Today is the Day

Today is the day my friends. What a privilege we have in this amazing country of America to choose our leaders. If you haven't already done so please remember to vote. If you need a ride, call a friend or neighbor. 

I heard this slogan recently: Value your vote and vote your values. We all have a part to play in gifting our children and grandchildren with this precious government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Please join me in praying for godly men and women of integrity to be elected guardians of our precious country. May they legislate wisely for the good of every American.

Cumberland Falls in Tennessee.  

Our friend Becky took this picture. We enjoyed a special time with six other couples in Heather and Pat's huge, lovely mountain home in the Smoky Mountains last week. Fun, fellowship & prayer.

WRITING UPDATE:

Almost time to start Christmas shopping! May I suggest one of my Fantastic Family themed books for everyone on your list. You’ll find uplifting reading material for children and adults – kid’s fantasy books, devotionals, my murder Mysteries with a Message including my latest The Windemere Affair. Here is the link to my amazon author page: 

https://www.amazon.com/Judith-Rolfs/e/B001KI0KLU

My husband Wayne also has a super family book for Dads and Moms to use in family devotions Thoughts For Today, Words for Tomorrow. This is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Thoughts-Today-Words-Tomorrow-Wayne/dp/1722125322

  

A pleasant thought to ponder... we each have our own personal History Book With God. He writes through the events of our lives and we add content by our responses.

I’m recalling a chapter today of being in Door County last October after my husband Wayne’s open heart surgery when he was very fragile. Here we are today one year later with golf clubs and bicycles having lunch in Sister Bay with Dan and Stephanie who joined us. (David and his family come up next weekend.) How can I possibly describe the grateful praise spilling from every pore of my being when I see my man healthy and active?

I turn back in my History Book With God to other scary chapters - the safe birth of our fourth child despite medical complications, later the healing of our eighteen-year-old son whose life was given up on by his oncologist.

Other miracles – healings and seemingly impossible prayers answered -fill the pages. I think of our several businesses begun with wild ideas that prospered into reality. The burst of courage in countless situations at the moment it was most needed. I'm sure you can recall similar times.

Opportunities to watch God at work using me as an available counseling instrument in the emotional healing of other lives. Humbling chapters. The blessing of being an encouragement to others. We all like those chapters, don’t we? I know you have many of your own.

Sad chapters without happy endings have been written as well, but they don’t mar the Goodness evident within my History Book With God. His presence during times of pain has been just as real, His comfort as near as my skin, when our twenty-four-year-old grandson Drew died. 

Within the pages of my book are my daily conversations with the Supreme Creator Who is absolutely like none other – the King of Glory.  Sometimes my words are simply expressions of awe at His world, His people as in Jesus Time, 365 Love Notes of Wonder and Worship. Other times, I speak petitions for the needs of others because I’ve known, I’ve witnessed the transforming power of prayer. My History Book With God is filled with His interventions in apparently hopeless situations in response to fervent prayer.

  

Part of my current History With God is my new mystery novel

The Windemere Affair https://amzn.to/2pZxl1y–launched a week ago and is off to an exciting start. This is my second novel set in Lake Geneva, the city I fondly call home – the full name of our village is Fontana-on-Lake Geneva.  It’s fun to hear my adult son Dan say he’s up to Chapter Seven –  when writing an author never thinks about having your adult children read the love scenes. Gulp. Awkward…  I’m grateful for the reviews thus far – thanks for taking some of your valuable time to read and review. 

What’s being written right now, friends, in your living History Book With God? From birth to final breath our history with Him goes on…

 www.judithrolfs.com

Treasuring Memories & These Last Weeks

Are you treasuring these last weeks of summer along with me? How delightful to enjoy evening bike rides and walks, playing tennis, hitting golf balls and just hanging out with family and friends. I love all the seasons, even winter (for a time anyway), but summer is hands down my favorite.

Back to school is just around the corner for our youngest grandchildren Joshua and Anna. Their parents recently moved from Florida to within five minutes of us in July. Yay! Our older five grandchildren have completed their schooling through college so this is like a do-over.

I’m wondering how you moms and grand moms do or did celebrate the first day of school in your children’s lives growing up. I always made homemade chocolate chip cookies. I was so sad and baking gave me something meaningful to do other than cry. I loved being a Mom and having my four children home with me all summer. When they’d return home from school on the first day we’d sit at the kitchen table so I could hear about the new adventures in each of their lives.

Recently, I came across a letter I sent our twin grandchildren when they started first grade eight years ago. I re-sent it to them as they start high school because the pointers still apply today.

Dear Anna and Joshua,

Remember to look at your teacher and listen when he or she talks. Obey rules with a cheerful smile and don’t be grumpy when you have to do something. If you have a question or need help, ask.

