Days in Isolation but Not Alone

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

The COVID-19 has left all of us with a sense of displacement. We’re so accustomed to our busy lives in which we hurry here and there. While I’m sure that God didn’t bring this, not even to get our attention and tell us we all need to slow down and rest—smell the roses, or the coffee, whichever you prefer—the end result is that we are all finding ourselves with time on our hands we hadn’t expected just a few days or weeks ago. 

And, we may be feeling just a bit alone.

The question is: What are we going to do with that time?

For my husband and me, we're staying connected. We’ve spent a lot more time talking with our four grown sons and our sisters. Checking on one another and learning that for now, we are all okay, is a huge relief. We worry most about my husband’s sister who lives in Greece. She and her husband are doing well and have been confined in their home for about three weeks. They plan to stick to that plan.

 Amazon, Genealogy, and Cooking

Amazon has always been one of my best friends, but in the past week or so, we have a new-found relationship. I’ve never ordered food or items for long-term survival from them. Mostly, I order books. Books I understand. Buying the things purchased in the past week is almost surreal. You may certainly call me crazy, but I’ve purchased seeds for planting and jars for canning. Of course, I had to buy books that told me how to utilize the jars for canning. If I don’t need them, great. But I will have them should something even worse than this arise. But if I do need them, I’ve got them. A win-win.

Now, y’all know I’m a huge genealogy buff. I’ve traced both my husband’s and my sides of the family. It’s a work in progress and any genealogist worth his salt will tell you, you are never finished. There’s always something new to learn about our ancestors. This week, hubby delved into his mother’s side of the family. I had all manner of files and records. They were mostly organized, but he spent some time making them better. And he looked for photographs, labeled the ones he could, and sent that info to a new-found cousin. So, this may be something you’ve put off, but now you have extra time to spend on such. Warning. Genealogy is addictive.

I spent two days cooking, something I haven’t done a lot of lately. But we have food enough for about a month, at least. All cooked and stored away in the freezer. This is giving me time to do those things I still need to do for my website and time to finish things related to my book launch.

Other than being stuck inside, our lives have changed only slightly. My husband has a new hobby (maybe), he’s happy because I’ve cooked a lot, and I’ve managed to get things done in addition to cooking. In other words, the time has been good, and we’re not worried. 

Clinging to Promises

We’ve clung to God’s promise of sheltering us beneath his wings. We trust Him with our lives. We’ve prayed Psalm 91 over us and our family. If you’ve not done that, or you are unfamiliar with that Psalm, go do a search and read it. But don’t just read it, pray it. I know it will bring you comfort in these uncertain days.

My friends, you all are in our prayers. As Joyce Meyer frequently tells her followers, cast your cares. Believe in that blessed assurance that God is still on His throne. You are not alone. Hebrews 13:5.

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Be Cautious and Pray

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

As the publication date for Grave Consequences nears, I find myself busy with all manner of marketing things. With getting items made and things ticked off my “to do” list, I’m humming right along.

Many of you have contacted me about being on my launch team. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. A book doesn’t just appear out of thin air. It takes a lot of people coming alongside us to get word out about it.

Be Aware

But even as I’m busy doing those things, I’m acutely aware that we are in the midst of a huge health issue for many parts of the world. My own state, North Carolina, now has at least two if not more, cases of COVID-19.

As Church Doors Across the World Close, Could Yours be Next?

by Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

This past week my sister and I had quite an intriguing conversation. Each of us likes Dr. David Jeremiah and we try to watch him every chance we get. My area gets his shows on a delayed basis, so she saw this one before I did. He talked about having visited a church in Vienna that has stood for over five-hundred years. At one time, it was the place where townspeople gathered to worship. He said this particular church is now only a tourist destination. How very sad. He continued by saying that in the next seven years, over fifty-five-thousand churches in the United States will close their doors.

What? I had to find some statistics somewhere to tell me about this. So off I went to good old Google.

Grave Consequences Has a Cover

By Debra DuPree Williams

I want to thank all of you for faithfully reading my posts. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. In the publishing world, it’s all about the numbers. Sad, but true. It’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s just the way it is.

If you’ve read my posts for a while, you know that I’ve shared with you many things about my writing journey. One of those things was about the birth of a book and how long a process it is. I feel fortunate. I haven’t had to wait that long. Believe me when I tell you that was by the grace of God alone. 

Are You Listening?

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams 

You know those moments when something seems so wonderful that we can hardly believe it’s happening to us? But at the same time, you get this feeling in the pit of your stomach, a voice in your spirit that’s telling you this isn’t for you?

Listen to that voice.

That’s God.

I’ve recently had two such moments. One thing was inconsequential in the scope of my life, still, had I listened to those gut feelings, the red flags waving in the distance, I would have saved myself and another person a slight headache.

The second thing is big. I mean it could be very big. It could change my life, and it could potentially change the lives of many others. But, right now, I don’t feel comfortable with it. At this point, I’m still in a wait and see mode while I wait on God to bring me clarity.

Have you had those moments? I’ve had more than my share.

Overwhelmed? There's Help

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Do you ever get overwhelmed? I think most of us do from time to time. Right now, I’m working on all those things that must be done to market a book. Yes, I know. It hasn’t even been published yet. But here’s what I didn’t realize and maybe you don’t know either. The marketing begins the minute you have the idea for the book.

So, let’s consider that I’m about thirty years behind. That’s how long ago I began thinking about writing this story. I had no clue what marketing was back then. I had no clue I was a writer.

Better Than Cussin' - The Colorful Language of the South -

By Debra DuPree Williams @DDuPreeWilliams

Did the title grab your attention? I’m sure it did as you likely never thought you’d see such from me. Let me be clear, I’m not speaking of those words, the ones we simply do not use in polite society. I’m talking about Southern slang. Those phrases we use in place of the words which may, or may not have, come to mind.

Having been reared in south Alabama, I heard my share of both categories. Of course, that was back in the day when, if children used those words, out came the bar of soap. In our household, that meant the big, brown, scary bar of Octagon soap.