Dora Hiers

Storms…where do you hide?

/ Dora Hiers / 6 Comments

Bruiser, our eight-year-old golden retriever, meandered around the yard on his usual morning patrol, sniffing his territory to make sure no critters invaded during the night. 


A strange sound made me glance over the rim of my coffee cup. Was that thunder? So early in the morning? Probably not.


From my vantage point at the kitchen table, I peered out the glass door. The sky had lightened with morning’s brightness. Not a dark cloud in sight. Perhaps the noise I heard was a train from the nearby tracks? 


The noise sounded again, this time more distinct and definitely thunder.


Bruiser bounded up the deck steps as rain dumped from the sky, his big brown eyes pleading for me to let him in. I did, and Bruiser raced by to hide in our shower, someplace dark and without windows. Terrified of thunder and lightning, he usually senses when a storm is nearby, but this one caught him by surprise. 


The storms of life sometimes sneak up on us. Catch us by surprise. Events like the death of a loved one, relational breakups, job loss, or financial difficulties. 

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Where do you hide when you’re afraid?

Welcome LoRee Peery with SAGE AND SWEETGRASS

/ Dora Hiers / 2 Comments

Sage and Sweetgrass 

by LoRee Peery


Diagnosed with a chronic, debilitating illness, Lanae Petersen vows to pursue life to its fullest. When she discovers mysterious love letters hidden within an antique desk, she begins a quest to discover who the young lovers were. Little does she realize that in trying to bring closure to their lives, hers will be turned upside-down.

After the death of his wife, cowboy Sage Diamond wants to be left alone on his acreage in peace and anonymity. When Lanae approaches him with letters to a family member, she not only threatens to expose his family secrets, but also stirs something inside him that he neither expects, nor welcomes. Sage fights his attraction, determined not to fall for a woman whose health is so fragile. Can Sage trust God’s guiding hand, or will his fear of losing another love crush his chance for a future with Lanae?


Excerpt:
The sky was clear and enormous where it met the horizon. The whinny of horses carried up from a pasture on the other side of the barn. The acreage represented everything she loved about being outside the city limits. Expanse, horses, a sprinkling of trees in the distance…God’s country.

When she caught sight of the cowboy, the vision was complete.

She sighed. Home. How crazy. She felt like she’d come home.

The cowboy rounded the corner of the wood-sided barn that she guessed to be sixty feet long. He loped in the loose way of a man comfortable on the back of a horse.

And she enjoyed every step as he approached.

He even tipped the brim of his hat. “Mornin’. You Lanae?”

Wow was the only thing she could think to say. But she kept it to herself.

Her mouth went dry.

His nose was bent, just off to the right of center. He had a full bottom lip, thinner upper, all accented by what she supposed was a year-round tan. Myriad facial lines gave testimony to a life lived outdoors.

She cleared her throat, mustered up some moisture for her vocal chords in order to answer, “That I am.”

“Sage Diamond.”

When he drew close enough, Lanae was dumbfounded at the impact of his eyes. They were an unbelievable piercing blue with a hint of lavender.

“Did you have any trouble finding the place?” Sage spoke in an unhurried manner.

Lanae wondered if he felt rushed about anything. She started to open the door.

“You always leave your car running?” A hint of amusement tugged at his mouth.

Oops. She turned the key. Great first impression.

He held the door.

Still caught in the lavender blue of his eyes, shadowed now from his hat, Lanae swallowed what felt like the chaff of an August hayfield.

No more singles ads for me.


Great excerpt, isn’t it? Readers, look for Sage and Sweetgrass on 2/24 with White Rose Publishing.


Meet LoRee Peery: 
A Nebraska country girl most of her life, LoRee Peery feels she would be stifled surrounded by concrete instead of open spaces. LoRee and her husband live in a home built with their own hands.
LoRee clings to the word overcomer and the knowledge she has victory in Jesus. When she considers being set apart as a child of God, she is humbled. She believes in redeeming grace, and if we open our eyes, we will see the hand of God every day, no matter where we are.

It’s not all about Santa…

/ Dora Hiers

it’s about Jesus, God’s love for us…
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests.” ~Luke 2:4-14 NIV

Do you think Mary, being a virgin, asked “why me?”  
And Joseph? 
Knowing Mary was pregnant ~ and the babe wasn’t his ~ suffered humiliation and scorn. Yet he obeyed God and took Mary as his wife. They offered their very lives in obedience to God.
The angels offered their praise.

What about you?
What will you offer God today?
God, I give You all that I am. Use me for Your glory. In Your precious Son’s name. Amen.