Blessed Controller

God, who is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings

and the master of all masters… 1 Timothy 6:13-16 J.B. Phillips

Waves, crashing and rolling in the dark of night, Peter climbed out of the pitching and yawing boat and set off across the foaming waves toward Jesus, who walked peacefully atop the surface of the water—“the blessed controller of all things”. These were not timid men. Most were fishermen hardened to heavy toil and the rough, unpredictable waters of the Sea of Galilee. Storms were nothing new, but on this night, the ferocity of the thunder, lightning streaking across the sky, and the tumult of the waves frightened them.

To the amazement of his companions, Peter strode across the thrashing sea with confidence, his eyes fixed on Jesus’ face. In a moment of panic, he glanced down in amazement at the churning water beneath his feet, his heart filled with fear of the impossible, and he began to sink.

The great and powerful God who rules the universe promises never to let me go. God promises to keep us afloat through any trial, bringing us to safe harbor when we focus on Him, no matter how distant the solid ground appears. My heart and my feet might fail, but my God has promised He never will.

As I navigated the waters of infertility, chronic illness, my father’s sudden death, and my husband’s job loss, God has proved unfailing in his faithfulness and mercy. When the end result appears uncertain, my thoughts stray to the worst possible outcome. My heart knows God is the blessed controller, but my mind can’t conceive of his ability to make things right. I grow faint, my feet falter, and whitecaps of fear drag me under choppy waves of doubt.

When the storms of life threaten to drag me beneath the waves, I must remember the blessed controller who prevails over the tempest. Though trials may buffet, God will never allow me to sink. He will not fail, for our God is mighty to save.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, March 14, 2014, & January 4, 2018

About the author:

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, won the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with her, you’re to follow her blog, or join her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon. 

Affliction

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end. Psalm 102:25-27 

I feel afflicted and weak from time to time, in body, but also in my spirit and soul. What struggles frighten you and make you feel inadequate? We tend to act the way we feel, and allowing inadequacy and fear to take hold makes us weak.

A weekend trip to Colorado reminded me of just how small and insignificant I am. The mountains stand strong, robed in majesty, as they have for centuries, a testament to the power of the God who “laid the foundations of the earth.” God is so much greater than I am.

 Recently, I experienced a setback in my plans, a rejection of years of work. I felt weak, insignificant, inadequate, doubtful, and uncertain of the future. It reminded me of how small I am and how many people are better and more capable than I am. Surrounded by successful, confidant people who won awards for their work, the rejection of my own efforts was even harder.

The part of Psalm 102 that struck me almost as much as the word of the psalmist himself was the note my NIV Bible placed at the beginning. “A prayer of an afflicted person who has grown weak and pours out a lament before the Lord.” I was allowing myself to feel afflicted when, in spite of rejection, I received another opportunity and an unexpected blessing. God never leaves us at a dead end. He always has something else waiting up ahead.

Just as those mountains showed me how small I am in the scheme of things, they reminded me of how great my God is all of the time. The mountains will not stand forever. An earthquake could destroy them in seconds and God will someday bring them crashing down to be replaced with something better. However, the psalmist goes on to say that God remains the same forever, no matter what happens to His creation.

If you struggle against fear, inadequacies, and insignificance, look to your Creator. He has a plan for you, and He will see it carried through to completion. All that is required from us is to take the opportunities offered and do our best, seeking God’s help. He will never let us down when we are trusting in Him. He will offer another path. Look for it and go forward in His strength. I may feel afflicted, but God never fails.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, June 23, 2017

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About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 41 years. They have two adult children. If you’re interested in connecting with me, I invite you to follow my blog, join me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Goodreads, or Amazon. 

Security in a Dangerous World

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,
    and he examines all your paths. Proverbs 5:21

Security systems are designed to keep us safe in a dangerous world. Following a recent robbery in our neighborhood, we updated our home security system. New technology has bugs to work out and our system certainly had them, including a few involving me.

I turned on every reminder available. We received text messages whenever a door or window opened. Then I discovered my husband even could tell when I climbed out of bed. He checked the security camera and saw me watering flowers. He knew when I left for the grocery store.

