Tag: France

Casting Cares

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You know, there’s a verse I’ve carried around in my back pocket for a long time.
It’s from First Peter, “Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.”
Simple words. But they hit deep when the world starts feeling too heavy to hold.

Cast all your cares on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Life’s Tough

I’ll be honest with you, sometimes life just flat-out wears me down.
There are days when it feels like everything’s coming apart at the seams.
I’ve had those moments where I just wanted to shout, or throw my hands up and walk away from it all. Maybe you’ve been there too.

Last year about this time, I hit one of those rough patches.
First, the hot water heater gave up the ghost.
Then the car decided it wanted in on the fun and needed major repairs.
My little pile of emergency savings started looking more like pocket change.
And to top it off, my hand locked up with trigger finger. It needed surgery. And wouldn’t you know it, there were complications after that too.

Why Me Lord

I remember sitting there one night thinking, “Why me, Lord?”
Yeah, I actually said it out loud. Just me and the ceiling fan, having it out.
Ever had one of those nights? Yeah… me too.

Somewhere in the middle of that mess, I remembered that verse. “Cast all your cares on Him.”
So I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it all down. Every worry, every frustration, every bit of that “I can’t take it anymore” feeling.
Then I bowed my head and said, “God, here. These are Yours now. I’m done carrying ‘em.
You said You care for me, so I’m holding You to it. Help me feel that care. Help me stop thinking the world’s caving in. Help me trust You.”

A Quiet Peace

And I swear to you, something shifted. It wasn’t lightning bolts or angels singing. There was just this quiet peace, like somebody took the weight off my chest.
I realized how lucky I actually was . I had enough in savings to fix what needed fixing, had good doctors and insurance, and still had people around me who cared. That realization alone felt like a miracle.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Everything didn’t suddenly turn perfect.
But the panic disappeared. The peace of God filled that empty space where worry used to live.

After that night, I started thinking about how many times I’ve tried to play Superman. As if I could muscle through everything life threw at me just by gritting my teeth and “being tough.”
That’s a fool’s game, I’ve learned. Life’s got a way of humbling you real quick.

Funny thing, though, every time I hit that breaking point, it’s like God’s been sitting there, patient as can be, waiting for me to finally hand Him the wheel.
He doesn’t barge in, doesn’t holler, doesn’t demand. Just waits till I wear myself out, then whispers, “You done yet? Let Me take it from here.”

Peace Slips In

And when I finally do… when I finally let go of that white-knuckled grip on everything…
peace slips in quiet, like the dawn easing over a country field.
It’s not dramatic, not flashy. It’s just steady. Kind of like a hand on your shoulder saying, “You’re gonna be alright.”

Since then, I’ve tried to make a little habit of it. Not just when life falls apart, but in the small stuff too.
You’d be amazed how much time we spend worrying over things that don’t deserve a tenth of our energy.
The bills, the weather, what so-and-so said at work, what might happen next week.
I catch myself spinning on all that, then I hear that verse again, “Cast your cares.”
It’s not a suggestion; it’s an invitation.

God Cares for Us

See, God doesn’t just tolerate us when we’re a mess. He cares for us. Deeply.
The same way a good father cares for his kid when they come home busted up and teary-eyed.
He’s not rolling His eyes; He’s pulling us close, saying, “I’ve got you.”

I wish I could tell you I’ve got it all figured out, that I never worry anymore, that I’ve mastered this whole “faith” thing.
But I haven’t. Some days I still fall right back into the trap. I’m once more trying to fix everything myself, forgetting the One who actually can.
But when I finally come to my senses and let go, it’s like taking a deep breath after holding it for too long.

So yeah, maybe life’s still got its potholes and flat tires.
Maybe the water heater still leaks now and then.
But I’ve learned something in all of it. Peace doesn’t come from having everything fixed.
It comes from knowing Who’s walking beside you while it’s all getting fixed.

I Remember

These days, when life starts feeling like it’s piling on again, when the phone rings with bad news, I get a text that stirs my emotions, or the bills seem taller than my paycheck;
I remember that night at the kitchen table.
The one with the piece of paper covered in worries and a coffee cup ring in the corner.
That wasn’t just me unloading my troubles. That was me learning how to live lighter.

