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".

Same as my Mother

What colleges have you attended?

When we first immigrated to this country, of course, Mom and Dad had to find work. They had money, but that runs out if not replenished. Having a large family consisting of young children was stressful, but my parents hit the ground running.

One of the first things that Mom did was to go back to school. She went to a local college to get her papers in office administration.

Years later, after graduating from university, I wanted something practical, so I went to the local college, not knowing Mom graduated from there. Unlike Mom, I went into healthcare. 

It was worth it.

Playtime? Not!

Do you play in your daily life? What says “playtime” to you?

Playtime is me relaxing and being lazy.

Jumping up and down, moving around just makes me sweaty.

No, thank you.

Relax, baby.

When God knows you..

God is powerful.

At times, we miss the fact that this same God who created the universe is also our father.

He is a father to those who believe in his only son and who put their trust in him.

We are all God’s creatures. But as a born-again believer, we are called  children of God.

If we are children of God, then he will provide for us.

He will protect us.

He knows us.

He knows even our name. This is an intimate relationship he seeks to have with us.

Trust him. He does not sleep. It takes only one cry to awake his ear. 

Prove him today, and see if he will not come through for you.

But now thus saith the Lord that created you…and he that formed you.

God said, “Fear not; for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine.”

Isaiah 43 verse 1

Finding Time

What are your biggest challenges?

I am busy, but like most people, I have been gifted with twenty-four  hours per day. Still, I have no time or so, I think.

This year, I hope to be mindful of my goals and redeem my time.

Getting my priorities straight, hopefully, will also mean getting more sleep. 

Praying is simple in 2025

Praying to God should not be complicated.

Right?

God loves to hear our voices as we call on Him.

Keeping things simple yet relevant is important. We don’t have to make a fuss.

Ask and it shall be given unto you.

Easy.

For example, if you were on board a sinking ship and you need help. You scream…”Help.” There is no time to beat around the bush.

So, when you come to God in prayer, just tell him what you are in need of, and He promises to answer.

Isaiah 41 verse 10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee…

He will always be there to hear whatever you have to say.

I call Him Jehovah Rapha; the Lord my healer.

Loyalty and Faithfulness

What is something others do that sparks your admiration?

I have several sisters, but one stands out with regard to loyalty.

If she makes a promise, she will burn down the world to fulfill that promise. She will do whatever she can to help, to encourage and to fight for you. She is loyal to a fault.

I admire that in her because I can trust her. Trust means everything to me. A relationship can not move forward without trust. I hate having to second-guess people and situations. When I can put my trust in someone, I know they will be true to form.

Unfortunately, because of this quality, she is used a lot by both family and friends and never given her true rewards.

I see her.

And I am happy and proud to call her my loyal sister.

October is beautiful

What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?

I live in a country where the seasons change the prospect. Spring is a renewal of life. Summer has great energy and heat. Winter is cold and harsh with just the right hint of the promise of spring.

Then there is fall; cozy and pretty with a chill that nips at your feet as you move forward.

I love the month of October with all the changing colours of the leaves and the weather turning colder with every passing day. The cozy feeling as you pull on a thick sweater to ward off the bite of cold air.

I love to taking pictures in the early morning of the frost that clings to the ground while the sun rises slowly to brighten the day.

I know with fall time is moving into winter and the plants are dying, but I do not think about death; I think about sleep and the promise of a new day when spring breaks through with all its hope and vibrance. 

How do I know God? I call Him by His Name.

Names are labels to identify individuals. We are given a name before or after birth as a personal tag. As names can point a person out among a crowd, they can also be a symbol of that person’s character; they are an extension of a familial tradition.

With Jehovah or God, this is different. His names speak to his power and his glory. It can prove our faith and strength in various situations.

For example:

We call him, Jehovah Rapha, God our healer.

Going through physical sickness with nowhere to turn or trusting in him, we can say with assurance he will heal me because he says to ask anything in the name of his son, and he will do it.

We have some financial hardship? We can ask him to heal our finances and wait, believing because he is Jehovah Rapha.

In the book of Exodus 15 verse 26

, it says, I am the Lord your God who heals you.

Psalm 103 says he heals all my diseases.

Psalm 30 says he cried to God, and he healed him.

He is a stronghold in the day of trouble.

These are only a few words of comfort and acknowledgment concerning his name as the healer.

Can you say the same as Jehovah Rapha, my healer?

How do I know God?

In any relationship, the name of the other person is very important, too.

How we call that person is an indicator of how we feel about that person.

Is there anger or affection. Is there familiarity and intimacy.

When we think of a relationship with God, what do we call him?

God.

Father

Almighty.

Are we close enough to him to call him Abba Father?

Abba is a form of little children addressing their father as Papa or Daddy.

It is not something that most will favor because of His position as Creator.

It shows a closeness that goes deeper nearer than anything ever can.

It is a position of love and security.

Who is God to Me and How to get closer to Him

As a christian, a close relationship with God is something I need to strive towards by praying and reading the Bible daily.

As this year comes closer to an end and a new year begins to rise on the horizon, we all begin to make resolutions to do things better in the new year. We look forward to a fresh start.

I am here to say why wait for that new year.

Now is the accepted time.

We have no way of knowing what will happen tomorrow, let alone in a new year we have only today.

We have now and we need to live in the present.

My advice is to start now and get things right with God. It does not have to take hours on end praying and reading but just start small.

Read a verse one day and think about it. How does it work into your life.

Repeat it over in your head throughout the day. This will cause you to memorize it. 

Write it down. This, too , helps to secure it into your memory banks. When the time comes, you can recall it without difficulty.

Where do you start?

A wise man once told me to start in the  gospel of John.

Or if you want to see the first works of God, start  with the book of Genesis.

And like the John one verse one,we are again back at the beginning.

Life comes in a full circle.

Morning, by morning, he awakes up my ear so I can hear his instructions. ( adapted from Isaiah 50 verse 4)