Davalynn Spencer's Blog, page 45
December 5, 2016
Barn Beginnings: Heartache & Expectations
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
When I first met Caleb Hutton, he was riding into Cañon City. The year was 1860 and the whole scenario took place in my head, then on my computer, and finally in my first historical novel, The Cowboy Takes a Wife.
Caleb’s journey was of universal appeal. He carried the common baggage of old heartache and new expectations.
The key verse for the story was Jeremiah 29:11. I was quite familiar with these words in the NIV and NKJ translations. But to keep things in proper perspective, I had to use King James language for a story set in 1860. This requirement sent me back to an old Bible and a new observation.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord,
thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
An expected end? Whose expected end?
In Caleb’s world, things did not turn out as he expected. Not. At. All.
They turned out better.
Sound familiar?
God has a way of working things out for His children who trust Him.
For Caleb, realization hit him in the barn. He found refuge there, as well as healing of an old wound.
Good things often happen in the most unlikely places. Like a barn or stable or cave or corral.
God chose such a place for the birth of His Son. An unusual location for an unusual beginning.
This Christmas, if you find yourself in a barn-like setting not of your choosing, remember, you’re in good company. Whether emotionally, physically, or relationally it could be that an unusual beginning—and God’s expected end—is near.
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November 28, 2016
Living In the Shadows
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Ever feel like you’re living in the shadows? Like you’re not getting a clear picture—that things could be better, clearer, more focused?
You’re right.
Somehow we know. I think it’s in our DNA.
An ancient teacher named Paul told early Christians not to worry about meeting all the requirements others placed on them regarding ceremonies and celebrations because those traditions merely foreshadowed the reality yet to come.
“Christ himself is that reality,” he said. (Colossians 2:17 NLT)
This Christmas season, let’s celebrate the Light of the World, the One who first came in the darkness of night and will come again to banish every shadow.
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Christmas turned out to be everything Ara Taube didn’t expect.
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November 21, 2016
Can We Give Thanks for Little?
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
In the busy days approaching,
as families gather … or not,
as tables are spread … or not,
let’s pause in the clamor … or the lonely quiet
and thank God for His great love.
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November 14, 2016
3 Ways to Be Still
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Our busy lives don’t give us much quiet time to reflect, listen, or simply breathe.
Things always press in, demanding our attention, whether they are as fleeting as the news and social media, or as important as a spouse or child.
But being still—quiet and undistracted—is critical to our spiritual survival in this world so full of noise. Therefore, we have to make time
Not an easy assignment, but doable.
Here are three ways to be still, though I know there must be more:
Take a quiet moment in the early morning.
Even Jesus sometimes got up before everyone else and went off by himself to pray. He was always surrounded by people, yet He made the effort to be alone with His Father.
Go for a walk outside.
One of my favorite verses says Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. I don’t have a sea near my house, but I have a place I walk where I can be quiet and listen.
Steal away while the kids are napping.
Seventeenth-century mother of 19 (not all survived infancy) Susanna Wesley found it difficult to get a moment to herself, so she made an “apron escape.” When she sat down and pulled her large apron up over her head, her children knew Mother was praying and to leave her alone. An unusual tactic, but it worked.
These three suggestions go hand-in-hand with three mandatory requirements:
Turn off the television/radio.
Silence the phone.
Shut down the Internet.
When the Old Testament prophet, Elijah, sought God, he found the Creator not in wind, quake, or fire.
God was in the whisper.
As we prepare for the busiest time of year in the next couple of months, may we
Let the silence in.
Wait for God.
Listen for His voice.
Maybe He won’t say anything earth-trembling.
Maybe He won’t say anything more than, “I am here.”
But isn’t that what we need the most? To know that He is God – God with us.
If you have found a way to be still in your day-to-day life, please share it with others in the comments below.
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November 7, 2016
In all the clamoring, be still …
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
There’s a lot of clamoring right now. A lot of noise. A lot of posturing and pointing, criticism and chaos.
And none of it is new. It’s all happened before, many times, in fact. And God’s antidote is also the same:
Be still …
When the mountains of man’s machinations tumble into the sea,
God is there.
When the faulty foundations of our schemes quake and crumble,
God is there.
And when we quiet ourselves before our Maker and cease our incessant shrieking,
God is there.
He is bigger than all the noise around us.
Take heart, be still, and know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is God …
and He is there.
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October 31, 2016
Do Not Be Afraid of Their Faces
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Some people like to be frightened, and they enjoy watching horror movies or reading scary stories. Maybe it’s because they know the scenarios are not real and they feel safe and relieved after the faux fright.
Halloween is our most traditional fright night – a time when children (and adults) dress up and pretend to be someone else for a while.
Tonight, trick-or-treaters will fill our neighborhoods, cashing in on community candy.
