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Guide complet du casino en ligne

April 14, 2025 / - / 0 Comments

Guide complet du casino en ligne

Le phénomène des casinos en ligne ne cesse de prendre de l’ampleur parmi les joueurs francophones. En quelques clics, il est possible d’accéder à des centaines de jeux, de profiter de bonus alléchants et de jouer depuis son smartphone ou son ordinateur portable. Cette accessibilité a créé un véritable marché où la concurrence pousse chaque opérateur à se démarquer par l’innovation, la variété des paiements et la qualité du service client.

Dans ce contexte dynamique, nouveau casino en ligne apparaît comme un repère incontournable pour les novices comme pour les habitués qui souhaitent s’informer avant de s’inscrire. Les sites comparatifs tels que Basketnews.Net évaluent les plateformes selon des critères rigoureux et publient des revues détaillées qui aident le joueur à faire un choix éclairé.

Ce guide a pour objectif d’accompagner le lecteur pas à pas : comment identifier un site fiable, comprendre les différents jeux proposés, gérer son budget avec méthode et profiter d’une expérience sécurisée et responsable. Nous aborderons également les tendances qui façonnent le futur du jeu en ligne, notamment le live dealer et la réalité virtuelle.

Comment choisir un casino en ligne fiable

Choisir un opérateur digne de confiance repose avant tout sur sa licence et sa régulation. Les juridictions les plus respectées sont Malte Gaming Authority (MGA), Gibraltar Regulatory Authority et Curaçao eGaming ; elles imposent des audits réguliers et une transparence financière obligatoire. Un casino affichant une licence MGA ou Gibraltar bénéficie généralement d’un niveau de protection élevé pour le joueur français.

Licence	Autorité	Exigences principales	Exemple de sites certifiés
MGA	Malta Gaming Authority	Audits RNG trimestriels, protection des fonds séparés	Casino A, Casino B
Gibraltar	Gibraltar Regulatory Authority	Contrôle fiscal strict, conformité aux normes UE	Casino C
Curaçao	Curaçao eGaming	Vérification KYC simplifiée mais audits moins fréquents	Casino D

Les audits RNG (Random Number Generator) garantissent l’équité des résultats ; la certification eCOGRA est le label le plus reconnu dans ce domaine. Un rapport eCOGRA indique que le taux de retour au joueur (RTP) a été mesuré de façon indépendante.

En plus du cadre légal, il faut vérifier les méthodes de paiement proposées. Les e‑wallets comme Skrill ou Neteller offrent des dépôts instantanés tandis que les cartes bancaires restent la norme pour les retraits rapides. De plus en plus de plateformes acceptent les cryptomonnaies – Bitcoin ou Ethereum – qui permettent des transactions anonymes et souvent sans frais.

Le service client constitue un critère décisif : disponibilité 24/7 via chat live ou email, support multilingue incluant le français et temps moyen de réponse inférieur à deux minutes sont gages d’un accompagnement professionnel.

Enfin, consultez les avis des joueurs sur des forums spécialisés et sur Basketnews.Net qui agrège les retours d’expérience afin d’établir une réputation solide ; évitez les sites dont la communauté signale régulièrement des retards de paiement ou un support inexistant.

Les différents types de bonus et promotions

Les casinos rivalisent d’ingéniosité pour attirer les nouveaux inscrits ; voici les formules majeures rencontrées sur le nouveau site de casino en ligne que vous étudierez.

Bonus de bienvenue : généralement un match jusqu’à 200 €, parfois accompagné de tours gratuits sur une machine populaire comme Starburst.
Bonus sans dépôt : une somme fixe (exemple : 10 €) offerte dès l’inscription sans exigence préalable d’argent réel.
Tours gratuits : souvent liés à une série spécifique – par exemple 20 free spins sur Gonzo’s Quest après avoir misé €20.

Les conditions de mise (wagering) varient fortement d’un opérateur à l’autre. Un multiplicateur « 30x » signifie que vous devez miser trente fois le montant du bonus avant toute liquidation ; comparez toujours ce chiffre avec votre style de jeu afin d’éviter une perte inutile.

Programmes fidélité & VIP

De nombreux casinos proposent un système à points où chaque euro misé rapporte des crédits échangeables contre des cashbacks ou des invitations à des tournois exclusifs. Le statut VIP peut offrir :

limites de dépôt élevées,
gestionnaire personnel,
retraits accélérés sans frais supplémentaires.

