Blessed Thanksgiving Everyone!

 Thanksgiving shocks me at times – surging like a sudden storm through my head. I absorb with awe God’s power to create every atom and make all circumstances good in His way and time. Rays of sunshine shoot from the splendor of God to penetrate the forest surrounding my home and my heart. My praise overflows. I’m blessed to live in a place I love among family and friends! What wild, amazing, God-designed flowers each person is in the garden of my life.

 

My deep thanks cut to the core when I observe real, recognizable events no man orchestrated and know, just know for sure, the action was God’s. His signs are ever present, if one but looks. 

 

Still, at times thanks-living can be hard. Like now, with my husband’s physical presence gone from earth. His love has given me exquisite moments of joy – now who ever thought a heart could hurt so badly?  I work to focus on the sweet memories and glorious times with my man now in heaven, and give God praise for what we had.  Eventually, the wave of peace comes again.

 

How I appreciate the privilege of being helpful in someone else’s life through my YouTube channel, by my writing however minutely that may be. To speak or write a word of truth into another person, to thrust a spear into debilitating depression or ignite a dead marriage with new life or encourage a high school student through my teaching! How honored I am to be able to minister to God’s beloveds.

 

Thanksgiving is a humbling act. And “thank you” has many forms. Ordinary thanksgivings to God the great giver for His endless giving.  For simple items like pumpkins and dogs and emotional insights and human re-creations, too. Yay, God did it again. He alone gives significance and purpose to every moment.

 

 As families gather to give thanks to God and enjoy one another, may we all remember the central role Christ plays in all our blessings.

 

I challenge you to find something new to thank God for this year.

 

Thanking God for the gift of light – the pleasure of flicking a switch to brighten a room. And the brightness of the world after a couple days of rain. 

 

Thanking God for pens and computers so we can literally see the ideas that come from someone else’s brain.

 

Thanking God also for the gift of knowing deep within that there is a holy, gracious, living Being Who is worthy of our immense thanks. 

 

May this be your best Thanksgiving day ever and the start of a beautiful holiday season of gratitude.  We all have sooooooooo much to be thankful for. 

May we each live daily with thanks to God seeping from our hearts and spilling from our lips.

 

 

“In everything give thanks to God for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thess. 5: 18

 

Thanks For…

 

Hands gifted to work,

Minds gifted to comprehend,

Hearts gifted to care, and

Bodies gifted to act all for His glory.

 

How I’ve been gifted with you

Dear family and friends, 

rich treasure that you are,

Sharing my life.

 

You help me soar higher in my joys

And shoulder me up when I need lifting,

You’ve done both this past year.

I am grateful beyond words.

 

Saturated with love,

Sealed with gratitude

For God, life and you.

Happy Thank the Lord Day!!!

 

 

 

 

Love this quote by G.K. Chesterton. “Thanks are the highest form of thought, and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

Jesus Time, Love Notes 365 Daily Devotionals

 

Birthdays

I recently celebrated another birthday! You young ones hang on, because the years roll by with breathless speed. 

All of a sudden, like me, you'll find yourself in the senior ranks, and the delightful surprise is: it's quite fun after all. The opportunity you have for reflection that the hurry-scurry years seldom allowed is great. 

I recently took time to ponder these past decades: Life for me has been less a self-planned unfolding of my choices, as I used to pompously believe and more an intentional journey with God. A release, a freedom to day by day plunge into the unknown, ordained by Him. And then hanging on tightly and delighting in the tour He's planned.

New options appear at every season for walking through open doors God has placed before me. Entering isn't scary any more. I'm always eager to respond to anything that might be of Him. Sometimes I start leaping too fast, but always I'm guided back, sometimes with a thump, to the reality God intends for me in every course of this feast of life.

Over the years I've learned a few important things that change the way I view everything:

I have no giftedness apart from what our God has placed within me. 

I have no desire for riches except to use them for God's work in the world. 

I have no need of anything that God hasn’t provided. 

I am among all women the same but different because I KNOW that I am richly blessed with treasure that cannot be lost or stolen. 

How I praise my God who has birthed His love and wisdom within me!

My goal is only that I may honor Him adequately with these brief days of life.

And leave a legacy of truth and strength for generations to come.