There may be a few frightening faces roaming our streets this evening, but in our day-to-day lives, we all deal with plenty of real-life intimidation.
A young Old Testament prophet named Jeremiah wasn’t too excited about his godly call to challenge the status quo, and called “foul,” claiming to be underage.
God told him that age had nothing to do with obedience, and gave Jeremiah a promise we can all claim when facing a task to which He has called us:
Do not be afraid of their faces,
for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.
Can you recall an intimidating situation that God brought you through? I’d love to hear what He did in your life.
This Christmas, give the joy of reading Christian fiction!
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October 24, 2016
You are the light of the world.
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Autumn in Colorado offers a visual feast, especially in the gold that trickles down pine-draped mountains in streams of yellow aspen.
Even here, on the Arkansas River Valley floor, the simplest of trees dress in their fall finery, like my neighbor’s elm tree. When the light hits it just right, it looks like it’s on fire.
Recently driving across town with Third Day’s “Soul On Fire” playing on the radio, I wondered if these explosive seasonal colors are God’s reminder of how He wants His children to stand out.
The silent shouting of autumn leaves takes my breath away, but I find that it’s the light that sets them ablaze.
One of my favorite sayings, often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, is “Preach always. If necessary, use words.”
This fall, let’s be souls on fire, burning with the light of God’s great love—even if we never say a word.
“You are the light of the world.” –Jesus
“Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice.” (Psalm 96:12 KJV)
Two months from today is Christmas Eve! Why not give the joy of reading Christian fiction?
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October 17, 2016
Are you in or are you out?
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Last Monday, the post office was closed for the observance of Columbus Day. Tuesday morning, the line of postal patrons stretched out the door and into the lobby. It reminded me that I need to start mailing Christmas gifts.
As I approached the end of the queue, I noticed a college-aged man standing off to the side with paperwork in his hand, looking like he’d never been inside the post office before.
“Are you in line?” I asked.
“Sort of,” he replied.
Not the answer I expected. I’d thought he would say yes or no.
I set my heavy box on the dividing counter that keeps customers away from the main counter until it’s their turn, then looked at the young man and indicated the space in front of me. The space he should have been filling.
“Go ahead.”
He did.
I don’t know the reason for his hesitancy that day. Many things could have kept him in the corner watching the line grow longer. But he reminded me of how dangerous it can be to go through life with a “sort of” attitude.
Some folks drive with that mentality—sort of in their lane. Often couples don’t get married because things might not work out. And other people are in a state of perpetual wishy-washy about everything. It’s not safe.
Yes, we all look for guidance in our decisions, but once we find it, shouldn’t we commit, whether to our convictions or relationships with other people and with God?
The Bible mentions this concept several times:
…choose today whom you will serve … (Joshua 24:15)
How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? (1 Kings 18:21)
… you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! (Rev. 3:15)
The young man in the post office was getting nowhere until he committed to either get in line or leave.
God has committed Himself to us in His unfailing love. Jesus didn’t sort of save us from the penalty of sin. And we don’t have to fear that there is a sort-of way to heaven.
Thank God, He’s as clear and certain as His word, and that word stands forever.
For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything He does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.”
Is there something in your life today that you need to step up to and say either yes or no?
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October 10, 2016
No Slippery Slope
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
I recently finished a novel about a young woman considering her next step.
Which way should she go?
Which was the right path for her life?
She had several options, but she wanted the one that would take her in the direction of the Lord’s leading.
She had to trust God to show her the next step. And the next.
And then the next.
Sometimes the process feels maddeningly slow. We want to rush ahead, push through, run as fast as we can after our goal.
But just because we’re on the right road doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.
God knows that and has promised to be with us … Every. Step. Of. The. Way.
If we let Him, He’ll keep us from slipping.
Do you recall a time His faithful hand caught you?
You have kept my feet from slipping. Psalm 56:13
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The Cowboy’s Bride – a Publisher’s Weekly and ECPA bestseller. Thank you, readers!
October 3, 2016
Should you be thrown away?
By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer
Last week I cut off the remaining leaf of bok choy for a salad and almost threw the end of the bunch in the trash. And then I thought, “What if?”
What if I put the end in water? Would it grow?
I’d heard about people doing this with green onions and celery.
Why not give it a try?
By the next morning, a new leaf had already sprouted. I was amazed by the regenerative properties lying dormant in that “dead” bunch of bok choy.
But isn’t that just like the Creator, to hide life inside what we think is dead?
Sometimes I feel worthless, like I have nothing left to give. Then I plant myself in the Water of Life and amazing things happen.
God doesn’t throw us away.
He’s hidden in each of us the possibility of spiritual regeneration, and all around us He’s placed reminders of this miracle.
How about you? Can you see something in your life that God has regenerated?
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit. (Isaiah 11:1 NIV)
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