Author: Betty Owens

Christian writer of historical fiction and general fiction.

Ice the Destroyer

On By Betty OwensIn Ice Storm, January 2009

I’m glad I took a picture of my favorite Redbud tree in full bloom last spring! We lost over half of it this past week in an ice storm. Redbuds are amazingly resilient, however and it will no doubt recover. Already, the ice has fallen off and the remaining branches are reaching up to the sky again. 
I hope that I am as flexible with what life brings to me. If I lose half of myself, could I spring back and once again lift my arms towards heaven? 
I like to think that my faith is strong enough to endure whatever comes my way. But flexibility and strength do not just happen. They are developed, as we grow and age, like muscles and strong bones. 
May our delight be in the law of the Lord, on which we meditate day and night; may we be as a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. May we prosper in all things.  – Taken from Psalm 1:3 (paraphrased).

Walk of Life

On By Betty OwensIn Carolina Beach


Never diminish another’s footsteps, but whenever possible, seek another’s glory. This came to mind as I walked the beach early one morning. This is a constant message in the Bible. Do not think more of yourself than you ought to think. Jesus, who was greatest of all who lived, was humble. He set His wants and His needs aside to accomplish His Father’s Purpose. 

So if I truly follow in His footsteps, I will seek to do the same. I may not always accomplish it. Not perfect yet! 

TMTD Syndrome!

On By Betty OwensIn Dazed and Confused

Sometimes I feel dazed and confused! I am interrupted so many times at work, I lose track of what I am supposed to be doing and then my eyes glaze over . . . know the feeling? 
I call it TMTD Syndrome (Too Much To Do). It helps to look at a favorite picture (like this one!) or read a favorite verse of scripture. I need something to “ground” me quickly and bring me back to earth. I backtrack, reorganize and then breathe. 

Take a coffee break! . . . Laugh at myself! . . . Count my blessings!

One of those little gems you occasionally find …

On By Betty OwensIn The Temple of God

“I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” II Chronicles 7:16 NIV

What a powerful statement the Lord makes concerning the temple built by human hands, overseen by King Solomon. How much greater then, when you realize that now we are the temple of God and in the same way, through Grace by Faith in the son of God, we are inhabited by God’s Spirit. I Corinthians 3:16 says, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?”
Once God has chosen us to be His temple, His heart and His eyes will always be there!

Wake Up Call

On By Betty OwensIn Uncategorized

The past month has been an amazing ride. Hurricane Ike blew through our land-locked state and swept away life as we knew it. I live in a neighborhood full of very large trees, including a big black walnut tree in our front yard. Those walnuts were missiles on the wind!

We were ill-prepared for a long-term power outage. At least the weather was decent. We sat in our family room with the windows and doors open and heard a strange noise…neighbors laughing and talking…together! 

They sat outside until late, watching their children play. We read books by candlelight and heated water over tea lights! 
It was fun for a while. Then reality set in. We’d lost everything in our refrigerator, but so did everyone else, as well as all the nearby grocery stores and restaurants. The ones that were open got slammed!

We barely got back on our feet when the stock market crashed and for a while there, things looked very dark. It was then that I realized how quickly life as we know it can change. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…Are you ready?