When God Interrupts
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Mary was once a common name for Jewish girls. It’s been a common name for other girls as well, primarily because of the first Mary mentioned in the Bible who was, in my opinion, quite uncommon. Uncommon because of the way she handled interruptions.

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The Imagery of Christmas
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer One man’s idea of born-in-a-barn is the forerunner of some of our contemporary Christmas décor. Tradition says this man was so disturbed by the secular materialism around Christmas, that he staged a living nativity scene or crèche to draw attention to the birth of

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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Christmas memories rise around me each year like yeast rolls in a warm kitchen. Some are tender and sweet, and some carry a dash of heartache. I can choose which of them to carry with me and which to let go. No sense cluttering

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Give Thanks … and a Giveaway
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer We hear it a lot, don’t we? The cloaked condemnation that demands we “Be grateful,” for “things could be worse,” and we “have it better than most.” Some of us find it hard to swallow this Thanksgiving side-dish because we’ve filled ourselves on “But Why”

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Be Still and Know
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer There is a lot of clamoring right now. Have you heard it? A lot of noise. A lot of posturing and pointing, criticism and chaos. None of it is new. It’s all happened before, many times, in fact. And God’s antidote is the same:

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Location, Location, Location
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer The three most important things to consider when investing in real estate are location, location, location. At least that’s what I’ve been told. This deliberate hyperbole points out the importance of where a property is. Realtors are credited with coining this catchy phrase about

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Do Not Be Afraid
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Some people like to be frightened and enjoy watching horror movies or reading scary stories. Maybe it’s because they know the scenarios are not real and they feel safe and relieved after the faux fright. Halloween is our most traditional fright night – a

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The Rest of the Story
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer As an author who lacks sketching and painting skills, I often sidestep artsy remarks by confessing that the only thing I draw is a conclusion. Joking aside, I believe this holds true for many of us. We are sometimes quick to judge, infer, or

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Washed Up or Starting Fresh?
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Fifteen years ago I took my greenhorn self to a California writers conference, where I met with a well-known author for a “one-on-one.” It was the equivalent of a preschooler sitting down with a Ph.D. professor for a career pep-talk. “What do you write?”

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A New Contemporary Cowboy Romance – free for a few days!
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer It’s here – and free for a few days – my new contemporary cowboy Christmas romance. It may seem early for a Christmas story but it’s never too early for love. Nor is it too late. See what readers are saying: “What a poignant,

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Path of Life
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Of the eighteen novels and novellas I’ve written over the past twelve years, a predominant theme in my characters’ lives has been finding direction. Choosing the right path. A few of my heroines have known exactly what they wanted and headed straight for it.

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Unattractive Brokenness
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By Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Several years ago I covered a local craft show for the newspaper and was captivated by the work of several lapidarists.  One man displayed not only his beautiful, finished products but also rough stones – common rocks I might have kicked out of

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Stay Connected
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Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Staying connected today has never been easier, thanks to technology. And it’s never been harder. There’s too much going on. In fact there’s so much going on – so much technological noise – that we can miss the more important connections in our lives. Like those with real people. Staying

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Perspective and Grandparents Day
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Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer I have lived long enough to grow perspective. It’s like looking back after a long walk or drive, and seeing your starting place from a completely different viewpoint. That kind of perspective comes only with distance, age, or experience. In my young-adult life, my prayers

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Give It a Rest!
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Davalynn Spencer @davalynnspencer Some of you will remember the not-too-distant past when Labor Day signaled the end of summer and the beginning of school. Okay, maybe that was longer ago than we care to admit. However, Labor Day still signals the end of summer (even though we technically

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