Astuces pour maximiser la valeur

1️⃣ Lisez attentivement le tableau « conditions du bonus » affiché sur Basketnews.Net – il résume souvent les exigences réelles.

2️⃣ Privilégiez les offres avec un wagering inférieur à 20x.

3️⃣ Combinez bonus dépôt + tours gratuits sur la même session pour exploiter la volatilité élevée d’une machine à jackpot progressif.

Évitez cependant les pièges courants : bonus expirant au bout de trois jours ou exigences “mise maximale” très basses qui limitent vos gains potentiels.

Les jeux de casino les plus populaires en ligne

Machines à sous vidéo

Les slots dominent le trafic grâce à leurs thèmes variés et leurs mécaniques innovantes. Book of Ra Deluxe propose un RTP moyen autour de 96 %, tandis que Mega Joker offre jusqu’à 99 % RTP mais avec une volatilité faible adaptée aux joueurs prudents. Les fonctionnalités bonus – tours gratuits déclenchés par trois symboles scatter – augmentent considérablement le gain potentiel.

Jeux de table classiques

Roulette européenne (single zero) reste la préférée pour son avantage maison réduit à 2,7 %. Le blackjack « Infinite Bet » permet d’engager plusieurs mains simultanément ; idéal pour ceux qui recherchent un rythme rapide sans sacrifier le taux théorique favorable (~99,5 %). Le baccarat propose deux variantes populaires : Punto Banco et Chemin De Fer – toutes deux disponibles chez le casino online france leader du marché.

Poker en ligne & cash games

Contrairement aux tournois télévisés, les cash games offrent une flexibilité totale : mise minimale dès €0,01 dans certaines salles virtuelles comme PokerStars. La différence majeure réside dans l’absence d’achat obligatoire d’un ticket ; vous jouez directement avec votre bankroll réelle.

Jeux spécialisés

Keno avec tirages toutes les cinq minutes attire ceux qui aiment combiner hasard pur et stratégie légère via la sélection du nombre maximal de numéros joués. Le bingo interactif propose souvent des jackpots progressifs atteignant plusieurs dizaines de milliers d’euros lorsqu’un grand nombre de joueurs se connecte simultanément pendant un événement spécial.

Sécurité et protection des données personnelles

La première défense contre toute forme d’intrusion est le chiffrement SSL/TLS couplé au protocole HTTPS obligatoires sur chaque page transactionnelle ; cela garantit que vos informations bancaires circulent dans un tunnel crypté impossible à intercepter.

Politique de confidentialité

Un bon casino indique clairement quelles données sont collectées : nom complet, adresse IP, historique des paris et coordonnées bancaires uniquement lorsque cela est indispensable au processus KYC (Know Your Customer). Ces informations sont stockées sur serveurs situés dans l’UE afin d’être couvertes par le RGPD.

Vérification d’identité (KYC)

La procédure KYC devient incontournable après votre premier retrait supérieur à €500 ou lorsqu’une suspicion anti‑blanchiment apparaît. Vous devrez fournir une pièce d’identité officielle ainsi qu’un justificatif domicile récent ; ce processus ne dure généralement que quelques heures lorsqu’il est traité par une équipe dédiée.

Gestion responsable du jeu

Tous les sites sérieux intègrent des outils permettant :

Auto‑exclusion définitive ou temporaire,
Limites quotidiennes / hebdomadaires sur les dépôts,
Alertes temps/argent affichées pendant chaque session,

Ces fonctionnalités sont régulièrement testées par Basketnews.Net afin d’assurer leur efficacité réelle auprès du public français.

Comment optimiser son bankroll ?

Définir une bankroll initiale réaliste dépend du type de jeu choisi : pour du slot high‑voltage on conseille entre €100‑€200 ; pour du blackjack stratégique on peut commencer avec €50 seulement.

Méthodes de mise progressive vs stratégies fixes

Méthode	Principe	Risque principal
Martingale	Doubler la mise après chaque perte	Ruine rapide si séquence longue
Fibonacci	Suivre la suite mathématique	Gains modestes mais pertes limitées
Mise fixe	Pari constant (% bankroll)	Variabilité contrôlée

La Martingale attire beaucoup grâce à son aspect « récupérer tout instantanément », mais elle nécessite une réserve énorme – souvent impossible dans le cadre réglementaire français où le plafond quotidien peut être limité à €5 000.

