Scars ~ We all have them

Scars ~ A sight of past trauma.

This tree was struck by lightning. Amazing that it wasn't blown apart, but it received a glancing blow that left a mark on the tree.

Its bark is marred, yet, the tree lives.

All of us have scars. Some are on the surface. Others run deep and are often more damaging.

You've all seen them, been them. Those who are too quick to back away from friendship. Those who present a prickly front to protect themselves from hurt.

The angry, distant, prickly, and embarrassingly shy~ all giving proof of buried scars. Hurts from the past that all too often take captive that person into the lie that their unseemly behavior will protect them from further hurt.

But as lies often do, it works in reverse and deepens the hurt and causes them to believe that they are unworthy.

Even Jesus, the Son of God, has scars.

So be like this tree. Bare your scars. Acknowledge the lightning struck, but that it didn't kill you. Call on our Savior, the Lord of all, who knows the lash of betrayal, the beatings by angry people, the unbelief of trusted friends, and allow Jesus to touch your scar. To heal you from the hurt and allow you to be set free from the prison of bitterness and self-hatred.

Be free, my friends. Live and grow and blossom despite the scars.

Jeremiah 30:17 
 For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, saith the Lord.

May Surprise

Hearts of the West

My book ~ Bounty ~ is in this superb collection of wonderful stories of romance in the west.  Grab it now.

Redeeming Lilly ~ Live on Amazon

Redeeming Lilly


Lilly kept her eyes forward, her chin up, and her heart encased in stone as the 'good' sheriff led her to the train station. She'd been run out of more saloons and towns than she had fingers to count. Didn't matter.

She'd find another town. Another saloon. Another chance. She glanced at the shining sun and hoped the next town would be different.


Lilly is a bit of a different book as far as Mail Order Bride romance stories go. BUT she wouldn't have it any other way.


I tried to make her story fit in the mold, but no. Not happening.

So I hope you enjoy her story.Redeeming Lilly

May is almost here ~ And a surprise!

The first of May, Hearts of the West will be available on Amazon.

FOR ONLY  .99

~ Six Bestselling Christian Authors

~ Six Novels of Romance in the West

Hours of entertaining adventure, love, and excitement.

Get ready for that day at the lake, outside under the trees in the hammock, or a rainy day on the couch.

Abundant Life

These flowers look like they are trumpeting joy!

Jesus tells us He came to bring us abundant life in John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This flower hid in the earth during winter's grasp, but it knew the mystery. That life would return.

How are we to live?

In the promise. Regardless of what we are going through know this: God is good. He loved us so much He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die and rise again.

We have the promise of life now and eternal.

Live as one who has hope. Rejoice and bloom knowing that He gave us eternal life.

Live boldly as one who knows the promise.

He Loves Me

Major confession time.
I am dry.
I have many Bibles.
I have many good intentions.

But I am dry.
My soul hungers and thirsts for Him.

Yet, HE loves me. Even in my bedraggled state of spiritual starvation, He loves me.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

So, if I am living on my own power, I am one of the walking dead. And it stinks like the rotting flesh of a zombie.

Yet, He loves me. He calls me back into sweet communion with the Lord of Life. He poured out Himself for me. HE loves me.

With excitement, I look forward to sitting at His feet. To engage in sweet communion with the Way, Truth, and the Life. To feed on the Word of God. His body broken for me. His blood shed for me.

HE loves me.

Historical Fiction ~ Truth and Lies

I'm watching Bill O'Reily's Legends and Lies: The Real West.

As a writer, I write my historicals with the truth in mind, but at times, I give a nod to the readers of today.

Though we write about days gone by, readers live in the now and future.

I do research significant facts, when railroads came to a territory, what people of the day might wear and eat. Did a certain city exist at that time.

Then there are words that are common now, but not a hundred and fifty years ago. 

Once I tried to write that my character was taking a NOSEDIVE off her horse.  I got to thinking and checked the etymology (not to be confused with entymology - study of insects : ) of the word, and sure enough - nosedive came about after airplanes were, well, crashing. So I scrapped that word.

Another occasion, one of my good writing friends and mentors, Lena Nelson Dooley, was writing a chapter and her character was using a receipt while cooking. Seems back in the day, women didn't use recipes to cook. It was called a receipt.  I chose to use recipe because I thought my readers might think I misspelled recipe and my computer decided to make it recipe. : )

So the next time you pick up a historical novel, notice the care the author used in researching the story and give them a thank you.