A Settled Mind

I have a problem… Now, don’t roll your eyes and tell me that I have a thousand problems—I’m quite aware of that fact! What I’m talking about is one specific personality problem that’s REALLY getting on my nerves. I’ve analyzed myself, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a “faith waverer.”

Sometimes, I do GREAT when it comes to having faith. I’m calm, cool, and collected. I breeze through my days feeling the peace of God. But other days, it’s as if I’m on high alert. All of my gazillion nerve endings are standing at attention, and they’re ready to fly into panic mode. And do you know what? That really bothers me. It bothers me BIG time. I’ve been a Christian for decades. I’ve seen God take care of my needs over and over and over and over again. Why on earth do I spend so much time stuck in the worry cycle??? Why do I allow my faith to be stolen every time I get an unexpected piece of news or when things don’t happen exactly as I expect???

Friends, you know me by now.  And you know that when I start asking questions like these, I keep at it until I find a logical answer. And I think that I’ve finally found one. My problem is simple. I don’t have a settled mind.

Psalm 112:7-8a says, “He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is SETTLED in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. That is why he is not afraid.”

I desperately WANT to have faith like the man in Psalm 112. I long for that type of peace. But how do I get there?

I’ve just looked up “settled” in the dictionary, and it means, “Come to rest. Sink gradually. Become established. Adjust or arrange. Calm. Decide or agree on.” In my way of thinking, that means I need to firmly establish one specific thought in my mind—God is in charge, and He is smart enough to make everything in my life work out okay.

If I was a GREAT woman of faith that’s where this article would end. But between you and me, even though I know God is in charge and that He will make everything work out okay in the end, I’m not always convinced that I’m going to enjoy the process. After all, I was sick and in quarantine for many years, and I’m still struggling with some health issues. God did deliver me from death, and He’s had His protecting hand on me, but what I went through wasn’t exactly easy. And I really, really, REALLY don’t want to walk through something like that again. I think that’s why I’m always on high alert waiting for the ax to fall and for the next disaster to strike. I’m not just guarding myself against problems—I’m guarding myself against God’s way of taking me through those problems.

There you have it. Wow! What a great example of faith, I am!

I’ve had people say that they enjoy my blog because I’m honest, but honesty can be scary. It’s hard for me to admit that I’m not a white-garbed saint who has everything figured out when it comes to faith. It’s hard to admit that I’m scared about how my life is going to turn out. But I believe there’s something powerful in admitting our fear and being real with our feelings. I don’t think a person can have a settled mind unless they’re willing to strip away the “Christian mask” and look their feelings square in the face.

That’s what I’m doing today. I’m being honest. Life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to. God doesn’t always deliver us from problems—sometimes, He takes is right through the middle of them. Knowing that—and acknowledging that—am I STILL willing to FIRMLY make up my mind that whatever this life of mine holds, I’m going to view it with peace? Am I STILL going to trust God and believe with my WHOLE heart and my WHOLE mind that God is in charge, that He is loving and kind, and that everything will ultimately work out for my good?

With seven years of quarantine beneath my belt, that’s scary for me. But I’m coming to the conclusion that living in a constant state of turmoil is even scarier yet. I don’t like feeling stressed and afraid. I don’t like waking up in the middle of the night worrying. It will be so freeing just to drop my burdens on Jesus’s shoulders and decide to live in trust. But can I actually do it??

The answer is simple—No, I can’t.

I’m human. I can’t carry my worry, but neither do I have the strength of mind to live a worry-free life. I should know—I’ve been trying to live stress free for a long time now. Unfortunately, the only thing I’ve accomplished is creating a new thing to stress about. Today, after all of my hard-learned stress management techniques, I haven’t obtained peace—I literally worry because I feel that I am worrying too much.

So what do I do?

I surrender. I admit to God that I can’t do this anymore. I’m sick of living inside my own tortured brain and being run ragged by stress. Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

It’s time for me to become settled in my mind that God WILL take care of me. It’s time for me to become a willing ox. For years now, rather than being a willing ox, I’m the ox that has tried to climb up into the wagon and wrestle the reins away from God. What I need to do is stand still and let God put His yoke on me. It’s time to stop trying to wrestle the reins away. It’s time to let God lead me without putting up a fight. It’s time to stop viewing every moment of my life with suspicion and fear. It’s time to say, “God, I trust you with my health, my finances, my family, and my life. I belong to you completely. Take me where you want me to go. Give me what you want me to have. Take away what I shouldn’t have. I’m willing to go through what you want me to go through. Just let my life bring you glory.” And just like the man in Mark 9:24, it’s time that I pray, “Lord, I believe. Please, help my unbelief.”

