Devotional: The Power of Prayer

Prayer is more powerful than we think. In the spiritual realm, it's how we communicate with God. And not only is it essential for connection, but also for our closeness to the Heavenly Father. I see it as talking with someone I love, but with true reverence. We often, ourselves, see it as a way to ask God something. There is nothing wrong with asking, but I believe it has to be more than that. I like to talk to God, but I don't always listen. I try, but my mind is always going. I'm practicing to still my thoughts and my heart for His voice.

When I was a young girl, I prayed often. I prayed every night. God answered a few of my prayers. I had wanted a horse, so I prayed for a black one. A friend of ours that had horses asked me and my parents if I wanted a free horse. And he was black! I couldn't believe it. It was truly a gift. Another prayer was answered when I was much younger. An outside cat of ours went missing one day. I prayed for that cat often to come back, and he did two years later. These prayers being answered strengthened my faith. I would pray little prayers for something that I had lost, I would find it and thank Him. I thanked Him for everything.

Because I've seen the power of prayer, I believe God can create a gift or a miracle in anyone's life. He also answers a lot of our smaller prayers, as well. If we're full of humility, patience, and love, He can do anything. Prayer is powerful. Don't underestimate what God can do through your prayers. I remember praying for a dear friend and relative of mine to become a Christian. I prayed each night. My Mom purchased a Bible for her. I gave it to my friend. She was elated! I found out later that she had given her heart to Christ. God can answer any prayer with a yes. Now, sometimes He doesn't. It's hard to accept that.

I've seen some prayers not answered with a yes, and it's been heartbreaking. I had to give up some dreams. But I understood. God knew better. I know He always does. I just have to trust Him. But that doesn't mean I should give up praying. Keep praying. You never know what'll happen. For myself, talking to God has been one of my favorite things in this life. And I'm so thankful that He gave us a way to connect our spirits with Him. Remember, our prayers are a special gift. A gift that can bless us and others. God can answer any prayer, too. Don't ever think your prayer is unimportant or too big. Just keep praying. 💓

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

A Day In My Life: Celebrating Fourth of July

I woke up early but then went back to sleep. I got up at around 9:00. I chose to take the morning slow and enjoy the day. The weather was cloudy and sunny. We were expecting it to rain at some point that day, but it never did. It's pretty dry here, so rain is a blessing. I'm glad it was cooler that day, though. I didn't do much in the morning, but I did get cleaned up. Around noon, I helped my family. After that, I was really excited for the afternoon. I discovered that Hobby Lobby was open. My Mom and I had planned to go at some point. I was especially eager because I had never been to a Hobby Lobby. I had only heard things about it. Plus, it was a new store in town! In the early afternoon, we headed out to see it.

   

We arrived in the parking lot and walked into the mall. I won't write about our experience there, because I'm saving it for a post next Monday. So, if you want to read about it, come back on Monday! Once we were done shopping, we got into my car. I had to have a coffee, so we drove through Java Stop, which I keep calling it Java Hut for some reason. I drove through and got a 32oz Iced White Chocolate Mocha. It's actually my favorite coffee in the valley where I live. I sipped on my delightful drink, and we headed home. Once there, we started preparations for dinner. I also stepped outside to admire the flowers. I took a few photos of the cone flowers - they're so pretty! The bees were out and about, too. I then followed Dad to the grill. There, I visited with them while he grilled. Food looked good!

The food was finished cooking! I fed my brother dinner and then ate mine. My brother had a steak, and I had two pork chops with huckleberry bbq sauce that I had purchased from the bookstore at ...And Books, Too! It was amazing! I highly recommend getting some for yourself. After dinner, I joined my parents out on the deck and ate watermelon. It was the perfect way to end dinner. Once we were all done, my Dad and I lit some sparklers I had purchased from a place selling fireworks. We didn't want to do any other fireworks this year, because of the dryness. However, sometimes we just do fountains, because they don't leave the ground. I'm kind of glad we didn't do it this year, though. Satisfied. We were all pretty tired. Reflecting back on it, the Fourth of July this year was quiet and pleasant. We had a nice little party together with just my family. So thankful for what we have! 💓

I've learned over the years, that the simplest is the best. I don't enjoy being in large crowds or around loud noises. Fireworks are fun but can be too much. I'm glad we did something different that day, too, in going to Hobby Lobby. Maybe we'll make it a new tradition as my Mom and I love shopping. What did you do for Fourth of July this year? I hope it was nice and memorable. I honestly got the idea to do a day in my life for Fourth of July this year. I thought it would be fun and make for some interesting content. I know that a lot of people seem to like reading or watching what someone does in a day. I actually really enjoy this kind of content. And I want to make mine good, so that you're able to come on a journey with me. It might not be super adventurous, but I like sharing my life with you, friends. 💙

