Blogging Away

I have reviewed so many books recently and posted blogs for drawings to give away the book, that it seems like it’s been months since I’ve written a blog. So today, I just want to write about all kinds of things.

This weekend has been so enjoyable. Most Fridays, I go grocery shopping for my parents. Because they are on a limited income, I shop for them at Wal-Mart. Believe me, that is the only reason I shop at Wal-Mart. But, that’s a blog for another day! This past Friday, the weather was really obnoxious and I was not feeling my best , so I stayed in all day long. And I wrote, or did writing-related activities all day long. I really needed that kind of day to get myself “back on track,” at least somewhat, with my writing.

Saturday, the weather was much more cooperative and I was feeling good. I left my house around 9AM, bought the parents’ groceries and delivered them and was back home by 10:30. The rest of the day was spent with my sweet husband. We ran some errands, spent some time at home and then he took me out for a wonderful dinner. We really needed that kind of day together and we both enjoyed it.

Today, I went to the early service at my church. The worship service was awesome. My priest gave an excellent sermon on “The Things that Derail Us from Living a Successful Spiritual Life.” His messages can be heard on

http://www.midsouthmedia.org/. (You can pay me later, Bp. David! Just kidding, folks!)

About 3PM this afternoon, my darling hubby left for the airport. We have been so blessed that he has had engagements that allowed him to work from home for the last 3-4 months. But, we knew that would come to an end at some point, and today’s that point. He is on his way to D.C. for a two week assignment, although he will come home on the weekend. Then, if all goes as planned, he will be on an assignment in San Francisco for 6 weeks. He probably won’t be coming home every weekend while he’s there because it’s such a long flight and it basically takes a day to travel. I will be going out to spend a few days with him. I’ll go just before a weekend and we will do the “tourist” thing over the weekend. Then I will stay a few more days and I will write during the day while he is at work. Sounds great to me!

Now, that I’ve thoroughly bored you with my weekend tale of adventure, I will remind you that I do have a drawing currently going on to give away Joy DeKok’s Rain Dance. Leave a comment under that blog and your email address for a chance to win an autographed copy. Drawing will be on Friday, September 4. Good Luck!

RAIN DANCE by Joy DeKok

Imagine that you are sitting in the waiting room of your OB/GYN doctor’s office. A young woman comes in, sits down beside you and a conversation ensues. She reveals that she is there to schedule an abortion. What irony! You and your husband have tried for years to get pregnant with no success. Today you have come to the doctor’s office to inform him of your decision to stop all infertility treatments.

This is the opening scene of Rain Dance and the beginning of an unlikely friendship between the two main characters, Jonica and Stacie. One is a Christian, one is not. One desperately wants a baby and can’t have one. One has a baby, but doesn’t want it.

Author Joy DeKok masterfully weaves Jonica's and Stacie's stories together as she takes you through this time in their lives—two women who have absolutely nothing in common. The chapters alternate between Jonica and Stacie, giving their perspective on the situations they face. A friendship will be forged between you and these two women. Joy has developed these characters so beautifully that you will remember them long after you have finished reading Rain Dance.

The message of God’s love and redemption, His forgiveness, grace and mercy is threaded throughout the book. For those women who have experienced Him and know Him, this message is a beautiful reminder of God’s love for you. And for those who do not know Him, this book is an invitation to meet God and become intimately acquainted with Him. No matter which group of women you are in, when you finish reading the last page and close the book, you will be a changed woman.

Leave your comment and email address for a chance to win an autographed copy of Rain Dance. Drawing will be Friday, Septembeer 4!

Let Go
live free of the burdens all women know
Sheila Walsh

In my circle of family, friends and acquaintances, I do not know of any woman who is not

• Overworked
• Overtired
• Overcommitted
• Overburdened
• Underappreciated

Do you long for a time – a day, even an hour – when you are free from the burdens that currently weigh you down? Have you ever felt as if your life doesn’t matter much? Do you tend to judge your worth by your circumstances?