 

“I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:11b-13

If Paul learned this lesson—surely, I can too.

 

Gail Pallotta #2–Author Interview

Dear Friends,

I’m so incredibly HONORED to have Gail Pallotta back on my blog. Gail is such an incredible person. She is kind, patient, giving, and just plain AWESOME!!! When I started my publication journey, Gail was always ready to answer my questions.  I will never forget her kindness! I feel very blessed to call her my friend.

Danele: Gail, I’m so glad that you’re able to be with us today!

Gail: Hi, Danele. Thank you so much for having me.

Danele: I know my readers are eager to learn more about you. Can you tell us why you think it’s important to pray?

Gail: Praying draws us closer to God and allows us to have a personal relationship with Him. There are many places in the Bible where we’re told God wants us to communicate with Him. These are a few of my favorites:

“…the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Romans 10:12-13

I especially like this one. “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayers and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

Also in Matthew, Jesus taught us how to pray with the Lord’s prayer. (Matthew 6:9-13)

Danele: What a wonderful answer, Gail! Those verses are terrific! Speaking of Scripture verses, why do you think it’s important to read your Bible?

Gail: God and Jesus reveal themselves to us through the Scripture. In the Old Testament, the Psalms bring comfort and hope in times of sadness and give praise to God for our joys. Prophecies in the Old Testament come true in the New Testament showing us how God’s word is fulfilled. Also, in the New Testament we learn how Jesus wants us to live and how we should treat each other. The miracles Jesus performed speak of God’s power and faithfulness to those who believe in Him and reassure us. When we read the Bible, we don’t need to wonder what God is like, what He expects of us, or whether or not He’ll be with us if we open our hearts to Him and strive to live by His will.

Danele: Wow! You’re so right! And I loved how you explained it! Thank you! Do you have a piece of advice for any new Christians who are reading this blog today?

Gail: I don’t think I could’ve answered this question had I not recently met a new Christian reading a non-fiction book about Christianity. This person said the book confused her, and she had a difficult time understanding exactly what to believe and what was expected of her. Because people can, and often do, interpret the Bible in different ways, I’d advise new Christians to read the Bible, pray to understand what God wants to say to them, and seek personal relationships with Him. If we keep seeking answers through prayer, we’ll receive them.

Danele: That’s terrific advice!! Here’s another question for you, Gail. How has being a Christian influenced your writing?

Gail: Christianity is such an important part of my life it seeps into my writing without being included in the plot or character sketches. It’s already in the heart and soul of at least one person in the book and that person will act on his or her faith. At first, I might not know which character it is, but as the story unfolds he or she will show me.

Danele: I love the Christian aspect of your books! Can you share a list of your books with my readers?

Gail: Sure! Stopped Cold, Mountain of Love and Danger, Messages, Barely Above Water, and Breaking Barriers.

Danele: Breaking Barriers has just released, hasn’t it? I’d love for you to tell us more about it!

Gail: Breaking Barriers is part of the Prism Book Group Love Is… series based on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. The sub-title to Breaking Barriers is “Love is not easily angered.” In this action-packed thriller, gunshots ring out as Ann Jones enters church. She hides in the bathroom until they stop then stumbles into the sanctuary. The congregation lies dead in pools of blood. To rebuild the church she starts True Light Guardians. At the first meeting, she’s attacked by a terrorist but rescued by James Crawford. He melts her heart which is cold from her father’s abuse, and they fall for each other. She’s afraid to commit to love that might grow angry later like the type she knew as a child. James yearns to stop other attempts on Ann’s life, but he can’t. Tormented by her constant risks, he breaks up with her. When an assault sends her to the hospital, an unlikely ally shares Ann’s plight with James, but he reveals a lead that puts all three of them in even more danger.

Danele: Wow! Breaking Barriers sounds like it is going to be a thriller! Can you share a purchasing link with us?

Gail: Of course. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GGEX7Z8

Danele: Gail, it has been such a privilege interviewing you again! Thank you for being here today!

