Month: November 2014

Happy Thanksgiving…Have a Treat!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

“These are the things I go over and over, emptying out the pockets of my life. I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd, right out in front, Leading them all, eager to arrive and worship, Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving— celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!” Psalm 42:4

Let’s each be leaders and celebrate as we feast over Thanksgiving. Give God praise and thanksgiving. For He has done marvelous things. 

Praying you and yours have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. I’ll be taking a break the rest of this week, but I’ll be back Monday, December 1st.

Enjoy the turkey and dessert and if you feel so inclined to get into the holiday mood even further, sign up for my newsletter and you’ll receive in your inbox my FREE and exclusive Christmas novella, Hope Under Mistletoe!

What’s a must-have dish on your Thanksgiving table?



Music and Writing Go Together Like…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I suppose that depends on the writer. For this one? It goes together like Ham and Swiss, Chocolate and Peanut Butter, Hazelnut creamer to coffee. And so forth and so on.

I love music when I’m writing. In fact, after I figure out what my story is about, I spend several hours on Spotify creating a playlist or soundtrack for my book. 

Sometimes it’s the lyrics. Sometimes it’s the music. Sometimes both. Music has a way of putting us into particular moods. Writer or not. 

For example during my intimate ice-skating scene with Knox and Eden, I had Francesca Battistelli’s “Born In Me” on repeat. Now, their moment had nothing to do with the birth of Christ but the music…oh that was perfection to that scene. And the story behind it was inspiration to the book in general, as it is set at Christmas time. And Christmas is all about Jesus and celebrating His birth! 

Knox is a playboy of sorts and rough around the edges, so when he first shows up at the lake to skate, he’s diggin’ the music. Sister Hazel’s “The Little Drummer Boy.” 

One way or another one of the songs included on the playlist contributed to the mood of a scene, the setting, or a character’s feelings. Or just plain romance! 

So for your enjoyment, here’s a look at my playlist for Hope Under Mistletoe. 

After you’ve read the novella, I’d love to hear if you think the soundtrack and story go hand in hand! 

What’s your favorite Christmas song? 

Have you signed up for my newsletter? Well go ahead and receive Hope Under Mistletoe for FREE as a gift! 

A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.

After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.
But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue.
 photocredit/freedigitalphotos/luigidiamante

Guess Where I Am?

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey everyone! Today, I’m over at Jill Kemerer’s blog. Jill is my good friend and critique partner. Join me as I talk about this scripture in relation to my Christmas novella! 

“Talk and act like a person expecting to be judged by the Rule that sets us free. For if you refuse to act kindly, you can hardly expect to be treated kindly. Kind mercy wins over harsh judgment every time.” James 2:13 MSG

 Hope Under Mistletoe, is a FREE and exclusive gift to you for simply signing up for the Patched In–my newsletter! (top right corner)

A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.
After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.

But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue. 





See you at Jill’s! 

