"With God's Grace Our Worst Past
Becomes Our Best Future"
Becomes Our Best Future"
Photo by Travis Essinger on Unsplash
A KERNEL OF THOUGHT
BY LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work (Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV).
This is God’s plan then for growing His Kingdom. Wouldn’t it be easier to simply send down His angels to dictate to us what we should and shouldn’t do? He has given us a discerning Holy Spirit that will direct us if:
We listen
We obey
Perhaps this is why God has dispersed his gifts to us; differently. As a writer, I have learned not to approach my craft from a cookie-cutter perspective. Not to be negative toward those who work best under a formulaic method. God blesses the works of our hands whenever we do something in love, whether in or out of the box.
However, God has crafted us uniquely for the benefit of others. When we do the work he gives us, as his Spirit directs, then and only then will our purpose be found.
LOOK FOR: WHO PUT THE VINEGAR IN THE SALT COMING IN NOVEMBER
ABOUT SECOND HELPINGS:
Today is Jocelyn Johnson’s 45th birthday. Unhappy with her marriage of 22 years, the parenting talk show host has planned a noonday
tryst with her cohost. A phone call from her college daughter, a peek into her teenaged son’s journal, a sick preschooler, a Goth daughter’s identity crisis, a middle-school son’s prank, and her husband’s inflamed suspicions, not only interfere with her hopeful birthday plans but throw her family into more chaos than a circus on steroids.
In desperate need of counsel, Jocelyn invites a Christian to dinner, her guest from her morning talk show segment. However, the evening holds little promise of calm. In the midst of bedlam, a forgotten faith rekindles causing Jocelyn to rethink her life and her marriage.
You will laugh and you will cry from the first page to the last as you journey through the day’s events and Jocelyn’s search for Second Helpings.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Helpings-Humorous-Contemporary-Novel-ebook/dp/B087C744HZ
MARCH MADNESS AND ASSURED VICTORY
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/14/2023
HEALING BALM
CAROL MCCLAIN
3/3/2023
THE BODY BEAUTIFUL
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/14/2023
TRUE REST
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/19/2023
DISPARITY VS. UNITY/HOW TO WORSHIP CORORATELY WITHIN DIVERSITY
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/3/2023
vanquishing the Christmas Blues
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/27/2022
ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/20/2022
SANTA'S RELUCTANT HELPER
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/13/2022
THE MIRACLE TREE
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/29/2022
A BELL RINGER'S EPIPHANY
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/22/2022
RUN YOUR OWN RACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/15/2022
A Talk About Bullying
Linda Wood Rondeau
11/11/2022
TWO YEARS AGO/A TESTIMONY BY ROSEANNA WHITE
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/25/2022
#GODSHOTS
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/4/2022
MY AMAZING FATHER by Andrea Lyn Newell
Linda Wood Rondeau
9/26/2022
A SUMMER'S MIDMORNING WALK
JOHN BARRINGER
8/20/2022
THE ORIGIN OF OUR SELFISHNESS
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/28/2022
SOARING WITH BROKEN WINGS
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/21/2022
HEADLINE MANIA
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/14/2022
TO WORSHIP THE WORK OR THE GIVER OF THE WORK
Linda Wood Rondeau
6/7/2022
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Linda Wood Rondeau
5/31/2022
ANOTHER SLEEPLESS NIGHT
SHERRIE ZLOMKE
5/17/2022
HE IS OUR PEACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
4/26/2022
WHY CAN'T MORNING COME WITH A START BUTTON?
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/29/2022
OBSTACLES
Linda Wood Rondeau
3/1/2022
WHY SHOULD WE STOP COMPLAINING?
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/22/2022
Yesterday's Sweat
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/15/2022
Be Reconciled
Linda Wood Rondeau
2/1/2022
WHERE ARE YOU GOD?
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/25/2022
IT'S OKAY TO ASK WHY
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/18/2022
SHOULD VS WANT
Linda Wood Rondeau
1/4/2022
WHAT DO YOU TELL YOURSELF?