Shelia Walsh answers these and more questions in her latest book Let Go: live free of the burdens all women know. With chapter titles such as “This Dead Religion is Past its Sell-by Date,” “You are You for a Reason,” “I Was Made for This,” and many more, she has focused on what I believe every Christian woman experiences at some point in her life: feeling invisible, unloved and unworthy. Sheila uses scriptures and her own personal experiences to prove to us that we are unconditionally loved by God. He has put each of us on this earth and given us a purpose and calling that is unique to us.

From the moment I read the title until the final word on the last page, I was hooked. Sheila wrote with clarity and her words came from her heart. Every chapter taught me a lesson and every page included what I call “gold nuggets” of wisdom and insight. Her writing style made it easy to comprehend her message. An additional help for me was the thought-provoking, soul-searching questions listed at the end of each chapter designed to help the reader continue searching out God’s truth about who she is in Christ. This book would be an excellent choice for women's Bible study groups.

Of course, you can always go through this book on your own. After you’ve purchased your copy, find a quiet place to read. Bring your cup of tea and have your highlighter ready to mark those gold nuggets that speak to you. I have no hesitation in saying that this book will change your life as you learn to “let go” and “live free.”

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.......

THE WINNER OF TODAY'S DRAWING FOR A FREE COPY OF THE BLUE ENCHANTRESS IS......CARMAN!!

CARMAN, PLEASE SEND ME YOUR MAILING ADDRESS AND I WILL MAIL YOU THE BOOK!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE BOOK REVIEWS AND BOOK GIVE-AWAYS!

The Blue Enchantress

Tonight I returned home after a long voyage. I sailed throughout the Caribbean, lived through a hurricane, was shipwrecked and landed on a deserted island that was later invaded by pirates. All of this after being sold to the highest bidder. I can truly say that life is never boring when you are Hope Westcott!

This is how I felt after I finished reading The Blue Enchantress. As the reader, I had been removed from my everyday ho-hum life and transplanted into a life of adventure upon the high seas. This transplantation is due to the masterful writing skills of M. L. Tyndall, author of The Blue Enchantress. Ms. Tyndall has written a three-book series, Charles Towne Belles, based on three sisters: Faith, Hope and Grace. The Red Siren centers on Faith and is Book One. The Blue Enchantress is Book Two. Coming in Spring, 2010, is Grace’s story, The Raven Saint.

As impressed as I was by Ms. Tyndall’s ability to draw her readers into the action, I was moved even more by the message of the book. Never preachy, but woven throughout the book, is the message of the Gospel. The love of God for us mere mortals was beautifully expressed time and again. Ms. Tyndall’s heart for the unloved and unlovely was evident as her Christian characters ministered God’s love to Hope. The dedication of her book says it all: “To anyone who has ever felt worthless and unloved and who has sought to obtain value through the lies of the world.” Ms. Tyndall answers this dedication by writing her novel around the theme of God’s mercy, grace and redeeming love.

If you are looking for a book that will “take you away,” this is it. If, however, you are looking for a book that will validate who you are in Christ and will remind you how much God loves you, The Blue Enchantress is a must read.

Oh, yes. The highest bidder? Turned out to be the love of my life.
Signed, Hope Westcott

Leave your comment, with your email address, to be entered into a drawing for a copy of this book!

JUST THOUGHTS written by Joy McGee

Why is it that we are so set against being vulnerable? Why are we so set on standing behind our walls, only revealing pieces of who we really are and how we really feel at certain moments? Are we afraid of being hurt or are we afraid of being loved? The truth is that hurt penetrates through the thickest of walls but love only enters in when it is invited. So here we stand, bricked in, dark and cold, continually receiving heartache, thinking that we are protecting ourselves when all we are really doing is killing our souls. If we allow ourselves to become open, exposed, vulnerable, and trust God to take care of the hurts, wounds, bumps and bruises instead of trying to "self protect," we then are able to experience the beauty of...everything. If you take out all of our cynical thoughts, all of the "what if's," all of the inner vows, and thoughts of worthlessness, what do you have left but God's master piece in it's truest form, which is in His image. When we begin to appreciate others for what they offer, instead of demanding what they bring, we begin to see them through the eyes of our Maker and can begin to enjoy them. We are no longer worried about getting hurt or revealing too much but how we can love others better, serve them, appreciate them and then before you even realize it, you are experiencing God's love for us, one that is unconditional and beautiful. It has no expectations and no fears, it just does...love.

