It's been a doozy of a week. It's been one of those weeks where things just kept going wrong. It started with our home email being hacked, which led to other things being hacked, which led to hours and hours of phone calls on Mother's Day trying to reclaim and secure our accounts. (Happy Mother's Day to me!) From there, the setbacks continued. 

Our gutter broke during a sudden downpour. Our daughter's laptop screen died. Our refrigerator died. I was hospitalised for 3 days. The list goes on ... 

All these things don't really matter in the bigger scheme of things (and compared to what's going on in the rest of the world), but I'm sure you'll agree, when it's one thing after the other (and when you need a magnifying glass to see how much is in your bank account, or you don't actually have the money to fix those things because the emergency fund has been used for another emergency), it can get quite wearing. Yes, it's life, but sometimes, it's hard!

When we go through trials, it's easy to think God is distant or has forgotten us. It's easy to think that we're alone, but the Bible reminds us that God is always with us through trying times.
                               
                                      "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.
                                   When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.
                                 When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be
                                            burned up; the flames will not consume you."
                                                                         (Isaiah 43:2)

It's also important to remind ourselves of God's goodness, and how He has provided for us in the past. Remembering God's blessings and His provision, gives us hope.

                                                "But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;
                                              I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.
                                                   They are constantly in my thoughts.
                                             I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works."
                                                                        (Psalm 77:11)

Over the course of this past week, I've been wondering how on earth we're going to afford to fix everything, all the while, reminding myself of the ways God has provided for us in the past. When things looked bleak, when I couldn't see a way forward, God always came through, and always in ways that I would never have imagined.
​
As I was getting ready for church, I went to do up the hook-and-eye on the front of one of my favourite dresses, only to discover the 'hook' had fallen off in the wash. My first reaction was, "Oh, come on!" Sure, it was something minuscule, but it really annoyed me after the week I'd had. I fiddled with my dress, trying to get it to sit in a way that was still "church-appropriate", but nothing worked. I could've changed into something else, but I'm stubborn, and I was determined to make it work! And then I prayed. "Lord, help me find a safety pin." (Trust me when I say this was a prayer of desperation, because we have zero safety pins in the house. I needed one recently and searched every drawer and every cupboard, only to come up empty-handed.)
After I prayed, I went straight to my nightstand, opened the top drawer and guess what was sitting there - clear as day?  Yep, a safety pin. Needless to say, I laughed. "Really, Lord?!" It was one of those moments where God humbled me and showed me that He is still there. He's still looking out for me. He's still providing my needs. 

It might seem like a silly story - why would God use a safety pin to show me He still cares? Why would something so small matter?  I believe God gives us those moments to remind us that He hasn't forgotten us. To remind us He's still there. If we believe what the Bible says about God caring for the birds, then we need to believe that God will take care of us even more so.

It's been a doozy of a week, but it's also been a week of pressing into God. Claiming His promises. Counting my blessings. And trusting that He will continue to provide our needs. 

Blessings,
Kristen.

​Life is messy. Rarely is it simple or straight-forward. It’s beautiful and lovely, but it’s also full of hurt, pain, suffering and difficult moments that make us wonder how we’re going to get through. 
As Christ-followers, we are not immune to the hurt and suffering in this life. And there are many times when life is plain ugly:

•    When you’re down to your last cent in the bank
•    When an accident forces you to quit your job
•    When you’re faced with a devastating diagnosis
•    When a child rebels
•    When bills are mounting and you can’t see a way out
•    When a marriage breaks down
•    When friendships dissolve
•    When anxiety suffocates you

It’s times like these when the questions creep in. 
​Why is this happening? What have I done to deserve this? What’s going to happen next? 

I love the following quote from Corrie Ten Boom: 
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God. 

If anyone had reason to fear the future, it would be Corrie. And yet, despite her dire circumstances, and the huge unknowns ahead of her, she continued to put her faith in God. Why? Because she knew God and His character. She knew what He had done, and what He had promised to do. She didn’t know her future, but she knew the One who did.
When life’s storms threaten to sweep you away, when you’re filled with questions that seem to have no answer, hold fast to what you know.

Know that:
•    God is good
•    The Lord’s mercies are new every day
•    God will never leave you or forsake you
•    He will provide all your needs
•    He keeps His promises

We may not know what the future holds. We may be frightened of what’s around the next corner. We may not be able to see a possible way out of our situation. Life may still be painful and gut-wrenchingly difficult, but hold fast to what you know. Let hope be the anchor for your soul.

