Flag of the Week

Today I'd like to share a few quotes with you by Peter Marshall. I'm not sure how he'd do in the world today with all of our "political correctness." But many of the books and sermons he wrote were amazing.

"May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right."

"Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything."

“A different world cannot be built by indifferent people.”

This next one made me laugh at first, and I briefly thought about the TV character Sheldon Cooper. But deep down, there's power in these words.

“Lord, where we are wrong, make us willing to change; where we are right, make us easy to live with.” I hope I'm always willing to change and grow for God's glory, and I hope I'm easy to live with whether I'm right or wrong.

Have a blessed week!

World Day Against Trafficking

My good friend, Janet Ferguson, touched on the tough topic of human trafficking in her novel, Tackling the Fields.

On July 30, Tackling the Fields is free on Amazon to bring awareness to the issue.

I know this is a tough issue to think about, and I asked Janet why she included it in her book. Here's her response:

"Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Children make up almost a third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Global Report on Trafficking in Persons. Additionally, women and girls comprise 71 per cent of human trafficking victims, the report states."
I researched human trafficking for a small thread of my novel Tackling the Fields. I found out that trafficking is in our communities, and it's appalling.

​Though Tackling the Fields deals with tough issues, it is a clean story--a story of grace and healing, so don't be afraid to read it.

Don't forget, it's free on Amazon July 30th. https://www.amazon.com/Tackling-Fields-Southern-Hearts-Book-ebook/dp/B01GBITDQG/

Dog Days of Summer

I forgot how hot it can be living in the South. The best time to walk is early, and it doesn't take much to work up a sweat. But I find I don't mind so much. There's so much beauty around us, and I hate to complain about the heat.

I hope you're able to find time to slow down and maybe enjoy God's beauty during these hot days of summer.




I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest." Psalm 55:6

Castles in the Sand

I'm always delighted to spot a sandcastle as I walk along the beach. I know from experience they can take a lot of work. I also know they can be tons of fun.

The builder of this pyramid took the time to add steps.










Why do people build something that they know in a few hours the tide will wash away or some kid will stomp on and destroy?

Sometimes I think it's fun to put your creative juices to work with no long-term plan. Enjoy the moment of singing, writing or building a sandcastle.

Some people build with great detail, and others take the minimalist approach.




Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Whatever you do today, remember to work at it with all your heart whether it's existence is fleeting or eternal.

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July. I hope you all find time to celebrate our great country.

Thanks to all the service people and veterans who've kept us safe over the years. Thanks also to the cops and fire departments and EMTs who work to protect us.

I love living in America and feel blessed to be here.

What's Happening in Waco

This past week I traveled to Waco, Texas. I've discovered a lot of my friends are taking vacations to Waco to see Magnolia and hope to run into Chip and Joanna.

I visited Waco to help Scott and Kelli move into their new home. Kelli is now on staff with Baylor University's Women's Volleyball team, and Scott has taken a job with Preemptive Love Coalition.

So, while others may vacation in Waco, I went to work. And I managed to squeeze in a little fun. If you visit Waco, we found a lot of fun restaurants off the beaten path. They were reasonably priced and delicious. We also found some fun little shops. And we discovered you can plant flowers in anything from an old porcelain sink to the back of a pickup truck.

I hope you have a great time if you visit Waco, and if you run into Scott and Kelli be sure to tell them hi.

South Carolina Lingo

I didn't grow up around the water, and I've never been part of a boating family. However, I've always loved the water. I think this is the reason my mother got me started early taking swimming lessons.

Now that I live in South Carolina, I'm discovering new words and some of them are related to the ocean or lakes.

One such word is jetty. I mentioned to friends walking to a long stone wall off the beach. They didn't know what I meant, and finally their sweet teenage daughter said, "Do you mean the jetty?" Well, yes I did.

According to Merriam-Webster:

Definition of jetty
plural jetties
1
a : a structure extended into a sea, lake, or river to influence the current or tide or to protect a harbor
b : a protecting frame of a pier
2
: a landing wharf

So, now I know.

Another term is pluff mud. I'd read we have amazing oysters here because of the pluff mud. I even saw a young boy covered in pluff mud at the beach one day. Pluff mud is soft, deep mud. It's slippery and supposed to be found in marshy areas.

"That dog will hunt," means it's a good plan.

"A mind to," means you're thinking about doing something.

A palmetto bug is a nice way to say cockroach. And then there's a palmetto moon. I'll be honest, I'm still trying to figure that out. It's not the moon on the state flag though. (Please don't ask a history teacher that question.)

And the last one I'll share today is I've often seen this written. Instead of the Civil War, it's called The War of Northern Aggression. I'll admit I've never heard anybody say this though.

I know every region of our country has specific sayings. What are some of yours?