See, faith ain’t about pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about knowing where to put the stuff that isn’t.
It’s learning that when your shoulders are tired, you don’t have to carry it all.
You can hand it over to Someone who doesn’t get tired.

I’ve come to see God not as some far-off figure, but as a friend who’s walked a lot of dusty roads with me or been with me as I’ve crossed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
He’s been there when I was singing high and when I was crawling low.
When I look back over the years at the heartbreaks, the passing of my spouse Miss Benita and my parents dying, the surgeries, the empty bank accounts, the quiet nights of wondering what now, I can see His fingerprints all over it. Not always changing the situation, but always changing me.

So when Peter says, “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you,”
I hear it like an old country song lyric. It’s simple, true, and worth humming through the hard times.
It’s not fancy theology; it’s just good living.

And maybe that’s what I’ve been trying to say this whole time, that peace isn’t about a perfect life. It’s about trust.
It’s about believing that the One who made the stars actually cares about your busted water heater and your broken heart.

He’s Never Failed Me Yet

So yeah, I still get anxious. I still have days when I want to holler, “Why me, Lord?”
But I don’t stay there long anymore. I’ve learned to write it down, pray it out, and hand it over.
Because He’s never failed me yet, not once.

And if you’re out there today or tonight feeling that same weight, just remember:
you don’t have to carry it alone. Cast it off, friend. Let it go.
He’s got big enough hands to hold it all.

Grace and Peace
Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

Miss Benita and Psalm 31

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You ever stumble on a verse that just sticks to your soul?
For us, it was Psalm 31:24 – “Be strong, and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

Now, I didn’t learn that from a preacher.
I learned it sittin’ beside my wife,
my sweet Miss Benita,
when the doctor looked us dead in the eyes
and said the word melanoma. 

Stage three, cancer, he said.
They’d done all they could,
but if it came back —
well, he didn’t have to finish that sentence.
We already knew.

And sure enough,
a few months later,
it came knockin’ again.
The oncologist told us to make her comfortable.
Said to focus on the quality of the time we had left.
That’s the kind of talk that empties a room of air.

We were scared.
We were broken.
But we did the only thing two folks who love Jesus could do,
we held hands and started prayin’.
We opened that old Bible,
and that Psalm became our heartbeat:
“Be strong, and take heart.”

We weren’t strong,
but somehow, God was.

Then came the people,
our friends from work,
our Prestonwood Baptist Church family,
the Bible fellowship crowd.
They came with casseroles,
and prayers that filled the silence
when words just wouldn’t come.
They sat with us through the storm,
and somehow, we weren’t alone anymore.

Now, Miss Benita…
she was somethin’ else.
Even when the cancer spread,
even when her body gave way,
her spirit never did.
She’d sit there in that hospital bed,
typing emails and writing cards
to folks on the church prayer list.
She’d tell them God loves you,
even when she was the one
starin’ at the valley ahead.

When the cancer reached her brain,
it took her words,
her reading, her writing,
but it never touched her faith.
She told me, plain as day,
“My hope’s not here, it’s in the Lord.”

And near the end…
there was this peace about her,
not the quiet kind,
but the deep kind,
the kind that hums under your ribs
like a steady song.

When she passed,
she did it with grace,
like she was just walkin’ home barefoot
through a field she already knew.

And I’ll tell you what,
she left more behind than sorrow.
She left faith that still burns.
She left love that still moves.
She left a verse that won’t let me go:

“Be strong, and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

It’s not just ink on paper anymore.
It’s a promise.
It’s her voice.
It’s my compass.

And I reckon that’s the legacy of Miss Benita —
not how long she lived,
but how she loved,
how she believed,
and how she taught the rest of us
to keep hopin’ in the dark.

Bible Verse:

“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”

Psalm 31:24 (KJV)

Who Wrote Psalm 31:24 — and When?

Most folks agree that King David wrote Psalm 31:24. David penned a lot of the Psalms we still hold dear today. Songs and prayers straight from a heart that had seen both mountaintops and valleys.

We don’t know the exact date he wrote it. The Psalms came together over a long stretch of time. Probably across a few centuries. But David’s words were so honest and full of life that generations kept them alive, and by the time the Second Temple stood (somewhere between 500 BC and 70 AD) they were gathered and cherished much like we read them now.

When you think about it, that’s something. A man’s prayer from thousands of years ago still reaching out across time to strengthen hearts today.