Blessings,
Kristen.

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” 
(Psalm 77:11, NIV)
When my eldest daughter was young, I made a scrapbook of her first year of life, taking time to carefully preserve the photos marking each milestone, her birth announcement, her wristband from the hospital and her first lock of hair. I worked as a scrapbook consultant at the time and enjoyed getting together with friends to work on our memories together. (By the time our fourth child arrived, I’d moved onto digital scrapbooking!)
My children’s scrapbooks line our bookshelves, and every so often I’ll pull them out, reflecting on their milestones, smiling at the memories and laughing at the funny things they did. I love seeing their unique personalities come to life on the pages. Now with three teens and a pre-teen, it’s easy to forget some of the events from those early years. Life is hectic, and my mind is focused on this season of parenting – running them from one activity to another while still trying to manage some one-on-one time with each of them (all the while praying hard over them as they navigate the teenage years!) One of the things I’m thankful for social media for is that every so often, an old photograph will pop up, and I’ll say, ‘That’s right! Remember when …’
While we might forget small things about our children, God doesn’t want us to forget what He’s done in our lives. When we’re facing trials, and worry about the future creeps in, it’s easy to forget how good God is. Our mind is focused on the present and the unknown, that we often forget what God has done for us before.
The Old Testament tells of God commanding Joshua to assemble twelve stones in the Jordan River, and another twelve as they’d passed through. I’m guessing they were thinking that was a pretty crazy thing to do at the time. Why on earth would God want them to put two piles of rocks in the river? We discover why in the final verse:
He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever. (Joshua 4:24, NLT). 
God asked Joshua to establish the monuments to remember where they’d been and where they were going. It was a reminder of God’s goodness for generations to come.
In Psalm 103, David writes, ‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.’
Forgetting what God has done creates doubt for the future – will God really help me? And it can also lead to disobedience. We only need to recall the Israelites and their grumbling and short-term memory loss as they wandered in the desert! God blessed them so many times, and yet they were so caught up in their circumstances that they quickly forgot God’s goodness – what He’d done and what He promised to do. 
God is good. Let us never forget that. When trials and doubts arise, remember what He has done for you before, and take comfort that He will do it again. He has brought you this far, and He will do so again.

Several years ago, a news report mentioned that a woman and two children had gone missing from our local area, and they were last sighted boarding a train heading north. I’m not sure if they were ever found, but snippets of information released at a later date indicated that they’d escaped a domestic violence situation. The story struck a chord with me, and made me wonder what life was like for that woman. How fearful she must have been for her life. It broke my heart that she and her children were subject to such circumstances, but I was also filled with awe at her courage to leave and seek a better life for herself and her children.

This scenario was the inspiration behind This Steadfast Heart. The opening scene shows Nicola, with her daughter, fleeing her partner on a northbound train to a town called Willoughby Beach. The story unfolds with Nicola’s past coming to the surface – the hurts, the fears, and the ugliness - as she tries to make a new start for herself and her daughter. 
 
Zac Bains is an ex-missionary, whose overseas work was cut short due to a motorcycle accident. He has a strong faith, and also holds his relationships to a high standard. When Nicola and Zac’s lives intertwine, Zac is left questioning his staunch view on what it means to serve others, and is challenged by his pride. Is someone more deserving of help because they live in a third-world country, or does God want us to love and serve everyone, no matter their demographic or social standing? 
 
The main themes for This Steadfast Heart are about challenging our own ideals, and looking beyond the boxes we create for ourselves to really see those in need, to love others as Jesus did.
 
I enjoyed bringing Zac and Nicola’s story to life, and at times it made me question my own beliefs. How do I treat others who are different to me? 
 
This is my third book in The Potter's House Books Two series, and I pray that you will be encouraged by Zac and Nicola's journey.

From the Ruins is the first 'mature-age' book I've written. (As I'm not quite in my later years, I hope I did okay!) The main characters were inspired by people I know who have lost their life partners in recent years. In particular, I drew inspiration for Sandra's character from a lady I know who felt utterly lost after the death of her husband, to the point where she was paralysed by fear and didn't have the courage to feel alive again. After a lifetime of ministry serving beside her husband, she suddenly found herself alone and without a purpose. Even the simplest of tasks would overwhelm her, and she lost all sense of who she was. With time, and with God's healing, she began to step out of her comfort zone and realise her new 'normal'. By doing so, she discovered a path that she would never have chosen for herself. A path with new opportunities, new experiences and a newfound joy.

