“Human beings see insurmountable problems,
but God sees golden opportunities to bless us, grow us,
and most importantly, set us free …
to be the people He created us to be.”
—Love’s Silver Lining
Boy, isn’t that the truth?
I have been crazy busy this last month, trying to get Love’s Silver Lining out to you before summer, and I will admit that at times, that has caused what appeared to be “insurmountable problems.”
Suddenly I had too much to do, which is, in fact, the reason you haven’t heard from me via Journal Jots in a while. I apologize, of course, but one thing I’m not sorry for is the “golden opportunity” to lean on God, to trust Him rather than my fears.
I always have to laugh how God likes to pinpoint one truth in each of my books to remind me that He is my All-in-All. Not my career, not my dreams, not even my family. Only Him. And the quote above from Love’s Silver Lining above is a prime example.
You see, I told Keith that today I needed to get up bright and early—well, “early,” anyway—because I have a ton to do before Love’s Silver Lining releases next week on May 19th.
It seemed that as soon as the calendar page flipped from April 30th to May 1st, I suddenly felt like I was sprinting to get things done. Not only did I have to meet a May 15 deadline to write several chapters in a writer’s book I’m part of, but I also had to write a Seeker blog, a newsletter, a Journal Jot blog, get all my free download and sales (see below in this blog) set up on Amazon, and then finish editing Love’s Silver Lining in time to get it formatted and uploaded by Amazon’s deadline of May 15. On top of that, we have out-of-town company coming bright and early tomorrow, so I won’t be able to get a ton done over the weekend.
So, if you know anything about me at all—and you do if you’ve read my books—I am a highly wired individual who has to have all her ducks in a row. Problem is, my ducks were scattered all over the place, along with my peace of mind. And that’s where those “golden opportunities” lie.
Because I then turn to one of my favorite Scriptures on peace—Philippians 4-9:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Oh, AMEN AND AMEN!! Because when I am overwhelmed, be it by stress from a job or just stress in life, I immediately take God’s “steps” to transform those “insurmountable problems” into “golden opportunities” to be the person God created me to be:
Free.
Mature.
Blessed.
How? By simply following God’s Philippians 4 “step-by-step instructions”:
1. Rejoice that I do not carry my problems alone, but God is with me.
2. Refuse to be anxious, choosing to trust Him instead.
3. Present my problems to Him in prayer and petition.
4. Thank Him for all He has done for me and all He has given.
5. Fix my thoughts (and praise) on Him rather than my problem.
6. Put this into practice over and over.
And you know what? Suddenly, it’s not my power that’s getting everything done, it’s His. His power. His wisdom. His calm.
And his peace.
Jesus has never let me down before when I have asked Him to help me get things done, but instead, as Hebrews 4:16 so beautifully states, I have found “grace to help me in my time of need,” knowing full well “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” per Philippians 4:13. Which means I am dead sure that my deadlines will be met because “my God will meet all my needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
So today, I will be working on my final formatting edits so I can get Love’s Silver Lining to YOU by next week, and totally at peace, I might add. Which, if you think about it, is the true “silver lining” for each of us who are called children of God. And not just “children,” but “coworkers in God’s service,” according to 1 Corinthians 3:9.
Because we belong to him, people, this AMAZING God Who turns problems into blessings as easily as water into wine.
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
—Isaiah 43:1
So … let’s each of us go today … and be wonderfully, amazingly, and gloriously HIS!
Hugs and Happy Weekend!
Julie
🌤 Pre-Order Sale Ends May 19!
Eeeeeeeek!!!! I can hardly believe that book 1 in my Silver Lining Ranch Series, Love’s Silver Lining, releases next week!! So … if you haven’t pre-ordered it yet, you might want to “pull the trigger” before May 19th when the price goes up. Here’s the blurb:
He tampers with her heart.
Love tampers with them both.
Desperate to escape an arranged marriage to a womanizer, twenty-two-year-old Maggie Mullaney flees New York for Virginia City, Nevada with her Aunt Liberty, two spunky suffragists intent on bettering the lives of women. Fresh out of nursing school, Maggie hopes to devote herself to serving others rather than just one man, a goal quickly affirmed when she encounters Blaze Donovan, a womanizing cowboy who both riles and rouses her pulse. But when Aunt Liberty’s parents’ house burns down, she and Maggie are coerced into staying at the ranch of Liberty’s ex-husband, Finn McShane, who just happens to be the uncle of the cocky cowboy Maggie had hoped to avoid.