The Setting of Psalm 31:24

Psalm 31 is David crying out to God for help when the world seemed to be closing in.
Enemies on every side, fear in the air. Yet his trust never broke.

This verse, “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord,” is how David closes his prayer. It’s like he’s saying, “I’ve been down in the pit, and I’ve seen the light of God’s faithfulness. Hang on, He’s still with you.”

The psalm starts with David begging for rescue and ends with him reminding himself and anyone who’ll listen to stand firm in faith. It’s that moment when you’ve been through the storm, and you can finally tell others, “God carried me through.”

The Meaning of Psalm 31:24

This verse is a call to courage in the middle of chaos.
David had his share of trouble. He faced betrayal, fear, loneliness. But even while running for his life, he could still look up and say, “The Lord is my strength.”

When he says “Be strong and take heart,” he’s not talking about gritting your teeth and muscling through. He’s talking about leaning into the kind of strength only God can give — the strength that shows up when your own runs out.

It’s David saying, “Keep trusting. Keep hoping. God hasn’t forgotten you.”

“Be of Good Courage” — What Does That Mean?

When David says, “Be of good courage,” he’s talking to people just like you and me. He talking to us folk who get tired, scared, or flat-out worn down.

He’s saying, “Don’t give up.” Not because you’ve got all the answers, but because you know Who holds them.

Courage, in David’s world, wasn’t about standing tall — it was about standing still and trusting God to move.

“He Shall Strengthen Your Heart” — What Does That Mean?

That’s David’s way of saying, “God’s gonna meet you right in the middle of your fear.”

When your heart’s heavy and your knees are weak, He’s the One who gives you what you need to keep going.

This isn’t physical strength. It’s heart strength. It’s that quiet confidence that says, “I can face what’s coming because I know Who’s beside me.”

“All You Who Hope in the Lord” — What Does That Mean?

This part reminds us we’re not walking alone.

There’s a whole family of believers out there. They’re all hoping, all hanging on to the same promise.

When you put your hope in God, you’re stepping into that community of faith. You’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a people through every generation who’ve trusted God to carry them through.

Different Bible Translations

Each translation gives this verse its own flavor, but the heart stays the same:

  • KJV: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.”
  • NIV: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
  • ESV: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”

No matter how you say it, the message holds, keep your courage, because God strengthens those who hope in Him.

How Psalm 31:24 Brings Encouragement

This verse has carried a lot of weary souls through long nights.

It’s a reminder that we don’t walk this road alone. It tells us that God’s strength is real and near.

When life gets hard, Psalm 31:24 whispers, “You’re not finished yet. God’s still working. Take heart.”

It doesn’t promise an easy road. It promises a faithful God.

How to Live Out Psalm 31:24

Here’s how I see it:

  • Find your strength in God. When life knocks you down, lean into Him. He’s got the strength you don’t.
  • Take heart. Keep your faith alive, even when you can’t see daylight yet.
  • Trust in the Lord. Believe that His plans are good, even when the path doesn’t make sense.
  • Encourage others. Share what you’ve learned. Tell somebody else, “You’re not alone. God’s not done yet.”

That’s how this verse becomes more than just words — it becomes a way to live.

A Psalm 31:24 Prayer

Dear Lord,

When my courage fades and my heart grows tired, remind me You are still my strength.

Help me face this day with faith and hope, knowing You walk with me through every step.

Strengthen my heart, Lord. Give me the courage to keep trusting, even when I don’t see the way ahead.

Let Your peace fill me, and let Your love flow through me to others who need it too.

Thank You for being my rock and my refuge, today and always.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Closing Thoughts

Psalm 31:24 is more than a verse. It’s a lifeline. It tells us to hold steady, to take courage, and to keep our hope anchored in the Lord.

Because no matter what comes our way, we’re never walking it alone.

And when our strength runs out — His never will.

Grace and Peace
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s non-fiction books at NONFICTION and his speculative fiction books written as Jim Kepler at FICTION.

