Greetings, friends,

Whoosh!

This is the best word to describe the last six months of my life. Yours too? Now that most covid restrictions have lifted, we’re back to full-steam ahead and life’s a bullet train on a fast track.

But today, let’s linger a bit. Pull up a chair, let me pour you a cool class of Passion tea, or, better yet, hand you a bowl of ice-cold watermelon, and let’s visit a bit.

May I share what the Lord’s been doing in my personal and writing life lately?

An Unexpected Invitation

In December my husband, David, and I were delightfully surprised (and terrified) by an invitation from my publisher, Our Daily Bread, to co-author a couple’s devotional.

My first reaction was, “NO WAY! We’re not perfect enough yet. We still fight about things. We’ve made so many mistakes. Why would anybody want to read what we have to say?”

But David, in his wisdom, remarked, “That’s why we need to write it. We’ve been married 38 years. God has taught us so much, and we’re still learning. If we share from our failures, maybe other couples won’t have to make the same mistakes we did. And we have learned a few things along the way. We can share those lessons, too.”

And that quick, 100 Moments with God for Couples was underway. David supplied half the content (oh my, this man has the craziest stories), and I supplied the other half. As we mined the gold (and the coal) from our lengthy marriage, we laughed, we cried, and we praised God for how He has faithfully led us all these years.

You’ll read about David’s encounter with a gang leader on the streets of LA, the time he met the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, and the lesson he learned from losing a lot of money.

I share stories about one of our biggest fights (it was over a can of Diet Coke), the cockroach war, and the day I knew he really loved me.

I suspect this book is our legacy book. And we pray God will use it to draw couples closer to God and each other. Please pray this project forward and stay tuned for more details in the spring.

Refresh Your Hope – 60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart

More than ever, I sense a feeling of hopelessness, not just in the world, but in the church. Among Christians. I feel it too. This is why I wrote Refresh Your Hope – 60 Devotions for Trusting God with All Your Heart for Our Daily Bread Publishing.

This volume is in its final stages of production now. Release date is January 1. Can you think of a better way to start your new year than with a deep dive into the reasons we as believers can be filled with hope?

Every book is a spiritual exploration for me, and this book was no exception. As I dug deeply into Scripture to find biblical reasons for hope, I found the motherlode. I’ll share 60 spiritual gems to strengthen your heart in this lovely volume.

Here’s the cover. Isn’t it beautiful? My heart feels happy just looking at it 😊.

Teaching and Sharing

What a treat to teach writing and speaking at four writers conferences this spring! So many wise and kind writers have poured their knowledge into me. I love it when I get to pay it forward.

I’ve also had the opportunity to share the message of HOPE at women’s ministry events like the Community Bible Study leaders retreat and the Mt. Hebron United Methodist women’s gathering. I’d love to plan a program for your church or ladies group. Visit my Speaker page for more details.

Personal Revival

Our church has been exploring the concept of spiritual revival through a study by Nancy Wolgemuth called Seeking Him, Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. Oh my!

Some day’s its like having open heart surgery with no anesthetic, but so, so good! God is cleaning out the debris that clog our souls, making us more like Jesus, and drawing us ever closer to Himself. If your spiritual life has grown lukewarm, I highly encourage you to explore this study. Better yet, grab a few friends and do it together. You won’t regret it.

Family News

The grands and I surprised Mom with a little birthday mischief when we interrupted her lunch with friends to deliver a handful of birthday balloons.

Lauren and Caroline (8 & 6) are churning up the pool waters this summer as they compete on a local swim team (with their mom as coach). They swim even faster when Papa and Gigi cheer from the sidelines. When we’re not cheering, we’re hanging out with Andrew (4) and Collin (2).

On Fun Fridays with Gigi, Lauren’s working on her fourth novel, and Caroline’s polishing her first. The boys hang out on the swing or dig for worms in the garden. Popsicles are a part of every Friday.

We snuck in a weekend visit to Alexandria, VA, to visit my oldest daughter, son-in-law, and Halsey, the French bulldog for my birthday. I love them so much!

Finally, we’re partnering with three other couples to revitalize a small church in Columbia, SC. Please pray for us as the work is challenging, but the rewards are eternal.

How About You?

I love you, my reader friends. Thank you for your faithful friendship and partnership in the gospel. Many of you leave comments, share prayer requests, and pray for me. How are you doing? How may I pray for you? Let me know in the comments below.

And if you need a new summer read or two, head on over to Amazon. Refresh Your Faith AND Refresh Your Prayers are on sale. Twenty-five percent off, no less!

Happy Summer!

Does Your Prayer Life Need Refreshing?

We know Bible reading and prayer are vital parts of our faith, but what happens when our prayer lives become stagnant and our quiet times grow stale? We need something more than just familiar verses and the command to pray. In Refresh Your Prayers, Uncommon Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise, Lori Hatcher shares relevant, five-minute devotions that spotlight unusual prayer verses in the Bible.

Each devotion ends with a Power Point (a spiritual truth to empower your faith) and a Praise Prompt (a short prayer designed to magnify God and make your faith soar). The Live It Out section challenges you to apply what you’ve learned right now for immediate change.

If you’re tired of your all-too-quiet quiet time, Refresh Your Prayers is the answer.

The UNcommon Book on Prayer – Unusual Devotions to Unlock Power and Praise

Available now at Amazon.com.

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