Tag Archives: Adonai

Quotation Station

December 8, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Today’s Quotation Station includes a Hanukkah report from last night’s celebration, which was a smashing success. It always is, though, when dining on pizza and wings from our favorite restaurant, Gionino’s. It may not be typical Hanukkah food, but when my husband, son, and I worked Thursday, well, takeout it is! Besides, in the past, we tried to consume all the fried food the celebration usually calls for and just about killed ourselves.

We joined my parents at their home, lit all the candles Will required in his desire to shine extra bright this Hanukkah, and had a great time visiting, laughing, joking, and just generally basking in Adonai’s light. You know, I just realized I forgot to take a picture of all the extra tealights, but I can tell you they were gorgeous! The house just glowed with true shalom.

The hanukkiah always looks a little sparse with only two candles (the shamash and the first night candle), but like hope, as each successive candle is added, the light grows, and grows, and grows!

One lesson I have learned with Hanukkah is that patience is key. Isn’t that true with most things in our lives? We want success, rescue, answers, and basically everything immediately. That’s the beauty of Hanukkah: the Light, like wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and discernment, builds over time. And if you’re paying attention, you gain some maturity along the way and realize this is how it should be.

I’m offering tonight’s prayer while lighting your hanukkiah as today’s quotation:

Praised are you, Lord our G-d,

Ruler of the universe,

who performed wonderous deeds for

our ancestors at this season.

Tonight is also an extra special night of Hanukkah because it’s also Erev Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom! Don’t forget to light your Shabbat candles, too!

See you at sundown when we add a little more Light to an otherwise dark world.

~The Gibsons

Lights in the Realm

December 7, 2023 By in Realm Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

Hello, Realmers! What a busy time it’s been here at Realm Central. Starting with Thanksgiving, my time has been concentrated toward planning, a post-celebratory pause to catch my breath, and then diving right into the next event. Still, I need to catch up with all my faithful followers.

In case you missed it, I had the pleasure of attending a book signing at Kern’s Home & Garden & Christian Book Store during their Winter Wonderland Open House on December 2, 2023. What a wonderful time and a great turnout we had. Five local authors, in addition to myself, were present to share their book(s) and sign purchased copies. If supporting small and/or local business and indie authors is your bag, then I highly recommend seeking out any one of us for a great book to give and stopping at Kern’s for all your holiday needs.

  • Dianna Caraballo
  • Deborah Edmisten
  • Michael G. Parker
  • Anne Blackburne
  • HL Gibson
  • Janine Rosche

Prepping for Hanukkah came swiftly on the heels of Thanksgiving and the book signing. Mom and I hashed out a menu, gifts were acquired, and I didn’t decorate one single bit. Now before you think I’m a Grinch, allow me to explain in two words: five . . . cats. That’s right! It’s a little-known fact that the second miracle of Hanukkah at the Gibson household is the survival of any tissue paper in the gifts bags beyond the moment they are set out. It’s in Adonai’s hands now.

Here’s the appropriate blessing for the first night of Hanukkah:

Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

I hope you’ll be encouraged to participate because at the heart of the celebration, it’s about Adonai’s light, truth, and miracles. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that?

Speaking of which, my darling husband was so inspired by the words of our congregational leader, Timothy Pell, spoken this past Shabbat. Tim taught about Hanukkah, and all week Will couldn’t stop talking about his desire to shine the lights of Hanukkah more brightly than ever.

It’s no secret to anyone that Israel is in the fight of her life right now or that the Gibson household stands with Israel forever! Will wanted to decorate our trees with blue and white lights, but his work schedule and the weather were against us. I could tell how much it meant to my husband, so I proposed tealights that we could burn in addition to our hanukkiah. Yes, it would be indoors, but with a large quantity, we could make our little home glow with the light of Hanukkah.

So, two hundred tealights later (that’s twenty-five a night if you’re wondering), Will is locked and loaded to shine the light into the darkness.

In closing, dear friends, another reason why I haven’t posted recently is because of you! Or rather for you. Confused? It’s easy, really. I’m writing again, and as always, it’s for you and with you in mind.