Thoughts on Traveling

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Thoughts on Traveling

After a haircut at the Lotus Spa, I wrote this brief thought this morning. I’d read my Bible and was contemplating the day. I’ve named it “Thoughts on Traveling” for the nonreligious types and “The Lord Will Keep You” for those who share the Christian faith with me. It’s based on Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV),

“The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 121:7–8 (ESV)

The View from the Balcony

I’m leaning on the rail of my stateroom balcony, watching the waves roll and fold into one another like pages turning in a story only God could write. It’s a gray, overcast day aboard the brand-new Star Princess cruise ship. The temperature lingers in the low 60s. It’s cool enough that the sea air nips at my cheeks. I’m in the North Atlantic 2,500 nautical miles east of Fort Lauderdaie and 350 nautical miles west of the Azores Islands.

There’s a certain hush that comes with a cloudy day at sea. The ship hums beneath my feet, steady and sure, while the mist softens the horizon until sky and water blur into one long stretch of gray-blue calm.

And right there, somewhere between the sound of the wind and the rhythm of the waves, I sense Him. The quiet presence of God. Not loud or showy, but constant. Keeping me.

Kept in the Going and the Coming

I’m reminded I’m kept in my going and the coming. Psalm 121 reminds me that the Lord “will keep your going out and your coming in.” That’s not just pretty poetry. It’s a promise. Whether I’m stepping onto a new cruise ship, driving my Mercedes down the Dallas North Tollway, or starting another season of life, God is in the motion.

He doesn’t just guard the journey. He guards the traveler. From the first step leaving North Texas, to traveling to London, to Copenhagen, the Baltic, and North Seas, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, France, crossing the English Channel, getting back to London, Barcelona, Mediterranean Islands, Gibraltar, the Azores, Fort Lauderdale and back to the landing at DFW and returning home, His watch never wavers. And that truth settles in my heart like an anchor in deep water.

The Keeper of Every Moment

The keeper of every moment travels with me. Out here, far from shore (it’s eight days until I see my next land), I’m reminded how small I am in the grand sweep of creation. I’m also reminded of yet how seen I am by the One who made it all. The same God who commands the tides watches over my life with infinite care.

Even under gray skies, His light finds its way through. I feel it in the peace that drapes around me, in the stillness that whispers: You’re not alone out here. I’m keeping you.

Breathing in the cool, salty air, I whisper a soft thank you to God, and rest my hands on the rail longer. Because I know this truth to my core;

Closing Prayer

Wherever I go, the Lord goes with me. And I say this prayer. “Lord, thank You for being the Keeper of my journey. When the skies turn gray and the horizon fades, remind me that Your presence never does. Guard my steps, quell my fears, and let me rest in the promise that You are with me in the going out, the coming in, and every mile in between. Amen.”

 

Help in Planning

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Proverbs 16:9

Proverbs 16:9

“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

Our Dreams and God’s Guidance

Life is a beautiful blend of our dreams and God’s guidance. We may map out our journey, but it’s God who shapes the path and adds purpose to every twist and turn.

His Perfect Plan

Trust the process, lean on Him, and know that even detours and delays are part of His perfect plan.

 

Ideas for Writing

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Feral Cats

A slick, treacherous pool deck glistened underfoot as I delivered the morning room service—a ritual our feral cats expected, perhaps even demand.

The overcast skies hung low, draped with a suffocating fog that twisted the air into something sinister. The black cats with their piercing yellow eyes prowled like an army of dark sentinels, their gazes cutting through the mist. They moved as one, a shadowy legion conjuring whispers of forgotten rituals and unspoken curses.

Children of the Corn

Children of the Corn had nothing on these creatures; their presence was a macabre warning etched into the morning’s gloom, each pawstep a silent herald of something unspeakable.

Note:

In 1988, I was at a writer’s conference with the late Dr. Calvin Miller. He shared with me that writer fail to take advantage of the opportunities they have to work on their craft.

He said, “You might write a regular column for your church newsletter or book club. Why not give them your best writing and develop your craft simultaneously?”

I thought of him this morning as I wrote a caption for a picture I took as I began my morning cat feeding.

 

Where Do You Write?

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Outdoor Writing at Starbucks

A Cool Morning

A crisp 55 degrees and a gentle breeze whisper through the morning air as the shaded patio of my favorite Starbucks becomes my open-air office.

Hot Coffee

My steaming coffee sits beside me, inviting and warm, as I let go of life’s challenges and let the narrative nonfiction piece I’m working on flow from my mind to the page.

If you’re a writer, where do you write?