I embrace fully the heritage I received, including my family's history of alcoholism and dysfunction, but also one of faith and creativity and love which I desire to send forth into eternity. 

My major sadness is that now I take my life journey alone without my beloved husband Wayne. Yet, I often sense him still at my side encouraging, comforting and loving on me.

In EVERY SITUATION, I bow to the One who made heaven and earth and me and I say “Thank You for dwelling in me. And for giving me a power to laugh at life and see the sparkle in each person. And thanks for instilling in me a few talents to invest for the Kingdom to come.”

Happy Birthday, Me! Happy Birthday Us!

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.” Ecclesiastes 3:1

Writing Update: 

Mystery at Wycham Manor is coming soon!

A Widow's Love Story  This new book is hpefully not for you, but a nice gift for a friend who has suffered a great loss.

 

Stunning Fall!

Dear Family and Friends,

  

Such a beautiful fall with its sparkling leaves of orange, yellow and magenta. It's truly breathtaking to drive down the famous Snake Road in Lake Geneva with its gorgeous trees in full splendor! October always seems to be a time of change mixed with anticipation – the ending of summer’s beauty as I observe the starkness of barren trees with beautiful limb artistry even in their nakedness. Thanksgiving approaches and Christmas cannot be far off. The cycle of life continues. Another birthday for me! Growing up I experienced lots of jokes about being born the day before Halloween. 

 

Truth is, I’m still sad as I adjust to the absence of my husband, especially on special occasions. I reread old birthday cards I’d saved and ask God how many more birthdays I must endure without my very best friend. I don’t receive an answer, other than to keep on keeping on. And so I try.

 

On a happy note, we have another election upon us, a time to remember with gratitude that we live in the United States of America where it's our honor to vote. I urge you to use this great privilege God has given you. I hate standing in lines, so I voted early, but I would stand in line for hours to cast a vote for the person I believe most capable to lead our country. 

Hopefully, you’ve been listening to both candidates and have observed not just the personality but the behavior and the accomplishments of each and the principles they stands for - most importantly their position about the value of human life. Forever I will advocate for the candidate who, even though imperfect, has the strongest intent to protect unborn life, secure the border, and rescue children from sex trafficking.  

Above all, I pray for an honest election, that the people’s will shall prevail and God will be glorified in the result.

 

 

UPDATE ON MY WRITING/SPEAKING

 

I’m enjoying being a substitute high school teacher a few days a week at Faith Christian School – an amazing environment for learning.

 

It has pleased me to receive feedback that A Widow's Love Storyhas been encouraging women.

 

I recently spoke at the Walworth Library to a group of women who read my Directive 99 suspense novel. Directive-99-Judith-Rolfs We discussed the biblical principles in the story and its proximity to today although this book was written decades ago. It's always fun to meet readers face to face.

 

Exciting news! My next novel Murder at Wycham Manor is in the final editing process. It’s a fun story set in England and Scotland with lots of twists and turns. Can’t wait to make it available for you.

 

I realize as the years pass that a treasure we often fail to fully appreciate, until we lose it, is our health. I pray for good health for you and your loved ones now and in the future!

 

HAPPY STUNNING FALL!

 

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.” 

Isaiah 40:8

 

 

Seasons

 Happy September! 

September surprised us with its wonderful warmth as we transition into the beauty of fall. Seasons mystify me, each has aspects of beauty and of hardship as well, just like each of our lives.

 

With God’s help, I’m starting to adjust to my new, never-desired life as a widow. My book A Widow’s Love Story was released this month. It’s a tribute to Wayne and God. I hope it will help other widows deal with the raw pain and agony of living with half yourself gone. I’m grateful to all of you who have prayed for me during this incredibly hard time. 

 

This fall I’m starting to counsel a teen girls’ group at Agape House to help them to a new start. Also doing some high school substitute teaching at the awesome Faith Christian School. The students are delightful!ax

 

Excited that my new novel will be out for Christmas – Mystery at Wycham Manor. It’s in final editing.

 

Praying for you friends that God will give you opportunities to use your abilities to bring you joy every season!

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 25th Christian Women’s Club luncheon at Hawk’s View Club, Lake Geneva – I’ve been invited to offer my books on marriage and families including my new A Widow’s Love Story and children’s mystery series Adventures of Tommy Smurlee for early Christmas shopping. 

