Journal Jots – Blog

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10 

Happy New Year, Everyone!

And I have to say that so far—for me—it is!

Wanna know why?

Well, remember the post about three weeks ago where I talked about the little secret I discovered for getting things done with peace and joy? Well, if you don’t here’s the link: PEACE & JOY.

And all I gotta say is, WOW … things are a’changin’ … and all because I’m trying to put God first.

Am I perfect at it? No way!

Am I getting better? Oh, you bet.

And you know what? So is my life!

Like I mentioned in the blog at the link above, I used to get up in the morning, grab a cup of coffee (hazelnut with Half ‘n Half, of course!), then mosey downstairs to our family room and putz with email while Keith and I watched the news. About 30 minutes in, one of us would make the other an English muffin, we’d eat and chat a bit, then Keith would go to work (at his desk 10 feet away). Of course there I’d be, still wading through days of emails I’d missed, stupidly thinking I could breeze through them in 20 minutes.

Yeah, right. You’ve read my books, yes?

Well, my emails aren’t much shorter.

By the time I was done with most of the emails (some I would set aside to give my full attention to later and you know who you are!), it was time for lunch. And yet I STILL hadn’t had my prayer/Bible/devotional/treadmill time (where I tackle my prayer list while listening to worship music).

So then I’d hightail it upstairs to check that off my to-do list (notice the frame of mind — it was a task I had to do rather than a pleasure spending time with the God of the Universe!). By now it was early afternoon, and because I was itching to get to writing, I felt pressured during “God’s time,” and it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that neither God nor I benefited very much.

So like I said in the Dec. 18th blog, God got my attention by nailing me to the wall with this daily devotional that stopped me dead in my tracks:

“I desire to talk to all of My children,

but many are too busy to listen. The “work ethic” has them

tied up in knots. They submit wholeheartedly to this taskmaster,

wondering why they feel so distant from Me.

Living close to Me requires making Me your first love—

your highest priority

—Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young

Ouch.

That’s when I turned over a new leaf, two weeks before I turned over the page of the calendar, putting God first in the morning. Now I get up still in my jammies and snuggle into my upstairs “prayer chair” (see pic) with a cup of hazelnut while I read my devotionals, Bible, and focus on God.

Which, by the way, is my word for the year: FOCUS. On Him!

Anyway, the first day of the new year that I did this, the Scripture God gave me was our quote above from Psalm 46:10 …

“Be still and know that

I am God.”

Well, I don’t know if you have ever been around an overwired CDQ (caffeinated drama queen) before, but being “still” is not something I do well … or really, ever. But all at once I swiveled my chair to lean back and look out the window, feet propped on the shelf of my credenza with a cup of hazelnut warm in my hands.

And that was when I saw — really saw — the muted dawn slowly wash across the sky in watercolor blue, naked tree limbs reaching to the heavens in holy worship. At that very moment, my spirit stilled and water stung in my eyes, a blink in time when I was fully aware of just Who He is — the Bright Morning Star Who lights up our life with His love, His peace, His  everlasting joy.

Suddenly worship welled in my spirit, pouring from my lips while tears poured from my eyes. I never really expected it, but I felt His presence, a truly magical communion between me and my Father, the God of the Universe!! The One Who longs for us to sit with Him, talk with Him, be still with Him so He can reveal Himself and His plan for our lives. To really and truly “know” Him.

Because the more we know, the more we will never be the same.

I know because so far this year, I feel so … different. Granted, it’s only eight days in, but every day this week, before I even open my eyes, I’ve been sensing a glimmer of excitement and anticipation for the day, as if I had something special planned. And when I came fully awake, I suddenly realized what it was.

I was going to spend time with the one Person Who cherishes me more than any other, the One whose love never fails, the One to Whom I am the apple of His eye. The God Who actually wants to spend time with me so He can reveal His plan for me, not only to guide me through my day, but through my life as well.

Imagine that!

Quality time … with the Everlasting God … for everlasting peace, hope, and joy!

What a way to start a new year! 🙂

Hugs and HAPPY FOCUSING!

Julie 

PLEASE, PLEASE VOTE FOR FAMILY FICTION’S TOP TEN NOVELS OF 2015! 

Guess what? YOU have a golden opportunity to say THANK YOU to the author who wrote your favorite book of 2015. There’s a ton of great books nominated (including my latest novel Isle of Hope, so THANK YOU to all who nominated it!). BUT … whether you vote for my book or somebody else’s, PLEASE VOTE because Christian Fiction needs all the support it can get and authors need to know their readers support them! So … 

 VOTE HERE … AND GO, CHRISTIAN FICTION!! 

