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".

The Passing of My Parents

How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life?

It hurt a great deal when my parents died. God fulfilled the number of their days, and I trust his calling them to Glory to be with Him, yet I am human and it hurts.

But, I realize that if they stayed, I would not grow spiritually. Even though I am an adult I still have a way to mature. My age is nothing compared to my state of mind. I may be older in body but my mind and understanding need to catch up.

As I look back, I see I can trust in the Lord and rely on Him and not on people.

For The Moment…31

Waiting on God in Hope.

When we wait on the Lord, it is not because He is slow or forgets to be kind to us. Waiting can seem very long. We do not hear or see any difference. He is not subjected to time like humans. We are born, live a little, and then we die. ( Ecclesiates 3 verse 1. To everything, there is a season.)

Time is not His enemy. It is His creation.

( Genesis 1 verse 5. The evening and the morning were the first day.) He dwells in eternity where time and the ravishes of time can never touch. Yet, God remembers what we are. He remembes we are frail creatures, and we go back to the earth as dust.

(Psalm 103 verse 14. He knows our frame and remembers we are dust.)

At the appointed time, He will come through. It will be for us perfect. We have only to trust Him.

I know it is hard. But He knows how this story ends and how it started. He is faithful.

(Isaiah 46 verse 9 to 13…

I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I purposed it, I will also do it. Hear me, I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry.)

Amen

Play with my dogs

Something on your “to-do list” that never gets done.

These days I am so busy I get very little time to relax. Every morning, I play a little with my dogs, but I feel it is not enough. I put time in my schedule on my days off, but things get in the way that I switch gears and do something else. The look on their faces are enough to make me feel like something lower than a human being.

So this weekend I will do it. Spend real time with the fur babies.

Besides, if I don’t, they may jump ship and bite me .

For The Moment…30

A Prayer of Remembrance.

Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honor dwells. So Oh my God and Father, remember me for good because thy words were sweet and I ate them and they were a source of joy and rejoicing to my heart. Therefore, as in thy word, I will always be remembered by thee.

( adapted from Psalm 26, Jeremiah 15 verse 16 and Nehemiah 13 verse 31)

I love to cook rosti.

What’s your favorite thing to cook?

I love potatoes. I can boil them and serve them with a little butter and sprinkle some herbs.

I can mash them with some garlic.

I can fry them. Yum.

Rosti is cool, something like a potato fritter. I think the name is German. But it is all good. Grated potatoes fried live a pancake, flipped onto the other side and cooked until golden brown. Then, it is served with sour cream or not. Yummmmm.

For The Moment…29

My soul waits patiently for the Lord.

For none that wait on the Lord will be ashamed. The Lord will renew their strength.

As I wait on the Lord, I will hope, I will trust him, I will anticipate his blessing, and I will rest in him.

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Is it not wonderous? ( adapted from Psalm 29, Psalm 130, and Isaiah 40.)

My first computer? The Old Faithful.

Write about your first computer.

Sounds like my first toy or book.

It was a desktop IBM, and it was great. It was fast, and I spent hours on it writing and doing research. That was a while back.

I would boot it up, listen to it, turn on, and away I went. I miss that old thing. Sometimes, old things are still good and reliable things.

For The Moment…28

The Lord is great.

The Lord is the king of glory the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. He will fight for you. The Lord who owns this earth and all that is in the earth, the fulness, riches, the plenty of this earth is His . This same God says to ask him anything and prove him and see if He will not open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing. It will be a blessing juat for you. If only you will believe Him, you will receive whatever you ask. (adapted from Psalm 24, Malachi 3 verse 16 and Matthew 21 verse 22)

Up, Up, and Away

What’s the thing you’re most scared to do? What would it take to get you to do it?

Being high above the ground never thrilled me. I don’t like heights. I don’t like flying. What goes up must come down, I always think. However, it is how we come down.

Being on an airplane makes me nauseous. Every flight I have taken, I have experienced turbulence and am really bad at that. Dipping and pitching is not my idea of an easy ride. But if I must fly, I will take a plane ride. Just give me something to relax first. And of course, pray a lot.

For The Moment…27

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. I shall lack nothing or have any desire that will not be met because the Lord is in control. He will grant me the desires of my heart if I delight in him.

Like a shepherd, he will guide me and protect me. He will take care of me all the days of my life.

God is good. And he knows those of us who trust in him. (adapted from Psalm 23 verse 1 and Isaiah 40 verse 11)