 

Election Reflections

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Jim Kepler Reflection on 2024 Presidential Election Results
Jim Kepler Reflecting on the 2024 Presidential Election Results

Election Reflections

If you were in favor of the reelection of the former president, I know you’re happy.
 
If you were hoping the vice-president would ascend to office, well … it didn’t happen. And so goes life. Ups and downs. Thrills and disappointments.

God Still Reigns

Remember, our God reigns and is ultimately in charge. Even if someone doesn’t believe in God, that doesn’t change the fact that He’s still there, still in charge, and His will be done. That’s how I can accept any election results.
 
Remember, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. Genesis 1:1.
 
The stock market seems very happy with the election results.

What The Bible Says

While these verses are from the Bible, I borrowed the verses from an excellent article by my writing friend Dr. Katherine Passour. All other content in the post is my original content.
 
 
Here are a few versers that help me through each day as I reflect on the government and our leaders.
 
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1
 
Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. Hebrews 13:17
 
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:13-15
 
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it. Luke 11:28
 
If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15:10-11
 
And so goes the week and must trust in God.
 
 

 

What I Learned From Time Change Sunday

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Psalm 121:4 "Behold, He that keepers Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep."
Lessons Learned From Time Change Sunday

 

Time Change Sunday

It’s “time change” Sunday. Last night we moved the clocks back one hour. For most people, that’s a big deal.

Moving clocks forward and back for time changes have become routine because of my travel. On my trip to the British Isles, France, Portugal, and then returning to the United States via a transatlantic cruise, I changed time zones eight times.

Last fall when I did a transpacific cruise I crossed sixteen time zones. The trip was from Dallas, Texas, USA to Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Yes, I’m fortunate to travel. An interesting lesson learned was God was always with me. I could read His word and pray to Him in Scotland or Paris as easily as I could in Tahiti or New Zealand. I could be still wherever I was and know He is God.

A Lesson From the Bible

In the Bible, we read in Psalms 124:1 King James Version, “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” It reminds me that my God is all powerful. He keeps watch over His chosen nation of Israel. And, He never sleeps or slumbers. He’s always there for them and He is always available anywhere for me, regardless of which time zone I’m in.

Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II

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505th PIR

Phil Nordyke’s “Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) in World War II” is excellent. It is a must-read for any student of World War II.

Mr. Nordyke does a great job as he takes us with the 505th PIR from its beginnings and training in the United States, through its deployment to North Africa, and through its campaigns in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland, the Bulge, and Germany before returning home.

Record Four Combat Jumps

The book takes its title from the 505 PIR’s record four combat jumps in Sicily, Salerno/Naples, Ste Mere Eglise/Normandy, and Nijmegen/Holland. Stars representing participation in combat jumps had been worn unofficially on parachute wings during and after World War II. FYI – this practice did not gain official sanction until after the 1983 invasion of Grenada, Operation Urgent Fury.

Sicily and The Secrets of Ultra

I found it a book that that demanded I read every word on every page. Be prepared for some very graphic descriptions of the training and combat. You’ll feel the heat of North Africa. I was disappointed as I read the Hermann Goring Fallschrim Panzer and 15th Panzer Grenadier Divisions were on Sicily, that General Bradley knew it, and because of secrecy of Ultra they did not pass this information on to the attacking forces! “This was a cruel deception of our own forces, but necessary in order to protect the secrets of Ultra.”

Excellent Job of Using Primary Sources

Mr. Nordyke does an excellent job of using primary sources. At first, I was a little confused when I encountered an incident that was described from multiple people’s points of view, but quickly saw the value in seeing the way more than one person viewed/remembered an incident. It helped paint a more complete picture. Pages 300 – 301 and the actions of Private Camille E. Gagne’s response to the killing of First Lieutenant John Dodd is one example. The coverage giving to the 505th’s role in Nijmegen Holland is very detailed and had me feeling I was there.

The Battle of the Bulge

The 505th PIR’s involvement didn’t stop after its fourth jump into Nijmegen/Holland. They played a key role being deployed by truck into Belgium’s Ardennes Forest as the 82 Airborne Divisions helped stop Hitler’s in The Battle of the Bulge in freezing December 1944 and January 1945.

The book has exception maps and an amazing index. This book should be required reading for active duty members wearing jump wings. It is a must addition to any military historian’s library and would be an excellent addition to all university and community libraries.