Realm has been so well received ever since I launched my debut novel this past April. The reviews are spectacular, and the requests for a sequel nonstop. I plan on waiting until the first of the year to decide for sure, but serious thought about publishing the next book in the Realm-verse has been placed at the forefront of my mind. I honestly didn’t think it would happen so soon or be so desired. What a blessing! But when you have the best followers and fans, it’s to be expected.

Thank you, Realmers! Stay tuned, we’ll see you at sundown, and have a Happy Hanukkah.

~The Gibsons

With Much Thankfulness

November 22, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , 2 Comments

As we use these final moments preparing for celebration, the Gibson Household would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for this year in the way of family and friends. Please know how greatly we treasure you.

 

Thank you to everyone who made the launch of my novel, Realm, a smashing success. I hope your journey through the Realm was even better than you anticipated.

 

Our goodwill wishes are in no way diminished toward those we don’t know personally. Thank you, faithful followers of my blog, for your presence here. It’s because of you, too, that I write at the higher standard I do.

May Adonai bless each of you and may all your creative dreams find fulfillment.

~The Gibsons

Challah Lessons

November 6, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Writing for my blog took a backseat in my thoughts during the month of October. In fact, I also haven’t written anything toward my current WIP since I arrived at Shabbat services on October seventh to discover that evil had ramped up its game. What followed has left me dumbfounded, angry, but also with an overwhelming desire to speak truth. And not HL Gibson’s truth, but rather Adonai’s truth.

If you spend any time perusing my blog or social media, you’ll come away with a very good idea of who I am based on what I believe and how I write. Transparency on my blog is always my intention because I want to forge a connection with my readers. This is why my blog has a relaxed presentation that invites comments. I want to have a conversation with you rather than have you feel that I’m constantly trying to sell my novel, Realm, to you or preach at you about writing.

So, the purpose of this post is to help me build back to a place of peace. More than ever, people need to make strong connections to help each other through the dark days. I hope that you’re encouraged to do the same, especially if you’re one of the creatives. A return to art and the creative process is healing from the inside out.

I started by trying a new challah recipe that I’m sharing with you. The simplicity of making bread starts as a return to routine and the need to keep my hands busy so that my brain doesn’t overload. It’s always so beautiful as the dough comes together and, even though still raw, smells delicious.

The first rising time is best used for studying scripture and reading. Dividing the dough and braiding each half into loaves is a time for prayer for those who will eat the challah and anyone who comes to mind. The second rising time is when I organize other parts of my day into productive tasks. The beauty of the whole process is that I’m practicing the concept of laboring so that I can enter Adonai’s rest and experience true shalom.

Peace is the goal here, but bread is the reminder of what is important to me, and what’s important is peace. It’s cyclical! It’s also a reminder that family and friends are the true treasures braided into my life. Making the challah is a blessing because it occurs in my little home, where we’ve lived safely for thirty years with a parade of pets from the four-footed to the winged to the finned. (Although I still don’t have a horse.)

Most importantly, making the challah is a warning—yes, warning—to not mistake complacency for peace. It’s work to not become so content that I drift into decadence and laziness. The next step is indifference and forgetfulness, and every stage of that downward spiral is a bad place to be. It is a grave danger to ignore the truth, no matter how painful, because then we become useless to ourselves and others when we fall into the wrong belief that the evil taking place out there will never touch us.

Bread is life, and life must be fought for. I cannot always predict when and where the battlefronts will open in my life, but I can be prepared to fight that evil even if it’s through the simple task of baking challah. I will stare evil in the face and say, “You will not disrupt my process. Not today.” And then, in the name of Adonai, I will share the fruits of my labor, the work of my hands, with those I love, thus defeating evil.

Quotation Station

October 20, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , 2 Comments

Shabbat Shalom, Israel!

You are not forgotten!

Psalm 121

A song of ascents:

 

If I raise my eyes to the hills,

from where will my help come?

My help comes from ADONAI,

the maker of heaven and earth.

 

Her will not let your foot slip—

your guardian is not asleep.

No, the guardian of Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

 

ADONAI is your guardian; at your right hand

ADONAI provides your with shade—

the sun can’t strike you during the day

or even the moon at night.

 

ADONAI will guard you against all harm;

he will guard your life.

ADONAI will guard your coming and going

from now on and forever.

 

Quotation Station

October 13, 2023 By in Quotation Station, Writing Toolbox Tags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Shabbat Shalom

Baruch haba b’Shem Adonai

The Gibson Household offers prayers for

Israel during this dark time.

