Happy Fourth Friends and Family!

 

Happy Fourth Friends and Family! 

I always feel a little thrill over the words independence and freedom, because I know they’re more than nice-sounding words. In 1776, we Americans wanted freedom enough to fight and die for it. We didn’t want to be under England’s oppressive taxation or have rules imposed on us without our agreement or representation.

WOW! In some ways have we come under our own government’s oppression? Senselessly piling up debt upon us by foolish spending? Being tantalizingly close to repressing freedom of speech by telling us what “hate” words we can’t say???

Just a few thoughts. I like to be free.

On a personal note: Thanks to those who sent Anniversary wishes. We enjoyed special days in Spring Green, WI and Devil’s Lake hiking, biking and golfing. Great news. We both re-upped for another year.

I’m thrilled how graciously you’ve received my new mystery novel, Never Tomorrow, with amazing reviews and by telling your friends about it. I’m humbled. 

Two Timely Scriptures You May Wish To  Ponder:

“Therefore the law is slackened and justice and a righteous sentence never go forth for the wicked surrounds the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.” From Habakkuk 1:4 Old Testament Book of the Bible Written between 612 B.C. and 585 B.C.

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1

I’m looking forward being at the Lake Geneva Authorfest next weekend at Library Park, Lake Geneva (along the lake path – one of my favorite places in the whole world) from 10-4. It’s always fun to meet other authors and readers.

Below is a list of my upcoming speaking events.  I’d love for you to come see me if you’re nearby.  Appreciate your prayers always for my writing/speaking ministry.

Author/Speaker Events July thru Sept.

Lake Geneva Public Library Author Panel Discussion, Wed. July 6^th, Lake Geneva, WI. 7 p.m.

Lake Geneva Authorfest Saturday, July 9^th, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Library Park Lakefront, Lake Geneva, WI.

Fontana Public Library Saturday, July 23, 2016 10:30-11:30, Fontana, WI.

Lake County Authorfest Saturday, July 30 10-4 p.m., Round Lake Beach, IL.

Waupaca Women’s Connection Dinner, Waupaca, Wi. Aug. 8^th 6-8 p.m.

Marshfield Women’s Connection Dinner, August 9^th Marshfield, WI. 6:30-8:30.

Wisconsin Rapids Women’s Connection Breakfast, August 10^th, 9:30 – 11:30

Women’s Connection Luncheon, August 10^th, Steven’s Point, WI, 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.

Women’s Connection Dinner, Merrill, Wi, August 9^th, 6 p.m.

Fox Valley Women’s Connection Luncheon, Ridgeway Country Club, Neenah, WI Wednesday Sept. 14^th, 12- 1:30 p.m.

Wautoma Area Christian Women’s Club, Silvercryst Supper Club, Wautoma, Wi Sept. 19^th, 12 noon 
Email for contact info.

Have an awesome Fourth of July!

Sacred Days of Life and Death

Some days leave you gasping because they're so unusual and sacred. The hours of the day seem to actually stop briefly. Saturday, two days ago, was like this. In the morning I attended an exquisite shower with 28 guests honoring a sweet mom-to-be, glowing with her baby due in August.  An event sacred with new life.

From there I went to sit by the side of a friend in her late sixties who in days, perhaps hours, is about to cross from earthly to heavenly life. Her precious body was so incredibly ravaged by cancer I wouldn’t have known her if I wasn’t in her home. Alone in the stillness of the room I held her hand and spoke of God’s love for her, the beautiful legacy of family she had co-created and the incredible sights, sounds and wonders awaiting her. Her eyes were closed, but I knew she was listening. An interlude, less than an hour, sacred with changing life.

The evening of this same day Wayne and I celebrated the 70^th birthday of a friend with a dinner hosted by her children at Pier 290.  All the more special an event because of where I’d been hours earlier. An event sacred with the joys of family and vibrant with life.

I’ll never forget Saturday, June 11th. Love was present, lavishly and richly expressed in each encounter.

The next day, Sunday, June 12th I heard the story of hate and senseless, premature deaths in Orlando. Love alone has the power to heal this kind of hate. The type of love, streaming from the light of Christ that brightens the darkest places of the soul. As a Christian I must speak of this love and light and not be silent. None of us have been ordered to judge souls, but to love them.

                      Life is a precious gift to be valued as sacred at every stage.

"Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the Lord, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 1 Samuel 26::24

Best-Ever Mother’s Day

Dear Family & Friends,

This is directed to MOMS...