I really enjoyed bringing these characters to life, and exploring the idea of trusting God and finding love again in the 'twilight' years. I also enjoyed writing about my beautiful country, Australia, particularly the east coast and some of the places I have visited. 

The overarching message in From the Ruins is about learning to let go of the life we imagined for ourselves and learning to trust God. When we do that, when we release our fears and let go of our closely held expectations, we can learn to step fearlessly into the unknown because we know The One who holds our future, and we can have confidence knowing His plans are always far better than what we could ever imagine for ourselves.

Life becomes an adventure when God is leading the way. 

I hope you enjoy From the Ruins - and if you've read it, why not let other readers know what you think.

Keep an eye out for the rest of the Winds of Change series. In the meantime, you can purchase From the Ruins here.

A few years ago, I watched my youngest daughter run her first event at the primary school athletics carnival. At the time, she wasn't too fussed by her finishing place. I don't even think she was fully aware of what it meant to 'sprint'! When the starter's gun went off, all the parents cheered from the sidelines as their children ran their hearts out towards the finishing line. It was cute to watch their little arms and legs flying everywhere. Some kids knew what it meant to run fast! Other kids took their time. Then there was my daughter - looking around at everyone else and flicking her ponytail out of the way as she ran. She was completely oblivious of what it was all about, and had a huge grin on her face the whole time. She quite enjoyed herself - but she ran slow because she was too focused on what everyone else was doing around her. 

Lately God's been encouraging me to 'focus on my lane' - to run the race He has set before me, and not be distracted by what's in the next person's 'lane'. 

At the start of any race, an athlete zeroes in on the lane in front of them. They fix their eyes on something in the distance, and focus on that very point as they run. This helps them stay in their lane and run their own race. If they turn their head to see what other athletes are doing, a number of things happen: they become distracted, they slow down, and they are no longer running the race they prepared for.

The same thing happens in our lives. When we focus on what we see in other's lives, we become distracted (discouraged), and we're no longer focused on what God has prepared for us.

God has a unique path for each of us - sometimes it might be long and arduous, when prayers go unanswered, or things don't quite work out how we'd like. Other times, it might be full of abundance. Lately, I've been caught up at looking at other's paths, rather than focusing on what God has set before me. Some days it feels like a real slow journey compared to what others are doing. But then God gently reminds me that this is all part of His plan for me. The path He chose for me looks different to the one He has for my neighbours, my friends, and you. 

We are each called to run with endurance - with stamina, to not give up - even when it feels like we're going nowhere. Even when it feels like God isn't there, or our prayers bounce back unanswered. Whether we're feeling stuck, despondent, or in a season of waiting, it's comforting to know that God already knows our path. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, and don't allow the noise around you be a distraction from the plan He has for your life. 

Dawn of Mercy originally started out as a completely different story (one involving a fully completed first draft, mind you.) But I was intrigued by circumstances involving some acquaintances of ours, and I felt God telling me to shelve my original story for another day. Thus, Kara’s story was born.
 
Amidst a theme of worldly success, I was a bit hesitant writing about such a topic as domestic violence. 
 
As someone who hasn’t experienced domestic violence firsthand (but know women who have), I tried to be sensitive to the horror that many women endure in their daily lives. I didn’t want to gloss over or trivialize Kara’s experience, because I know it is not something to be dealt with lightly. The pain and suffering victims endure is real, debilitating and can also contain an element of shame. I wanted to bring to light just how real this issue is, and I also wanted to portray a message of hope – to show there is a light that shines in the midst of our darkness.
 
Throughout her trials, I brought Kara to a point where she had nothing left but to receive the peace and love that can only be found in Jesus. And it is my prayer that you would come to know His peace and love as well.
 
I hope you enjoy Dawn of Mercy and are encouraged by Kara (and Owen’s!) story.
 
                          God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
                                                                      (Psalm 46:1, KJV).
 

I should be writing my next book. (Two books due very soon ... help!) But God keeps nudging me to get these words down to share with you.

