“Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God …”
— Hebrews ll:3
One day last week, I was praying with my daughter Amy about something that upset her greatly, and of course my heart was torn along with hers. After I hung up the phone, I stared aimlessly from my veranda into the sky, silently beseeching God to comfort my girl.
All at once, the cove I live in came into view with its gently rippling waters kissed by a southern breeze and the blue of the sky reflected along with the final glory of a sugar maple across the way. Birds flitted back and forth from each of our two bird feeders, and I found myself playing a game I used to play, where I’d squint at the scene before me like it was a picture in a frame.
“That’s what I am to Amy,” a still, small voice whispered in my mind, “a ‘frame’ that surrounds her life — every trial, every heartbreak — is transformed by My love, My hope, My peace, into a work of art out of something that held no beauty before.”
Like a flash flood, saltwater immediately swelled in my eyes, because I knew that I knew that I knew it was true. The same God who “framed” the worlds in our quote above has “framed” every situation in my life and my family’s with a holy hug that not only holds us together, strong and secure, but creates a priceless work of art when He is done.
In that moment, I had no doubt whatsoever that His love was encircling not only my daughter, but her mother as well, with an assurance that no matter what, we can trust the God Who “framed the worlds” not only with His Word, but with His “unfailing love.”
Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, Oh Lord,
for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go,
for unto You I entrust my soul. — Psalm 143:8
We are Christians. Jesus Christ is not just the Lord of our lives, He is the frame that holds us together, the finishing touch that turns our lives into a truly beautiful work of art. May His “unfailing love” frame every situation in your life — today, tomorrow, and all the days of your life.
I hope you have enjoyed some of the pictures we took this week of our cove at night and while on a hike at Ha Ha Tonka State Park last weekend — every one a picture I’d like to frame because each reminds me of the beauty and blessings of God … and His unfailing love.
AND … speaking of “unfailing love” … Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love will be released in paperback SOON, December 1st, God willing, so if you haven’t read it yet, maybe you can put it on your Christmas list?
If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to check out the ISLE OF HOPE PAGE of my website where you can read the first chapter, see celebrity pix of the hero and heroine, read review quotes, book quotes, and extra excerpts, plus enter the Isle of Hope contest.
I’ve been blessed to receive a 5-star rating on Amazon so far with 50 reviews, so if you’ve already read Isle of Hope and posted a review, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! Please let me know so I can enter you in my newsletter contest, okay?
And for those of you who HAVE read it but have NOT yet posted a review , I have a HUGE FAVOR to ask. Reviews are critical to an author, especially on an independently published book like Isle of Hope. So if you liked it, I’d be SO grateful if you would consider posting a really a short review (2 or 3 lines simply stating you liked it). And if you do, not only will I enter you in my newsletter contest to have a character named after you in my next book, BUT … you can earn five extra points in the Isle of Hope Contest as well. How?
Simply click on that option in the Rafflecopter box on my CONTEST page, and the points are yours. PLUS … you can also accrue points by getting someone else to post a review as well if they’ve read IOH. Simply choose that option in the Rafflecopter box on the contest page, and they get ten points in the contest and YOU get an extra five. THAT’S how important reviews are to a new book AND to me!! Thank you SO MUCH!!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING GIVEAWAYS!!
DECEMBER 1, 2015:
Join me for a Christmas interview on Alexis Goring’s “25 Days of Christmas Stories” blog tour, where you will have the opportunity to win one of three Christmas giveaways of your choice of any of my Christmas novellas or an ebook of A Light in the Window or Isle of Hope.
http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/
DECEMBER 7, 2015:
Three different blogs for three different opportunities to win your choice of any of my ebooks, including Isle of Hope, so check back next week in my Friday Journal Jot when I have blog names and links for you, okay?
Till then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, one and all, and I thank God for each and every one of YOU!!
Hugs,
Julie