Battling a Legion Like A Headwind

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
Ever work
hard all day until you’re exhausted? Maybe you’ve been in charge of a
particular ministry/event at your church and you’ve been pouring out everything
you’ve got all weekend long. You’re flat out drained. 
I’ve been
there, too. 
So has
Jesus. 
Yes, Jesus
knew exhaustion. He was fully God but also fully human. All that walking caused
his legs to ache, maybe he even suffered from a Charlie Horse. His dirty feet
throbbed. And His human body needed rest.  
After
touching multitudes (thousands), healing, speaking, hugging, drying tears He
told His disciples they were going to the other side of the lake. I imagine him
climbing into the boat, barely able to hold his dark eyes open as He stumbled
down below and collapsed, head against the wall, it felt so good to sit…to
rest. And in an instant, His mouth may have dropped open as He breathed
in…out…in…out. Sweet rest. 
But
then…
“A
terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were
about to capsize. They woke Jesus: “Master, Master, we’re going to
drown!”” Luke 8:23-24 MSG
Jesus
could have shooed them away with words like, “I’m too tired. We’ll be
fine. Let me have five more minutes.”
But He
didn’t. Instead…
“Getting
to his feet, he told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did
it. The lake became smooth as glass.” Luke 8:24 MSG
Imagine a
storm so great suddenly taking place. Why? Out of the blue? 
Because
they were going to the other side. On the other side of the lake was a legion
of demons inside a man. A legion of demons who wanted to keep control of the
man, and the territory they’d claimed at theirs. 
Is
it possible the headwinds, and storm came from the “other side” from
the enemy? I believe it is. Jesus shut it down. Immediately. 
And
on water as smooth as glass, they crossed over. 
Here’s
where it gets completely cool. Okay, rebuking a storm and it obeying is cool,
too, but check this out.
“And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a
certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no
clothes,[b] nor did he live in a house but in the tombs.  When
he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said,
“What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not
torment me!” For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the
man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with
chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into
the wilderness.” Luke 8:27-29 NKJV
The
word for torment in the Greek
is bazanizo. It means,
“to question by applying torture” “to be harassed,
distressed” but it also means, “of those who at sea are struggling
with a head wind.” 
Here
comes the Son of the Most High God. The demons immediately know and recognize
Jesus, and they fear! They know their time is short and they aren’t ready to
go. But they’ve been inside this man for so long…binding him in chains,
forcing him to live in dark, empty, dead places (the tombs), they’ve kept him
naked (filled with shame) and have driven him mad, completely out of his
mind. 
And
they wanted to continue. 
Thus
the wild storm on the sea. A headwind according to the dictionary (dot)com is
“a wind opposed to the course of a moving object, especially an aircraft
or other vehicle.” “A wind blowing directly against the course of
moving object, especially an aircraft or ship.” 
Jesus
was on the move. Heading in the direction of a man who needed to be put into
his right mind, released from dead, empty places, given his dignity back, and
freed from his own torment. The enemy tried to blow against/oppose that moving
course.
But
Jesus shut that down. “Silence! Quiet down!”
And instead of being blown back, Jesus Himself became
the HEAD WIND! “I beg you, do not torment me!” Do not
change my course! Do not oppose me! Do not vex and distress me!”
Unlike
the enemy, Jesus did not fail. The legion of demons had no choice but to obey.
 When the people came out to see what had happened, they found the man
sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind. He wanted to go with
Jesus, but He told him to stay, to go home. Imagine how many people came to
believe in Christ because they saw this man who had been a wild animal,
drastically changed. 
Maybe
you feel like you’re being blown away or opposed by a raging headwind. Know
this: Jesus can’t be stopped. Nothing detours Him from getting to you. He can
heal every part of you and give you back your dignity. 
He’s
the only unstoppable headwind. 

The #1 Hindrance to Writing a FAST First Draft!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Hey my friends! Today, the lovely Laurie Tomlison has invited me to hang with the Alley Cats and talk about fast drafting at the Writer’s Alley.

So come by and find out the #1 hindrance to writing a fast first draft! CLICK HERE

Also, have you subscribed to my Patched In newsletter? It’s easy-peasy and I won’t SPAM you. Not in your inbox and I won’t mail you a can either. Get Patched In and receive my exclusive Christmas novella for FREE as my thank you! 

A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.
 After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.

But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue.
You still have time to enter the $20 Amazon Card give away! CLICK HERE TO ENTER! 








photocredit/freedigitalphotos(dot)net/pakorn 

I Wonder If He is Using the Same Wind…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Welcome back, everyone! Today we are wrapping up our
Princess Bride series. I hope it’s been as much fun for you as it has for me. Who
knows, maybe I’ll come back in January for three extra bonus devotionals! We’ll
see.

Today’s clip could go in any number of ways, as they are
heading toward the Cliffs of Insanity! Ever felt like you’re destination stop
is careening into the same place? I know I have.
Let’s watch the clip first! 

A pretty short clip. But packed with a lot of good stuff.
One of my favorite lines (out of so many favorite lines) is Inigo’s right here.
“Wonder if he’s using the same wind we are using.”
Vizzini says, “Whoever is he is he’s too late.”
Out of nowhere, this man (Westley) begins tracking them
down. Why? He’s after his true love and no one, NO ONE, is going to stop him
from getting to her. He has every intention of saving her from death, from the
clutches of the enemy.
“This is how much God
loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so
that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and
lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point
an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put
the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who
refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without
knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the
one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.” John 3:16 MSG
That’s some serious love. That’s some serious rescuing. But
look at how much time passed from Genesis Chapter 3, when sin entered the world
and the curse came into place until Christ came and died.
It was a looooooooooooooooooong stretch of time.
In this clip, Inigo wonders if they are using the same wind.
As time seems to be running out for them, but the ship behind (Westley!) is
gaining.
Waiting is hard.
Wherever your destination is, whatever you’re working toward…time
is involved.
But God is never late. He can use the same wind to move
fast, while slowing you down at the same time. That’s God!
Time is never fleeting in God’s kingdom. Time is always
moving toward something. “Then the time came to pass.” “It came time for…”