Gestion des sessions

Une durée idéale se situe entre trente minutes et deux heures ; au-delà il faut impérativement faire une pause afin d’éviter la fatigue décisionnelle qui augmente drastiquement l’erreur humaine.

Outils statistiques & applications tierces

Des applications comme CasinoTracker ou MyBetLog permettent d’enregistrer chaque mise, gain ou perte ainsi que le ROI global (%) par jeu spécifique. Analyser ces données hebdomadaires aide à ajuster votre stratégie avant qu’une mauvaise tendance ne devienne chronique.

En appliquant ces principes vous maximisez vos chances non seulement survivre aux coups rudes mais aussi profiter pleinement lors des périodes favorables où votre variance devient positive.

Le futur des casinos en ligne : live dealer & réalité virtuelle

Le streaming haute définition a transformé l’expérience live dealer : dès maintenant vous pouvez jouer à la roulette française avec un vrai croupier visible en HD60fps depuis Monaco ou Dublin via Zoom‑style video feed intégré directement dans votre navigateur mobile.

Technologies VR/AR émergentes

Des titres comme VR Blackjack Royale offrent déjà une immersion totale grâce aux casques Oculus Quest 2 ; vous êtes placé autour d’une table virtuelle où chaque jeton possède une physique réaliste.

L’adoption massive devrait arriver dès 2027 lorsque la bande passante moyenne dépassera largement les exigences (>100 Mbps) nécessaires au rendu temps réel sans latence perceptible.

Rôle des cryptomonnaies & blockchain

Les plateformes pionnières utilisent la blockchain non seulement comme moyen financier mais aussi comme registre transparent garantissant l’équité du RNG via smart contracts audités publiquement.

Des projets tels que FairSpin proposent ainsi aux joueurs français l’assurance qu’aucune partie n’est manipulée puisque chaque résultat est inscrit immuable sur Ethereum.

Ainsi combinant croupiers réels, environnements virtuels ultra‑réalistes et transactions décentralisées , le nouveau casino en ligne 2026 promet une expérience où sécurité, équité et immersion cohabitent harmonieusement.

Conclusion

Nous avons passé en revue l’ensemble des critères indispensables pour choisir judicieusement votre plateforme : licence reconnue, audit RNG/eCOGRA certifié, méthodes financières sécurisées et service client disponible rapidement. Nous avons détaillé comment décrypter bonuses variés tout en évitant leurs pièges cachés , présenté les jeux phares dont RTP moyen varie selon volatilité , expliqué quelles protections techniques assurent vos données personnelles ainsi que quels outils vous aideront à gérer efficacement votre bankroll.

En appliquant ces bonnes pratiques vous serez armé face aux multiples offres qui pullulent aujourd’hui sur le marché français du casino online france . N’oubliez pas non plus que rester informé régulièrement via Basketnews.Net constitue votre meilleur allié : nous y publions quotidiennement analyses indépendantes concernant chaque nouveau site de casino en ligne, comparaisons détaillées (« nouveau casino en ligne ») ainsi que alertes sécurité.

Bonne chance dans vos parties futures – jouez responsablement !

The True Measure of a Mom

From the time I was a little girl playing house with my baby dolls, I’ve dreamed of being a mom. And not just any mom, I wanted to be the best mom this world had ever seen!

Some 30 odd years later and here I am, blessed to be called “mom” by two of the cutest kiddos you’ve ever seen (really, that’s not just me being biased). Only problem is, many days I feel far from my goal of being the best mom ever. In fact, I’m going to share a snippet of my prayer journal entry from yesterday to give you insight on exactly how far from “measuring up” I often feel. And this was a good day… nothing had happened, so I can’t explain why my quiet time with the Lord went this direction. Maybe God took this moment to speak to my heart knowing it would be easier for me to grasp while I’m not in the middle of a parenting fail!

“Why do I get so brokenhearted every time my children disobey or make a mistake? They’re only human so it’s going to happen. I think it’s mostly out of fear. I worry their shortcomings are indicators of their future and a reflection on me as a mom. I don’t like to feel like I’m not in control, especially over situations I consider my responsibility. Raising children who are obedient and Christ-like is my only job and when they fall short, I feel like a failure. “

Seeing my hurt poured out in writing really hit home. I’ve been measuring my success as a mom based on my children’s performance instead of trusting God’s performance in their hearts. Yes, it’s our job as parents to “train them in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6)” and share how God has worked in our lives (Deuteronomy 4:9-10), but only God can convict and call them to Himself.

