A No-Brainer!

Somehow, this didn't surprise me a bit, especially considering questions 3 & 5!

You Are a Crossword Puzzle

You are well read, and you have a good head for remembering facts. You are a wordsmith. You have a way with words, and you're very literate. You are a mysterious person who enjoys dropping little clues every now and then.

What Kind of Puzzle Are You?

Let me know!

TSMS - This Old House

Ever since I was a little girl, a Christian radio station in Houston has had a program on Saturday afternoons called By Request. Just like it sounds, it is an opportunity for listeners to call in and ask that their favorite song be played.

I don't know if they're still playing it, but every Saturday for years and years (long into the 1980's) this song would be played, usually in the first 15 minutes or so! Written in 1954 by a former Hollywood actor and cowboy, Stuart Hamblen, this song describes a house in a state of disrepair after its owner's death and was inspired by a real-life house found by Hamblen and his friends while on a fishing trip. He intended this to symbolize the joy of the man's going to Heaven.

In addition to Stuart Hamblen's recording, over 30 other artists recorded this song, including Rosemary Clooney (whose rendition was a Billboard #1 hit), The Cathedrals, The Statler Brothers. It was also released in the UK and recorded in Swedish and Finnish as well. (Source: Wikipedia)

As my mom is in her third hospitalization in the past 5 weeks, and I watch her body grow frailer and frailer, this song touched my heart anew tonight. It's an old gospel song with a great truth.



My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. I Cor. 15:19


Be sure to visit Amy's for more songs for your Saturday!

Look Who Won!

Winner of the Wild Goose Chase giveaway:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
3
Timestamp: 2008-08-29 01:10:43 UTC

Congrats, Xandra!

Blog Tour - A Passion Redeemed

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
A Passion Redeemed
Revell (September 1, 2008)
by
Julie Lessman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie Lessman is a debut author who has already garnered writing acclaim, including ten Romance Writers of America awards. She is a commercial writer for Maritz Travel, a published poet and a Golden Heart Finalist. Julie has a heart to write “Mainstream Inspirational,” reaching the 21st-century woman with compelling love stories laced with God’s precepts. She resides in Missouri with her husband and their golden retriever, and has two grown children and a daughter-in-law. A Passion Most Pure was her first novel.



ABOUT THE BOOK

No man can resist her charms. Or so she thought. Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. Her stunning beauty and flirtatious ways have always succeeded with men. Until Mitch Dennehy, that is.

Brilliant and dangerously handsome, Mitch is a no-nonsense newspaperman who wants nothing to do with her. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants--one way or another.

Or does she? Will her best-laid schemes win his love? Or will her seductive ways drive him away forever? Book 2 in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Redeemed will captivate your heart and stir your soul with a story of faith and redemption rising from the ashes of temptation, desire, and shame.

Praise for the first book in the series:

"Full of romance, humor, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page." --Historical Novels Review "Superb! Incredible!

"I loved Julie Lessman's A Passion Most Pure from the second I picked it up until the very last moment I stopped reading." --Armchair Interviews

"I devoured this book and loved every single page. . . . This is a thick, juicy read, and one I would pick up again in a heartbeat." --christianreviewofbooks.com

If you would like to read an excerpt from A Passion Redeemed, go HERE.


MY COMMENTS:
My mom's back in the hospital, and after 28 hours up there, my brain is too tired to come up with a coherent review. I will say that I smiled when I opened the package and pulled out this thick book. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed it from cover to cover!

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour & Giveaway!

I'm participating in a Blog Book Tour this week. And there's a giveaway!


Wild Goose Chase
by
Mark Batterson

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Most of us have no idea where we’re going most of the time. Perfect.

“Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or ‘the Wild Goose.’ The name hints at mystery. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger, an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to follow the Spirit through life. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something….

Most of us will have no idea where we are going most of the time. And I know that is unsettling. But circumstantial uncertainty also goes by another name: Adventure.” --from the introduction

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC’s National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches. NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station. More than seventy percent of NCC’ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill. Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and a widely read blogger (www.markbatterson.com). He lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, Lora, and their three children.

