God's Plans by Carole Brown

For I know the plans I have for you, 

declares the Lord, 

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

When I doubt, 

God assures me through his Word

He loves me.

When I'm in trouble

God says he has this.

He stills the storms

and soothes my heart.

When I feel alone,

God says, "I'm all you need."

Or he sends someone with

a smile,

A word of encouragement,

a hug.

He's showing his love through others.

When I feel discouraged

He sends small, tiny and insignificant blessings to cheer me:

hardy Spring flowers that shed a bit of sunshine:

a towel elephant that made me smile:

Memories with Grandson:

I'm so happy that I can rest in peace,

knowing he has PLANS for me.

plans to PROSPER me:

in his time and in his will,

Plans for a future and hope!

Wonderful words of love. 

Rest assured, he loves us!

***

Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia. Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, top notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play?

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past?

Buy the book:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

***

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

New Year, Fresh Start

Did you set some goals for this year? Are you planning on improving your actions, your duties, your work, your life?

 

Two things have impressed me recently (once again).

1. The simplicity of "just doing it."
2. The brevity of life.

I received some encouragement the other day from a friend: encouraging me to write every day. Didn't matter whether it was ten words or a hundred or 5000.

Just write.

Last year was hectic, to say the least. Many times inspiration was lacking. The desire to write when I knew I needed to finish the manuscript, that it was overdue, that I was procrastinating, was overwhelming. Instead of finishing two or more novels, I barely managed to complete one.

So: 

• come high water or whatever, I plan on getting the words down. I allow the overly cautious editor inside me, to hinder my work, and I know that. But one thing I learned while finishing this latest book, is to push through. Edits will find the plot holes, the grammar mistakes, and most anything else that needs refining. 
• I must keep the determination. Don't let it flounder when I just don't want to write. Get something down!

With the loss of a dear friend late in 2017, the deaths of others I've known, the events in the world, and the realization that everyone ages, even the grandsons, I'm determined to love a little more, be more understanding and patient, provide more acts of kindness and serve God with a deeper devotion. 

So, I will strive to:

• think before I speak. Disregard comments that will get me nowhere, or improve the situation, in giving my opinion
• Hug a little more and say "I love you" quite often.
• Take time out to show others small acts of kindness. I want to look for ways to provide effective gifts of generosity, and thereby, bringing smiles and a bit of encouragement to others.
  

Can I do what I want to do here?

Perhaps. Maybe. I hope to, and with determination and God's help, I believe I can! 

Wishing you a very Happy and blessed New Year!

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

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

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Peace in Change

“God intended it for good…” Genesis 50:20

I felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under me, landing me on my back, staring at the ceiling, and wondering what happened. The news of a major job change for my husband, less than ten years from retirement took us by surprise.

It’s easy to make plans, taking the current state of affairs for granted, and assuming nothing will change. We have the head knowledge that God will care for us in any situation, but when that knowledge is tested, it can create doubt and fear. Scripture says that man makes his plans, but the outcome is in God’s hands. However, knowing that and putting our faith in action are two different things.

We live close to all of our family, and built the home we planned to retire in. We were settled in our church, Bible study, and routines. Life was supposed to slowly wind down surrounded by the familiar. Suddenly, we faced a future that threatened to take us away from everything familiar and loved. Though not out of malice, our change, like Joseph’s was not of our choosing. Nothing prepared us for what was coming.

Joseph was transported to a strange culture, surrounded by strange people, far from everything he knew, by someone else’s choice. It wasn’t a dream. My husband’s boss made a decision that changed all of our plans.

David’s trials grew him into a man of great spiritual depth and exemplary character. He trusted God to provide all he needed, gave his best, and prospered. We knew God could do that for us too, but we still cried out “Why?”

What trials and changes face you today? God is big enough to handle all the questions and doubts. He hears the cries of our hearts, and understands our fear of the unknown. He promises He will never leave or forsake us, and tells us to be at peace. “Sometimes the greatest blessings come when we leave the familiar behind and take a step of faith.” (1)

Determine to wake each morning with an attitude of trust in God and a believing heart that refuses to fear. It’s not easy, but stepping out in faith yields rewards we never dreamed possible.

© Copyright February 9, 2013 by Norma Gail Thurston Holtman, revised April 28, 2015

Quote from Land of My Dreams by Norma Gail

Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, 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, FaithWriters, Romance Writers of America, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.

Connect with Norma:

www.normagail.org

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail

https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub

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

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

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

https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail

 Book Links:

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

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

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