Spiritual Sparks
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 KJV If anyone would’ve told me I’d write a devotional one day inspired by Kid Rock, I would’ve laughed—probably loudly and without shame. Yet here it is, camped out in my head, looping like a song you can’t turn off. I remember some of his songs. They weren’t my favorite—I was never the rapper or heavy-metal type. Still, he carried a persona that was impossible to ignore: loud, cocky, unapologetic. He wore confidence like a sleeveless T-shirt and dared anyone to comment on it. That was part of his history. And if we’re honest, we all have a history. Back in the day, we talked big, listened small, and treated humility like an accessory we’d eventually outgrow. None of us wore the meek-and-mild sandals very well—only Jesus. He never needed a transformation-alignment. Our Jesus is perfect and sets the standard with a simple invitation: “Follow me.” As we age, though, something shifts. We become … well, we become humble. You see, life sandpapers the rough edges, and we look for answers. We take stock of the life we’ve built and begin longing for something better—for our children, our aging parents, and the world we all share. During a performance on Turning Point USA’s “All-American Halftime Show,” Kid Rock—Robert Ritchie—allowed us to witness his heart shift. He explained he awoke one Sunday morning with 'Til You Can't stuck in his head and “something or someone spoke to me,” inspiring him to write a verse to the song … and this is what Robert Ritchie wrote: “There’s a book that's sitting in your house somewhere that could use some dusting off/ There’s a man that died for all our sins/ hanging from the cross/ You can give your life to Jesus/ and he’ll give you a second chance/ ’til you can’t, ’til you can’t . ” Those lines written by Robert Ritchie made my eyes leak and my heart cry. They carry the unmistakable marks of transformation. Each word carries a holy weight: redemption, repentance, urgency, salvation. Dear one, Holy doesn’t wait. He saves. When transformation triumphs, we stop chasing freedom and start longing for forgiveness. We crave unity instead of division, purpose instead of noise. It’s like finally coming home after wandering too long in the dark. You see, we don’t just want love—we want unconditional love. We want to intimately know our God, to feel Jesus in our hearts. Scripture says it best: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10 KJV). That’s the turning point. That’s when pride loosens its grip, grace steps in, and God rewrites the lyrics of a soul reborn in Christ. Father God, Thank You for being a merciful Savior who looks beyond our history and sees our future in You. When pride loosens and grace steps in, transform our hearts and teach us to walk humbly in Your love ... rewrite our story for Your kingdom. In Jesus' name. Amen Spiritual Sparks As Robert Ritchie (Kid Rock) shared his turning point, where might God be quietly inviting you to share your own? What “dusty book” in your life needs opening so God can begin rewriting your story? ❤️ Holy doesn’t wait. He saves. ~~LM ❤️
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "Isaiah 55:8 NKJV Anyone who has a heart for God or learning about Him will eventually become bombarded with a bucketful of "whys." They show up uninvited, like weeds creeping into a well-tended garden, tangling themselves through our thoughts. As we travel across our rose-covered roads, we will no doubt pick up a thorn or two. Each thorn has its own reason to jab and prick at our everyday situations. Trust me, I've stepped on plenty of those thorns. Sometimes life hands you a rose, but forgets to mention it comes from a complimentary thorn bush. When we're poked by our "whys," questions percolate, and we blame the obvious, the not-so-obvious, or whatever is nearby. We try to make sense of it all. We grasp for answers. Nothing. Then our imaginations throw a little pity party while we search for the reason behind the confusion of the "why." God helps us understand with this verse: " For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8 NKJV). But here's the thing—whether we're feeling like a leaky canoe in a sea of "whys", we are still God's vessels. We are undeniably NOT of this world (even if some days we feel like we belong at the bottom of a lost-and-found bin). You see, life's trials, big or small, are inevitable ... and your "whys"? Well, you're allowed to ask them. So, go ahead, lift your hands, bow your head to the Lord, and ask away. Dear friend, when life hits you hard, God's strength is critical for those desperate times. You see, God hears, God cares, and He's never stumped by questions that trip us up. Always remember, even if the road is thorny, He's already walked it barefoot … and He promises to walk it with us, every prickly step of the way. Heavenly Father, When our hearts overflow with questions, help us trust You more than our understanding. When the road feels thorny, remind us that You walk beside us. Give us peace when answers feel far away, and strength to keep moving forward with You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen. Spiritual Sparks 1. What “why” has been tangling your thoughts lately, and how have you been carrying it? 2. Where might God be inviting you to trust His higher ways instead of demanding clear answers? "God is never stumped by questions that trip us up."~~LM
Prayers Under Fire
~~coming soon~~
Dex Hamilton, special ops mercenary, turned his back on God six years ago. He now spends his rogue life living for the government, sidestepping a monotony of red tape, and righting a long-overdue wrong.
Marcee Simmons, small-town preacher’s daughter from Ohio, is forced to drive deep into the Belize jungle with Dex. Her faith is tested as she and Dex dodge a host of armed men, cavort with a freeloading tarantula, and plunge over a makeshift waterfall.
Together they must evade the evil forces of a kingpin who fights to monopolize new smuggling channels for the exploitation of illegal drugs and human trafficking. When a few phenomenal miracles cross their paths, the results become an awakening kaleidoscope of change, making their survival critical, their trust unavoidable, and their love unstoppable.
My Anthologies
Enjoy ten delightful short stories,
including my own,Tinsel-Touched.
It’s such a joy to see this Rom-Com about second chances come to life alongside the eclectic voices of my talented author friends.
I'm so grateful Love at First Drop found a home in this beautiful
anthology. These twelve stories dive into human depths of resilience, humor, and enduring power of love in unexpected places.
Linda Morgan
Linda Morgan resides in Ohio with her husband. She is a flower gardener at heart, a three-aquarium enthusiast, and when time permits she crochets pillows and afghans. As an eclectic book nerd, Linda loves reading her Bible and any devotional she can get her hands on. However, her bookshelf contains everything from Dr. Seuss to Helen Steiner-Rice, YA adventures to espionage thrillers, romantic suspense to clean rom-coms. The latter being her all-time favorite, and as her husband is always quick to point out: “Life’s (more!) better when you’re laughing.” She agrees.
She is a word geek to the extreme and for some quirky reason has an overwhelming impulse to spell words backwards, but only to herself. Not out loud. That would just be weird.
She's written a full-length novel, Prayers Under Fire, which will be released soon. (Spoiler alert: it’s a trilogy, so get ready to meet the Jameson brothers, whose entertaining adventures and swoon-worthy romances bring faith, hope, and love to life.) Linda combines page-turning adventure, intriguing suspense, and a romantic happily-ever-after to her novels. She had a poem published a decade ago, and a few years back, she won first place on two devotions submitted to FaithWriters.com. In July 2025, she's had a short-story published, Love at First Drop, in an anthology titled, DREAMS AND DRIFTWOOD. In November 2025, Tinsel-Touched hit the shelf in a Christmas anthology titled, HOLIDAYS IN THE HEARTLAND.
Above all else, God is number one in her life, and Linda knows she wouldn’t be writing if she didn’t believe this is what He’s called her to do. Please take the time to stop by her devotional page, "Spiritual Sparks." She welcomes your visits and prays her words touch your heart.