Lessons Learned, Pt 2: Words from the Lord

On Wednesday, I posted about the first lesson God has taught me on this journey. Today’s blog, even though I named it “Lessons Learned: #2” is not so much about a lesson learned as it is about God reminding me of things He told me recently as well as things He told me many years ago.

Several years ago, God directed me to write out a mission statement for my life. After praying about it, this is what I wrote:

To be a woman after God’s own heart, helping other women recognize
who they are in Christ through the use of the creative gifts God
has given me: writing, drawing, photography, singing and dancing.

At the time, I thought it was rather presumptuous of me to think that I could write, draw, photograph, sing and dance. In fact, I thought God was ROLF (rolling on the floor laughing)! Me, dance? Ms. Two Left Feet? You’ve got to be kidding! I realized that writing was number one on the list so I decided to start there. I did research, I took classes (am still taking classes) and I believe this is God’s direction for me.

Fast forward to this past June during my denomination’s convocation, held at our church. I was sitting in church, listening to the message and I felt that God was speaking to me. It addressed something that has bothered me for a long time. When I was a child, I believed with all my heart that God was calling me to be a missionary, but nothing ever came of that. After all, I was only a child of 10 or 11 – what did I know? Here is what I heard on that June night:

I called you to the mission field when you were a child.
I called you then and I am calling you now to the mission
field in your own backyard. You are a Missionary to every
woman you meet.

I am willing to admit that I could have not heard correctly when I was a child. As I’ve already said, what did I know at that age? But I don’t believe I missed Him this time. This word lines right up with my mission statement.

A few days ago, I was looking through an old journal for a particular entry, and came across this one that I received from the Lord on August 2, 1994:

I am taking you in a new direction, says the Lord. You will
begin to do a new thing and will stop doing – lay down – some
of the things you are now doing. There is a new and fresh
anointing on your life. The old book is closing and the
new book is opening.

I know that the Lord will give people words about their life that will take place far in the future. I think He does that sometimes to teach us patience – certainly that is the case for me. Until recently, I never saw “the new thing” manifested in my life. At least not what I felt the Lord would call a new thing. Yes, many great and wonderful things have happened to me in the last 15 years, but nothing that I believed lined up directly with this Word given in 1994. However, when I read this Word, and then the Word I received during Convocation, and thought about those in light of my mission statement, it all came together. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle that has been missing a couple of pieces for almost 15 years. Now the puzzle is complete and it makes sense.

So this is lesson number two in my journey. Patience is a virtue. And if God said it, He will do it.

Isaiah 55:11 (New International Version)
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

LESSONS LEARNED: #1

Last Wednesday I blogged about being burned out – totally and completely. God led me to the Song of Solomon, 1:4 as my theme verse for this time in my life: Take me away with you – let us hurry. Let the King bring me into His chambers. I am now on a leave of absence from all duties at my church. (For a full explanation, please read last Wednesday’s blog: “Take Me Away.”)

As I walk through this journey, I plan to blog about what God is showing me. I believe there are many things that God wants me to know and I think He wants me to share some of these truths with you. May He give us ears to hear, a mind to understand and a heart to receive what He will show us in the coming days.

***********************************************************
This past week was the first week of my leave. I made an effort that was less than successful to spend more time with God. There are still many distractions, no matter what time of day I try to read His Word and pray. There is, of course, the TV with its’ siren call even at 3:00 in the morning. There is research yet to be done for my current WIP (Work in Progress) and there’s the actual work itself crying for attention. Even blogs, which I enjoy writing, can take up a lot of time. There is still dust on the furniture, laundry to be done and groceries to be bought.