We know that Adonai is still on the throne.

Israel will never be moved.

Sukkah Lessons

October 9, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

My thoughts are all over the place as I download and process the past week. For this reason, my post may not read as smoothly as others, but I promise that it will be no less enjoyable.

The Gibson Household celebrated Sukkot during what was an unusually warm week of October. The sunshine was amazing, and we relaxed in our sukkah during the day and long into the evening.

Sukkah Shadows

One theme or concept that Adonai repeatedly showed me as I sat in our little sukkah was how fragile human life is. It was a gentle reminder to walk with Adonai and not attempt to bend Him to my will. My faith was strengthened when reminded that with my life in His more than capable hands, who or what did I have to fear?

Through the Sukkah Curtains

The sukkah frame we used this year is one we’ve employed for two or three years now. Admittedly, we were lazy and failed to put our sukkah up one year since the construction of this particular frame. While I won’t make excuses for myself, I am reminded that Adonai is patient with me. As long as I’m drawing breath, there is an opportunity to do better in the next moment.

Golden Sukkot Days

I really like this frame because our son, Joshua, designed it. It’s very sturdy, and still the designer in him wants to create something more substantial. He asked if he could dig postholes, fill them with concrete, and add forms that would secure posts in place. I gently reminded him that his idea would be permanent, and one of the points of Sukkot was to remind ourselves of the temporary nature of this portion of our life. He nodded in agreement and went on to design a sturdier frame under the requirements that it must be able to be dismantled and transported not unlike the original sukkahs Israel used.

Guinea Girls Approve the Sukkah

Adonai’s most poignant reminder regarding the fragility of life came late Thursday evening. I haven’t posted about this on social media because I was so stricken by what occurred that I didn’t know how to process it.

A storm—one that didn’t produce copious amounts of wind or rain—blew our sukkah right over. I was horrified because we couldn’t repair or restore anything until Friday. As Will assessed the damage and ended up dismantling our sukkah until next year, I turned my eyes from the windows every time I walked by.

I never asked Adonai why this occurred, and I don’t believe in signs or omens of ill. I was reminded of the fallen sukkah of David and how Adonai is restoring it more every day. I thought to myself how wonderful it would be if Yeshua HaMashiach returned on Shemini Atzeret or Simchat Torah.

One thing that did raise my spirits regarding our sukkah was our son’s determination to redesign it within my guidelines, and even more beautiful, his suggestion that we use a wood burner to inscribe our favorite passages of scripture into the beams.

Cool Sukkot Evenings

And then, the next morning, we arrived for Shabbat services to learn that Godless cowards had attacked Israel. The enemy opened another battlefront, and believers met the onslaught fiercely in prayer. Believers are soldiers who, at any given moment, are on their knees fighting evil.

So, as the Gibson Household embarks on another cycle of life, studying Torah, preparing for the moedim, and fighting in the many warzones the enemy launches to discourage us, I’m encouraged that my fragile life is, as always, safe with Adonai.

Baruch HaShem!

Do You Hear What I Hear?

October 2, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I tend to get in the middle of a task and suddenly needing something I can’t reach or forgot to grab in the first place. No problem. My husband, Will, is usually in the house, so I yell for him.

This exact scenario happened the other day, and fortunately, Will called back to ask what I needed thus expressing a willingness to retrieve said item. I told him exactly what I needed and exactly where to find it. The search was on.

I know, because I was the last person to use the item and/or the one who purchased it and placed it where it belonged, that it was exactly where I said it would be. But Will could not find it.

Now, if your home is anything like the Gibson Household, at this point, a conversation bellowed between rooms takes place because why would you walk into the room where the person in need is located? And now stuck in many ways! No help in locating the desperately needed item was forthcoming.

Except for a continued description of the item in the minutest detail shouted across the house in a voice somewhere between panic and rising anger. Quite possibly through clenched teeth.

And then, most unexpectedly and with great enthusiasm, Will’s shout of, “I found it!” rang throughout the house. Sighs of relief were enjoyed all around and life resumed with some sort of normalcy.

Upon parting, however, he made a strange comment. “I couldn’t see it because I expected it to look like that other thing you have.”