Gail: Thank you letting me visit your inspirational blog.

 

Friends, Gail really is a wonderful person! If you would like to learn more about her or her books, please follow the links below. I hope you have a wonderful day!

Website – http://www.gailpallotta.com

Blog – http://www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorsandMore

Twitter – Gail Pallotta @Hopefulwords (https://twitter.com/?lang=en)

 

Finding Balance

When I was a senior in high school, I was voted the most optimistic member of my class—which was AWESOME. Unfortunately, I was also voted the biggest procrastinator. At the time, I thought that the procrastination title was pretty funny. You see, procrastination didn’t bother me. I had one of the highest GPA’s in my class, and being heralded as the biggest procrastinator just meant that I could successfully accomplish great work in half the time it took many others. I felt the title was a badge of honor.

When I entered college, I still thought procrastination was all right. I swaggered through my days confident in my ability to crank out A+ work on a tight schedule. I was convinced that procrastination was a sign that I was in control and extremely capable. I was so convinced that procrastination was acceptable that I even wrote a college paper extolling its benefits.

When my “Procrastination” report was graded, I flipped to the back page, looking eagerly for the A+ that I was sure I’d earned. That’s when I saw my professor’s written comments…

In her note, my professor didn’t pull any punches. She said that procrastination was a sign of gross irresponsibility. She said that by doing last-minute work, I was cheating myself, my peers, and my professors. She said I wasn’t giving my best effort and that she couldn’t respect anything less than my best. She said she was very disappointed in me.

Wow!!! Her words stung. But they also woke me up. HARD.

After that, I began putting extreme effort into my assignments. I SLAVED over them. I spent days agonizing over them. In fact, the minute I had an assignment, I started it. I didn’t want anything hanging over my head. I didn’t want to feel that I wasn’t giving my best effort.

As the years passed, this “MUST DO IMMEDIATELY” mentality stayed with me. I didn’t feel comfortable going to sleep at night unless everything on my “to do” list was checked off. Unfortunately, checking off every task was fairly impossible to do. I began putting myself under extreme stress. If I left any task undone, I felt like the worst idiot on the planet. As I kept trying—and failing—I began to feel like an utter failure. My self-confidence took a nosedive, and my outlook on life became grim.

What was wrong with me? That’s simple. I was VERY out of balance.

When I became ill, I spent seven years in quarantine. Although quarantine was horrible, in a strange way, it was also very therapeutic. You see, quarantine taught me that the world would keep spinning, and life would keep happening, even if I was sidelined. Quarantine taught me that—believe it or not—I wasn’t the center of the universe. Of course, realizing that I wasn’t essential to the spinning of the planet was quite humbling for me. It felt very lowering. However, it also took a TON of pressure off my shoulders. As the years slipped by, and as I began to get a more realistic perspective of my place in the world, I began realizing that obsessive striving was just as wrong as procrastination. I began to realize that I needed to be somewhere in between the two.

Today, I try VERY HARD to find balance in what I do. I’m not going to say that I always succeed, but I try to view my “to do” list in a realistic fashion. Through painful experience, I’ve learned that life shouldn’t be spent in avoiding tasks, but neither should it be spent obsessing over them.

During quarantine, Philippians 4:5-7 seemed to shine like a beacon light in my life. “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When I memorized those verses, I looked up the word moderation in the dictionary. Simply put, it means, “avoiding extremes.”

In this crazy life of mine, I’ve learned that extremes are dangerous things. They hurt my health. They cut up my peace. They strain my relationships. I’ve spent years trying to find balance because I believe balance is a very important goal. In Philippians 4:5-7, God instructs us to be moderate. He tells us to stop worrying. He tells us to talk to Him. He says He will send us peace. I think that is a wonderful message to embrace. I think that being in balance and basking in God’s peace is a wonderful way to live.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

The Wait is Finally Over!!! Time Trap Releases Today!!!

It’s finally here! Today is Time Trap’s release day, and I couldn’t be more excited! Time Trap is the second book in The Time Counselor Chronicles. The characters you love from Time Tsunami are back, and they are facing a new enemy!