MY COMMENTS:
This is a good book. But one of the things I have learned as I've gained a few years and (hopefully!) some wisdom is that I can read a book and both agree and disagree with an author. And that's okay. While I certainly am not the final authority on theological matters, it dawned on me one day that no one else on earth is either!

When I first began reading this book a few weeks ago, I was not impressed. I am all for pursuing God. And I absolutely agree with the idea taken from the Celtic Christians that "the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed."

But I disagreed with his assertion that you are not pursuing God if your life is not full of adventure. He says, "Take the Holy Spirit out of the equation of my life, and it would spell b-o-r-i-n-g." (If you were at the Beth Moore conference this past weekend, that sentence should resonate with you and make you smile!) And when he uses the example of the rich young ruler who asked Jesus "what do I still lack?", he says, "I'll tell you exactly what he was lacking: spiritual adventure." (I won't get on my soapbox about that one!)

While we do need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones, the motivation needs to be following Christ, not seeking adventure. There are plenty of Christians who are living mundane, ordinary lives, being faithful to God and serving Him where He has called them....in a repetitive thankless occupation, caring for a disabled child or an aged parent, ministering to the downtrodden of society, bedridden and spending their days praying for others....quietly doing His will. You do not have to have ADHD to be Godly!

Having said that, I'm glad I kept reading because this book had some excellent, challenging, and convicting chapters. One part that hit me squarely between the eyes was this:

Christianity was always intended to be a verb. And, more specifically, an action verb. The title of the book of Acts says it all, doesn't it? It's not the book of Ideas or Theories or Words. It's the book of Acts. If the twenty-first-century church said less and did more, maybe we would have the same kind of impact the first-century church did.

Some of us live as if we expect to hear God say, "Well thought, good and faithful servant!" or "Well said, good and faithful servant!" God isn't going to say either of those things. There is only one commendation. . ."Well done, good and faithful servant!" -- from Chapter 2

And as someone who likes to make a plan and accomplish what I set out to do, I needed to read these words:

. . . I've come to realize that getting where God wants me to go isn't nearly as important as becoming who God wants me to be in the process. And God seems to be far less concerned with where I'm going than with who I'm becoming.

I think some of us want to know the will of God more than we want to know God. And it short-circuits spiritual growth. You can't do the will of God if you don't have the heart of God. And that is where shipwrecks and snakebites come into play. They don't just get us where God wants us to go; they help us become who He wants us to be. -- from Chapter 6

There's plenty in this book that I need to ponder and heed. I encourage you to read it for yourself, and I'd love to know your thoughts as well!

The publisher has provided a copy for me to give away to one of you! Please leave a comment on this post by this Thursday, 8/28/08, at 6:00 PM CDT to be eligible to win. Continental US residents only.

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour - Twice Loved

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Twice Loved
Avon Inspire (July 22, 2008)
by
Lori Copeland

ABOUT THE BOOK
Texas, 1865 - Willow Madison and her friends, Copper and Audrey taught school in neighboring Texas communities until the Yankees rode into the area and burned them out. In the midst of fear and chaos, survivors banded together to fight for what remained of their homes. Then word reached the people that the terrible war was over.

Now penniless but still hopeful, Willow vows she will take care of her friends, Copper and Audrey, and her ailing uncle, in Thunder Ridge, Texas, even if it means having to marry wealthy Silas Sterling, a man thirty years her senior. But standing in her way is handsome sawmill owner Tucker Gray, with his enticing eyes and infuriating headstrong manner—the man Willow cannot get out of her head . . . or her heart. Even though her friends beg her not to give up her dream of happiness, Willow is determined to do the right thing for those who are dearest to her. But which path does God want Willow to take: a life of duty and commitment . . . or a life of everlasting love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Twice Loved, go HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. Lance and Lori have three sons, two daughter-in-laws, and five wonderful grandchildren. They are very involved in their church, and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa.

Lori began her writing career in 1982, writing for the secular book market. In 1995 after many years of writing, Lori sensed that God was calling her to use her gift of writing to honor Him. It was at that time that Lori began writing for the Christian book market. To date, she has more than 95 books published including Now And Always and Bluebonnet Belle.