If at first you don’t understand how to do something, it’s okay, sometimes you need to try several times before you can do something new, like riding your bicycle, remember? And sometimes your brain needs to hear things often, before the new idea sticks in it. Be patient with yourself.

Be on the look-out for other children that you can be kind to. Check if someone seems to be left out and include them. Even if other children are sometimes naughty, you be good. However, if someone is rude or unkind you don’t need to play with them until they improve their behavior. Always remember God loves you and your family does too. Love, Grandma and Grandpa

Wise advice for all of us adults today too? Being kind and considerate of others is always in style whether it’s in the grocery store or government offices or on the roadways. That said, most people are so awesome. Every day people pleasantly surprise me with their thoughtfulness.

Best of all, God is in our new experiences and in the old. Some things are always current like loving Him and depending on God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to help us through all the experiences of our lives. I can’t imagine doing life any other way, can you?

Happy end of summer and transitioning into a fantastic fall season friends and family.

SPEAKING NEWS

Mid-August Wayne and I travel to Monroe, Wisconsin for the Christian Women’s Connection Men’s Guest night. Wayne will give the keynote talk and I’ll present a feature “Enhancing Important Relationships.” Wayne's new book, Thoughts For Today, Words For Tomorrow a father's legacy to his children will be available and is also on amazon.

FREE BOOKS

Last month 250 people ordered my e-books on days they were free. Since my writing is ministry you know I love giving away free books (I can only do this with the books I own all rights to which doesn’t include my mysteries - sorry.) Jesus Time devotionals will be a free e-book on August 28 and September 18. 

WRITING NEWS

I’m SO excited to announce The Windemere Affair my next mystery novel will be released October 5^th. It will be available for pre-order shortly – I’ll let you know when I have a date.

Thank you for so graciously receiving my new Jesus Time, 365 Love Notes of Wonder & Worship book and for your kind notes and reviews. I pray you'll be blessed daily by these devotionals.

 

I started writing every Tuesday for the Facebook page Fill My Cup, Lord alternating with a team of delightful Christian authors. I’d love for you to check it out and LIKE our page which we hope will encourage women.

Hebrews12:2: "Looking away from all that will distract us to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith, and also the Finisher bringing it to maturity and perfection." (Amplified Bible)

Happy and Blessed Fourth of July

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

What are some of your favorite memories of watching fireworks on the 4th? Spectacular shows, aren’t they, followed by fun family parties! But the reason behind them can easily be overlooked.

On this special day we celebrate America’s independence and freedom! And may we never forget that we were founded to be a Christian nation.

I like the words of John Quincy Adams, one of our early Presidents. “Is it not that in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior?”

How about: “All the scholars are required to live a religious and blameless life according to the rules of God’s Word, diligently reading the Holy Scriptures, that fountain of Divine light and truth..”  Handbook of Yale, one of our earliest colleges, in the 1787 Student Guidelines.

And this quote: “The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds that is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other.” Alex de Tocqueville: French observer of America in 1831, author of Democracy in America.

Do our children and grandchildren know this connection?  Let’s be sure to tell them.

Many have been misled into believing things other than the truth about our rich Christian heritage in America. Admittedly our country is not without sin, but it still is the greatest nation on earth. It was founded by godly men who acknowledged a heavenly Father as the source of all that is good. And only by giving Jesus praise and thanks and living by God’s moral principles will our country remain great.

Let love reign in our land and may God be honored in all we do for Him. Let’s sing it loud and clear this July 4th, “America! America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.”

 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.”  Psalm 33:12.  

*****

                                         WRITING  AND SPEAKING NEWS

Praise Jesus! The early amazon reviews for Jesus Time, Love Notes of Wonder & Worship are gratifying. Thank you dear readers.  May many people be blessed.

Click on link to read more: https://amzn.to/2rke9M3 

                                          

  

Prayers are appreciated for Special Events in July:

Author fest Book signing Lake Geneva Lakefront Sat. July 14^th

Christian Women’s Connection Speaking Events:

Lake Geneva Guest Night, July 11^th

Rice Lake After Five Group, July 16

CWC Eau Claire, WI July 17

Grace Evangelical Church Women’s Event, Sat. July 28^th

Also please pray for our daughter Pam and husband John's Life Sports Camps for 500 kids in Village Church, Gurnee running 3 weeks of July.

Exciting News! My husband Wayne has become a writer! His  500-plus-page book Thoughts For Today Words For Tomorrow is now available on amazon. I couldn’t be more proud! It’s a collection of bits and pieces, words of encouragement from a husband and father to his family. Check it out by following the link below.          

https://amzn.to/2KLH6cn

Happy Mom's Day 2018

Being A Mom and Grandmother

It’s the day before Mother’s Day and I’m reflecting on mothers and the blessing of being one!