What? I described what I needed in precise detail. Slow dawning came. “You weren’t really listening, were you?” At this point, I could allow my annoyance to boil over into anger, but HaShem has taught me to pause and look at the situation because there is usually a lesson involved.

Because Will expected the item to look like something else, he literally could not see what I needed on the shelf in front of him. My verbal description, i.e., what he heard, was useless because his brain saw what he wanted. He was blinded by his expectations.

How many times have we done the same thing with Adonai? We humbly petition for something we need, and when the answer doesn’t arrive looking exactly as we expect, we cannot see it. Or worse, we claim our prayer wasn’t answered.

The same thing applies when reading scripture. Believers claim that HaShem is still speaking to them, but when His words on the page don’t match our image of Adonai based on our religion, doctrine, theology, or traditions, we cast Him, His character, and his Word aside. We’re not hearing, and what’s worse, we’re not listening.

Believers who don’t or won’t listen cannot see what’s right in front of them. They cannot perceive HaShem’s truths. Their spiritual sight weakens because their ears are not listening, and they begin to trust what they see more than what they hear. In short, they aren’t obeying.

Obedience begins with hearing, progresses to listening, and grows into action.

Now don’t hear me say that my husband wasn’t obeying me. The point of this post is not to criticize men or husbands. I turned Adonai’s brilliant insight back on myself and learned that my expectations will be satisfied to their utmost when they look like HaShem’s will for me. I’ll know His will for me when I listen to His Word and act upon it.

Only then will I find Him, only then will I see Him.

You, Me, & Us

August 14, 2023 By in Lightning Juice Tags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Today marks thirty years of marriage for me and William. As we talked about the time we’ve been together, we realized that we’ve spent more years as a couple than as singles. That alone is a huge blessing. Will is fond of saying that marriages lasting as long as ours are rare these days, and I would have to agree.

I love our life together, the home we made, the marriage we built. I enjoy memories as landmarks in time. And sometimes, I tally our years together a little differently than just marking days on a calendar.

Such as all the houses we’ve lived in. One. We started in this house, and God willing, we’re going to finish here, which is quite fine with both of us because we hate moving. Our little home has always been the right size for everything we needed. Sometimes it was just the two of us, and other times we packed our tiny home with friends and family. In either case, we experienced true joy.

I could also count the children in our life. Again, one. But what a son he is. We waited seven years for him, but he was worth it. He spent a little over twenty years with us during our walk toward thirty. Fortunately, he lives close enough to pop in for a visit. Mostly when he needs to use the washer and dryer and occasionally for food.

Then there’s our one grandbaby. He’s a sweet, little fella who starts kindergarten in a couple days. No, he’s not the child of our only son, but he couldn’t belong to us any more even if he had been born into our family. That fact is not up for dispute.

I suppose we could add up our time together with all the pets we’ve loved. Three dogs, eighteen cats, twenty-two parakeets, two rabbits, twenty-one tanks of fish, and two bowls with bettas. I also think of the wild birds we feed as ours, and recently, I’ve been feeding stray guinea fowl. I still don’t have a horse.

Will and I never stray too far from home. We tell people that we’re stay-cationers. Our idea of vacation is eating out every evening and sleeping in our own beds every night. Sprinkle in zero responsibilities (except for feeding whatever pet(s) we own in the moment), long drives, coffee shops, ice cream shops, what we like to call retail therapy, and that’s just about as perfect as a vacation can get for us.

While Will’s passion has always been fishing, I never got the hang of it. Instead of him wasting his time untangling my line, I take a lawn chair and book because reading is my passion. We realized that it wasn’t about doing what the other person liked. It was about simply being in each other’s presence.

We’ve definitely grown spiritually. Our walk with Adonai is so much more than we ever thought it could be when we first dipped our toe in the well of faith. There were some serious battles, but they made us the strong people we are today. It’ll be interesting to see what Adonai has in store for us next.

One thing I can honestly say about being married to Will for thirty years is that our marriage never lost its sense of excitement and wonder. I’m just as happy to be doing life with him today as I was the day I said, “I do.” I made a promise to him all those years ago that if he came along with me as an equal partner that I’d do everything I could to make life an exciting ride. I’m looking forward to making sure our next thirty years are just as good if not better.