Hi, Reader

Hey friend!

When I was a girl, we went to the public library EVERY SATURDAY.

I would come home with a stackful of books, three or four LP records, and a huge smile on my face.

My absolute favorite record to check out was Sesame Street: I Want a Monster to Be My Friend.

What a sweet memory. (Thinking of those songs engages my time-travel sensations bringing back the feelings of being a 6 year old on my stomach in front of the record player).

It was also at the public library as a teen that I found the most mind-boggling novel I’ve ever read: Jeremy Visick by David Wiseman. The twist in that book was so unexpected and absolutely beautiful! Perfect. I can say for certain it influenced my writing.

📚 Library News 🏆

Exciting development. Trunk of Scrolls: Paths of Faith and Fire is now available as a library book!

For a physical copy, please ask your public library if it will get a copy for the people in your neighborhood. This is a free service the library offers.

For a digital copy, there are several library apps that now host the novel. You can ask your public library for access, or download the app.

Below, I’ve shared the different libraries that host my novel. Please share this link with your public library…then

🤷‍♀️ Personal Debt 💰

I’m in debt.

A couple weeks ago, our pastor’s sermon centered around a verse that says:

Let no debt remain outstanding,
except the continuing debt to love one another,
for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

It got me to thinking how little I see this as debt. What does it mean to be obliged to someone with an outstanding debt to love?

Of course, we want to love people. But to see it in terms of an “unpayably-high debt”–that takes focus and thought and planning for how to pay it off.

We live in a world where people have a continual thirst for more and more “for themselves.” Often, when we are surrounded by narcissists, the last thing we may want is to fuel their love of themselves.

But to obey God means to owe them love. And to the degree that Christ taught, “as you love yourself.”

How can you PLAN to pay off your debt of love to people you live near, you work with, you pass on the street? Friends or enemies. Hold the door for them. Smile and say hi. Serve them. Help them. Bring them cookies. Mow their lawn. Bring them a coffee from the break room. Give them time.

Because as we are PROACTIVE in showing love, as we “bear one another’s burdens, so we fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)

Have a great week!

Darlene