Let me know what you think! 😀

But I digress. After watermelon, I got back to my place. At Hobby Lobby, I had checked out their cat section. They didn't have much, but I did find a tunnel for Kenji - my cat. I didn't know if he'd like it since he's picky with toys. I set it up in my living room and allowed him to explore it. He stepped into it. He was curious. That was a good sign. I've found him in the tunnel for a bit, but he hasn't used it a lot. I think he'd like it better if I grabbed a toy and played with him on or in the tunnel. A while passed, and I went to bed for the night. It was a good day. I got to spend time with family. We made some memories together. If you'd like to see more posts like this, let me know in a comment. It was awesome to take you all on this journey, my fellow wanderers. If you'd like to see more, I'll most likely do more! 💖

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Photo Quests: Adding The Irises

Intro: I was outside in the warm sun taking pictures. I seem to do that a lot. So, while I was out, I scoped out the irises. I knew there were a couple blooms, so I added them to my own collection (my photos). They're always so beautiful, and I'm pleased that I preserved them.

    

    

    

     

Quest Ending: Every spring is a wonderful season when the irises bloom. They're one of those constant flowers that come back, bringing with them a sense of hope. That's kind of how I feel about the irises, and I'm so glad that I could preserve their life in my photos. 

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Author Interview: Laura L. Morgan

                                                         

Laura L. Morgan is a middle school English Language Arts teacher in Lewiston, Idaho. She has been married to her fellow adventurer, Trent, for thirty-three years, and has three daughters, three sons-in-law, and six grandchildren. She loves family adventures in God's beautiful creation: hiking, boating, hunting, camping, and fishing. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and photography. She lives on a semi-farm with many animals, rabbits being her favorite, and enjoys the time she is able to spend in the last frontier of Alaska.

Author Laura L. Morgan is on my blog today for an interview.


Welcome to my blog, Laura!

Could you tell us a little about yourself?

 I am a high school English teacher and have been in education for thirty-six years. My husband and fellow adventurer, Trent, and I have been married for thirty-seven years. We have three married daughters and nine grandchildren. We just found out another is on the way! My favorite activities are reading and writing, but I also really enjoy photography. We live on a semi-farm and rabbits are my favorite pets. Seeing whales in Alaska makes my day. Being active in ministry is something important to us. I grew up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and love adventures and the outdoors.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I love the creative process and holding my very own book in my hands is an amazing experience. I also love alluding to some fun or tough events from my family’s experiences in my stories. I have had a lot of fun meeting people from all over the country through my book events.

How did you first pursue writing as a whole?

I have loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I wrote stories and made my own books. I journaled extensively and penned many poems as well as a few short stories. I had the idea for the plot of my first novel for many years. I started writing it four or five times, but it was never what I wanted it to be. Then, while teaching realistic fiction to my seventh graders, I wrote a scene in one semester and another the next semester. Lightbulb moment! These became two chapters. I then went back and started writing the story from the beginning. It all finally came together!

You’re the author of a series called, The Adventures of Rogan Chaffey. How did it all come together? Could you describe the writing process and story inspiration for the series?

 I realized I wanted to set my stories on an island in southeast Alaska. We had been visiting there for about fifteen years and my oldest daughter met her husband there, married, and had kids. We built a cabin next to their house and visit every summer. It is such a unique lifestyle up there and I felt it was perfect for adventure novels. My next task was to come up with the theme. I wrestled with this but settled on, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” for the first novel. I felt it was a universal question, and it helped me work through my mother’s death after a long and painful battle with cancer. I have trouble coming up with perfect names for my characters— probably because I am a teacher and have pre-conceived ideas about names and their connected personalities.

What is your newest book #3 about in the series?

Truth at Crossbones Pass deals with how important truth is in our lives. There’s a lot of relativity out there and the implications of believing a lie are consequential. Of course, my main character, Rogan, and his friends have all kinds of Alaskan adventures along the way.

Can you share any details surrounding your next project?

Book #4 in the Adventures of Rogan Chaffey series is at the swirling-around-in-my-head-while- life-is-too-busy stage. I’ve started doing some initial research. The theme will be about God’s promises and provisions. I’m centering it around my favorite Bible verse, John 14:27 and the idea of peace. Rogan will have to wrestle with his lack of peace and his challenged trust in God.

There are many great Bible verses out there, but which of these apply to your journey in life?

Hebrews 10:35-39 is significant to me. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised…But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” God is always faithful, and even when we feel like life is too hard or things aren’t working out the way they should, God is in complete control.

Laura, have any closing thoughts, writing tips, or advice to share with us?