I am Kristen and I am a control freak. I like to know what's going on and when. I like to plan and be organised. I like routine and I like lists. But for someone who works a "day" job with various shifts and never the same days, life is hectic and often feels out of control. It's not a feeling I like. I've been holding everything together for a number of years. Keeping all the balls in the air, so to speak. Appearing to have everything calm on the surface, but underneath, paddling like mad to keep afloat. (Yes, I know it's terrible to have so many analogies in the one paragraph, but so be it!)

My prayer for the past year-and-a-half has been that God would guide my steps with regard to my work. That He would open a door for me and show me where He wants me to be. My "day" job has been quite stressful, and over the course of the past two years, has been sucking the life out of me. I'm sleep deprived. I'm cranky. I have health issues related to stress. I've lost precious time with family and friends. And I'm trying oh so hard to maintain my empathy and compassion. It's not healthy. And yet, every time I prayed and asked God for direction, all I heard was, "Wait." 

​It's really hard to wait on God when patience is not your thing! Often times, I want to jump ahead of God's plan, thinking I know best. But time and again, I'm reminded of just how good and perfect His timing is. 

This waiting period has been extremely difficult, and has made me question what my faith really is.
Do I really trust God?
Am I willing to live by faith and trust in God's sovereignty and His plan for my life, or have I allowed myself to be ruled by fear?  Have I placed my future in His hands, or allowed my doubts to cripple me?

Only this week, God removed the blinders from my eyes and showed me that He knows. Do you know just how reassuring that is? Of course I know that He knows. It's something I tell my kids all the time - God knows everything. Don't worry about tomorrow. Trust in Him.
But it's been hard to fully grasp those truths for myself. 

This week, I'm starting to see things move. I've been waiting for so long for God to reveal His plan for me, and this week, He's given me the reassurance that my waiting period is almost over. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel - and I am excited, because I know it's all in His plan.

I may not know what my future holds, but God knows. He knew me before He formed me in my mother's womb, and He knows the future plans He has for me.
He holds me in the palm of His hand. I don't need to fear tomorrow, because He is already there.

And that's what faith is. Releasing tomorrow's fears into the hands of the One who is already there. God is already there - how good is that?! I don't need to be afraid of the next step, because He has already prepared the way for me. 

                                   … Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
                                                      The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 
                                                                 {2 Corinthians 5:17, NLT}

​The inspiration for Heart Transformed came from an old school friend of mine. 
I completed my high school years in a small town where many kids were from second or third generation farming families. Back then, there wasn’t much for us to do outside of school hours. There were no movie theatres or bowling alleys, and no fast food joints to hang out at. As a result, many of the kids turned to partying as a means to deal with the boredom of living in a farming community.
 
During our high school years, my friend went off the rails. He was rebellious and defiant, and didn’t really give his future too much thought. Deep down, he was a great guy – caring and kind - but his home life, and limited options in the small town, had negatively influenced the choices he made. Weekends were spent partying – in a daze fuelled by alcohol and drugs, and he began to skip school. After graduating, we lost touch when I moved away and headed to the city to pursue my studies. 
 
Many years later, I ran into my friend at the church I attended in the city. I couldn't believe it! Of all churches in the city, he was at mine! It was a surreal moment, as I tried to match up my old memories with the person who stood before me. Obviously a number of years had passed since we’d seen each other, but he looked incredible – bright eyed, clear skinned – and exuding a joy I’d never known him to possess. 
He told me he’d been clean for a number of years, all thanks to Jesus, and was working with youth in an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program. I was completely floored by his transformation – and so incredibly happy for him, and how God was using his story to change lives.
 
Heart Transformed is fictitious, based loosely on my friend’s life. However, God’s grace is real, and continues to leave me in awe.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed with our past, our inadequacies, and to think we’re not good/bold/eloquent/beautiful etc. enough. But God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called. He doesn’t expect us to be perfect before He can use us and our story. In fact, Scripture is full of people with imperfections He has used to further His kingdom. God is in the business of transforming hearts and lives, and He uses our scars, struggles and mistakes for His glory. 
 
In Heart Transformed, we see God’s transforming power at work as He uses both Genevieve’s and David’s pasts for His glory. May their story be a blessing to you.
 
                                                    How has God transformed your life?
 
Heart Transformed is Book 13 in The Potter’s House Books Series - stories of hope, redemption and second chances. All books in the series are stand-alone and can be read in any order.
 