 

Description of Time Trap:

Time Trap is squeaky-clean Christian fiction with a time travel twist. The story doesn’t contain any swear words or sex scenes. You can buy my book with confidence knowing that you are getting a “clean” read. Time Trap is also full of suspense. Plot twists abound, and the action has been engineered to keep you on the edge of your seat. I had so much fun creating Time Trap! I included cryptograms and clues that you can solve right along with the characters. The story also contains romance, comedy, and religious discussions. If you enjoyed Time Tsunami, I know you will love Time Trap! I’m extremely excited about this book! I had so much fun writing it—I hope you have just as much fun reading it!

 

Time Trap’s Back Cover Blurb:

When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself.

 

Excerpt from Time Trap:

Light pierced the darkness as the door to Peter and Laura’s prison swung open. In the quiet stillness, Peter stood in the shadows gripping his wire with both hands. Spider, wearing a ski mask and steel-toed boots, put a brick in the doorway and slowly advanced. Muted light shimmered on the barrel of a gun.

Peter began to sweat—his whole body quivered with the strain of waiting. He knew that with a gun in the mix, he needed to get the wire around Spider’s neck on the first try.

Spider laughed lowly as light fell on Laura. Seeing the way he was advancing toward her, Peter lunged from behind the door and wound his wire around Spider’s throat. Spider gave a strangled bellow and began to struggle. Peter grappled with him, dragging his thrashing body away from Laura. Suddenly, Spider’s gun went off. A bullet ricocheted around the room.

“Laura,” Peter shouted frantically, “get down on the floor!”

Laura dove to the ground as the gun went off again.

Spider made horrible gurgling noises as Peter tightened the wire. Peter knew those sounds were going to haunt his dreams. Spider shoved his gun over his shoulder, ramming it in Peter’s face. Peter jerked to one side. A bullet whistled past his ear.

Spider thrashed wildly as Peter gave the wire another twist. Suddenly, the wire snapped—its brittle surface strained beyond its strength. Peter’s heart plummeted. He grabbed at Spider’s neck with his bare hands, but missed. Swinging on his heel, Spider pointed his gun at Laura.

Time froze.

 

Time Trap’s Purchasing Links:

Amazon Kindle eBook: http://amzn.to/24LKruh

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Danele-J-Rotharmel/dp/1533654263/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466167338&sr=1-3&keywords=danele+rotharmel

Barnes & Noble Nook eBook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-trap-danele-j-rotharmel/1123886056?ean=2940153055428

Barnes & Noble Paperback: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-trap-danele-j-rotharmel/1123886056?ean=9781533654267

I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement! I hope you enjoy reading Time Trap just as much as I enjoyed creating it! I also want to thank our precious Lord. I wrote Time Trap during a seven-year period of extreme illness and quarantine. During those difficult years, God taught me that Romans 8:28 isn’t just a “nice idea”–it’s a reality.

 

For more information, please follow the links below:

My Testimony: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/welcome/

My Books: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/my-books/

 

Mary L. Ball #2–Author Interview

Dear Friends,

I’m so delighted to welcome Mary L. Ball back to my blog. Mary is such a sweet, terrific person. She has a way of always lifting my spirits when we talk. Life hasn’t always been easy for her, but instead of becoming bitter, she has let her challenges turn her into a truly lovely person who exudes Christ’s love. She is such an amazing lady! I feel very blessed to know her!

Danele: Mary, I’m so glad that you’re able to talk with us today!

Mary: Thank you. I’m so excited to be on your lovely blog.

Danele: I know that my readers are eager to learn more about you! Can you describe a time when God revealed Himself to you in a special way?

Mary: My mother and stepfather are both in a nursing facility suffering from Alzheimer’s. It’s a sad disease that brings heartache to the entire family.

Danele: Oh, Mary! I’m so sorry! I can’t imagine handling something so tragic. How did the Lord help you?

Mary: I prayed that the Lord would give me some sort of peace each time I saw my mother and stepfather. After a visit where Mom asked about my oldest daughter who is in Heaven. (Mom asks periodically) I was sitting in the car—eyes moist and my heart heavy from sadness. I said, “Lord, why haven’t you given me peace to cope better with this?”

In my conscience God said, “I can’t offer calmness; you won’t turn it over to me.”

In that moment, I realized that my crying and worrying about the problem had prevented God from taking full charge and that I needed to stop reacting to the situation in the flesh. I needed to trust Him to give me peace which passes all understanding. It’s still difficult, but before I go inside to see them, I pray and ask the Lord to give me the strength to let Him be my comfort.