 

Oct. 1st Walworth Library, Walworth, WI. Group discussion of my suspense novel Directive 99 very timely for today. 3:30 P.M. – 4:45 P.M. All readers of Directive 99, past and present are invited by the hostess Joyce Dreher.

 

Nov. 5^th As election time approaches I urge you to prayerfully find a candidate who shares your view on the significance of human life. Not every woman knows that the healthiest thing a woman can do is to carry her baby full term. This benefits her for a lifetime - she will have less risk of multiple sclerosis, cancer, or depression. Plus fetal stem cells will stay in her body to provide organ health for her entire life (fetal microcheminism, one of God’s marvels). Of course no woman should keep an unwanted child but adoption is a life-affirming, super-satisfying act. If you’ve followed my blogs over the last 10 years you know that I am a strong advocate for life because I came incredibly close to having a doctor-ordered abortion to end the life of my fourth child Dan, due to hemorrhaging and near death during my third pregnancy. I refused abortion realizing that despite the risk there was no way I could kill my child. What a blessing my now fifty-year-son is! Below is his picture with his lovely wife Stephanie.

 

Isaiah 54:10 “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. What a comfort this verse is!

 

Wishing you a joyful fall!

Suffering Is A Mystery

A Mystery

 

I cannot know the challenging things you’re going through. But I do know intimately the God Who loves you and me. I believe He always has a loving purpose in what He allows in our life, even the tough stuff, and suffering is never for nothing. 

 

Still, I often wonder why I don’t get what I want, when my desires seem truly good. Like restoring the health of a loved one. I consider this a mystery, because I know God’s on our side. So why don’t good things always happen?

 

Suffering is truly mysterious. I have friends who suffer with adult bipolar children who cause chaos in their lives, another friend has been lying in a nursing home for years - a vibrant, lovely woman who loved to dance and laugh. My dear friend Heather recently had her full-term granddaughter born to heaven.

 

I don’t understand this mystery of pain, suffering and death. I only know that it is very real and I have come to accept it as an inevitable part of life. But, amazingly, I’ve learned that I can trust God despite this.

 

For two years now I’ve suffered from the death of my spouse. I’ve recorded this in my latest book, A Widow’s Love Story, available now on Amazon. I write very honestly of my suffering with the hopes that my story can encourage others.

 

By the way, please know if your husband wasn’t as romantic as mine, that many men feel just as deeply what Wayne expressed, but may not display their love in the same way. 

 

I’m grateful for the continual evidence of God’s love for you and me despite our suffering. As we move from Alleluia August to Super September, may you experience His presence like never before.

 

“Who is like You, God? Though You have made me see troubles, many and bitter, You will restore my life again. From the depths of the Earth You will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once more." Psalm 71:19–21

A Widow's Love Story Amazon

Memories and Prayers

Along with the addition of years to one’s life, comes the unanticipated gift of memories. One may pop up any moment, unexpectedly triggered by a scent or a scene. We may repaint some memories to make them prettier or uglier than they were, but a few can never change because they’re so vividly embedded in our souls.

I invited guests over for dessert, friends from church, and the house took on the glow I love when candles are lit, order is prevalent, and talk of God’s ways fills the air. My memory of the evening is sweet.

I awoke during the night with a different memory of another place – less comfy-cozy, but so sacred that it still makes me catch my breath - a hospital oncology floor with beds occupied by children enduring the unendurable and bedside chairs filled with moms and dads who love them, and would gladly change places. 

A few decades ago I was in such a place and I often think of this on holidays where every minute is a gift, and the world of worry over dollars is in the furthest recess of the mind. Every day of mine and our now-grown-son’s life is different because of the memory of what we lived through – to God be the glory! 

I appreciate God’s 2 A. M. reminder for me to pray and attempt to offer solace to those families engulfed in the mystery of suffering and healing especially on lovely spring days like Father's Day and Mother's Day.

Triumphing Over Cancer, A Patient’s Manual is my practical help for adults. Hey, I’ve Got Cancer, Here’s How You Can Help is the children’s version. Love Always, Mom is an amazing, heart-warming, true story of God’s miraculous healing of our son.

“Whatsoever things you ask in prayer, believe that you may receive.” Mark 11:24 
Ask with faith and leave the outcome to our sovereign God.

