Sometimes the Characters Take Charge

  Pictured are the four novels in my Church Doors series. The first one: Behind Church Doors was published in 2010. I was thrilled when I first held a copy in my hands. I planned to write another, but didn't think about writing a series. My readers told me something different, and Beyond Church Doors was published in 2013. Then, my characters started to nudge me, and  Behind and Beyond Church Doors: Promises was published in 2016.  I thought it was time to write a stand-alone novel, but the characters nudged some more, and in 2020, there was Church Doors Book 4: Won't Quit! 

My novels are about the same main characters (with new characters added in each novel) working out life's situations while trying to follow Christ, and dealing with the consequences when they don't. Let's see if they nudge me to write novel 5 in the Church Doors series. All of the novels are @amazon.com

www.sylviabrownroberts.com  

Read the Signs

I saw these directions while shopping at a store. These directions on the floor are signs of our covid-19 times. When we follow these directions, more social distancing occurs, which leads to physical safety. 

Yet, these directions also bring to my mind the concept of spiritual safety. 

Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 

The principle: There is a right way and a there is a wrong way. Key words: leads to destruction and leads to life

It's interesting what connections we can get from images.

Stay safe,

Sylvia @ www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Wake All The Way Up!

I made a mess this morning. I loaded my trusty old drip coffeemaker to brew a fresh pot, then I went back upstairs. When I returned to the kitchen, coffee and coffee grounds were all over the counter. It took me a few minutes before it dawned on me that I had put the coffee filter in the machine and filled it with ground coffee, but didn't put the filter into the removable holder first. What a waste of good coffee! My lesson for today: when I stay up late at night reading and writing, make sure I'm all the way alert in the morning before I operate the coffeemaker. 

You do something odd in your morning routine because although you are out of bed and moving around, you're not fully awake. Has this ever happened to you? Or is it just me?😊

Sylvia

 www.sylviabrownroberts.com

  

We Got The Shot.

 It's been close to a year since I began the pandemic survival behaviors: mask wearing, social distancing, much handwashing, staying at home a lot, limited group gatherings, no dining at restaurants, and such. When a vaccine was first announced, I held back because it seemed to have been created so quickly. What about movies like the 2007 " I Am Legend" (starring Will Smith) and other movies depicting a man-made cure that went so wrong? I didn't want to get unplanned, negative side effects and so on. But then, I watched the huge numbers of daily deaths due to Covid-19. Next, the new variants of the virus marched onto the scene. When an opportunity came along,  I seized it. FEMA, the army, our governor's and mayor's offices, and a faith-based initiative offered Covid-19 vaccines to those eligible. I signed up, and so did my very senior citizen mother. This picture reminds me of our vaccination experience. It was well-organized, the staff was very pleasant and informative, especially the military team. Plus, the needle didn't hurt at all and the side effects were minimal. We marked the date for the 2nd dose on our calendars. Please do what you need to do to survive this pandemic. Did you get your shot yet?  I ask because I care.

Thankful😌,

Sylvia @ www.sylviabrownroberts.com

Socks

Sometimes we're able to see things through a different and clearer lens when we talk with a person who has more experience in certain areas than we have.

I like socks. I have lots of them and can go for at least three weeks before running out of clean socks. Then I  throw a load of dirty socks in the washing machine and the dryer. All clean. In the fall and winter, I sleep with socks on my feet. I spoke with a person who gave me a different view on the importance of socks. For a period of time, this person didn't have a place to live in. Socks were extremely important when I didn't have a place to stay. I was often out in the cold and wet. Socks helped protect my feet, even when I had holes in my shoes. I was happy when I could get a new pair of socks. My old socks would be dirty and ragged and I didn't have a way to wash and dry them. I could only wear the same pair of socks for so long. A new pair of socks was a blessing. 

This was a reminder to me. Don't take even the smallest thing for granted. Do what you can to be a blessing to others. Socks are a blessing to those who don't have socks. 

Sylvia@www.sylviabrownroberts.com

It's Under Control

 I'm trying to remember if this snowy night view is from the 2nd or 3rd recent snowstorm. The storms run together in my head. I'm clear on the fact that I choose to shovel  my old stone front steps because some of them can easily be knocked loose if hit the wrong way with a shovel. I know these steps like no one else does, so I shovel them gently. The rest of the snow can be handled by my husband or kind neighbor.

I wonder if all this recent precipitation, (there's more to come in the next few days), is to clear the air. There are lots of bad things hanging out in the air these days: viruses, hatred, lies, suspicion, death, violence, and so on...We're under lots of pressure, but it's comforting to remember that God is in charge. Be gentle with yourself and others. God's got it under control. Trust Him.    

  www.sylviabrownroberts.com

When Your Parents Agree About Your Guy

  Mom gave this card to my husband for the 2020 holiday season. The words she wrote at the the end make my heart smile. Before the pandemic, my husband joined us at Mom's for Sunday dinner after worship services. But Covid-19 caused him to use extra precaution for her safety, especially because she's an octogenarian.  She follows the safety rules. He wants to be extremely careful about her exposure to extra people. He follows all the safety rules too, and he'd be heartbroken if she's mistakenly exposed to the virus. They miss each other at the family meals. They've built a strong mother-in-law/son-in-law relationship over the years. It touches my heart. Like my late father said about my future  husband years ago, "Tony's got a good heart." Mom agrees.

Smiles from Sylvia 

www.sylviabrownroberts.com