Danele: Oh, Mary, you just brought tears to my eyes! Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. What you just said has struck such a chord with me. It reminds me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I love the fact that Jesus is just waiting to bear our burdens. The Bible has been such a comfort to me. Why do you think the Bible is important?

Mary: The only way to get to know the Lord and partake in all He has in store for us is by reading His words. That’s how we learn wisdom and grace.

Danele: That’s so true! The Bible has helped me in so many ways. Another thing that has helped me is listening to praise music and singing praises to God. Do you think that singing is important?

Mary: I sure do! My husband and I often sing at churches and nursing homes. To me, singing praises to the Lord is a way of giving Him worship. When I sing about His mercy or salvation, my heart reaches out to Him with love and thankfulness. It’s important to lift a voice to God with a merry heart full of gratitude—it humbles us.

Danele: I know you have a music ministry. Can you share the link to your ministry with us?

Mary: Of course! The link to our music ministry is:  http://heirsofsalvation2.webs.com/

Danele: Thank you! Mary, there are so many wonderful praise songs that I love. Some of them seem to usher me right into God’s presence. Is there a specific song that does that for you?

Mary: There are several, but one that especially reminds me to keep my eyes on the Lord and trust Him is “Stand Still.” From the beginning of the first stanza—The Father has a plan, though it’s hard to see it now. You feel you’re walking all alone, but He is there, no doubt—my heart opens up to His mercies.

Danele: That’s such a beautiful song! I think that one of my favorites is “I Stand in Awe of You.” I love the stanza, You are beautiful beyond description. Too marvelous for words. It makes my mind spin, trying to imagine what God is like! Now, before I let you go, I would love for you to talk a little about your writing. Can you give us a list of the books you have written?

Mary: Escape to Big Fork Lake, Redemption in Big Fork Lake, Stone of Destiny, Postmarked Ever After, and Christmas at Angel Ranch.

Danele: You’re releasing two new books in November 2016, aren’t you?

Mary: Yes. A Love Valley Christmas and Sparks of Love.

Danele: I would love for you to tell us more about one of your books!

Mary: My novel, Stone of Destiny, isn’t a new release, but it’s a book I felt compelled to write. I was passing by my oldest grandson one day; his nose was deep into one of those YA books about magic. The thought came to me that there all kinds of captivating wonder around and real miracles. So I set out to write a fictional story that starts with a simple object but becomes hope to hang onto through faith and prayer.

Danele: Miracles truly are the greatest “magic” of all! Can you give us the back cover blurb for Stone of Destiny and some purchasing links?

Mary: Sure! Taylor Harrison has given up on everything but her work. After becoming the youngest CEO of Mugful’s Beverage Company, she believes life is complete–until her grandmother asks her to oversee the renovations of the family home, in addition to searching for a missing heirloom. Her first contact with what she believes is an insignificant ring, lost for fifty years, sends her life spinning. Taylor experiences strange dreams. Unexpected feelings surface that she doesn’t understand. Thoughts that should remain unspoken are voiced. Taylor’s emotional journey begins, testing a heart as cold as the ring itself and forcing her to question everything she believes. Is this a fairytale, or simply her soul reaching out for a different world–a life she can only find through faith and a divine trust in God?

http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Destiny-Mary-L-Ball/dp/1940099153/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stone-of-destiny-mary-l-ball/1116870635?ean=9781940099156

Danele: Mary, it has been such an honor and privilege to talk with you again! Thank you so much for being on my blog!

Mary: It’s my pleasure to be here with your awesome readers. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer.

 

Friends, Mary Ball is such a terrific person! If you would like to learn more about her or her books, please follow the links below.

https://twitter.com/inspires4mary

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mary-L-Ball-200478210087932/

https://plus.google.com/+MaryLBall9/posts

The Dragonfly

Dear Friends,

As you know, I was ill for many years with chemical sensitivity. My condition was so serious that I was quarantined in my home for seven years. By my second year of quarantine, I didn’t know how I was going to continue. I didn’t know why God had let me live if I was just going to be ill and isolated. My questions boiled up inside until I came to a breaking point. At that time, I was only able to go outside the house if there weren’t any running cars or lawnmowers or tractors around–and as long as no one was burning ditches or spraying crops. The conditions were right, so I cut across the fields and walked to an isolated lake behind the house. I sat down on the bank and watched the dragonflies darting over the water. When I was little, I used to try to catch dragonflies, but they were always too quick for me. As I sat and watched them that day, I felt desperation rising up in my soul. I cried out to God, “Is this all there is? Will things ever get better? Do you you even know what’s happening? Do you even care? Are you even there?”