CYNTHIA WHEATON
12/28/2021
101 QUIPS AND QUOTES BOOK 3
ADA ADELEKE-KELANI
12/21/2021
HIS PERFECT TIMING
J. CAROL NEMETH
12/7/2021
Baring the Soul
MARTIN WILES
11/23/2021
MOVING ADVENTURES
John Barringer
11/2/2021
CHOOSING JOY
CYNTHIA BAUGHAN WHEATON
10/26/2021
LIFE'S UNCERTAINTY
MARTIN WILES
10/19/2021
BLOOMING IN BROKEN PLACES
DEBORAH MALONE
10/12/2021
GRACE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
TINA CRAIGHEAD
10/8/2021
Turn the Right Way
Martin Wiles
9/28/2021
THE NOT SO GOOD GOOD OLD DAYS
Linda Wood Rondeau
9/14/2021
THE GENESIS OF BORROWED LIVES
CAROL McCLAIN
8/31/2021
101 QUIPS AND QUOTES
ADA ADELEKE-KELANI
8/24/2021
WATCH THE TALK
MARTIN WILES
8/10/2021
RISK-TAKING IN JESUS' SHADOW
CHRISTINA SINISI
7/27/2021
CATCHING THE FICKLE FLYING FABLE
TERRI GILLESPIE
7/20/2021
THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES
DONNA SCHLACHTER
7/13/2021
FREE GIFTS FOR GRADS
JANET HOLM MCHENRY
6/27/2021
INTERRUPTIONS
TRACY CRUMP
6/22/2021
THE SUN'S ALWAYS OUT
KARIN BEERY
6/15/2021
GOD'S ECONOMY
CYNTHIA BAUGHAN WHEATON
6/8/2021
OH LORD, PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
5/18/2021
GOD'S BEAUTIFUL COINCIDENCES
LINDA W ROOKS
5/11/2021
WHO PUT THE VINEGAR IN THE SALT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
5/4/2021
THE UNNAMED ZOOKEEPER
JENNIE SENAPATIRATNE
4/6/2021
REIN IN THAT HORSE
J CAROL NEMETH
3/30/2021
REMEMBERED
LYNNE BASHAM TAGAWA
3/23/2021
THE RIGHT PATH
MARTIN WILES
3/16/2021
THE RIGHT ATTIRE FOR A LOVING MARRIAGE
LINDA W ROOKS
3/9/2021
NEHEMIAH: A MAN WHO USED THE PREGNANT PAUSE WELL
BARBARA M BRITTON
3/2/2021
TURNING THE HANDLE
MARTIN WILES
2/16/2021
WALKING IN THE LIGHT
JOAN C. BENSON
2/9/2021
365 WAYS TO LOVE YOUR CHILD
JULIE LAVENDER
2/2/2021
WHOSE BATTLE IS IT?
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
1/26/2021
LANDSCAPING THE HEART AND SOUL
MELISSA HENDERSON
1/19/2021
BORN WITH A PURPOSE
MARTIN WILES
1/12/2021
LUCKY OR BLESSED
LYNNE MODRANSKI
1/5/2021
OBEDIENCE HAS ITS REWARDS
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
12/30/2020
SMALL BOATS AND BIG WAVES
DONNA SCHLACTER
12/23/2020
THE BEST GIFT OF THE SEASON
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
12/16/2020
A PEEK AT THE JEWISH SHABBAT PART 2
SUSAN G MATHIS
12/9/2020
A PEEK AT THE JEWISH SHABBAT PART 1
SUSAN G MATHIS
11/25/2020
EXTRAORDINARY IN THE ORDINARY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
11/18/2020
WHAT DO I VALUE
CYNTHIA SIMMONS
11/11/2020
JONAH GOT SWALLOWED
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
11/9/2020
HARD FAITH
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
11/4/2020
OF COMPUTERS AND BUMPERS
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/28/2020
GOD SAID WAIT (AGAIN)
LOREE PEERY
10/21/2020
HOW WELL HAVE I LOOKED
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
10/14/2020
IS GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND?