 I’ve had the privilege of being a mom for over fifty years and what an adventure it’s been! When I meet moms with kids in the grocery store I remind them to enjoy every minute of this fleeting time of hands-on parenting.

I’d also like to tell them something else, but I don’t – it’s the secret I never knew when I had four kids within nine years - I’m not sure they’re ready to hear yet that mothering never ends.  Who thought I’d still have an active part to play in my children’s lives when they were grown up?

Now my humbling privilege is to pray extensively for my adult children (and seven grandchildren.) This may seem small, but I know prayer has supernatural power to release intensified activity of God in their lives. Of course, now and then I still get to bring brownies, spinach salads, homemade soup, or provide fried chicken when we get together and love to do it. But mothering as a pray-er is intangible, invisible and DAILY wherever their location.

Sometimes I wonder if praying is more a gift to me. I still miss having my children under roof, but through prayer I feel connected even with David & his family over a thousand miles away. I watch the flow of God’s plan for all their lives and I savor every thought of them as I pray God’s peace, protection and guidance for them. It’s a tough world out there.

It’s a joy to have a husband who participates in this prayer calling given to every mom and dad. He knows our children have been shaped by our tens of thousands of interactions with them. Not all were perfect, but Lord knows we, as you, were dedicated to trying our best and always will.  What a lifelong blessing it is to pray for our children at every age!

James 5:16 … The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous (wo)man availeth much.

MY MOTHER’S DAY GIFTS TO YOU DEAR READERS:

It’s my great pleasure to make available FREE through amazon on specified days starting today these ebooks for you moms.

*May 7-8 Love Always Mom (a true family story about the power of love and prayer.)

*May 10-11 Adventures of Tommy Smurlee and Tommy Smurlee and The Missing Statue. I wrote the Tommy Smurlee books with a compelling mystery, fantasy storyline, plus life-changing character lessons for my grandchildren to remember. For ages 7 and up. 

These gift ebooks can be read on any computer or smart phone, Ipad, etc. (They’re FREE only on the days listed so check the dates.) May they bless you and your children - I know as a mom anything that blesses my children blesses me.

EXCITING NEWS! My new mystery Never Tomorrow published by Prism Books will be available in print starting May 20th. If you enjoy the novel putting a review on amazon or Goodreads would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

"Layer upon layer of intrigue—laced with murder–propels this novel to the pinnacle of suspense. An ingenious plot, dynamic and complex characters, and an insight into the troubled avenues of human behavior rarely exposed make NEVER TOMORROW a stand-out for readers of mysteries, thrillers, and suspense." - Pat Gussin New York Times best-selling author of After the Fall

MOMS, may this be your best Mother's Day ever!!!!!!!

Blessed Easter Friends!

Easter is my favorite holiday.

The first Easter was a game-changer between the world as it was and the world ever since - this Jesus-dying-and rising-from-the-dead-event that makes our good living and happy dying possible.

I admit the cross and its meaning are complex. How to understand this mysterious exchange of penalty? I certainly know I deserve to be accountable for my less than desirable behaviors. Socrates spoke of an innate longing for virtue within each of us - an awareness of falling short. I know I do, did and continue to be less virtuous than I’d like to be. I don’t want to carry this guilt I richly deserve. Jesus paying it off is a huge blessing to me.

Jesus counted the personal cost, accepted the anguish and took the punishment for us all. Amazingly now we can ask for and confidently receive forgiveness for sin and shortcomings. The world without Easter could easily be dark and full of despair.

No wonder we dance and celebrate.  Death has no power – we’re life-dwellers forever. 

Jesus literally rose from death. We can know we won’t stay dead either. We have reason to jump and leap - maybe that’s where the image of Easter bunnies comes from.

We’re filled with inner richness – maybe that’s why eggs are significant. We’ll be coloring ours Saturday night.

We can live delicious lives loving God and loving our neighbor  - ah, there’s the reason for chocolate.

How fitting we celebrate Easter in spring, because it’s truly new life day.

May your Easter be spectacular in every way!

Happy, blessed, joyous Easter.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

 John 3:16

Living Out God’s Call

Our friends have not seen their adult daughter, their only child, their only son-in-law and four grandchildren for 540 days and recently spent ten days together in Mali, Africa. The pain of separation at times has been intense but they have an assurance that their daughter and son-in-law have been called to serve God in a foreign country teaching Muslims about Jesus. These friends, too, were called many years ago to be missionaries in Haiti.