“Use
all your skill to put me together; I wait to see your finished product.” Psalm 25:21 MSG

God is
not bound by time. But He uses it.
We live in a “now” culture. Fast food. Self-check out so we
don’t have to stand in line. We text and expect immediate responses and when we
don’t get them, we wonder if we’ve lost a friend!  We can Google anything and have information at
our fingertips in a flash.  There’s an
app for everything.
Except for God.
God is not an app. He moves at a pace He feels best for what
is going on in our lives. It can be frustrating, disappointing, and
aggravating.
Or it can be joyful, peaceful, hopeful.
My choice. Your choice. We can learn. Mature. Grow. Lean.
Trust. Acknowledge. Pray. Study. Hope.
And when time comes to pass. When His timing is perfected.
It won’t be late. It’ll be the sweetest. We’ll have no regrets.
The answer yes. He is using the same wind we are using. He
controls it. Because He’s sovereign.
And the answer is no. He’s never, ever too late.
You may feel like you’re lost to the Cliffs of Insanity, but
I assure you, you are not.
Thank you for joining me for this SIX WEEK series! If you’ve
missed any, you can catch up!
Is This a Kissing Book?
Never a Need to Doubt
The Fire Swamp
Never Go Against a Sicilian
Hello, My Name is Inigo Montoya

What
do you do when you’re anxious over waiting?


***Have you signed up for the Patched In Newsletter and entered to win a $20 Amazon card? No? CLICK HERE! 



Because I LOVE you!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Ever had a random stranger tell you they love you? I’m not talking about when you step aside in the grocery line so someone with less items can go first. Although, I have heard that. I have said that. 

I mean a stranger that says, “I love you.” And means it. 
Never happened? Really? Well, here you go: From me to you, I love you. 
Like I really do. I mean, not romantically, that’s creepy. I don’t plan to stalk you. But then I never plan my stalkings. *wink wink*
I write because I love it. I do. I feel compelled. But I also write because I love readers. I love you. If you’re not a reader, I still love you but you’ll never know because you’re not reading this. Point is, I do love you. I love you enough to spend hours penning stories that will entertain you, take you on a wild ride, open up doors of mystery, adventure, romance, new places, new foods, and most of all a chance to encourage you with real hope. 
I’m a fan of hope. I’m a fan of Jesus. And I’m a fan of writing broken and flawed people into the people I know God knows they can be. Not every character chooses hope. Not every character chooses change. Every person struggles. With fear. Doubt. Confusion. Helplessness. Bitterness. Rejection. Loss. Finances. Anxiety. (Insert anything here)
So yeah, I do all of this because I love it. And I love you.
And to prove how much I love you, I want to give you something for FREE! A story. You can’t buy it online. You won’t find it in bookstores. 

But you will find it here on my website. 
Simply subscribe to my newsletter and it’s yours (top right hand corner of the website). A Christmas story about fictional characters with real struggles. Real questions. Real doubts. Real fears. They wrestle. They win some. They lose some. And in the end, Hope wins out. 
I’d love to share this Christmas novella with you! After you subscribe, it will immediately come straight to your inbox! 
Here’s a peek:

A
rowdy bar owner. A widowed pastor’s wife. And Christmas Hope that brings them
together.
After widower Eden
Snow’s church almost burns to the ground, she’s compelled to find a temporary
place to hold services and Christmas cantata practices.
Has-been hockey player,
Knox Everhart, has a reputation for being fast on the ice and with women.
Except Eden. She’s always been a fascinating mystery to him, which is why he
agrees to let her use the back room of his bar—with one rule: No converting his
customers.
But when Eden brings
the church to the bar, it offers something the bottle can’t. Hope. And he finds
himself falling in love with a woman and a Savior he feels unworthy to pursue.
 One other thing I’d love to share is my Hope Under Mistetoe story board! Meet the cast, and take a sneak peek around the fictional town. 
Hope Under Mistletoe Pinterest Page

Do you like Christmas stories? What’s your favorite holiday and why? 