I hope writing isn’t a dying art, especially with AI now on the scene. I would encourage anyone with interest in it to be a lifelong learner, use the creative brain you were gifted with, and write! Develop that writing muscle. Not everything will be your favorite piece of work, but it will be a glittering tile in the mosaic you create.

Randomly Fun Questions:

What is your most favorite color and why?

Blue! Not sure why- maybe growing up under a Colorado Rocky Mountain blue sky.

Would you rather go to outer space or the bottom of the ocean?

The bottom of the ocean- except for the fact of being under all that water, ha ha. Under the water is very peaceful and calm, and I love the beauty of the plants and animals. Trent and I are certified scuba divers and enjoyed diving when we were younger.

If you could sit down with any author, who would it be?

That’s a tough one. I like Gary Paulsen’s style of writing. My debut into reading Christian romantic suspense was Dee Henderson with the O’Malley series. Those would probably be my top two picks.

How can my readers best get in contact with you or follow you on social media?

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauramorganauthor/  https://www.facebook.com/laural.morganauthor/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauralmorganauthor/ 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@laural.morganauthor3709 
Website: https://www.lauralmorganauthor.com/ 
Email: LauraLMorganAuthor@gmail.com

Thank you for stopping by, Laura! 


Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Wordless Wednesday: So Many Daisies

Devotional: Care For Your Animals

Animals are a part of our lives. Whether you have a pet, or you help rescue them, they're a constant friend. One might even walk into your life and into your home. No matter how we come across them, they require our care. Some more than others. If you have a pet in your home, you can attest to how much joy and love they bring into our hearts. I'm no different. I have a cat. His name is Kenji. He's my baby. I may spoil him a bunch, but he's well-looked after. I care for him each day. He gets his breakfast in the mornings, his Temptations treats throughout the day, and some catnip in the evenings. I always look forward to seeing him and spending time with him after work. I make sure we have lots of time together. 💓

Now, God gave us animals, and I'm sure He enjoys them, as well. How could He not? He created them, after all. For us, we were meant to have dominion over them. I'm not talking about control, power, or ruthlessness. We're supposed to watch the earth and its inhabitants - this includes all creatures. And sad to say, I don't think we've done a good job. We've messed things up. Some animals have gone extinct because of overhunting. I can list a couple that have. Not to mention, how the cruel have treated our domesticated animals. They're all meant to be protected. God gave us this duty. Remember, He made them. How could we not want to take care of His creation? We've got to do better for them - for Him.

If you have the power, you can help animals in need. There's so many ways we can get involved to make a difference. Volunteer at an animal shelter, donate money, purchase much-needed food, and volunteer to help spay/neuter cats. You can also train dogs, clean out horse stalls, and get the word out there. Don't forget to care for your own animals, too. I spend time with my cat each day, playing and giving him treats. I do it because I love spending time with him, and also because he enjoys it. He looks forward to this time together. Of course, we always have night-time cuddles, too. Contrary to what people believe, cats do like to interact. So, don't forget to spend time with them. They'll like it, and you'll treasure the memories made. Animals are a crucial part of our lives! 🐱

God loves His animals, but He gave us the job to look after them. It's our duty. It says in scripture that God knows when a sparrow falls. He knows when one of His creations dies or is hurt. But He gave us the responsibility to look after them. It's an important job. We can't take it lightly. I wish there was more protection out there for life. Surely, we could come together. But often than not, this doesn't happen. If only. If only we could actually watch over this world and its inhabitants. The interesting thing is it wasn't supposed to be this way. We were all meant to coexist, and someday we will with His creation. I look forward to this. In fact, I can't wait. There will finally be peace, love, and protection over all living things. Someday. It will happen, but until then, we care for His creation - our animals.

Care for your animals. Care for His world.

"A righteous person has regard for the life of his animal, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel." - Proverbs 12:10 NASB

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson

Memorial Day: Freedom Poem

Freedom
by Grace Thorson

Freedom is a treasure,
That we must protect,
From haters of freedom,
Who don't understand its measure.

Freedom is always just,
That we must treat everyone equal,
Otherwise, we would lose freedom,
And crumble into dust.

Freedom is a gift,
That we must use truthfully,
If it's not, then we will be dealt with severely,
Because, otherwise, judgment is often swift.

Today, I pray that we remember the soldiers that gave their lives for our freedom. Because of that, we must protect freedom. It's a precious gift bought by many. And if we don't use it truthfully, we must be careful. It's not a thing to throw away or use with recklessness. May we always treasure our freedom. And let's also extend it to those who need it. Ultimately, thank you to the soldiers that gave everything. You're true heroes and forever will be.

Poem is from my book, Butterfly Wings. You can find it at andbookstooonline.com or on Amazon in both paperback and kindle. Thank you and may everyone remember. 💓

Many blessings,
- Grace Thorson