As I watched the dragonflies, I prayed, “Lord, if you love me–if things are going to be okay–make a dragonfly land on my finger.” I sat and waited, but nothing happened. Eventually, I walked back to the house feeling foolish. I thought about the verses telling us not to put God to the test, and the verses about faith being the evidence of things not seen. I tried to convince myself that I was all right, but truthfully, I wasn’t. I had desperately needed that sign–and it hadn’t come.

The next day, conditions were right again (no running lawn mowers–etc) so I ventured out into the yard. As I walked by a bush, I saw something blue. I went closer and realized it was a giant dragonfly. I had never seen one so big. It’s wing span was at least five inches wide. I expected it to dart away when I approached, but it didn’t. It was hanging upside down, and it looked dead. I reached out to nudge it, and it climbed onto my finger. I’ve never been more shocked. I pulled my hand back with the dragonfly clinging to my finger, and I remembered my prayer from the day before. A wave of overwhelming gratitude washed over me. This was the sign I had prayed for–the sign I so desperately needed. I went over and sat on the steps and looked at the dragonfly. It was stunning. I studied it’s huge wings and bright blue body. I expected it to fly away any second, but it clung to my finger like it was glued in place.

I brought the dragonfly up to my face and looked at its eyes. I’ve never seen anything more beautiful. A dragonfly’s eye isn’t dead-looking–it looks like swirling liquid. If you’ve ever seen a rainbow in a puddle of gasoline–that’s what a dragonfly’s eye looks like. It swirls and shimmers with purple and blue tints. It’s breathtaking. I sat there for several minutes looking at the dragonfly–enjoying its beauty–and then I said, “Lord, if you really sent this dragonfly to tell me that you love me and that everything’s going to be okay, you can let it go now.” Immediately, the dragonfly flew off my finger and zipped over the roof of the house.

After that day, I endured five more years of quarantine, but they weren’t as hard as the first two. You ask me how I got through my illness and quarantine, and the truth is that I looked into the eye of a dragonfly and knew that I was loved.

Time Trap is Available for Pre-order!!!!

Hurrah!! Hurrah!! Hurrah!!!! I couldn’t be more excited! Time Trap, the sequel to Time Tsunami has just become available for pre-order! The characters you’ve come to love are back, and they’re facing a new enemy!

Time Trap is squeaky-clean Christian fiction with a time-travel twist. The story doesn’t contain any swear words or sex scenes. You can buy my book with confidence knowing that you are going to get a “clean” read. Time Trap is also full of suspense. Plot twists abound, and the action has been engineered to keep you on the edge of your seat. The story also contains romance, comedy, and religious discussions. If you enjoyed Time Tsunami, I know you will love Time Trap! I’m extremely excited about this book! I had such a fun time writing it—I hope you have just as much fun reading it!

————————————————————————————-

Amazon–Kindle eBook Pre-order Link:                     https://www.amazon.com/Time-Trap-Danele-Rotharmel-ebook/dp/B01GKQL2JU/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1465388537&sr=8-9&keywords=time+trap

Barnes & Noble–Nook eBook Pre-order Link:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-trap-danele-j-rotharmel/1123886056?ean=2940153055428

Smashwords–eBook Pre-order Link:  http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/641051

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Time Trap’s Back Cover Blurb:

When problems arise during a field exam, Director Peter Matthews and Dr. Laura Nelson are sent through a time portal to investigate.  While they search for their missing cadets, they encounter an enemy who is calculating and brutal—a mysterious nemesis who is holding a grudge against the TEMCO program.  As Peter and Laura race to unravel clues directing them to their kidnapped cadets, their own survival comes into question.  A deadly trap has been set, and they are forced to pit their wits against a serial killer who is intent on playing a deadly chess game through time itself.