And to go one step further, if you share the news about the Patched In (newsletter) and the free gift, you’ll be entered to win a $20 Amazon card! Tis the season for shopping, right? 


Photocredit: freedigitalphotosdotnet/rinjithkrishnan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What an Imperfect Mom Has to Say to Her Daughter

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I’d been happy. I’d been blessed. But I’d never felt the
kind of joy I felt when I found out I was having you.

A rough little babe, sick and crying often, it hurt my heart
not to be able to make the pain go away. But you grew into the sweetest little
cherub, with rosy cheeks and golden hair that bounced with curls.
You loved Barney, My Dog Skip, Mary Poppins and the
horrible, awful, Teletubbies but we bought you every single one.
I knew there was something extraordinary about you. Something
special that God had breathed into your soul. I remember walking into your
bedroom late at night, you were only about three.
“Mama, there’s a little girl in the jungle. She’s so sad
because she lost her mommy and daddy and she lives with her grandma. And now
her grandma is sick. God said I should pray for this little girl. Will you pray
with me?”
With tears, I knelt beside your bed as you prayed for this
little girl not to be scared and for God to take good care of her. I believe He
did.
When you were four, we ate at Lambert’s and the paramedics
came in. A man was having a heart attack, but you didn’t know that. You only
said, “Mama, we should pray for him.” And you got up from the table. Your
boldness and courage inspired and convicted me.

You speak your mind. You are wise beyond your years. It
never ceases to amaze me. While, I’m not unaware of your flaws and
imperfections—as we are not perfect people—I marvel at the good choices you
make. I thank God every day that you are not like your mama at that age. And I
know it must only be the grace of God as I am an imperfect mama.
I’m not the mom who throws elaborate parties or creates
homemade goods. I never monogrammed a single dress you wore, or designed your
room like a magazine. I wasn’t your room-mom or even crafty. I am still
not. I never read a book on parenting. I make mistakes and you always show me grace and forgiveness.
And I love you. Hopelessly, wildly, desperately. Love you.
I love our open and honest relationship. I love that you
want to hang out in my room, on my bed, watching old movies and talking about
boys and the drama at school. I love that you feel able to ask me questions
about anything, and I am always honest and I never judge. And you never judge me. I love that you want “girl” nights/times/days. Not for what I can buy you but because you love spending time with me. I love that we laugh until you puke and I pee my pants. And then we laugh over that. We laugh and make jokes and even go to self defense classes together! I love our whispers late at night. I love sittin in the back of the van with the hatch open, looking at the stars and getting eaten by mosquitos while we talk about boys, God, our dreams and hopes. Our fears. And how ridiculous boy bands are. I have loved taking you to see the Cheetah Girls, and Justin Beiber back when he was actually cool. I love that I can make fun of you for it now. And you make fun of my Vampire Diaries obsession. 

I love going to the Mexican restaurant with you and spilling salsa. I love letting you know which guys are scoping you out (pretty much all of them). I love it when you tell me what dirty old men are scoping me out. Eeeew! I love laughing in the grocery store until we’re almost kicked out. 
I love keeping you up at night with my horribly bad jokes that amuse me. I love that you don’t repeat them! I love that you secretly record me because you think I’m funny. Or stupid. Either way…
I love being your mom. I love being your friend. I love being
your best friend. I love everything about you, and I would never change a
single thing.
I love the way you fight for others, when you feel they have
no voice, you are their voice. While I don’t always agree with your methods, I
love that you feel compelled to fight and defend. You express your mind and you
can articulate it in a clear and concise manner. You’re responsible. You’re a
leader. You’re a world changer. You’re called and designed for a purpose that
only you can fulfill.
You are the head and not the tail.
You are loved unconditionally.
You are free.
You are lovely.
You are more than a conqueror.
You are able to do anything and everything through Christ,
who is your beloved.
You are blessed with every spiritual blessing.
You are a joint heir to Christ.
You are holy unto God.
You are His treasure.
You are His dove.
You are strong.
You are courageous.
You are able.
You are a soldier. A fighter.
You are hands.
You are feet.
You are a mouthpiece.
You are a runner.

And you, my precious one—whose name means in charge and able—are
mine, too.
My heart is full. Because of you.
I am blessed to be called your mother. And your friend.

