BOOKENDS

BOOKENDS
Wednesday, June 12, 2019 by KATHLEEN NEELY

PLEASE WELCOME

KATHLEEN NEELY

DEVOTIONAL WEDNESDAY

“Bookends. God gives us a beautiful time of quiet to start and end the day. It supports what’s in the middle.”

That’s a quote from Angelina Hernandez, a character in my novel, Beauty for Ashes. Let’s take a deeper look.

From the dawn of time, God set apart the start and the end of a day. “God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:5

Mornings. The sound of birdsong amid solitude. Sunrises painted on the horizon with shades of red, orange, and yellow. The promise of another day. It’s a time to reflect, meditate, worship, and pray. A time when we can listen without the chaos that everyday life holds. Mornings are a time of preparation for the day ahead. The psalmist said, “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14.

Evenings are a gift. It’s a time for family, for prayer, for rest. A time to raise the foot of the recliner and allow tired muscles a respite. “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.” Psalm 4:4

Bookends hold the middle upright, allowing it to stand tall and straight, without sagging or falling over. That’s what mornings and evenings do. Our days are filled with busyness, decisions to make, relationships to nurture. Days filled with ringing phones, news of terror attacks, and political manipulations. Days filled with happiness and laughter, hurtfulness and tears. Can you imagine a day without the bookends that support it?

God told his people through the words of His prophet Isaiah. “My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” Isaiah 26:9. He set those times apart for a purpose. Mornings and evenings are a gift from God, a time to be Mary and sit at his feet. Don’t miss them. Don’t allow this gifted time to meld into the middle. Savor the mornings. Protect the evenings. They will give you the strength to stand upright.

ABOUT BEAUTY FOR ASHES

Nathan Drummond’s actions at the age of eighteen had devastating consequences. Writing became therapeutic, leading him into a successful career as a mystery writer. With seven novels to his name, Nathan is rapidly becoming a household name.

When family responsibilities force him to return to his home town, he meets Angie Hernandez. Nathan doesn’t count on falling in love, and certainly not with a woman who has the power to shatter his peace.

Being at home pushes him too close to painful memories, and as guilt threatens and panic attacks set in, Nathan begins to write a novel paralleling the tragic event from his youthful folly.

Will the novel be seen as a work of fiction, or will it expose his secret and threaten his future?

ABOUT KATHLEEN NEELY

Kathleen Neely is the author of The Street Singer, Beauty for Ashes, and The Least of These). She is a former elementary teacher. Following her years in the classroom, she moved into administration, serving as an elementary principal. Kathleen is an alumnus of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and Regent University in Virginia.

Among her writing accomplishments, Kathleen won second place in a short story contest through ACFW-VA for her short story “The Missing Piece” and an honorable mention for her story “The Dance”. Both were published in a Christmas anthology. Her novel, The Least of These, was awarded first place in the 2015 Fresh Voices contest through Almost an Author. She has numerous devotions published through Christian Devotions. She continues to speak to students about writing. Kathleen is a member of Association of Christian Fiction Writers.

She resides in Greenville, SC with her husband, two cats, and one dog. She enjoys time with family, visiting her two grandsons, traveling, and reading.

Website – www.KathleenNeely.com

Facebook – www.facebook.com/kathy.neely.98

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeelyKneely3628

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