Happy Mother's Day!

 

Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to speak to about 30 young mothers at a Mothers of Preschoolers Event.

I don’t recall ever being in a place with so many little babies! The youngest was actually two weeks old and many of these moms had three or more children. I felt honored to be present with them because I believe they are the heroes among us. 

These moms daily sacrifice time and energy to care for the future movers and shakers of our world. And they most often do it selflessly and joyfully.

I talked about the chapters of our lives that women go through. I recalled when I was their age, I thought young motherhood would go on forever. It seems as if I blinked three times and my children were grown. 

Now these little children whom I raised with values like mine are among my very best friends on earth and the same goes for my grandchildren, who quickly became adults.  My most fun times are being with them.

I imagined what it must be like to be God watching us grow and develop over the decades of our lives - the delight He must take in us. I certainly enjoy watching the physical and spiritual development of my offspring. Yes, occasionally mistakes are made and that’s how we all earn forgiveness and compassion.
 
Being in the presence of these very special women, was a great prelude to Mother’s Day. I ended my talk sharing God’s big and little miracles in my life by  asking them to remember NOTHING. I had the word written on a poster for them. I mentioned three things about nothing that I’d like them to be mindful of.  

One - is “Nothing is impossible for God.” (Luke 1:37) 

Two - we can do nothing apart from God Who strengthens us.  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
 
Three - sometimes the most important thing we can do in our lives is nothing. I encouraged the women to take 15 minutes daily to sit and ponder what they’re experiencing in this chapter of life and let God whisper His words of love and guidance as they mindfully listen. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

So here’s to REMEMBERING NOTHING!
 
To you my  friends who are moms, grandmas, even great-grandmoms
 I salute you and celebrate you!
 
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
 
Writing Update:

 
To coincide with the Moms Event I made three of my ebooks through amazon FREE TODAY AND TOMORROW MAY 9^TH. Please take advantage of this opportunity to download them to carry on your smartphone or IPAD.  

Go to amazon directly or through my website. Don’t use Kindle Unlimited. Purchase ebook after confirming price is 00.
 
Love Always, Mom is an inspiring true miracle story about our son.
 
Man in Command - How to Be A great Husband and Dad
 
Loving  Every Minute As A Wife & Mom
 
Love Always, Mom

 
Remember real angels are always among us.

Happy Easter!

 Happy, blessed holy, incomparable Easter!

 

Cross image from Israel

Dear Friends and Family,

How utterly amazing that the one and only God, the power force behind all that is, would love us without our “goodness” first earning His love. That He treasures each of us before we know Him seems incredible! 

 

Jesus was willing to enter this world with all its darkness and self-absorption to boldly declare “I LOVE YOU” . It’s taken me a lifetime to understand His love that endured crucifixion’s torture with poise so that death cannot keep us in graves.

 

The Resurrection, beyond doubt, is the greatest event that ever occurred in history.  Jesus entered our world as a Babe, became Teacher modeling the way of truth and love, and then our suffering Savior who set us free from fear and the consequences of sin. Not only was He human, but Divine, the one and only God. Through His Holy Spirit, He empowers us with hope to peacefully face any challenge. 

 

How do I know Christ rose and lives on? Because I see His Spirit work among us.

 

I recall that our amazing God recharged my husband’s heart during an Easter season eleven years go through the hands of a Jewish doctor, Gabi Silberman, and through marvels provided by drug companies who invested in medical research so Wayne could live on with a Pacemaker.

 

I recall the reality of Easter’s gift of peace of mind in Wayne as we entered that Florida emergency room. Wayne's prayer, he told me later, was: Whatever Lord You’ve planned is fine by me, altho I know my wife would like to have me around a little longer. (He had that right!!!) 

 

As we sat through that first night in intensive care, me in my rock-hard recliner, inches from his bed, holding hands through the bed bars watching pulse numbers, Wayne slept off and on between nurses’ attentiveness. His peace never faltered. Whatever the Lord had in mind…simply stated, he deeply believed. This is what I call Easter confidence.

 

Easter confidence in Wayne was not a wonder. My man started each day sitting calmly on the sofa reading the Bible. No fanfare, no hoopla, wherever we traveled, with friends, family or the two of us, he simply was attracted to absorbing more and more of God’s message to man.