I can easily imagine the quiet hum of their hearts when they breathed the same air again and celebrated being united. I often experience this deep joy when I’m with family members I love.

God’s call upon each of our lives is fascinating. I feel God has called me to write. We leave our family for several months during the winter and I focus intently on my writing. I miss them very much, but I believe I am honoring God’s intention for me. (Yes I also enjoy being in a warmer climate.)

My husband Wayne feels called to pray for the needs of others and to bring smiles and happiness to strangers. He spends a significant amount of his day doing this.

Some of our friends are called to serve in church or be active in politics or in the community socializing with people who benefit from their friendship.

I’ve learned that God’s call is not about accomplishment or visible impact from our efforts but about being faithful to God’s leading. Living out God’s call (direction) for our lives ALWAYS brings inner joy and peace – yet it can be QUITE challenging.

It’s usually during private, still time with God that we discern God’s call. His direction for us can change at any time. Mine has changed often. How about yours?

Romans 11:29 For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Writing Update:

I'm celebrating completing the final edits with editor Paula Mowery this week for Never Tomorrow, my next mystery novel due out in May.  Each book is a team project. Wayne came up with this title! My publisher Prism Books will now begin the designing the cover. Can't wait to see it!

Merry Christmas

Pondering Christmas 2015

The mystery of Christmas is upon us again. How shall we believe? And why? It’s so preposterous. One man, one life, one supernatural wonder-worker who passes on His power to certain unlikely, unworthy individuals like each of us?

In every state and every country people speak about first-hand experience of the ManGod who changed their lives. We meet people often who say they’re no longer the same after being in His presence and surrendering to His lordship.

The transformation of every human nature begins with this birth we celebrate. Without Christ’s entrance into human reality, paradise was indeed forever lost. It’s now as close as our skin.

The first Christmas was truly the world’s game-changer. We know this, not in the head but deep in our heart-checker of truth. Without holiness and goodness we’re nothing. Who but Christ can make us what we need to be and deeply unconsciously long to be?

This Bethlehem babe who became an adult victim, a cross-hanger who shed royal red blood for the likes of us. Can it be true that His blood purifies our own? Symbolically yes, and really truly? Yes.

Who needs a Savior, a Changer, a Better-maker? We do. Don't we all want to see with God’s eyes the beauty He formed in each soul and help the radiance burst forth that’s locked inside. We sense its presence.

Isn’t that why God came? So we can love out the beauty in one another. And smother the sinfulness of pride and self-absorption that crawls all over us.

How can we be worthy gift-givers without recognizing the Giver of every gift we’ve ever received? And how shall we know Him? And why doesn’t everyone?

This weird thing about Jesus’ birth, dying and rising is that it empowers the world and gives deep meaning to gift-giving and loving without limits.

This Christmas may we meditate a bit on the mystery and wonder of the Christ-change in us. We who call ourselves Christ-ians have experienced newness in our lives. And the peace that passes understanding – what level of peace can that be? One that doesn’t rest on circumstances like even world peace. The kind that will flood your heart with contentment no matter what if you’re a follower of this baby-become man-become King of glory.

Christmas represents the beginning of this greatest mystery and change event in humankind - weird but oh so wonderful.

As we shop and bake and wrap and shine and polish and hang the holly may we, may I remember it’s not just a home we decorate but our lives. It’s not just gifts we give, but love that comes from the originator of the idea, Jesus. May you have a Jesus-filled Christmas!

News On the Homefront

We're well, praise God and enjoying every precious day together after 53 years. We treasure most of all our family times when we can be with our adult children and the grown-up grandchildren. Our favorite activities are golfing, reading, writing and traveling N & S, FL, NC and states between. 

Judy continues writing and speaking about biblical principles for raising families and God’s miracles in our lives. Her new book is due soon from Prism Book Group - Never Tomorrow, a Christian mystery novel about a serial killer. It’s her favorite project thus far. Love Notes To God is due out later next year – 365 Day Devotional. And Love Always, Mom is being reprinted due to frequent demand. And her monthly blog continues. Wayne ministers at church, in Bible studies and with his joy ministry.

We love every memory of you, our family, friends and acquaintances, and if this Christmas message has reached someone we haven’t yet met, may it happen. Blessings & love!

Joyful Christmas Reflections is available free as an ebook Dec. 17-19 through amazon on Kindle. We hope these thoughts on the participants in the first Christmas will bless you.