I remember when my youngest was around 6 years old. She’d been playing with our bathroom scale and was excited to tell me she was “55 tall.” The number was accurate but she was using the wrong measuring tool. God showed me I’ve been doing the same in gauging how I measure up as a mom.

Our children are going to sin…sometimes blatantly. They are going to make many mistakes just like we do. They need grace daily just like we do. They have free will just like we do and we won’t always be there to stop them from doing something they shouldn’t. We can’t always control our children but we can choose to trust the one who controls everything!

I’ve vowed to quit measuring myself by my children’s mistakes (it’s not fair to them or to me) and start focusing on what will make a real difference in our lives:

my obedience to God’s Word
trusting Him with their hearts and futures
showing patience and extending grace
having a good attitude when things don’t go my way
sharing God’s love and His Word with them daily
praying for them and their relationship with the Lord
loving them, their father and others
being a Christ-like example

My children and I are going to continue to make mistakes, but our heavenly Father knows exactly how to handle them!

Faith to touch Jesus!

June 3, 2016 / inthewrightdirection / 2 Comments

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

We don’t know her name. The woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and was healed had just a brief encounter with Him that day so long ago. Thankfully, a brief encounter with the Savior is all that’s necessary for a change that will last an eternity.

I’ve been thinking about her for months now, wondering what her life must have been like. It’s hard to comprehend the shame and despair that must have hung on her each day. She’d been bleeding for 12 years…12 years of being considered unclean. Unable to attend celebrations, unable to touch or be touched. She’d been cast aside and overlooked. I imagine she tried everything only to find the hope that accompanied each new treatment lead to further despair at their failure. No one could heal her.

No one could heal her except Jesus!

With a touch of faith and the touch of his robe, she was healed. Not only was she healed but for the first time in a long time, she was noticed! Oh, how our hearts long to be noticed…to be truly seen and she was. The one who’d been cast aside stood before the King of Kings and was commended for her faith!

It was against the law for her to touch anyone and yet she was healed with a touch!

She’d been called unclean but He washed her white as snow!

She’d been isolated from her family but He called her daughter!

The doctors called her hopeless. He called her healed!

No, I don’t know her name and yet I pray to be like her. To have faith bold enough to believe against all reason not to. It took courage for her to approach Jesus that day. It was illegal for her to even be in the crowd but she refused to let anything stop her from reaching out to the Savior.

What’s stopping you?

Lord, Save Me From My To-Do List!

May 5, 2016 / inthewrightdirection / 2 Comments

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

I consider myself a very organized person, but I’m also a very forgetful person so I rely heavily on my to-do list. I write down absolutely everything and if you’re a little nerdy like I am, you can relate to the pure joy that comes from marking through each completed task. I love my to-do-list; it’s like a trusted friend who’s always by my side. But I’ve realized it is smothering my relationship with the Lord, preventing me from having the closeness with Him I long for.

This world is so demanding of our time. Work, laundry, errands, running the kids to practice, helping with homework…the list is never ending and exhausting. There’s always something I feel like I should be doing.

I want to sit at Jesus’ feet like Mary but I’m often my own Martha, reminding myself of all the work that needs to be done!

I find myself saying things like, “I’ll be able to focus better during my time with the Lord if I get the laundry started first,” or “I’ll pray and praise God while I dust the blinds.” Of course I can praise God while I clean but that is no replacement for time set-aside to be in His presence. Sadly, I get so caught-up in getting things done that I often neglect my time with God. I doubt any of us would forfeit a one-on-one date night with our hubbies, yet we so easily forfeit time with our first love.

I feel like I’m being a good steward of my time when I can look back on my day and see so many tasks ticked off the list, but the very best use of my time is time spent with my Savior.

My family may never notice if the blinds go undusted or the laundry is postponed a day, but they will notice the love, patience and peace I have to share after filling-up at the feet of Jesus. I’ve heard it said that women set the tone of the home. Think what tone we’d set if we put Jesus at the top of our to-do list!

Hang Onto The “But”

April 22, 2016 / inthewrightdirection / 4 Comments

Don’t you just love a good “but?” Every beloved story has one…Snow White ate the poisoned apple, but love’s first kiss was able to wake her from the queen’s spell. Rocky seemed destined to lose, but at the last second, he stood up and conquered the Russian, Ivan Drago. It’s unbelievable how one small word can make such a big difference.