It has become obvious to me that the first lesson I must learn during this leave is that I must be disciplined to not allow anything to take precedence over my time with God. After all, if I don’t spend time with Him, this journey will be one of circles. Never moving forward, but repeatedly going over the same ground.

Update on Welcome Home

If you didn't have a chance to read my review a few weeks ago on Welcome Home One Family's Journey to Extreme Joy look it up on the list of blogs and read it. Then go to Kimberley's website:
www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and pre-order your book. This life-changing book is already going into its second printing and the official release of the book is not until October! Go NOW and pre-order before CBD runs out a second time! HURRY!!

MAGGIE ROSE

Maggie Rose
By Sharlene MacLaren

In a blog/book giveaway that I wrote earlier this year, I stated that historical romance is not my most favorite category. Thanks to acclaimed Christian Fiction author, Sharlene MacLaren, I have been won over. Big time.

Sharlene has written two out of a three book series titled The Daughters of Jacob Kane. I was fortunate to win a copy of Book One Hannah Grace. This book was so enjoyable that when Sharlene requested volunteers to review Book Two, Maggie Rose, I was typing a response as fast as my little fingers would go!

Here’s a brief synopsis:
In 1904, Maggie Rose, the middle daughter of Jacob Kane, feels called by God to leave her beloved hometown of Sandy Shores, to work at Sheltering Arms Refuge in New York City. This orphanage also transports homeless children to towns across America to match them with comparable families. Most of these children have such painful pasts that Maggie can hardly bear it, but she marvels at their resiliency. As she gets to know each child better, she finds her heart full of love and compassion.

When a newspaper reporter arrives to stay at the orphanage to gather research for an article, Maggie is struck by his handsome face and very concerned over his lack of faith. Still, she cannot deny their mutual affections. Will she win the struggle to maintain her focus on God and remain attuned to His guidance?

I had as much trouble putting Maggie Rose down as I did Hannah Grace. Sharlene has a wonderful gift of bringing the reader into the story. I was captivated from page one as I joined Maggie on her train ride to New York City. The orphans’ history was so compelling that I wanted to run to the nearest adoption agency and adopt every child there. Fortunately, my husband is much wiser than I am and in this case, his wisdom prevailed.

As every excellent romance novel should be designed to do, I fell in love with the newspaper reporter hero, Luke. Here is a man who has walked through the “valley of the shadow of death.” Anger and bitterness rule his heart; slowly but surely, his heart is softened by the love of God shown through Maggie and the orphaned children.

A heart-warming story, this book is one that you will want to read and keep in your library to read again in years to come.

Post your comments here and leave your email address to be added to the drawing for a free copy of Maggie Rose. Drawing will be held Monday, August 17!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who reads my blogs and leaves comments. I am most appreciative!!

A Child's Prayer

I am thrilled to have Luanne Allen as my guest blogger today. I met Luanne in 2001 and I have been blessed to know her these eight years. Luanne is married to the Rev. Deacon Justin Allen and they have three beautiful children, Madelyn and Seth, and a precious baby in heaven. I know that you will enjoy today's blog. Please leave Luanne a comment to let her know how much her writing ministered to you!

A CHILD'S PRAYER

Being a parent never ceases to amaze me. I guess I'm amazed in part, because I figured I was too old to have kids at the ripe old age of 35 or so. In my head, my Mom had me at 36, and since I was single at 36, I wouldn't be having kids at all. God had something else in mind for sure - but, I digress.

Since the day I found out I was pregnant with each of the kids, they've been prayed over every day. One of the things that Justin was insistent about was being sure that he laid his hands on my tummy and prayed for the kids. For Madelyn, the baby we lost in 2006 and for Seth, those children heard Daddy's voice praying every night. And every night since they were born, we pray with them. I love it.

