motivational

Double Threat ~ The Cost of Justice

Double Threat is the third and final book of my P.I. Ross Davenport Mystery Series.

When Gwen comes to Buffalo, it’s supposed to be a time for her and Ross to get to know each other better, but she’s not there for more than an hour before Ross receives an anonymous threat.

Then a friend of Gwen’s shows them a packet of information she found in a desk bought at a yard sale. Ross says he’ll check into it next week, but Gwen, unaware of the personal threat, jumps in headlong. The items found belong to a teenager named Sarah, who claims her parents were murdered. Unsure of her whereabouts, Ross and Gwen uncover proof of unethical practices at a pharmaceutical company. The discovery lands them in more danger, as those involved will silence anyone who gets in their way.

In the meantime, the threats against Ross and Gwen spread to his family, putting them all at risk. The first few attempts on their lives fail, but their adversaries refuse to quit, and they will not be safe until their enemies are stopped.

Can Sarah be found without destroying more innocent people? Will they find enough proof to convict her parents’ murderer and stop further corruption? Someone Wants Ross and Gwen Dead. But who? And Why?

The Cost of a Diamond

by Arleen Jennings

Will the price be too high? I’m excited to announce that my fourth novel and, the second in my Ross Davenport P.I. Mystery Series, is now available.

To whet your appetite, here is the back cover blurb.

When a young man dies from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run car crash, his mother suspects it wasn’t an accident. Gwen has heard the workplace gossip and also believes there’s more to the story. To help the woman, she agrees to ask Ross Davenport, her private investigator friend from Buffalo, to come to Nashville to look into it.

Ross wonders if Gwen is using the case for personal reasons, but when details that don’t add up point to a person of interest, he’s convinced his services really are needed. It’s a passing reference to Pandora’s Box that leads Ross to uncover a family secret that has been buried for over thirty years. While his search continues, he learns a priceless blue diamond is missing and there’s a second investigation that needs his full attention.

Were events that unfolded coincidental or the result of premeditated actions borne of passion or greed? After questioning numerous people involved with the suspicious activities, the web of details is slowly untangled, and facts come to light that inevitably affect them all.

My first Ross Davenport P.I. Mystery is called, Covenant in Stone

the concept of prayer Such a simple truth in a children’s story and yet, at times I struggle with the concept of prayer.

by Arleen Jennings

In the book, The Magician’s Nephew, by C.S. Lewis, Aslan sends Polly and Digory on a mission. Along the way, they find themselves hungry with no provisions. The children wonder why Aslan hadn’t supplied food since He would have known they would need it. “I’ve no doubt he would,” says Fledge, their talking horse, “but I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

Such a simple truth in a children’s story and yet, at times I struggle with the concept of prayer. I know God is Sovereign; that He has a plan, and He will fulfill that plan…all in His good timing. I also believe He knows what I need even better than I do myself. How could my feeble request, with my limited understanding, make a difference in the actions of Almighty God? I can relate to David when he asked in Psalm 8:4, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” However, God’s word is very clear: we are called to pray and to believe our prayers do make a difference.

I was convicted of this recently while reading 2 Corinthians 1 where the Apostle Paul relays an account of how he and his companions had struggled under severe persecution, to the point where they despaired even of life. (vs.8) But it was verse 11 that caught my attention: “You also helping together in prayer for us…” Paul doubted whether they would get out of that situation alive and he realized that the prayers of the saints at Corinth had helped pull them through. He was mindful that he and his men lived and that they would continue to preach the Gospel, in part, because back home there were faithful people praying for their safety and success.

I don’t know anyone personally in an actual life and death situation. However, I do know several that are struggling with serious health issues and others that are stuck between a rock and a hard place… a place of constant battle where despair threatens to wreak havoc in their lives. While reading these verses, my eyes were opened to the fact, that though I might not be able to do much for them, my prayers can impact their lives for good. That through prayer, they will supernaturally find the strength they need to make it through another day, while coming to the realization that the God of hope has not abandoned them in their hour of need.

There have been several times in my life where the prayers of the saints have pulled me through. This should resolve any struggle I have with the concept of prayer and cause me to stand in the gap for others.

This also rings true when it comes to praying for my Pastor, especially when he travels abroad to preach the Gospel. He goes to places I will never see and ministers to people I will never meet, but when I pray for him, he is helped. We cannot all be on the front lines of service, but we can have a share in the work they do by standing beside them together in prayer.