Webster’s defines “but” as being “used to introduce something contrasting with what has already been mentioned.” Quite simply, it means something is about to change. It means things ain’t over yet!

I’ve been reading through the book of Acts and in God’s perfect timing reached chapter 12 where I got to see just how powerful a “but” can be – especially when God is the author of the story! King Herod recently had James put to death and when he saw how popular it made him with the Jewish people, he became determined to persecute even more believers. He arrested Peter with the intention of bringing him to trial after the Passover. It seemed Peter was doomed to the same fate as James but…

The night before the trial, Peter was sleeping chained between two guards (can you imagine the faith required to sleep?) when an angel woke him. The chains fell off his wrists and he was able to simply follow the angel out of prison and into freedom. This story gets me fired up every time, but this time, God showed me the importance of what was happening between Peter’s imprisonment and his release.

Acts 12:5 says, “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

I’ve been struggling with a situation with one of my children and I am hanging onto that “but” like a life preserver. That “but” meant Peter’s story wasn’t over. It means my child’s story isn’t over either. “But” brought us to the part of the story where we get a glimpse of the prince on the white horse, a vision of change on the way. But it’s what’s on the other side of the “but” that made the difference…”the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”

That is where you and I can claim our hope and peace when we feel imprisoned by circumstances beyond our control. The same hope and peace that allowed Peter to sleep when his life was on the line is available to each of us as believers when we hit our knees in prayer.

“My child is going through a hard time, but her Mama is earnestly praying to God for her.”

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God: my hope comes from him.” Psalm 62:5

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While Waiting To Be Healed

April 14, 2016 / inthewrightdirection / 4 Comments

“But we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Romans 5:3-5

Those who know me, know I’ve been praying for a physical healing. But somewhere along the way, I’ve been given something much better…a spiritual healing.

Seven months ago, I was the healthiest of my adult life. Working out had become a fun and important part of my day so when I injured my back and needed surgery, it felt like someone slammed on the brakes and placed me on the sidelines of my own life. Since then, my back has healed right on schedule, but the resulting nerve damage continues to keep me from doing some of the things I love. I don’t have feeling in a large portion of my left foot so running, jumping and skills that require balance are on hold for now. Nerves take time to heal and that’s frustrating for this impatient girl to accept.

Sometimes spiritual healing takes time as well but often the healing comes through the waiting process itself. In my case, I didn’t even realize I needed spiritual healing until God got my attention physically. He used a difficult time to pull me close and show me what I’d so easily overlooked when everything was going my way. As crazy as it may sound, I’m actually thankful for my back injury and everything that’s come with it.

God hears and answers our prayers but those answers can be hard to recognize if we don’t ask for grace to see through His perspective. Blessings often come disguised as setbacks instead of opportunities for growth. I’d spent the weeks leading up to my injury praying for God to make me a tougher Christian, one who doesn’t give up so easily or back down because I’m afraid I won’t measure up. Overcoming my physical obstacles with God by my side has done just that; I’m now stronger in every way!

Not only am I stronger, I’m more compassionate, I’m getting more patient (against my will) and I trust God more than ever before. I’ve seen that regardless of what happens in this life, HE is all I need to get through. He’s provided all the grace, encouragement and assurance I need and I know He always will.

God takes what we would never choose and turns it into what we would never want to do without!

Don’t get me wrong, I still have the occasional pity party. I still see my limitations each time I’m faced with something I’m not yet able to do, but those limitations look small next to God’s provision and all He’s teaching me. God is the Great Physician but we must keep in mind, He is far more interested in healing our hearts for eternity than healing our very temporary bodies.

Whatever you’re struggling with, pray for the grace to see through God’s perspective. Allow Him to heal you spiritually and use what seems like a setback to make you more like Jesus. I’d love the chance to pray for you…email or message me and I will do just that!

Thanks for taking the time to read what God has been doing in my life!

Come On In!

April 8, 2016 / inthewrightdirection / 1 Comment

Welcome to my new website! While I enjoyed my old site location, it kind of felt like renting and this feels like “home sweet home.” I could never have done this without my good friends Trey and Christie Dedman. Christie for encouraging me when I was too chicken to venture out and Trey for building my site and never laughing (at least not out loud) at my enormous lack of techiness.