Madelyn helps with the prayers every evening. Usually, I'll ask her if there's anything she wants to pray about, anyone that she wants to bless. The list most often includes her (and I quote) "Grandma, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Nicole, Grandma Lyon who lives in heaven with Jesus, Fran, Dave, Mommy, Daddy, Madelyn and Seth" and then she goes from there. The list likely can include Fr. Stephen, Miss Keisha and baby Joshua, Eden, Jordan, Kendall and Micailah, Miss Kim, Miss Veronica, Matthew, Jack, Alejandro, Daniel (friends from last year's preschool class) and anyone else she can think of at the moment. I have caught onto the fact that she blesses pretty much everyone she can think of on a night when she isn't really interested in going to bed. I'm slow, but I catch on.

Over the last several months, we've been working with her on the Lord's Prayer. And now, she can say it all by herself. In fact, tonight, that's what she did. She's got it down, and to hear it said in her 4-year-old little girl voice about brings me to tears. Yes, I am very proud of her, and she has a pretty good grasp of what each phrase means, thanks to a children's book that her Uncle Aaron bought her a very long time ago. She said it with the congregation at church last weekend, too.

But I noticed something tonight, and I even mentioned it in my FaceBook status. She has trouble with the word "trespass" as I think most four year olds do. I think she understands what a trespass is - as we've talked about doing things we shouldn't or hurting other people. She also knows the concept of forgiveness, as we talk about that on a regular basis. When she gets in trouble with me, the first thing she'll say is "I'm sorry Momma. I'm forgiven, right?"

But back to the trespass thing. I caught something in what I posted tonight. I believe I said, "she gets a little twisted up on the trespass part" and then I realized something in that statement I hadn't thought about. I get twisted up in the trespass part. While I know in my head that God loves me, that he has forgiven me, I get caught up in the trespass thing. Either I have trouble forgiving others, or I have trouble forgiving myself. Actually, I think I have more trouble forgiving myself than I do other people most of the time. Interesting how God again used my daughter to teach me about myself.

So I thought of something else tonight. Something that brings great comfort to me. It's a blessing, a pronouncement over our congregation at church at the end of the service that goes like this:
"Receive the blessing of the Lord: God was in Christ Jesus, reconciling the world unto himself, not counting mens' sins against them. God loves you. God has forgiven you. God is not mad at you. God will never leave you or forsake you. And now, may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you, and remain with you, now and always. Amen."

Wow. I like that.


Luanne Allen

TAKE ME AWAY

As I write this blog, it is Tuesday, August 04, 2009. Today, I have read another writer’s blog and received an email from a woman, both of whom are experiencing a burn-out, deep and utter exhaustion. Last week, I met with the Bishop of my denomination. I could not put into words how I had been feeling, I just knew I “couldn’t do it” anymore. My Bishop said I had “hit the wall.” “That’s it!" He had put into words what I could not. "That’s how I feel. And when I hit the wall, I bounced back only an inch, and the wall is still right in front of me.” I am now on a leave of absence for an indefinite period of time from everything I do at my church.

Here are three women, myself and my two “online” friends, strong in the Lord but who have experienced a total and complete meltdown. Although the circumstances that have brought the three of us to this point are completely different, the results are the same. We are utterly exhausted – physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. If we are feeling this way, I am positive that others feel this way too.

I was praying about what to write for this blog and looking through the Bible asking God to give me a Scripture that would be appropriate, not only for this period in my life, but for this blog as well. I went to the Song of Solomon, chapter 1, verse 4: Take me away with you – let us hurry. Let the king bring me into His chambers. (NIV) This is the Bride speaking. The Bride – that’s me…and you…and you…every Christian. She is asking the Bridegroom – God – to take her away. It is a cry from the depths of her heart. And I suspect it is the cry from the hearts of so many Christians – who have said “yes” to one more task when they should have said “no”, who are so overwhelmed that they are exhausted to the point of physical sickness to complete and total breakdown. It is the cry of my heart – “take me away.” Let us hurry – rush, hasten, be quick – because we desperately need to be with the Bridegroom. Alone with Him and Him only in His chambers. To be surrounded by His presence. To know His love for me. To talk with him. This is the cry of my heart.

What is the cry of your heart today? Tell Him. He is waiting to take you away – into His chambers. To surround you with His presence, to love you, to talk with you. It is the cry of His heart.

