Author: Jemmie Jems

Under the name Francis Lee, I write interracial Christian romantic suspense. My stories are about finding enduring love when hope and redemption seem unattainable as danger lurks around every corner. My characters learn that where there is darkness, "joy will always come in the morning".

Hidden Star

What is your middle name? Does it carry any special meaning/significance?

My name is somewhat controversial for some people, but my middle names work well with the first name.

Esther is the first middle name. It is found in the Bible as the hero or heroine of faith who saved her people from genocide. In Hebrew, it is given the value or meaning to hide. As Esther’s identity was hidden from the king , she hid her people from certain death. In Persian history, it is taken from the goddess Istar, meaning Star.

Maureen is the second name. It is of Irish descent, in the Gaelic, it is spelled and it is a diminutive of the name Mary.

As mentioned in early entries, my name is Jemima, which means dawn or handsome as the day.

Putting all three names together and using the first initials of my names,  my parents came up with my pet name as Jem.

Jemima, Esther, Maureen.  JEM.

I think that was really cool.

For The Moment…61

My tongue should always speak the truth.

My mouth shall not send out curses but blessing.

The way I walk and talk should please God that I do not fall into temptation.

I should have a song in my mouth and ready words of praise for my Lord.

My heart is inviting a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is a pen of a ready writer.

Psalm 45 verse 1

For The Moment…60

Awake, why steepest thou, O Lord?

Psalm 44 verse 23

With all reverence, there are times when I feel the Lord is silent. I think in my heart he does not hear me.

I wonder if I am worthy to receive a blessing or a positive answer. Do I have his favor? I am so far gone in my life he will not hear me?

Others are receiving, and yet I am not receiving. Has he forgotten me? Maybe I am living a life not pleasing to him? Maybe I haven’t confessed my sins.

Then I remember His word he will never leave or forsake me.

Wait on the Lord, and he will bring it to pass.

Lack of patience

What is the last thing you learned?

I want things now. I understand that life doesn’t work like that.

I am learning in my life journey not to look at others and what they have. That life they live does not belong to me. It may look greener, but it really isn’t if I look closer.

Waiting is hard to do, but I know my time will come where I, too, will be blessed.

My new way of thinking is to ensure that as I wait, I need to enjoy the pause.

Don’t be impatient. Everything will work out just fine.

Trust and wait.

How old are you?

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

Really, my age is no one’s business but my own. Would knowing my age make you like me better? If I am older than you and look great, you envy me, which turns to hatred because of all the gossip you spread. If I am younger than you, there is still gossip. There is no comparison between us.

Society is fixated on numbers on how old someone is.

For example: A man is in a car accident, and the news report says a thirty year old man is injured. What is the point? Does the accident get more value as his age goes up or down?

I hate ageism. Everyone must be put in a category and labeled. Once we are labeled, we are given a character we have to live up to or down to. We must gather all those in our same category and be the same. There is no mixing. There is no change. There is nothing unique.

I am not ashamed of my age, I just would like some privacy.

Can that be respected?

For The Moment…59

I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.but thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God, we boast all the day long and praise thy name forever. Selah. 

Psalm 44 verses 6 to 8

Elohim Shomri means God is our protector. When we know this, we live in faith and trust that He has us safe and secure.  Nothing can harm us.

Don’t dwell on the negative

How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?

It hurts at the beginning when I fail. I get upset. I get angry with myself and with others connected to the problem. Suspicion runs high. I feel the need to talk it out to maybe even justify my actions.

Then I take a step back and realise this can work for me if I see it in a new light.

It is a setback, but it can in the future be a setup for my good if I learn from it.

It does not define me. I am not a failure, but I am human, and things happen.

For The Moment…58

I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43 verse 5

What is on the inside, the essence of the heart, and the thoughts of the mind shows on the outside.

Guide your thoughts. Be of a pure mind. Anger and despair become tangible things when you constantly think about a dark thought and feed on it daily.

That same dark thought becomes reality in which there is no escape, where there is no freedom and where happiness becomes a thing of the past.

Be emerged with His word so that light and hope can grow from within and shine out from your heart. Your  face will be radiant with an inner peace and beauty only God can give.

For The Moment…57

Deep within the recesses of my heart, the Lord is the object of  my musings.

My soul is drawn to run after Him because His love is better than wine.

I will rejoice and be glad as I remember His love.

His words are more sweet. Yes, He is altogether lovely.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God

Psalm 42 verse 1 and Song of Solomon 1.

I didn’t see it coming

You’re writing your autobiography. What’s your opening sentence?

Life throws curve balls. I do not understand why things happen, and I don’t know my future, but my times are in the hands of the Lord.

I need to trust Him. Everything will work out for my good and His glory.