 

By the way,  he could tell the funniest stories, was compassionate enough to get teary eyed in Les Mis, and couldn’t pass an infirm person without silently praying. He was a guy’s guy, wild about golf, his fishing trips to Canada. Yet he had that something extra because of Jesus - the deep joy that comes to God’s very own that God wants to give each of us.

 

I saw God’s power in Wayne’s renewed post-Pacemaker life for which I was deeply grateful, but also a reminder that His peace gift exists for us every day. It’s God’s present to the living described in one of my all-time favorite Scriptures:

 “…the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-8 

 

May the Easter peace that passes all understanding be yours every day!

 

 

 

 

Writing Update:

You can read some of Wayne’s stories for yourself in his bookThoughts-Today-Words-Tomorrow-Wayne/dp/1722125322 The paperback is currently onsale for $7.79 from $19.95 thru amazon prime. It’s a great coffee table book for your home or an Easter gift for the man in your house. 

 

I was blessed to have the Marion Citizen newspaper in Ocala, Florida  do an article about my work. This  link will take you there. https://www.chronicleonline.com/weeklies/marion_citizen/lifestyle/oak-run-inspiration-for-mystery-novel/article_c1a10353-d526-548b-8d26-b04a55c610eb.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share

  

Valentine’s Day, our special twenty-four hour celebration  of love, has arrived. What a powerful four-letter word! And what an extraordinary force love is! 

 

On this Valentine’s Day I encourage you to make loving well your highest priority. Of course we send remembrances of cards, flowers, but it’s great to speak words of love all throughout the year. What a privilege to love people as we go through life - a spouse, parents, children, grandchildren, dear friends - their presence in our world brings deep joy.

 

The greatest Lover ever is our Creator and we’re made in His image. It’s His love we model when we tenderly treasure one another. We cannot “over love” by its true definition, which is caring for the welfare of your beloved even more than your own. This mean no smothering love but freeing love, respecting your loved one and urging him or her on to become the best person possible. Love is fuel to help you survive and thrive no matter what happens around you. 

 

The truth is my heart will always long for my 60-year-plus love affair with my husband, Wayne, even though my soul knows I cannot see him again on earth. I’m never completely without the desire to return to my former married life. Yet, I have a God-given incentive to pursue new experiences. I pray for the gift of holy laughter again. I always taught the people I counseled that God wants us to rejoice in Him no matter what. We are to live with joy and serenity and clothe ourselves with kindness and compassion, so I try. As I look for a plus in my husband’s departure, I can see one glowing in the darkness: my love for God, my intimacy with him has become ever greater. 

 

When I’m in church, and see in a row ahead of me a man put his arm around his wife or a couple holding hands as they walk in, it makes me happy, not sad. For a couple seconds, as I see their tender touch, I recall the love I had. Marriage is finding another imperfect being to join with in your imperfection, and allowing God to perfect the two of you. This can only happen when God is central in your life. Always He is to be our greatest love! 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you lovers whose life is blessed as mine is today by memories of love, and to those who are praying for their future to find someone to bestow their love upon, and for those who are in the midst of a precious union, celebrate moment by moment your love! 

 

Happy Valentine’s Day to God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit!

And Happy Valentine’s Day to you my friend.

 

1 Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love.”

WRITING UPDATE

 

To give your marital love a boost, please check out my Intimacy Reviver free on my YouTube page (JudithRolfs). It will enrich your love affair whether you’ve been married one month or 50 years. This simple communication tool can strengthen the bond between you. 

 

To become ever more intimate with God consider using my Jesus Time 365 Love Notes of Wonder and Worship, devotionals for your daily prayer. I wrote them for readers to draw into greater intimacy with God. A reader recently sent me this message, “I’m currently using this as my devotional for the third year. Daily I find new nuggets to bless me.”

 

I’m excited to say that I’ve resumed my writing again, and am nearing completion of my next mystery novel. It has many twists and turn and is set in England and Scotland. I’m eager for you to read it. Also, I’m working on a grief book to help those who, like me, have lost a beloved spouse. I appreciate your prayers that these projects will honor God and bless readers.

For more information on my books, blogs and videos visit:

https://drjudithrolfs.com/