MY COMMENTS:
This is a fun book. The verbal sparring between Willow and Tucker is amusing. Yet in the midst of the story are examples and lessons on holding grudges and forgiveness, loyalty, commitment, and duty. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Happy Reading!

Fiesta Fun - Ole!

Sometimes you look forward to something for so long and with such anticipation that it's a bit of a disappointment when it actually happens because it doesn't meet your expectations.

That was not the case with the Siesta Fiesta!

From the time I picked Xandra up at the San Antonio airport on Friday afternoon until I took her back this morning, it was an incredibly great weekend. (Well, except for the part Friday evening where I tripped on an uneven part of the concrete and sprawled flat on the sidewalk! Not an auspicious way to start the weekend!)

One of the most fun parts happened right after we got there when we went by the Alamodome to get our armbands. And I finally got to meet in person and hug my sweet friend Lisa McKay!!

And can I just stop right now and say that Patty & Kim did an amazing job planning this Fiesta & PJ Party! They worked so hard! As did Lisa and some others getting everyone checked in and headed in the right direction.

Travis Cottrell's music at Living Proof Live was wonderful. I had never heard him before. Kelly Minter also sang a beautiful solo - she writes songs as well as Bible Studies!

Of course, it goes without saying that Beth Moore is an outstanding teacher, and the sessions Friday night and Saturday were excellent.

Since there were a "mere" 10,000 there, it made it especially nice to have the Siesta Fiesta with Beth Saturday afternoon. You know how much more intimate it is to be in a group of almost 1,000 women! (Actually I don't think all of those who registered showed up.) They divided us up for group pictures with Beth, Amanda, & Melissa, and then there was a time for a Question & Answer session with Beth and her girls. The questions ranged from "How can we pray for you?" to "Beth, what foundation do you wear?" and "Melissa, how do you do your hair?" Fun girl talk!

Then Saturday night was the PJ Party. What fun it was to actually meet and hug and get to know the people behind the blogs. I usually hate mingling and chatting - I'm fairly introverted in unfamiliar situations. But the blogs took away the "small talk" element. I felt like I already knew so many of these gals! And even if I didn't, I'd seen many of them on other folks' blogrolls or in their comments. And I now have lots more hours to waste on my laptop friends to visit!

I am aggravated that I got away without taking a few other pictures. I missed getting a picture of Holly. (Wow, the cookbook is amazing! She worked so hard on it and did a bang-up job!) And Brooke. And Stephanie. And others. And I saw Missy down the way Saturday afternoon and assumed she'd be at the PJ Party, but she had to go home Saturday. I can't believe I didn't get to meet her, especially since we've discovered we grew up in the same part of Houston (although she was there a "few" years after I!).

But I got some pictures, so here are some of the gals I met. They are all darling and sweet as can be.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It was a blast hanging out and rooming with Xandra. I never dreamed a few months ago that I would develop such sweet friendships through this blog. And I so needed a weekend to get away and just have some girl fun.

I can't wait to go visit everyone else's sites and see their pictures and read their perspectives of the weekend! And for those of you who weren't there, I missed you! There were absolutely several times I thought "I wish ______ were here." Or I asked "Do you read ______'s blog?" We'll just have to do it again sometime!

TSMS - My Girl's Favorite Hymn

This one is for my girl. She became a teenager yesterday. Where did my baby girl go? How did I end up with two teenagers?

This has been her favorite song since she was just a tiny thing. It calmed her when no other song would; I can still remember her crying her head off but the moment I began singing this song, the waterworks would stop and the thumb would go in her mouth! And her daddy still sings it to her almost every night at bedtime.

Although it is mostly recognized as a children's song, the truths have no age limit. And while it's sweet to hear a child sing it, I love to hear adults sing it as well.

The song was originally a poem written for a storybook.

Anna Warner and her sister, Susan, were novelists in the 19th century. One of their best-selling books was Say and Seal. Anna wrote this poem for that story.

"Today, few individuals would know or remember the plot of that story, which once stirred the hearts of many readers. But the simple poem spoken by one of the characters, Mr. Linden, as he comforts Johnny Fax, a dying child, still remains the favorite hymn of countless children around the world."

