told my friends about the guy. They insisted I go back, but I was afraid. On our way out to go bar hopping we stopped there to see if he was there. He was gone.

At the bars I drank more than I ever had before. Drink after drink after drink. Nothing touched me or loosed my inhibitions. All I could think about was how miserable I was and how much I just wanted to go back to the hotel room and cry myself to sleep. God kept me sober, I’m convinced, because payback would’ve ripped my soul to shreds. And been the nail in the coffin of my marriage. I threw up all night long. But was saved from a very ugly thing.

Five years after the affair we we’re finally able to see his daughter. They lived four hours away. We’d travel at least once a month. It was a very hard time, and I kept a very long list of what my husband was doing and not doing to make up to me for putting me and my kids through the torture.

We’d fight all the way home while I’d critique him and his performance. One night it was so bad. I’m so grateful none of the kids were with us, I remember him screaming. “I hear your words but I don’t understand what you want. It’s like you are speaking Chinese.”

It broke me. I sobbed the final hour of the silent trip. How could he not understand? How could I live with this one second longer? I was tired of paying for his sins. His working extra three weekends a month so he could take one weekend off. That night I screamed out to God that He needed to change my husband. I couldn’t do this anymore. And I was so, so angry that my marriage was going to end over this when it had survived alcohol, a husband who didn’t love me and an affair. So angry. When I was through screaming, God asked me a simple question, right into my heart. “Why do you think you are right?”

I couldn’t answer that question. Exhausted and silenced. I gave up, and I told Him I couldn’t but that I was going to find out what my role and responsibility were in marriage and obey Him. It just so happened that an intense marriage inductive Bible study was starting the next week at my church. I signed up to go solo. And my life began changing immediately. As I learned I changed and let go and healed and grew. I began studying other aspects and absorbing and consuming God’s word. I didn’t care as much about my marriage as I did about my right relationship with Jesus.

The trials didn’t end. But I chose to die to myself. Slowly, my husband became jealous over my relationship with Jesus. He wanted that, and he wanted to share it with me. Through this whole period of time we were involved in a church, leaders to some extent, and there was so much death in us. We began to be resurrected in Christ and we truly died.

At age nine, our youngest daughter, his from another mother, moved in permanently. While we navigated life with God at the steering wheel we were able to overcome even more obstacles. And the strangest thing happened. Our older two kids began to see faith really walked out, not just talked about in church, but the parents they saw in church were the parents they went home with.

Our youngest struggled with obvious challenges.  At age 17 she told us where to put our rules, and she stepped out to live a life of her own choosing. More dark days followed. But God’s faithful answers to prayers uttered with groans and tears and His grace and mercy kept doors cracked open. Today our, MY, youngest daughter is married with a baby of her own and her own stepson. She speaks to us daily and seeks out our earned-the-hard-way wisdom. A restored relationship with her is a gift beyond words.

What about our other two children? The ones who lived through the drama and the affair’s aftermath, my bitterness and self-righteousness, the alcoholism, how are they? Did they survive the ugly childhood we provided?

They are a delight and a joy. Both living fully for the Lord and His plans for them. Our middle daughter chose to follow Christ into opening her life to foster care. She took in four little siblings and has now adopted three and prays and longs for the baby who is currently with the biological mom. As a single mom of three she is a shining light for Jesus and is making a profound difference in the lives of these amazing children. Our son teaches at a local high school. He and his wife have opened their hearts and home to so many people I can’t even keep track of those they have blessed. Generosity is who they are. And they breathe Christ in and out in their interactions.

God has been consistently for me. Allowing me to come to the end of myself, allowing me to fail miserably so that I ran to Him.

***

When the chef of Sunset Paradise Retirement Village ends up dead, life for sisters Fern and Zula Hopkins is whipped into a froth. Their zany attempts to track down the killer land them in hot water with Detective Jared Flynn. Should he be concerned about their safety or the criminal’s?

But there are deadly ingredients none of them expect. Drugs. Extortion. International cartels. And worst of all…broken hearts–especially when the Hopkins sisters’ niece KC arrives on the scene.

Before the snooping pair gain any headway with the case, it becomes crystal clear that the sisters share a mysterious secret that takes life from the frying pan and into the line of fire.

Buy Out of the Frying Pan on Amazon.

***

Kelly Klepfer had ambitions to graduate from the school of life quite a while ago, but alas…she still attends and is tested regularly. Her co-authored cozy/quirky mystery, Out of the Frying Pan, is the culmination of several of the failed/passed tests. Kelly, though she lives with her husband, two Beagles, and two hedgehogs in Iowa, can be found at Novel Rocket, Novel Reviews, Scrambled Dregs, Modern Day Mishaps, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter, with flashes of brilliance (usually quotes), randomocities, and learned life-lessons. Zula and Fern Hopkins and their shenanigans can be found at Zu-fer, where you always get more than you bargained for.