Coarse laughter sliced through the dank air. Wiry, leaf-bare trees swayed beyond the wire mesh fence. Shivering, Genevieve hunched her shoulders, bracing against the westerly wind biting through her thin, green sweatshirt. She tilted her head, eyeing the pack of three women, much akin to wolves sizing up their next victim to prey upon, prowling around the perimeter of the drab, grey courtyard. Her heart hammered against her chest as the pack approached a lone woman pressed against the concrete wall. Scrawny with yellowing hair, the older woman drew her knees to her chest and gnawed on her fingernails, her eyes downcast as the trio leered at her, tossed a few ugly words her way and continued on their menacing walk.
Genevieve narrowed her eyes, watching their movements as they cussed at, or mocked anyone who dared look their way. Her back tensed. She’d fallen victim to their taunts before, and she didn’t have the strength to face their insults today. The first few months within the grey walls of the Women's Correctional Centre had opened her eyes to an entirely different way of life, and had seen her develop a thicker skin, armour to protect her emotions and self-esteem as a means to survive.
Karina, her cellmate, had taken Genevieve under her wing, giving her guidance and tips for enduring her time in the women’s prison. As a result, she’d learned who to talk to, and who to keep away from. And the women slowly approaching her were certainly ones to keep away from.
 
Molly Abbets, the self-imposed ringleader of the trio, was downright mean. Heartless and cruel would be better words to describe the solid-set woman with short-cropped black hair. Janet Niland and Susan Daintrey were fairly harmless by themselves, but Molly certainly called the shots when they were all together. Typical bullies. They were the dregs of society, now asserting themselves at the pinnacle of the prison hierarchy. Life behind the razor wire tended to be reverse of that in the outside world. The no-hopers were inclined to dominate, while the upper-crust of society were brought down a notch or two, toppled off their stilettos and tossed out of their McMansions up on Hamilton Hill, only to find themselves at the bottom of the pile.
That had been Genevieve’s experience. Her fall from a life of privilege had been less than graceful, much to her parent’s utter disgust and disdain. But when it came to the classes of society, she knew both sides of the coin. And it was the tail end, trusting the lies whispered against her skin that had landed her in the correctional facility exactly seven hundred and thirty-five days ago. 
 
“Whatcha doin’ there, Jimmy?” A loose pebble scuttled across the ground. Genevieve flinched at the nickname, an obvious barb to her flashy lifestyle before her Jimmy Choo’s were exchanged for the green Velcro-strapped running shoes now adorning her feet. She slowly raised her head, willing her pulse to slow. She would not show fear. She would not panic. She refused to let the women intimidate her. 
“Drawing.” Her eyes met Molly’s piercing steel-grey ones.  The other woman reached out, snatching the notebook out of Genevieve’s hands. A sneer formed on her thin, cracked lips as she flicked through the worn pages. Genevieve swallowed. Only Karina and a few others had been privilege to the sketches within the spiral notebook. And her mother. She held her breath, waiting for the torment that always flowed from her mother’s lips.
“Why are you wasting your time on that? You won't make any money. You’re so much better than that.” The harsh words tightened around her heart again. Along with the humph of disappointment that always ensued. As an only child, Genevieve was expected to follow in her father’s footsteps, pursuing a prestigious career in law. What a disappointment she’d been.
 
“This is good stuff, Jimmy.” Janet’s nasally voice broke through her thoughts. Her bony finger tapped on the open page as she glanced up from her position over Molly’s right shoulder. Genevieve interlaced her fingers in the wire fence behind her and shuffled her sneakers on the concrete.
“Thanks.” Her sketches were of another time. Another life. Faded memories of what she’d left behind, and dreams of what she was yet to see. The ivory coloured pages of her notebook were filled with drawings of the Brisbane River, the cliffs at Kangaroo Point, and the view from the jetty at New Farm Park. The pencil lines were crisp and clean, reminding her of the good times, before her choices led her into the prison cell she now occupied. 
“Who’s this?” Molly’s callused finger poked at the face of an infant child. Pencil curls floated around the soft, angelic face staring back at her.
“No one,” Genevieve murmured, smoothing her hand over her stomach as she glanced away. Even with daily exercise, loose skin remained, a bitter reminder of the selfish choices that had ruined her life.
“Hmph,” Molly grunted and tossed the notebook into Genevieve’s lap. Smoothing over the creased pages, Genevieve ran her fingers over the child’s face as an alarm echoed around the courtyard, signaling time for the women to return to their cells for another evening. Pressing her lips together, an all-too familiar ache welled in her chest. Would the guilt and emptiness ever leave?

​