It’s been a while since I’ve written and I’m both excited and nervous. Thanks for sticking with me and joining me for the journey!

Also, if you’ve received my posts by email in the past or would like to begin doing so, I need you to enter your email address in the subscribe button to the right. You can also connect with me on Facebook.

All Other Ground is Sinking Sand

July 15, 2015 / inthewrightdirection / 2 Comments

I was having the perfect day. I’m talking flip flops, windows down, music
up, not a care in the world. I couldn’t have found anything wrong with life if I tried. Then, with the ting of an incoming text message, that all changed.

Within seconds of reading the message, I felt icky…shaky really. If it had been the movies, I’d have cued the
rain and Hallmark Channel music to match my mood.

What could the text have said to change my day so quickly? Was someone I love hurt? Did I receive a lifetime ban from Krispy Kreme? No, a friend said something that
hurt my feelings. Yep, sounds very elementary school when I see it in writing but there you go.

See, I am a people person.
Even if you are not so loveable, I will still love you because I just
know I will be the one to change you from an Eeyore into a Pooh Bear! But I especially love MY people, the friends I share life with, and if anything is wrong with them my whole world feels off balance.

This time (finally), I really and truly gave the situation to God. He helped with the ickiness,
gave me grace goggles to see their perspective and by the next day, my world was in balance again.

But as I explained what happened to my ever-patient husband, my own words convicted me (don’t you love when that happens!). I told him that friendships mean so much to me that if something is wrong with one of them I feel unsettled and unsure all around. Immediately, Matthew 7:26 came to mind: “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Uh oh! Without meaning to, I had been building my life on a foundation based on my relationships with others instead of on my relationship with God. No wonder things could feel shaky from just one little text. The slightest wind and rain of life had sent my house crashing down. God wants us to have friendships but when so much of our joy hinges on anything other than Him, it’s a signal that something is out of balance.

Many of us are standing on foundations that were never intended to steady us; our marriages, motherhood, financial security…not bad things, just not God. Thankfully, the answer is found in Matthew 7:24-25: “Therefore
everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”

We are only as strong as our foundation and I’m determined to build my house upon THE ROCK!

Keeping God At Arm’s Length

July 8, 2015 / inthewrightdirection / 0 Comments

(first posted August 18, 2013)

Our old tabby cat is one of those special pets that show up out of nowhere and claim you. Personally, I think those tend to be the best pets of all. It was a rainy day about seven years ago when she wandered onto our porch hungry, pregnant and with a snaggletooth that makes her drool from one side of her mouth. How could you not love her??? Cracker, as she was so lovingly named by our then 4 year old son who has a knack for naming pets, has been a fixture in our home ever since.

“Fixture” is the perfect word to describe her because unlike our other cat, Cheerio (told you he had a knack for naming), Cracker has simply been a part of our house and nothing more. She’s shown zero interest in having a real relationship with us. Yes, she relies on us for basics like food and shelter but anything deeper is outside her comfort zone. In fact, it would be easy to get frustrated with her lack of interest in us after all we have done for her, but every time I look into that snaggletoothed face, I see a cat who has probably been hurt, rejected and abandoned along the way. So, I just keep loving her in whatever small doses she will allow in hopes she will one day come around.

Well just this morning, I was sitting on the front porch enjoying a cup of coffee when along came Big Mama Crackalacka (we like nicknames in this family). Anyway, I knew not to make any sudden movements so I continued about my business while occasionally watching her from corner of my eye. Before long, she was weaving in and out of my legs and swishing me with her tail. I slowly reached down and even though she jumped a little, she let me pet her. Victory!

Soon, she was soaking up the love and purring…actually purring people!!! As I watched her finally let down her guard I was a little sad thinking of all the years this dear thing had gone without the love and affection that was there for her all along. Then it hit me, or actually a “still, small voice” whispered to me that I had been Cracker. I have been a Christian most of my life but for the majority of it, I had kept God at arm’s length. Like Cracker, I had been hurt, rejected and disappointed by others. I let the fear of being let down again keep me from the very One who would never let me down. What a shame to have missed out on true intimacy with God, true peace, joy and contentment when it was there for me all along.

God gave me a place in His kingdom just as we gave Cracker a place in our home but He has so much more to offer. He knows our fears and is patiently waiting on the day we finally let down our guard and begin a true relationship with Him. Please let go. Please trust God for more than your salvation. I know it sounds scary but it’s the least risky thing you could ever do and oh so worth it. Don’t rob yourself of Him any longer! He’s waiting.