Happy 16th Birthday, daughter!

Hello, My Name is Inigo Montoya…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 
 Well, we’re getting close to the end, aren’t we? Thank you
so much for sticking with the series. I could go on forever with this! But I
won’t.
 
If you want to catch up, you can do it:
 
 
Is This a Kissing Book?
Never a Need to Doubt
The Fire Swamp
Never Go Against a Sicilian!
 
Now, let’s watch the clip first. DISCLAIMER:
There is a unsavory word involved here. 
 

A little back story, Inigo Montoya lost his
father to the six-fingered man. Murdered. Brutally. The rest of his life he’s
sworn revenge on this man who he believes destroyed his life. He’s a master fencer. And of course, because
he wants revenge, Vizinni has promised him what he wants most…IF he’ll do something
for him: help kidnap and kill the princess.
 
Things don’t go as planned, though. That’s life,
huh? And after Vizinni dies, Inigo is found at “the beginning” sitting in front
of his house, drunk, and carrying on because things just haven’t turned out his
way. The six-fingered man is lost to him. He has no reason to live.
 
But he remembers someone who was stronger, smarter, and more skilled than him. A man of honor. Westley. He knows he can’t go on without his help. Oh, sure, he thinks he’s going to help him with revenge. But Westley, who destroyed the man manipulating
Inigo, has something else in mind for him. He sees potential in Inigo.  (He’s going to make him ruler over a ship–okay it’s piracy but just go with the analogy here.)
 
Now, in this clip we see him getting his revenge
and he does indeed succeed (that rhymed, anybody wanna a peanut!) But it came
with a terrible fight. And he could have been killed, he was certainly injured.
 
“Do not
avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is
written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”  Romans 12:19 NET
 
I understand hurt. I understand pain. I
understand unfairness. I’m in no way saying those who have been victimized
shouldn’t feel angry or want justice. But I am saying that we have to give that
anger and that hope for justice in our case to God. Or we’ll grow bitter, like
Inigo.
 
Nothing escapes God’s eye. Even when it looks like
someone is going to get away with their crime on earth, they won’t get away
with it after this temporary life. That is guaranteed.
I’m saying that we waste our time on revenge.
Inigo had no wife, children or really many friends. The giant. And of course in
the end, Westley. But not Vizzini. He was using him for his own purposes.
 
The same way our enemy tries to use us. He takes
our pain and twists us into confusion, distracts us from truth, and fuels our
bitterness with his own false truth. LIES. He’s a liar.
But God sees in us something we may not. He sees
in us things others may not. We are not used up. We are not worthless. We
matter to God. We are valuable.
 
Oh we may be broken. But God is a FIXER. A
MENDER. And He wants to heal us. So we can become the person He already knows
us to be.
 
He is our Defender. Even when it feels like He’s
dropped the ball. He hasn’t. Westley himself says to Buttercup, “Life is pain,
Highness. Anyone who says differently, is selling something.”
 
Jesus said, “I have told you these things so
that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but
take courage—I have conquered the world.” John 16:33 NET
We have trouble. People have freewill and with
that comes their choices to hurt. To abuse. 
To murder. To steal.
 
But we also have the freedom to choose
differently. To choose hope. Life abundant. To get better. To be healed. To move
past the pain. To move into a purpose and destiny that will glorify God and
help others who may have been hurt in the same way.
 
 “There’s more to come: We
continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because
we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that
patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever
God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling
shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold
everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” Romans
5:3 MSG
 
Oh what we miss out on, when we focus on the
pain and revenge. When we carry grudges and unforgiveness.
 
I don’t know about you, but I want God’s best. I
don’t want to miss out on all the good. I already know there’s a lot of bad.

Join me next Monday for I Wonder If He is Using the Same Wind

What are you focusing on?

 

photocredit/wikipedia

***Have you signed up for the Patched In Newsletter? I’d love for you to, and to say thank you you’ll receive my FREE and exclusive Christmas novella, Hope Under Mistletoe! Just sign up at the top right corner of the site! And visit the Mistletoe Pinterest page to take a peek at the fictional world! CLICK HERE

*** You still have time to enter the giveaway for Sandra Orchard’s Identity Withheld, a Love Inspired Suspense! CLICK HERE to enter!