It’s strange knowing someone sees your every move. If only we remembered that someone is watching, security system or not. God sees everything, all day, every day. Our ways are familiar to him and he misses nothing. Psalm 139 says, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”

All God’s ways are good. He wants the best for us. The scriptures brim with examples of God protecting his people, providing for them, going before and destroying their enemies. Sometimes he allowed them to get into real messes, knowing the consequences were necessary to help them learn. The Lord has set guidelines for us to follow and we should be mindful of the price of stepping outside his safety net.

A high school youth leader suggested we think about God sitting in the backseat on our dates. When my son was little, he often played in his sandbox where I could watch his every move from the kitchen and get outside quickly. He was safe within my sight. That’s how God wants us to see his loving surveillance. He is a loving parent providing security and direction for his children, not the Gestapo spying to swoop down and punish. Psalm 139 also says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me…”

Receiving a text message every time a door or window opens assures me I am safe in my rural home. It provides safety in a dangerous world. Even if I turn off the motion detectors so I can move freely around inside, God sees me. There is nowhere I can flee His presence. He loves me enough to keep a watchful eye on my thoughts and actions.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, May 3, 2107

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Historical Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normagailwrites/

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Never Alone

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

Years of one health problem after another seemed to condense into that one word. Alone. I don’t want to be sick. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to do this alone.

Illness is a lonely thing by its very nature. We each have our own experience in pain that no one else shares quite in the same way. It is very subjective.

The trip to a specialty clinic thousands of miles away was a gift from God, a chance to see if the myriad symptoms attacking my body made sense to anyone. But two weeks of intense and intrusive testing and therapy meant I had to go alone. I have flown alone. I’ve driven alone, but there was always someone I knew waiting at the other end. This time there would be no one. To make the trip alone was one thing. To eat every meal, go to every doctor and therapist, spend every evening and two weekends alone, with no one to make me laugh when I felt like crying, no one to share my frustrations, or help me navigate around the massive complex—I cried just thinking about it.

Then a voice whispered in my ear. “I will be with you. You are never alone. Trust me. Focus on what I will do. Look for what I can show you. We’ll do this together.” I don’t know what God will do yet, but I will not be alone. God is in the midst of this trial. I will not fear.

Dear Lord, wrap your arms around those who are lonely and hurting. Whisper your presence into our darkness. Speak your truth into our circumstances. Shout your love into our loneliness. Remind us of your presence. Give us your peace. Help us go forth in hope and faith. Remind us we are never alone. Amen.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 16, 2016

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas: https://lpcbooks.com/norma-gail/

Clouds

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?

Job 37:16

Thin gray clouds hovered just below the peaks of the mountains, making me wonder if a forest fire was in progress. One sniff of the air convinced me it was that rare phenomena in the Southwest, moisture.

Clouds floating past the large picture windows of my mountain home always grab my attention. At almost 7200 feet in altitude, I see a lot of them. At times they start out dark gray and full of moisture which never materializes. Sometimes, they are big and fluffy, but the promised rain still fails to materialize. Beautiful, yet disappointing.

My father-in-law was a great appreciator of clouds, finding shapes in them which he would point out to anyone willing to listen. Living in The Netherlands for half of his life, part of it during the Nazi occupation of WWII, he had seen plenty of clouds, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps the blue skies of the Southwest made him appreciate clouds more because they are not always the harbingers of storms.

When we moved to the mountains we thought the sun would set quickly, causing us to miss the brilliant colors of the evening sky. Wrong! The altitude seems to allow for more interesting cloud formations, streaked with amazing colors every day. My favorite was the pink thunderstorm one summer evening, far across the valley, catching the last rays of the setting sun.

Life is full of clouds, a sudden job change, unexpected illness, a broken relationship, or an untimely death. We can’t choose the kind of clouds that enter our lives. Sometimes clouds bring frightening storms we can’t escape and we cry out for help. Clouds can forewarn of storms, but their absence may not always portend a perfect day. They affect our mood and sometimes change our plans.

One thing is certain, clouds will come. The only thing more certain than clouds is the love and care of my heavenly Father. He promises to stand by my side through the storms, just as He rejoices with me in the good times.