There is purpose and power in prayer. We should not be intimidated or feel inadequate in our prayers. Nor should we feel small or insignificant because God’s purposes go beyond us. We must faithfully bring our petitions before God who, though His heart is ready to supply every need, likes to be asked all the same.

Unexpected Puddles Don't quit when things become hard

by Arleen Jennings

Life can be hard . . . even leading through puddles at times.

About five years ago, my husband, Ron, and I decided to climb Mt. Monadnock in New Hampshire. He had climbed it with a group of friends at the age of 26 and knew I would love it. As soon as we filled a backpack with water, fruit, and power bars, we put on our hiking boots and eagerly got started. The one thing we didn’t take into consideration was our age . . . we are now both in our 50’s. The trail, though beautiful, is long and grueling. We passed several people who called it quits; something that hadn’t crossed our minds.

A few miles up the trail, Ron joked about how much bigger the mountain now seemed, 27 years later. As we continued our climb, rocks and boulders overtook the path, some of which were wet. This made each step a challenge and more precarious. Eventually, we joked less frequently and then began to say to each other, “What in the world were we thinking?

Yet, for us, turning back wasn’t an option so we pushed onward and upward. We managed our time well by stopping often to enjoy our surroundings and take lots of pictures. This kept our focus off our aching joints and on the purpose of our climb. Eventually, we made it to the top and then back down to our car just before dark.

We took this journey on purpose. It was a choice we made and we stuck with it, even though it became more difficult at times than anticipated. The result included some extra aches and pains, and even a bruise or two, but it also made for a great day spent together with ample reasons that made each step worthwhile.

Life is much like climbing a mountain. At times it’s easy and pleasant and beautiful. Other times, not so much. The difficulty and the ease are indispensable. Both have value. We love times of refreshing and they are needed to keep us strong, but times of struggle are part of the journey as well. When we endure, they bring a lasting strength and growth to our lives.

To be rhetorical: Have you ever gone through tough times? I’m guessing you have. Things simply weren’t going well, or not the way you planned, or hoped, or dreamed. Life, at least at that point, was hard. We’ve all encountered difficult situations. Some more than others. Some longer than others. Some harder and more painful than others. But none of us are exempt. Job 5:7 declares, “Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” How we handle these struggles makes all the difference. Do they make us stronger or bitter? Do we allow them to promote God’s will in our lives or do they cause us to stumble? Do we press on or turn back?

The most important question we should be asking ourselves is: do our difficult seasons affect our witness for God in a positive or negative light? Do we make a conscious effort to represent Jesus well?

Now, let’s take this a step further. What happens when ‘additional problems’ arise, on top of an already full plate or stressful situation? My first response is usually, “Seriously?” Then it hits me, these setbacks are like the puddles we encountered on our hike. Hence the quote I began with: “Life can be hard . . . even leading through puddles at times.” Puddles or obstacles might hinder or slow our progress, but they are not giants. They are not insurmountable. We must keep things in perspective. Puddles are more equivalent to annoyances. When we encounter them—if we want to get to the other side—we have to make up our minds to plow right through, muck and all, or to find an alternate route. Instead of getting upset at an unexpected situation, we need to figure out how to maneuver around it, fix it, or trust God to help us through. Quitting shouldn’t be an option and complaining doesn’t seem to help, either. I’ve learned this the hard way.

Another thing to consider, more times than not, how we handle difficult situations can affect others. It would be interesting to know how many hikers turned back because those who had gone before them said it was too hard or not worth it.

The Song of Solomon 2:15 tells us, it’s “the little foxes, that spoil the vines . . .” It seems to me that we often handle the BIG things with more endurance and faith than we do the LITTLE things. We will encounter struggles at different intervals throughout our lives. Let’s not allow the puddles and occasional detours to hinder us from a productive future. May each of us climb our own mountain with great anticipation. Let’s look for beauty, even in the midst of difficult situations. Let’s pray for the ability to make it through and the understanding to see that God has a purpose, puddles and all.

For more beautiful photos and another great story, read the climb

change your life forever

by Arleen Jennings

Do you ever think that if you actually saw a miracle, sign, or wonder that it would change your life forever?

Think about the parents of the guy born blind, the ones who were more concerned about their standing with the Pharisees and their acceptance in the synagogue . . . than their son receiving his sight . . . Were they in the crowd that day when Jesus stood before Pilot, crying, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

You could say that’s crazy, but is it? The fact is a miracle, a sign, or a wonder won’t keep you if it doesn’t change you on the inside.