THREE STEPS TO ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING: STEP 3: PROCEED

PROCEED: to move or go forward or onward, esp. after stopping; to carry on or continue any action or process; to go on to do something; to continue one’s discourse. (dictionary.com)

We have prayed (Step One) and we have prepared (Step Two) and we are now ready for Step Three – Proceed. We are ready to move forward and perform the task that God has assigned us. “So, move. Go on. What are you waiting for? Just do it. What’s that, you say? You don’t think you’re ready? You’ve prayed, haven’t you? Okay. And you’re prepared, aren’t you? Okay. So, what’s the problem? Ah, I understand. You’re afraid. Afraid of what? Afraid you will look like an idiot? That you will embarrass yourself? Afraid that you will fail at the task God has given you?”

II. Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.”

These verses are telling us, first, that fear does not come from God. Second, that when we are afraid, we should trust Him. If you are afraid to proceed, is it a matter of trust? Or the lack thereof? If God has assigned you a task, and He has given you everything you need to complete that task, you don’t really think He is going to abandon you just as you start, do you? Of course not! So if it is fear that is holding you back, let it go and trust God.

“If it’s not fear, what then? Oh, you’re shy? That’s not a problem either. God tells us in Psalm 28:1b ‘that the righteous are bold as a lion.’ So get going. You have the boldness of a lion.”

“And what about you, sir? Why are you not already gone to do what He has called you to do? Excuse me? You don’t want to? So you’re just not going to, is that it? Hmmmm…that is a problem. Why, you ask? Because God told you to do it. It wasn’t a ‘if you feel like it’ or ‘if you want to’ kind of statement. It was a “go forth and do it” statement. By not doing what God has said for you to do, you are now walking in disobedience. And that’s a place you really do not want to be.”

“… to obey is better than sacrifice…For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. (I Samuel 15: 22b-23a)

Three Steps to Accomplishing Anything: Step 2

This past Wednesday, I talked about the first step to accomplishing anything: PRAYER. If you missed that blog, please back up and read it!

Step Two is PREPARE. I went to the handy dictionary on line to discover what it had to say on prepare:
provide, arrange, order. PREPARE, CONTRIVE, DEVISE imply planning for and making ready for something expected or thought possible. TO PREPARE is to make ready beforehand for some approaching event, need, and the like: to prepare a room, a speech. CONTRIVE and DEVISE emphasize the exercise of ingenuity and inventiveness. The first word suggests a shrewdness that borders on trickery, but this is absent from DEVISE: to contrive a means of escape; to devise a time-saving method.

I have been a musician all of my life. I play the flute and piano and I “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” with my attempt at singing. One of the first things a musician learns is not notes, scales, or rhythm — they learn that they must be prepared for the lesson or rehearsal. They have to practice at home every day before appearing before the instructor or conductor.

The same is true of football players or basketball players – even students must prepare for exams. Preparation is required for almost everything we do.

The Bible has a lot to say about preparing. The word ‘prepare’ in its past or present tense appears 176 times in the Bible. One of the most well known and beloved passages in the Bible is Psalm 23. In verse 5 of that chapter we read, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Another famous scripture is found in Isaiah 40:3 as a prophecy of things to come: “A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” It is obvious that God believes in preparation! Who are we to think that we don’t have to prepare for whatever lies ahead? Whether it is the daily chores of life or a special assignment from God, we cannot forge ahead without first, prayer and second, preparation. By ‘special assignment’ or ‘task’ I am speaking of anything God calls us to do – from something small to the call on your life.

What steps do we take to prepare for that task that God has given us? See Step 1. We pray. God will not give us anything to do without giving us the tools and resources to do it. He will plant those gifts and abilities we need in us and draw them out of us at the appropriate time.

I can hear some of you saying, “I don’t have any gifts or talents. When God was passing those out, He skipped over me.” Hogwash! Of course you do! God gave everyone talents and gifts; you need to pray and ask Him to show you what those are. Once He shows you those abilities, ask Him how He wants you to use them. Then get prepared. Your assignment is on its way.