Developing the habit of appreciating clouds makes me more open to the working of God in my life, and less fearful of the storms. Looking for God in the clouds and storms of life enables me to trust Him for the sunshine to come. Clouds may hide the sky, but God is always there.

© Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, February 26, 2015

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

Waterfalls and Waves

“My soul is downcast within me…Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” Psalm 42:6-7

I lay in bed and cried. My husband had no idea what to say, and I couldn’t explain what was going on. My heart and mind struggled with accepting that God’s answer to my cherished prayer was, “No.”

I could remain sad and angry, or accept God’s will and move on, trusting Him.

He is God, by the very virtue of His name, the Creator and Ruler of the universe, the Name at the sound of which “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.” Only He knows why some things must be and why some things will never be. The reasons may have to wait for heaven—a lifetime of not understanding—of accepting and moving forward.

Verse seven reveals the all-powerful, sovereign God, the One who is above all other powers, the Name above all names, the One who controls the immense and raging might of a waterfall.

Many years ago, we stood, at a look-out point atop the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River. It was awesome, beautiful and terrifying at the same time. We held tight to the hands of our children unless fascinated, they should lean over the railing too far and be swept away.

Victorious living requires me to reach that point where I submit myself wholly to the will of God. I must accept what He has allowed, even if His reasons are not revealed until eternity.

Notice when the writer says the waves and breakers swept over him, Who controls and owns them. The Master of the mighty waves that threaten to sweep me away and fill me with fear and dread, is none other than the sovereign God who inspires awe by His mastery of the waterfall’s power.

When waves threaten to overcome… When dreams, hopes, and plans seem swept away, leaving no hope… Look to God, who controls all things. Remember His everlasting love. Do not fear the events which swirl outside human ability to check and contain. God is in control.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, October 28, 2011

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, winner of the 2016 Bookvana Religious Fiction Award. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173

Are There Squirrels in Your House

Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.

Proverbs 22:28

It could have been a catastrophic mistake. I did what I consistently tell others not to do. I failed to close the screen door of our mountain home. When my husband came in several hours later he saw the door open and a big squirrel sitting on the door step.

Of course I have been teased mercilessly. I’m constantly telling people to close the doors or we’ll have squirrels in the house. Fortunately the curious little fellow did not come in and neither did any of his friends.

I’ve heard stories of the terrible way squirrels wreak havoc in people’s homes. They’re very wily and difficult to catch. They chew things and steal things and make a mess of everything.

Screen doors serve as boundaries to protect us from a lot of pests and varmints. Without them we couldn’t enjoy the fresh breeze bringing in the wonderful scents of our mountain surroundings, free from the worry of unwanted visitors. In the same way, God’s word places boundaries in our lives, providing us with the protection we need from things that have the power to destroy our lives, robbing us of the blessings of obedience.

 Just as I warn my family of the dangers of squirrels in the house, God’s word reminds us of the dangers of allowing things like unclean thoughts, wrong attitudes, bad habits and temptations of the enemy into our lives.

The enemy sneaks in when we remove God’s boundaries and whispers things like, “Just this once won’t hurt,” and “If you’re careful no one will find out.” Those little lapses become habits and one day someone discovers the havoc in our private life and everything we have worked for is in jeopardy.

It is necessary for me to hide the word of God in my heart on a daily basis so sins don’t creep in and destroy all I’ve been blessed with. I hear His voice warning me to keep the boundaries where He set them. I don’t want those bad habits creeping in any more than I want squirrels in my house.

Vow today to close any doors in your life that allow bad habits to enter in. When you keep the boundaries where God set them you will see His blessings.

© Copyright by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman 

About the author:

Norma Gail is the author of the contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams. A women’s Bible study leader for over 21 years, her devotionals and poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. Norma is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 40 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

Website: www.normagail.org

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Norma-Gail/e/B00ILHXBAK/

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQbZIoC_JSE

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NormaGailwrites

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/ 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2

Book Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Land-My-Dreams-Norma-Gail/dp/1941103170

Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas Bookstore: http:// lpcbooks.com/product/land-of-my-dreams/

 Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/land-of-my-dreams-norma-gail/1119606864?ean=9781941103173