Take Balaam, he was hired by the enemy to come curse God’s people. On his way, “He was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.” (2Pet 2:16 ESV) Yes, this miracle got Balaam’s attention. Yes, it moved him to speak the truth at the risk of the enemy’s wrath, but it didn’t change him on the inside because he loved money and prestige more. And I paraphrase: “Listen oh king, I can’t curse them, but I tell you what . . . send your women out to seduce their men . . . Then their God will have to curse them because He hates sin.” And that’s exactly what happened. God did bring judgment on the evildoers but at the end of the day, Balaam died in the battle because he chose the wrong side. What good did his earthy rewards do him then?

How about Joseph? God gave him dreams. These dreams impacted his life to such an extent that even when everything started to fall apart, he still believed God. Why? Because God used the dreams to change him on the inside. Even when he was seduced, day by day, by Potiphar’s young and beautiful wife, he cherished and guarded his integrity. Though they hurt his feet with fetters, and he had to live under the cruel reality of an Egyptian prison he held to the hope that God would fulfill his word.

One man, Balaam, technically obeyed and prophesied the Word of the Lord, yet in secret, he undermined God’s will and ended up hurting a lot of people. The other man, Joseph, believed God to the hurting of his own flesh, which resulted in the saving of an entire nation from famine, including his family and the brothers who betrayed him.

Oh, that God’s desire would become our desire. That we wouldn’t make decisions by what others think of us or how it would benefit us here and now. That we would see God’s purpose goes further than our temporal comfort and prosperity.

If Jesus hasn’t impacted your life in such a way that every choice you make, every action you take, doesn’t include His will for your life—Pray and ask Jesus to transform your heart that He becomes the lasting ‘sign and wonder’ that will change your life forever!

Arleen is the author of The Painter
Their Lives Were All But Destroyed…
Her Paintings Are About To Change Everything
Adventure, mystery, and a touch of romance!

life on purpose

by Arleen Jennings

It’s fantastic to know your purpose. What’s even better is the ability to fulfill that purpose. It means you are engaged and willingly participating in life.

I’ve spoken with several people lately who have said they have no motivation, are dealing with constant fatigue and not feeling well. A similar theme rings true in each of their lives: they say, and even believe, they have no purpose. Life has become a chore, rather than a deliberate choice that fulfills them.

There is a difference between chores and deliberate choices. Chores come from obligation. Deliberate choices, though they often come with labor, also have rewards. These rewards might come in the form of a paycheck, feeling good about community service, or helping someone in need. At the end of the day, something is accomplished and with it comes a sense of purpose.

My mom, in her late sixties through early seventies, helped at a local mission. It was hot and dusty. She developed a nagging cough and often didn’t feel well when she got home. Despite this, she faithfully gave of her time and felt good about her role in helping at this mission. Though the labor was hard on her aging body, it was not a chore. It was a reason to get out of the house, along with helping others and contributing to society. She thrived on having a purpose.

Due to a few unfortunate events, my mom was no longer able to spend her time at the mission. The result was devastating. Depression overtook her. Lethargy and hopelessness became battles she could no longer fight. We encouraged her to find something else, but she couldn’t bring herself to do so. In her mind, she lost her purpose and a reason to keep living. Within the space of six months, she passed away.

Living without hope or resolve is like a poison eating away at the soul. This often contributes to health issues, both physical and emotional. On the flip side, health issues can also push people to a state of hopelessness. There are times when an illness becomes someone’s reality, that willpower to move forward diminishes and life becomes a constant struggle. Unfortunately, you don’t have to be old to relate.

It’s of utmost importance that we keep ourselves active and look for opportunities that bring meaning to our lives. Whether it is by helping others or doing something creative, our focus should be outward. I have some older friends that are always doing things for others and looking for occasions to be a light. Most recently, they started attending a drawing class at a local college. This is something they’ve never done before, but they believe you’re never too old to learn a new skill. It also gives them an opportunity to meet new people and develop new friendships. Because they live life on purpose, their health issues (a reality of aging), haven’t stopped them.

Col 3: 23-24 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

I encourage those of you who are struggling to find a purpose, to look beyond this very moment. If you need to, start small and read a good book or take a walk. Send a note to a friend. Do something, anything, to shake off the weariness. Then, open your eyes to all the possibilities that still remain within your sphere of influence.

We only get one shot at life. Let’s live it to the fullest and at the end of our days be able to say that we ran our race well. It’s a race worth running and a fight worth winning!

Arleen Jennings is the author of,
The Painter
Their lives were all but destroyed . . .
Her paintings are about to change everything.

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