Excerpt from Time Trap:

Across the lab, Zeke Masters interrupted, “Director Matthews, I’m receiving an unscheduled transmission!”

Hurrying over to the GAP computer, Peter leaned over the lab tech’s shoulder and looked at the monitor. “Who is it from?”

Zeke’s fingers flew across his keyboard. “Doc and his partner.”

“It’s about time!” Peter exclaimed. “Put it through.” He motioned for Laura and nodded at her mute inquiry. “William and Gil are finally making contact.”

Laura beamed as the Staging Platform shimmered with a faint blue glow. “I can’t wait to hear what they’ve been up to.”

“Me too,” Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But I’m also feeling somewhat sympathetic toward Thomas’s views about the importance of protocol. A fifty-two-hour contact delay is stretching things a bit.”

The blue glow deepened as a temporal portal was firmly established. Behind the translucent wave, the form of Dr. Ableman came into focus.

Peter blinked rapidly. William was hunched in front of the portal with a desperate look in his eyes. His hair was sticking up in wild tufts, and there was a bruise across his cheek. Seeing blood on William’s shirt, he asked in alarm, “What’s wrong? Where’s Gil?”

Purchasing Information:

AMAZON:

Kindle e-book: Available Now for Pre-order!

Paperback: Available June 17, 2016

BARNES & NOBLE:

Nook e-book: Available Now for Pre-order!

Paperback (order through website): Available June 17, 2016

Paperback (order through bookstores): Available in about three months

SMASHWORDS:

eBook: Available Now for Pre-order!

AUDIOBOOK: Available Soon

 

This journey has been so much fun, and it is because of you! Thank you all so much for your encouragement and support!

 

Good Grief!!! There’s A Snake Beneath My Desk!!!

When I was in high school, I LOVED biology class. My teacher was super-cool, and he made learning fun. I really enjoyed the subject matter, and even the laboratory dissections were bearable. However, there was one part of biology class that I did NOT enjoy. It was a nasty little habit of my biology teacher, and I became acquainted with it on the first day of school. On that momentous day, I was reading my textbook when I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. Looking down, I spotted a HUGE snake slithering by my tennis shoe. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I was about to scream and run for cover when I caught my biology teacher’s eye. He was trying not to laugh.

At that time, being “cool” was very important to me. Deciding that it wouldn’t be “cool” to dash out of the room in hysterics, I choked down my revulsion and silently watched the snake slithering past my desk. I was happy to see it moving away from me, but I’ll have to admit that I felt jumpy the rest of the hour.

I hoped the “snake incident” was just a fluke, but my biology teacher seemed to enjoy letting his pet out of its cage. At first, it was totally unnerving. Each time the snake slithered by, I had to fight the urge to leave the room. But partway through the school year, I found myself becoming accustomed to my unusual classmate. And by the end of the year, I hardly noticed it when the snake curled up beneath my desk and took a nap.

The other day, I was thinking about my old biology teacher. He was an excellent instructor, but I’m sorry to say that most of what I learned from him has faded from my mind. Although I can’t remember all of the biological terms I memorized, I still remember the snake. In fact, I remember it vividly.

My biology teacher’s snake taught me many things, and one of the lessons I learned was extremely powerful. You see, that silly snake taught me that I can get used to anything—even things that at first seem totally revolting. In my way of thinking, sin is like my biology teacher’s snake. When I first saw the snake, it totally freaked me out. I didn’t want anything to do with it. I wanted to run from it. But as time passed, I became used to in my life. And eventually, I let it curl up beneath my chair and take a nap.

I’m not a perfect person. (Shocker!!) And when I fall for a temptation, it’s usually because the temptation has been presented over and over until I’ve gotten used to it. Letting down my guard is very dangerous. When I do, a sin that horrified me may end up becoming part of my daily life. It’s much harder to clean up the aftermath of sin than to avoid it in the first place!

I’m not the smartest person in the world, but I’ve learned a few things about sin and temptation. And the biggest lesson I’ve learned is that I should NEVER lose my horror over sin. I should never let SIN get close to me. I should NEVER let sin inhabit ANY part of my mind, my thinking, or my daily life. I’ve learned that if I am not SUPER vigilant, sin can curl up in my life, and what’s worse—by the time it does, it may not seem like a big deal…and that’s AWFUL!!!

“Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set out for us.” Hebrews 12:1b