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/30/2020
ANGER CAN LEAD TO POSITIVE CHANGE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/23/2020
THE CURE FOR THE WEARY SOUL
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/21/2020
GOD REIGNS IN THE STILLNESS OF YOUR HEART
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
9/16/2020
THE GIFT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
9/9/2020
HOW MANY CROSSES
JULIE COSGROVE
9/2/2020
A KERNEL OF THOUGHT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
8/26/2020
HOW WELL HAVE I LOOKED
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
8/19/2020
TRUSTING GOD
ANE MULLIGAN
8/12/2020
GREEN PASTURES AND STILL WATERS
JOAN C. BENSON
8/5/2020
HIDDEN TREASURE
TERESA J. KREGAR
7/29/2020
REVEAL THE NEW CREATION NOT THE ROOTSTOCK
NORMA GAIL
7/22/2020
I Would Have Made a Very Good Pharisee
KATHY AND LARRY MILLER
7/17/2020
COVID-19 AND THE URGENT NEED FOR PROPER PERSPECTIVE
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
7/15/2020
THE ONE THING I HAVEN'T HOARDED
MEREDITH SAGE KENDALL
7/8/2020
UNDERTOW
JULIE COSGROVE
7/1/2020
TRUST GOD IN THE FOG OF UNCERTAINTY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
6/24/2020
KNOWN FOR WHAT
MARTIN WILES
6/17/2020
GOSPEL FOCUSED IN THE FACE OF FEAR
JENNIFER SLATTERY
6/10/2020
AN IMPOSSIBLE PRICE
DAVALYNN SPENCER
6/3/2020
WHOLLY LOVED BY GOD
Victoria Mejias
5/27/2020
GOOD NEWS IS COMING
JULIE COSGROVE
5/20/2020
A HOPE AND A FUTURE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
5/18/2020
CONFESS DON'T BURY
MARTIN WILES
5/13/2020
THE EXTRAORDINARY IS APPARENT IN THE ORDINARY
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
5/6/2020
NOW HE'S ALONE
SUSAN K. STEWART
4/29/2020
HURTING WITH THE BROKEN
SUSAN G. MATHIS
4/22/2020
WHEN LIFE FALLS APART ... DON'T
MARTIN WILES
4/15/2020
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO BE THANKFUL
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
4/8/2020
THERE'S LOVE IN THOSE BURNT CASSEROLES
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
4/1/2020
LIVING BY LUCK
MARTIN WILES
3/18/2020
THE TRUTH ABOUT PRAYERS: AN ATTRACTIVE AROMA TO GOD
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
3/11/2020
THE PIT OF SELF-ASSURANCE
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
3/4/2020
DON'T BE DISCOURAGED WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
KATHY AND LARRY MILLER
2/26/2020
A DONUT KIND OF DAY
MARTIN WILES
2/19/2020
Obedience: A Chance To Extend A Blessing
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
2/12/2020
NEW LEAF
JULIE B. COSGROVE
2/5/2020
FORGIVENESS ISN'T EASY
TAMERA LYNN KRAFT
1/29/2020
God's Delight To Reason Together Makes For A Huge Gift
TRINA BRESSER MATOUS
1/22/2020
DECISION IN THE CROSSROAD
MEREDITH SAGE KENDALL
1/8/2020
HOPE FOR A NEW YEAR
MARTIN WILES
1/1/2020
COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS
DONNA SCHLACTER (aka LEENN BETTS)
12/18/2019
A BABY FOR CHRISTMAS
MARTIN WILES
12/11/2019
STAYING FOCUSED
MARTIN WILES
11/27/2019
GOD'S DO-OVERS
LINDA SHENTON MATCHETT
11/20/2019
NEVER TIRED
MARTIN WILES
11/13/2019
IS IT FAITH OR TRUST
DAVALYNN SPECER
11/6/2019
THE BANE OF INDECISION
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/23/2019
THE VALLEY OF LIFE: FROM PROMISE TO FULFILLMENT
LINDA WOOD RONDEAU
10/16/2019
EACH NEW SUNRISE
MARTIN WILES
10/9/2019
REFLECTIONS ON MOTHERHOOD
Marianne Wood
10/2/2019
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PAY A LITTLE ATTENTION
TRINA BESSER MATOUS
9/11/2019
PENTAGON QUILTS:COMFORTERS
CLEO LAMPOS
9/4/2019
IT IS NOT IN ME
ADAM BLUMER
8/28/2019
COCKROACHES AND LIGHT
MARTIN WILES
8/21/2019
SEE? GOOD.
