A friend posted to my facebook page, today, a photo of a butterfly scene. I went to the fb page of its origin and here is the link ... if you want to see a lot of butterfly photos.
https://www.facebook.com/lavenderlace
I also updated my web page: http://belindajo.com/

While doing family research today, I cam across this title for a woman. Wondering what it is, I looked it up in an online dictionary. I dared not do a general search, not knowing what I would find!

feme covert   — n    law  a married woman

 [C16: from Anglo-French: a covered woman, one protected by marriage] *

I think the meaning is special in the light that we are protected when we honor and obey our husbands as they honor and obey God. Of course, we honor and obey God, also, but I was thinking of the umbrella of protection.

Ephesians 5:22-25 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;"

Colossians 3:17-19 " And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.  Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."


* ref: Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009

Links for my movies I made about my novels on my Facebook page:

Beyond The Mountains     

Silent Love

My Precious Jewel

The Lure of Alaska

Last month, my neighbor said she had a story idea for me and would tell me later. In the mean time, I wrote a sketch/ rough draft of a story. Today, I saw her again and she told me her idea. It was the same as I had written! But, with a special little twist. I told her 'thank you and that was a reinforcement from God that I was meant to write that story!'

New Book Signing scheduled!

That looks like a spam message, but it is not. Click on the link to read about my next book signing!

None of us want problems, but sometimes problems happen. In those times, we may pray for God to take the problem away from us. However, God uses those problems to help us grow in Him and / or reach out to others. This is a devotion I read today in the book, "Streams in the Desert" Vol 1. Mrs. Charles Cowman lists it as a tract that encouraged her. (bja)

"For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).

[ok, I was reading about copyrights today (for my writings) and from my understanding, we are not supposed to post others' works on our web sites. So..... here is a link to the devotion.

Streams in the Desert - January 9

Perhaps they got permission to post them. :)

Mrs. Charles Cowman compiled these devotions after caring for her sick/dying husband. They were missionaries to the Asian peoples. Her name was Lettie, by the way.

Streams in the Desert

Lettie B. Cowman at GoodReads.

Slave buying

I am researching my family tree and for my next novel and came across this item today:


.... Well, I looked at the front of the book and there is a copyright thing about not posting it in any form ....


But, anyway someone bought a slave on Sunday for $.50 and is in trouble because they broke the Sabbath.

It made me think: What about all the crazy laws or rules we have today?! Look at this one.

What was the wrong done? buying the slave? buying the slave for only $.50? or buying the slave on the Sabbath? And where was the person who sold the slave on the Sabbath?

just my thoughts, BJA

Christmas Cards

During the years, I have sent Christmas cards. Each year, I would think we could not afford it or did not have the time, but I wanted to keep up the tradition and considered it part of a Christmas gift to me. I enjoyed doing that and keeping in touch with our family and friends.
For the last few years, it has been a struggle to keep up that job ... and I am afraid it has become a job to me more than fun. Not because I don't want to do it, for I do. But, I am tired so much of the time, I feel I must give it up.
I have been limiting the cards I send out each year. Last year I down-sized our list to only friends who do not have email or on Facebook. So, this year I am making myself do so again.
Going on that quote I got from a book a long time ago, "What I can do is what I can do and what I can do is enough"*, I have to stick to this decision.
So, Merry Christmas to my friends one and all on the internet! God bless you and please, God, help us to remember the true reason for the season is JESUS!

* from the book: Women Who Do Too Much: How to Stop Doing It All and Start Enjoying Your Life by: Patricia Sprinkle

Tunnel of Love

AKA  Kissing in the car wash.

When we go through the car wash, my husband leans over and kisses me. Recently, his mother was staying with us and I had let her ride in the front seat. When we drove up to the car wash, I thought, 'bummer!'. So, I got out my cell phone and sent him a text him with 'hug and kiss'. He liked that. Not as much as the kiss in the car wash, but you make do with what life gives you! That was definitely worth the 20 cents it cost to send and receive it!!

I decided I really needed to post again. Life stays so busy, it is hard to do all the posting I need to do on the various places I have started. And now, I get on here and all I can see is this thing on my screen that says' shoot the watermelon' over and over and over.
I am getting so tired of all the 'commercials' that are on the free places we go to. But, then, I guess that is why it is free for us. Nevertheless, I am tired of them. I keep thinking about closing out of all of them and focus on my writing of stories again without being online. I don't know what to do.
I like having the blog, but it seems I don't get enough time to sit and read others posts like I want to.
Anyway, so much for a neat inspiring post today.

I did pick 3 quarts of blackberries this morning and made a cobbler. Then we had fresh corn on the cob and deep-fried squash for lunch. (I know it is not supposed to be good to deep fry, but ...) 

I love it when I awake in the morning with a praise song in my heart and mind. Yesterday morning, it happened and I have been praising our awesome GOD since!

We also had a wonderful day in class yesterday with 3   1st graders. It is so neat when they listen to the story and then ask questions, really wanting an answer. Such a great responsibility to be prayed up and trust God to lead in the answering.

I did not add the underlined links to the below writing. Please ignore them. I dislike thm on web pages.

We all make mistakes. Maybe mine can help you.

I became frustrated about something. In my frustration, I said things, that I wish I had not said to people I did not mean to hurt. I feel I 'marred' my testimony to them, 'if I ever had one in the first place' and feel bad about it.

I feel like a failure, for this is not the first time this has happened. A failure, as a person, a friend and as a witness for Christ.

I told myself, I should just stay away from people and then I would not take a chance of doing that again. I am a loner, anyway, so I should just stay home and never leave the house.

But, I cannot, for I like to go to church, I need to shop and want to go see my relatives and friends.

What do I do?

I sat to read my Bible and turned to Psalms, reading my highlighted portions and it reminded me of my refuge and strength. No matter what happens in my life, God is there for me.

But, I try to let Him lead in my life, so, why did He let me say those things and act the way I did? I don't know why. However, I have to go on from today and continue to trust Him and not be afraid. And if I let it keep me from people, then the enemy has won! I do not want that to happen.

I do not say this for people to 'pat me on the back', etc. I say it so others can be helped in a similar situation, my dear friends  in the Lord. God bless you.

 

Psalms 51

2  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:

 10  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 Psalms 55

17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

 Psalms 56

 3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

4  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

9  When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

10  In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.

11  In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

 Psalms 57

 1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2  I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

 Psalms 61

 1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.

2  From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

3  For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

4  I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.

 
Psalms 62

 1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.

2  He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

3  How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence.

4  They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly.

5  My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6  He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7  In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 ¶  Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

 

Psalms 57: 5 & 11 "Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth."

I bought a box of Sun-Maid Raisins this week. On the back is a free down loadable cookbook /  history of the co book. Very interesting. Check it out, if  you like cookbooks or history!
Free Sunmaid Cookbook