 

SEEKER BLOG GIVEAWAY!!

Wednesday, January 13, 2016: To Review or Not to Review … That is the Question! Joinme on Seekerville when I explore—and answer—this question in a manner so complete, you will be sorely tempted to post a review. Ahem … it remains to be seen whether it will 5-star or 1, but at least there will be a giveaway of any of my ebooks … OR a signed manuscript copy of her new novella, A Glimmer of Hope, which is the prequel to my latest novel, Isle of Hope, that is due to release in February. 

And, YES, you read right — there’s a prequel about Jack and Lacey, so more about that next week!

Hugs and HAPPY FOCUSING!

Julie

 

Ah … the BEGINNING and the END!

And here we are once again … at the “end” of a year that I hope blessed you richly.

We now stand poised on the threshold of a new “beginning” in which I hope and pray the quote above becomes a key component for each and every one of us. Because no matter how much good or bad we have experienced this year, the truth is that we look ahead with HOPE!

And there is no greater hope found than in a God Who IS is the beat of our pulse … and the Keeper of each breath that we take. He is the strength in our bones … and the One Who carries us through when we cannot. He is our beginning and our end … our only Hope as we come to the end of the year and begin another. Because the final truth is that there is no hope in anything—anything—but Him.

So as we say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, I pray that today’s header quote becomes a sweet reality in each of our new years, and may God bless you and yours richly in 2016!

Hugs,

Julie

WE HAVE WINNERS!!

Well, my Isle of Hope Contest has ended, and I want to thank each and every one of you who entered because there was a ton. I wish I could give a prize to anyone who took the time to enter, but my husband would shoot me if I did, and then where would the O’Connors, McClares, and O’Bryen’s be??? 🙂

So … what I am going to do is award TWO winners instead of just ONE like I originally planned.

The first winner was randomly picked by Randomizer out of all those who entered, regardless if you had one point or more. That winner will have a character named after them in my next book, a signed copy, and their choice of any of my other books or novellas. And that winner is …

Savannah Moore

The second winner is the person who accrued the most points, and I just couldn’t let this contest go by without offering a special heartfelt thanks for all of the hard work that she — and many others — did. This winner will also have a character named after them in my next book, a signed copy, and her choice of any of my books. And that person is:

Annie C

SUPER CONGRATS to both Savannah and Annie C … AND to each of you who entered!! I cannot thank you enough for your support, so instead, I am praying for every single one of you on my Rafflecopter list, asking God to bring a special blessing into your new year that will especially reveal His love for you.

 

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH WITH TONS OF PRIZES AND LOTS OF FUN!!!

How would you like to close the new year with prizes given away every hour on the hour on THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31ST, including FREE BOOKS, GIFT CARDS, A KINDLE AND A $200 GIFT CARD TO AMAZON????

Well, here’s your chance by attending Seekerville’s NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH and leaving a comment anytime from 6:00 AM Dec. 31st all the way until midnight, January 1st. One comment automatically enters you for the $200 gift prize, but you must leave a comment during a particular time slot to win prizes from that hour.

JULIE’S BONUS PRIZES DURING HER HOUR!!  I will be manning the giveaways from 2:00-3:00 PM Central Standard Time, so come by and see me to win your choice of one of ten ecopies of Isle of Hope OR my grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card AND a character named after you in my next book.

HERE’S THE LINK AND GOOD LUCK!

SEEKERVILLE NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH

 

VOTE FOR FAMILY FICTION’S BOOK OF THE YEAR!!

If you’re reading this blog right now, YOU are a reader, so here is a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to say THANK YOU to the author who wrote your favorite book of 2015. Whether you vote for my book, Isle of Hope, or somebody else’s, PLEASE take the time to vote because Christian Fiction needs all the encouragement it can get!

THANK YOU AND GO, CHRISTIAN FICTION!!

HUGS,

Julie

 

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you’ve delivered
Will soon deliver you.

— Mary, Did You Know?

Yes, Mary knew it — “My soul magnifies the Lord,  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,” Luke 1:46 — and I rejoice in my soul that ALL of us know it too!

Though I have never met most of you, I want you to know how much I love and appreciate each and every one. Some of you have written me in the past, many of you have prayed for me, but ALL of you have blessed me more than I can say.

So I wanted to take this opportunity to thank God for the gift of you in my life, and I ask Him to bless you and yours abundantly, exceedingly more than you hope, think, or pray … in this year and the next.

Hugs and more hugs, and from my family to yours …