The first devotional-journal I wrote is topical.  I looked in my Thompson Chain Reference Bible for topics I was interested in and I picked scriptures according to those topics.  I offer this and other devotional-journals on this website.  I have loved reading, studying, and meditating on scripture for many years.  I believe scripture has not only informed me, but formed me as a follower of Jesus.  It is a way the Lord speaks to me.  Scripture is food that nurishes and strengthens a believer.  I urge others to get into the scriptures for information and formation.  If you wonder what is going on in the world…scripture informs you.  If you wonder how you are to live in this world…scripture forms you.  I always ask the Holy Spirit to guide and teach me before I read and study scritpure.  He has always been faithful to answer that prayer.

Last week a friend from place #6 asked me how many places I have lived.  I have counted 15 different places (in five states and one province), so far.  But two of those places I have lived more than once, so there have been more than 15 moves.  And it doesn’t count the places I stayed temporarily when I was “inbetween” situations.  Saying good-bye has never been easy, but  since I keep all my old friends in a special place in my heart, I feel like I always have them with me.  Like the friend from #6.  We have known each other since the 9th grade…54 years!  We have not seen each other often through the years, but it was fun to check in on her recently since my husband’s current project is nearby her farm.  Friendship inspires me.  I have some really good friends.  I am thankful for each one.  Another reason I hold on to “old” friends is because I believe I will see them again.  I see them when I can now, but I have the belief I will see them again in eternity.  Knowing Jesus gives me this expectation.

I guess cottonwood trees grow in various parts of the United States (maybe other countries, too, I don’t know.)  But, cottonwood trees seem to be in my memory bank.  Along the rivers and waterways of Nebraska the impressively majestic cottonwood trees provide beauty and shade.  It has been a treat to be back in Nebraska several times in the past two years to see the rivers, namely the Platte, Niobrara and Missouri with the cottonwood trees gracing their banks.  I learned on this latest (May 2018) adventure in northeast Nebraska that men on the Lewis and Clark expedition cut and hollowed out cottonwood trees to make canoes.  I am sure it was a difficult endeavor.  I am happy just to admire their beauty and to mention them in some of my stories.

Just spent a wonderful spring weekend in Flagler, Colorado.  It was for Walk #175 of the Emmaus of the Rockies community.  Women from all over Colorado and one from Alaska spent the weekend together experiencing the grace of God in community.  It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord meets each one of us in just the right way and walks our journey with us.  (The picture above is not Flagler, but it is Colorado.)

You might wonder why I call my blog Ardie’s Inspirations? A lot of things inspire me and those are the things I write about.  My grandchildren are four of my inspirations and are pictured above.  I originally wrote RJ’s Journey for my grandkids.  I so enjoyed the process of using my imagination, researching history and writing I kept going.  I write in the hopes of other people enjoying the books I write and being inspired by them in some way.  I have RJ’s Journey and RJ’s Valley in print.  Matthew Hartmann and the Pony Express is available as an ebook.  An as yet, untitled book about two Pawnee children and an orphan hawk is with the editor.  I’m writing RJ’s Legacy which I intend to have as an ebook sometime this year.  I appreciate all the adults and children who are reading my books.  You inspire me, too.

I have written a little story about two Pawnee children who find an orphan red-tailed hawk hatchling.  The story is set in the second half of the 1800’s.  The wagon trains are still heading west along the Platte River road in Nebraska.  The Pawnee are still living along the Loup River and traveling to winter and summer hunting grounds.  The two young friends find a tiny hawk that fell from its nest in a cottowood tree.  They nurture it to adulthood and freedom.  The way of life the Pawnee have known for centuries is changing.  How will the change affect Bena and Kuruk? Find out in this new ebook coming out in the next month.

In 2011, I asked the Lord what I could do to express the creativity he put in me.  My talents did not lie in being musical or artistic, but I knew I must have some way to express creativity.  I thought to myself, God is creative, so as his child I must be, too, in some way.  When I asked the Lord about my way to be creative he impressed upon me to write.  Specifically, the impression was to write  a series of 40-day devotional-journals with the title of the series being Redeeming Grace.  Over a period of three or so years I completed the series.  I absolutely loved doing it.

I have loved God’s word since my teen years.  I have read and studied and shared it with others individually, in small groups and through preaching for over 50 years.  The “assignment” to write the devotional-journals was pure joy for me.  As I wrote I thought of the people I have served with through the years:  the young people from the various youth groups I have been honored to know, the adults I have served with and ones I will never meet who somehow get a hold of one of these little books.

As I wrote the devotionals, I prayed for the ones who would read them.  I prayed for them to be drawn closer to the Lord through their reading and meditating on scripture.  I still pray that for myself and others.  God’s word is so precious and taking time in it with the Holy Spirit as guide is food and drink for the spiritual life.

(The picture on the cover of the book above is one I took from above the area where the sermon on the mount likely took place.  It is a field now, but a natural amphitheater and the seven springs of fresh water are nearby.  The Sea of Galilee is there with Mount Arbel in the background.  My husband and I were in Isreal in 2007.  We visited another couple who had business there and we stayed with them in their rented cottage on the Sea of Galilee.  It was the pilgrimage of a life time.)

Sara and I enjoyed our time at the MPE Conference.  It was great to have so many sweet homeschool parents and children come to our booth.  We were able to visit with them about RJ’s Journey, RJ’s Valley and Matthew Hartman and the Pony Express.  It was fun hearing from some of them about their travels along the modern version of the Oregon Trail.  I had my devotional-journals there, as well, and hope those who purchased them will have joy in spending time with the Lord and His word. Thank you to all who came to our booth.

You will soon be seeing this picture on the cover of my latest book.  It will be an ebook available on Kindle from Amazon in a few days.  The book is Matthew Hartmann and the Pony Express.  I will put a link on ardiesbooks.com as soon as the book is available.  I am excited to offer the book via Kindle.  It is a book written with 9-12-year-old readers in mind, but I think any age would enjoy it.  In the picture is an actual Pony Express station.  I visited the park where it is now located in Gothenburg, Nebraska in January 2018.