JULIE COSGROVE
8/14/2019
EXPERIENCING GOD'S LOVE IN A BROKEN WORLD
ROY AND DEB HAGGERTY
8/7/2019
PLUG INTO GOD'S POWER
KATHY COLLARD MILLER
7/31/2019
DRIVING ON FLAT TIRES
BARBARA BRITTON
7/22/2019
WAITING FOR THE TEST
MELISSA HENDERSON
7/17/2019
THE LEAST OF THESE
KATHLEEN NEELY
7/10/2019
MY COMFORTER SAW IT COMING
MEREDITH KENDALL
7/3/2019
BLESSINGS IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD
GAIL PALLOTTA
6/19/2019
BOOKENDS
KATHLEEN NEELY
6/12/2019
UNDERGROUND
JULIE COSGROVE
6/5/2019
THE POWER OF LOVE
LISA SIMONDS
5/29/2019
A CONVENIENT COMPASSION
DONNA SCHLACHTER
5/15/2019
TONGUE-TAMING 101
SUSAN G. MATHIAS
5/8/2019
WHAT'S YOUR MOTIVATION
HEATHER SMITH
5/1/2019
R and I
JULIE COSGROVE
4/24/2019
MY SINAI SAGA
JARM DEL BOCCIO
4/17/2019
Counterfeit Detectors
Leeann Betts
4/3/2019
LANDING HARD
ERIN UNGER
3/27/2019
LOVING ONE ANOTHER
JERRI HARRINGTON
3/20/2019
TAKIN' IT TO THE LIMIT
TAMMY WHITEHURST
3/13/2019
DON'T HIT THE FAN
Julie Cosgrove
3/6/2019
NOT OF THIS WORLD
JUNE FOSTER
2/27/2019
THE POWER OF "WITH"/OVERCOMING ANXIETY
BARBARA BRITTON
2/20/2019
HITTING YOUR SPIRITUAL GROOVE
LINDA HANNA AND DEBORAH DULWORTH
2/13/2019
STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN
JULIE COSGROVE
2/6/2019
A CHURCH PLANTER'S WIFE
Meredith Kendall
1/23/2019
FIG LEAVES RIPPING?
Kathy Collard Miller
1/16/2019
A BEFORE I
Julie Cosgrove
1/9/2019
EVERYDAY CHOICES
Gail Pallotta
1/2/2019
YOU ARE THE APPLE OF HIS EYE
Kathy Collard Miller
12/26/2018
WHY WE SING JOY TO THE WORLD!
Ada Brownell
12/19/2018
Coming Home For Christmas
MICHELLE DE BRUIN
12/12/2018
WHY DO WE NEVER LEARN
Linda Wood Rondeau
12/5/2018
SAVED BY THE LAMB
Julie Cosgrove
11/28/2018
FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Sandy Kirby Quandt
11/14/2018
HONESTLY SPEAKING
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/3/2018
Perceptual Blindness
Linda Wood Rondeau
10/1/2018
The God of the Mundane
Linda Wood Rondeau
8/30/2018
WHEN I WAS THREE
Linda Wood Rondeau
7/16/2018
THE PURSUIT OF PEACE
Linda Wood Rondeau
5/30/2018
