Millennium is Coming

I am pleased to announce the official launch of my fiction author's website and home to the upcoming epic series, Millennium. Readers are captivated by this dynamic series. 

The next great age is foretold, written on the hearts of man, and rapidly approaching; Millennium, is coming.

The Golden City

The first novel, The Black Key, is a fast-paced epic journey, delivering heart-pounding action, adventure, and romance.

Paradise is shattered by brutal betrayal; one brother sacrifices the other. Two young princes discover the truth, one must flee, the other is left behind. More than murder taints the Palace, ancient evil, bound for a millennium breaks free. Princes Josiah and Peter travel paths they never imagined, caught in a web of deceit, intrigue, and rebellion. Davianna and Astrid protect a dangerous artifact with the power to destroy paradise. Lives and hearts collide in epic adventure, as they battle evil, and run from all who covet, The Black Key.

To become a beta reader and receive your free copy of The Black Key, please visit: Alanthia.com and sign up!

A Child's Drawing

(Originally published 10/28/11)

Yesterday, as I was driving to work, I was in prayer. I surrendered my day and asked Him to use me in any way He saw fit. As I sat at the stoplight, I realized how inadequate and fallible I am, even in the midst of obedience and faithfulness. In my human skin, this is the best I am going to get. I am doing all the things He direct Christians to do. I am praying, reading my Bible, going to church, surrendering my will to His direction, and humbly worshiping; yet I am still full of sin.

He gently stroked my head and brought this image to my mind. As a parent, your small child will present you with a drawing. Perhaps it is a card or a picture they sat at their table and lovingly made something special. They present their work of art, proud and hoping you will love it. It was the best they could do. You smile broadly and gush over how beautiful it is; you hug and thank them for the wonderful gift. You do not judge it for what it is not, for it is not the Mona Lisa. You recognize the offering is precious because they are incapable of doing better, and you love them and the picture, exactly the way it is. That is the way God sees us and our offerings to Him, not as a critic, but as a loving parent. I am so grateful for that.

We must try to remember, when we look down at our little offerings, that we should not be critics either. For one day, we will stand before the King, and the offerings we gave Him will be more magnificent than any artwork ever created by human hands. His hand will have perfected us and the gifts. We will rejoice together in this marvelous thing He has done.

Bring Forth in a Day

(Originally published 03/17/15,)

Abigail and Dolley was never intended to be much more than an outlet to write about whatever was on my mind at the time.  At the launch in 2009, I did much of what new bloggers do to build a following but quickly realized that building a blog is like building a business, and I have one of those.  So over the years, I shared with you what was on my heart not focusing on the stats.  Recently though, I feel like God has been teaching me and giving me revelations about His word that are important.

This is frustrating because, while loyal, the audience I reach is small.  I am small.  In the world of Bible teachers, I am the definition of a nobody.  I don't even teach a Sunday School Class.  There are no women teaching eschatology.  My influence in this world is limited to a few people, even people that know me and love me, don't understand what I teach - they don't walk the same path, and if I've heard once, I've heard it a hundred times, "I'm just not that deep, Dolley."  I feel as if I am going to explode with these new revelations and there is nobody to share them with; I miss my Dad.

Tonight, troubled in spirit, I sought the Lord on a walk - seeking what He would have me do.  Questioning if I am doing what I am supposed to do.  Asking if there is something more that I should be doing and am not - most of all, questioning why me?  Why show me things in His Word and then have 15 people read the most important posts of my life?  What do you want me to do?  I seemed to have more questions than I was getting answers.

Then, I walked by a tree in my yard.  I'd taken a picture of it yesterday.  It reminded me of a story. One day, after my Dad moved into his new house, we were shooting baskets.  I asked him what kind of tree was by his driveway. He laughed and said, "I have no idea, but these cool fuzzy buds looked promising." The turned out to be a tulip magnolia. When we moved in this house, he gave me one.

Tulip Magnolia in Bud

Tonight, as I was finishing my walk, not having received answers to the questions that sent me forth, I noticed the tree. The same tree that 24 hours earlier had a half a dozen open blooms looked like this:

Tulip Magnolia in Blossom 

I felt the Lord whisper in my heart, "I can change things in a day.  I can bring forth all the buds in one moment."

I realized then, that I was called to keep going, to keep teaching, to keep writing, and to leave the day of the blossom to Him.  In our lives, we often look around and see buds everywhere, but it's God that brings forth the flowers and the fruit and he can do it in a day.