I THINK BACK WITH PRAISE THROUGH THE YEARS:

Busy baby time, four children in nine years then watching each child’s interests and personality develop.  Tamara with her tennis, novels and daily running with me - okay only about one mile. Pam her face red and dripping from playing super basketball or experimenting to create the best-ever croissant recipe. David with his army men and board games battles covering the floor of his bedroom along with history books. Dan playing a favorite game like the Little Green Things between soccer, B-ball and golf. 

Remembering all these “mom moments” is so rich. What might yours be?

I see in my mind our immediate family, six of us, at the kitchen table during dinner at Delavan Lake and I can almost hear the laughter pealing forth. Dear God, it was SO GOOD. We were all wrapped up with the love of God and one another.

I know the day the laughter paused, but only for a time when our son David’s  cancer was diagnosed. We determined as a family to fight with love and faith and prayer and laughter. And by God’s grace the cancer was eradicated.

I look at a souvenir stone from our family Smoky Mountain trip and remember yearly trips to Florida and Disney World – splurges despite a tight budget – times that brought us forever memories steeped in joy.

And then on top of this to get to be a mother-in-law, grandmother and great grandmother to enjoy ongoing mom moments! Like baby Brayden, everyone’s delight!

I grin remembering a joke our grandson DJ told me years ago and today he's graduating from college. In my mind I see Jack running down the Upper Gardens Road on our scavenger hunt beating us all and his face lighting up when Grandpa said, “You’re really fast!” Now Joshua streaks across the soccer field. 

Sweet memories, like ten-year-old Anna and Joshua enrapt as we build a bonfire for them and tell them stories about their mommy and daddy. I see Drew playing the piano at the senior home and then directing the older grandchildren on our sun porch making cards to welcome their new twin cousins, Anna and Joshua. 

In my mind I see Katie in the kitchen making fudge with me. And Steven helping me make a rock border in the back yard. Now I even have a grandson-in-law Alex - all six foot plus of him with a huge heart as well. 

And then I think of other women:

Like the moms who never had children of their own but “mothered” nieces and nephews and neighborhood kids or students.

I remember moms I met through my work - unwed moms who courageously gave their babies to other women yearning to have the sacred joy of nurturing a child. To them I say don’t mourn. Your little ones will praise you face to face in heaven. I think of single moms who struggle financially and emotionally, but say it’s worth it all to mother their child(ren). I think of divorced families for whom Mother’s Day can be complicated and I hurt for these moms and I pray. I also think of abandoned elderly moms who sit alone in nursing homes. May none be forgotten this year. For these moms may we all pray.

I smile at the thought of all the love that’s going to be expressed on Sunday– the cards and flowers that will change hands. The moms taken for granted far too often will hear the love song that’s always within their children’s hearts.

I think of Moms, like me, who didn’t do our mothering perfectly, but we did it wholeheartedly having a ton of fun along the way. And we have children who know we tried and rise up and call us blessed.

We moms know, don’t we, that ordinary family days are so precious – so fragile and the most meaningful days of all.

So Happy Mom’s Day to me, to you and to the Dads who facilitated our roles. Children we celebrate you, too, for the great blessing of watching you grow in delightful ways.

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Luke 1: 38 Then the angel left her. How amazing the news of pregnancy always is!

“But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2: 18-20

Don’t we all?

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”

2 Timothy 1:4-6 May our children walk with faith in God always.

SPEAKING NEWS:

Lake Geneva Christian Women's Connection Guest Night at the Red Geranium Restaurant,  Lake Geneva, WI July 11th. My husband Wayne and I will both speak. His talk is "Humor and Hope in Golf and Life." Mine is: "Enhancing Emotional Closeness in Important Relationships." 

Lake Geneva Authorfest at the Lake Geneva Lakefront, July 14th

July 16th at 6:30 p.m. and July 17th 9:30 a.m. Christian Women's Dinner and Breakfast in the Rice Lake, Wisconsin area.

Christian Women's Connection Guest Night, Monroe, Wisconsin August 22nd 6:00 p.m. My husband Wayne and I both speak again. His talk is "Humor and Hope in Golf and Life." Mine is: "Enhancing Emotional Closeness in Important Relationships."

BOOK NEWS:

JESUS TIME, 365 Love Notes of Wonder & Worship was released this week. It's available at amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback or readers can order ebooks to carry on their smart phone for instant spiritual refreshment.
For JESUS TIME info click here to connect with amazon: http://amzn.to/MZtUBA

Next Murder Mystery Novel is In Final Editing With Pelican! 
I recently received this cover from my editor. I love the colors! 

It's my most intense mystery yet. I'll let you know when I have a release date.

Blessed Mother's Day Everyone!