If there’s one thing twenty-nine-year-old Blaze Donovan can’t abide, it’s respectable women who spout piety and prayer, so when he butts heads with perky Maggie Mullaney at St. Mary Louise Hospital, he wants to stay as far away as possible. Unfortunately, she now lives in the bedroom next to his in his uncle’s ranch house, a revolting development that sends Blaze to The Ponderosa Saloon more than usual. But when Maggie interferes in Blaze’s life by converting his favorite “disrespectable” girl, Blaze is determined to make her pay. Only problem is—the price HE has to pay may be a little too steep for his heart.
Before Release Date of May 19th!
🇺🇸 50% Sale on Liberty!
“JULIE LESSMAN + WESTERN ROMANCE = GOLD RUSH! You heard it here, folks. I think Julie Lessman was created to write westerns.” — Reading is my SuperPower Blog
Okay, people, if you haven’t had the chance to read my 5-star prequel novel, For Love of Liberty yet, NOW is your chance!
In honor of the release of Love’s Silver Lining, I am cutting Liberty’s price in half because you really should read Liberty’s story before you forge into Love’s Silver Lining.
Why? Well, you know how I like all my novels in a series to connect, and it’s no different with the Silver Lining Ranch Series, so I hope you will take advantage of this sale to start at the very beginning!
A VERY good place to start! 😍
A Match Made in Heaven?
Or Someplace a Whole Lot Warmer?
She’s stubborn, educated, and looking
to give women the vote.
He’s bullheaded, successful, and looking
to give her a piece of his mind.
But when things heat up, they just may give each other
a piece of their hearts.
📕 Free Download May 10-14 Only!
to His Prayers …
Pastor Cole McCabe isn’t sure he’ll survive the holidays with his new housekeeper and nanny. She’s caught fire to the kitchen, dyed his long johns pink, and scorched nearly everything she cooks. But he’s desperate, and she’s as destitute as they come.
Even though she’s no good with her hands, Grace sure has a way with her heart. She’s brought a warmth into Cole’s home, added color to his daughters’ lives, and broken down the wall he’s built up since his beloved wife died.
WHOO-HOO … SUMMER IS COMING!! I don’t know about you, but this has been one cold spring, and I am sooooo ready for summer! Not only for the warmer weather, but because I am putting out my very first bundle of books, and where better to start than my favorite indie series, Isle of Hope?
Why is IOH my favorite indie series? Well, true, it’s my only full-fledged indie series so far, but also, it’s one of the most personal and spiritual series of all I have written. Within each book—especially Book 1, Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love—you will find personal spiritual lessons I learned the hard way (as do my characters), so I promise it’s not only 5-star fiction, it’s 5-star spiritual lessons as well. Here’s what one reviewer said:
“If you haven’t read
Julie Lessman, you don’t know
what you are missing. This is the best series
I have ever read. And that’s saying a lot because
I read 200-300 books a year!
This is book One!”
— Joy Chattin Hannabass, Splashes of Joy Blog
All three novels in the Isle of Hope Series have 5-star ratings on Amazon, and the prequel novella has a 4.6 rating which, when you average it out, is a LOT of 5-star reading, my friends!
So … if you haven’t started this series yet, now you can do it all at once at a greatly reduced price, WHICH will not last forever, so take advantage!
I don’t have a pre-order date for you yet, but I will soon, so if you want to be notified as to when this bundle releases—or when I release ANY new book—just click on the link below to “follow” me on BookBub, okay? You will then be notified via email whenever I have a pre-order or a book release.
CLICK HERE
🗓 Blog Giveaway!
You don’t want to miss my TUESDAY, MAY 15TH Seekerville Blog because the subject is: Anatomy of a Kiss! Plus, not only will I be giving away a paperback copy of Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets, but also your choice of any of my indie e-books.
BUT … for Journal Jot readers ONLY, if you mention your read my Journal Jots blog in your comment on my Seekerville blog, I’ll throw your name in the hat for a signed paperback copy of ANY one of my indie books. So do come on by SEEKERVILLE to say “hey” on Tuesday, 5/15, and you may just win a book! Hope to see you there!
🗓 And Finally …
I am SOOOO excited about my next Facebook Live because I am starting a brand-new video series called NOVEL INSPIRATIONS, which will be a series of life lessons I learned the hard way and put into each of my books.
It should be a lot of fun, so I hope you will join me on Julie’s Facebook Author Page on May 18th for LOTS OF PERSONAL STORIES, INSPIRATION, AND PRIZES. Hope to see you there and don’t forget to …
Mark Your Calendar!
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