Update: Although it breaks our hearts to have lost our Big Mama Crackalacka earlier this week, I’m happy to share with you that she really did learn to trust and let us love her. She went from just being a “fixture” to part of the “mixture” that makes our house a home. And just like Cracker, I think I’ve learned to trust God a little more too.

P.S. – Cracker passed away peacefully in her favorite sunning spot!

20 Reasons I’m Even More AWESOME In My 30s Than I Was In My 20s!

March 11, 2015 / inthewrightdirection / 0 Comments

So, here I am at 38 and I have absolutely no idea how I got here. It’s like how everyone hates going
to Wal-Mart but at some point, you end up there anyway. In my twenties, I thought getting older was
to be dreaded, but actually, I think your thirties is when you really start to get the hang of things. In fact, here’s 20 reasons I am even more awesome now than ever before:

I know who my friends are. I also know who my acquaintances are and am finally wise enough to know the difference. For more on how to develop the wright friendships, check out my post, The Beggar’s Cup
I have learned to laugh at myself. Who cares if I snort when something funny catches me off guard or I make up words thinking they are legit…they should be!
I’m over it! Troy ditching me in 5th grade for my frienemy was his loss. Seriously though, once I truly gave God all the hurts I’d accumulated along the way, He healed them and scars don’t seem as bad as wounds. Where once there was shame, mistrust and fear, there is now forgiveness, understanding and peace. Remembering events from my past isn’t painful anymore, they are simply the bricks that made me who I am today.
I have kids to help with the housework. I hate to dust and at 38, I don’t have to!
I take the time to consider criticism from friends and am slowly learning to ignore it from everyone else.
I don’t have to be tan all the time. Who needs that pressure?
I’m more confident than ever before. Not the kind of confident that comes because my hair has it going on or I’m struttin’ a new outfit. The genuine, stick-around kind that can’t be shaken by the enormous zit that’s made it’s debut on my chin (yeah, still getting those at 38. Like Tina Fey, I have the chin of a teenager!). I still have my moments of course, but the more time I spend with the Lord, the more beautiful I feel and the more confidence I display. It’s the reason I can say…
I finally love my body. It’s healthy. It’s happy. It’s adored by my husband.
I can tell people “no.” Would you like for me to elaborate? No, I won’t.
I worry less. I wouldn’t say I don’t worry at all, but definitely much less. Turns out, the more time I spend with God, the more I trust Him. Spending time with God seems to conquer a lot of my problems; wish I’d have realized that in my 20s!
I’ve learned it’s okay to not know what you want to be when you grow up. I still don’t know. Is it too late to be a fighter pilot?
I can run errands without any make-up on. That’s something I would have never done in my twenties. Has my face gotten better? Nope. I just figure that if you know me, then you know what I look like when I’m fixed up and if you don’t know me then why should I care what you think?
I care less what others think.
I don’t have to eat like a lady all the time. In my twenties, I ate cute little salads s-l-o-w-l-y so I wouldn’t finish eating before any guys at the table. Now, I’m trying to beat my husband to the last hot wing! You do not want to get between me and hot wings!
I talk to myself and no one cares because that’s what old people do. I’m really good company, by the way!
I’m no longer waiting on…the perfect guy, job, house, kids, etc. I’m simply enjoying right now.
I accept help from others. Gone is the girl who didn’t need a man and could do everything on her own. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I’ve realized that where I struggle, my husband and friends excel and by accepting their help, I’m getting even more awesome every day.
No one expects me to be cool, so if I am, great and if not, I get a pass. I love cardigans. I say “awesome,” like it’s still the 90s. Want to see my playlist? I’m not ashamed that I rock out to *NSync and George Michael. I watch the History channel on purpose and am in bed by 9:30. That’s how I roll.
I know who I am. I’m a people-loving, rule-following girl (guess I’ll always consider myself a girl) who loves Jesus. I think too much but laugh a lot too. I’m dorky, honest, loyal, and a good friend who loves to talk and adores run-on sentences.
I like who I am. It took 38 years to be able to say that but I finally can and that’s worth every line and grey hair.

Job 12:12 says, “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” So, if we are this awesome in our 30s, just imagine how incredible we will be in our 60s!

In The Wright Direction

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