A brilliant Princeton University professor was known for dismissing his grad school class in this manner: "Gentleman, there is still much in this world and in the Bible that I do not understand, but of one thing I am certain -- 'Jesus loves me, this I know for the Bible tells me so' -- and gentlemen, that is sufficient!"

Source:
Amazing Grace: 365 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel, 2002

Indeed, that is sufficient! How often we get caught up in our theological debates and split hairs over petty differences and forget this foundational truth.

JESUS LOVES ME>
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

WORDS: Anna B. Warner, 1860
MUSIC: William B. Bradbury, 1862

Be sure to visit Amy's for more songs for your Saturday!

An Emotion-Filled Day

Part I. My baby girl, my youngest child, is a teenager today.

As I wrote this post, she was playing games and watching the Olympics with 5 of her friends for a sleepover party. Today will be filled with picking up athletic uniforms, lunch with me & Dad, and spending the night at the house of another friend who couldn't make it to the party before heading to SeaWorld with her tomorrow.

What a blessing she is to our lives. In spite of a few teenage moments here and there, (complete with eye rolls, of course!) she is an absolute joy. She loves Jesus, her family, her friends, playing piano, singing, smiley faces, rubber duckies, school, and laughing.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl! I'm proud to be your mom.


BTW, a huge shout-out to Melody of Kids, Cakes, Dishes, & Laundry for the awesome cake she made for my girl's party! This was a H.U.G.E. step for me not to make the cake myself. But there have not been enough hours in the day lately, and so I took the plunge. And wow! Is that not a darling confection?!

Part II. I thought it would never get here, or that I would miss most of it because of the birthday, but it's time to hit the road for San Antonio for the Siesta Fiesta! I am so excited! I'm eagerly anticipating meeting some folks I just know via blogs and spending lots of time with Xandra.

The only downside is that I won't be able to meet those of you who can't come. We'll all miss you!
This got kinda buried the other day and not too many saw it. Here is my mini Siesta Fiesta for all of you - this perfectly expresses how I feel about you in my heart:

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in
Now I’ve found a place in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends we have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside there’s no need to pretend
That’s the way it is in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends
We have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That we’ll gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends

Among the nations, tribes and tongues we have sisters and brothers
And when we meet in heaven we will recognize each other
With joy so deep and love so sweet
Oh we’ll celebrate these friends
And a life that never ends

In a circle of friends
We have one Father
In a circle of friends
We share this prayer
That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

Thanks for being my circle of friends!

And The Winners Are. . . .

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 1, 5
Timestamp: 2008-08-22 02:53:42 UTC
The winners of the Children's Extravaganza Blog Tour are Mary & Leah! Congrats, ladies! Please email me your address and I'll get your books to you next week!

Last Chance!

Don't forget to comment on this post by 8:00 pm (CDT) tonight for a chance to win one of 2 sets of the 3 children's books featured!

Book Tour - Beyond Me

Now that most of you have kids back in school, you've got lots of time on your hands for reading, right?! I hope so because I've got another virtual book tour passing through my blog with a great book to tell you about. And unlike most of the books I review, which are fiction, this is a non-fiction book focused on the heart of Christian discipleship.


From the moment I saw the title and subtitle, Beyond Me. Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World, I was captivated. Just between us, I get a little weary of the mentality of some Christians who treat church as an all-you-can-eat buffet. If they aren't satisfied with what they are receiving they move on to the next church. And since I have the spiritual gift of serving and oversee pastoral care at our church, I rather smugly looked forward to reading this book so I could tell others how much they need it!

Ahem. It took less than 2 pages to go from captivated to convicted! Right off the bat, she aimed this directly at me, I'm sure!

Is that what God had been trying to tell me. . .that I was in a season of service for my mother. . .? I began to understand. . .my personal call to live a you-first life in a me-first world. It wasn't just about living selflessly so unbelievers would be drawn to Jesus. It was also about daily laying down my life, giving up the right to plan my days and order my steps, so that I could help others fulfill the needs of their day. . . And I realized that if I allowed a grumbling, complaining, me-first spirit to taint my service to others, including my mom, I was in danger of falling into the grip of the very culture of death I've spent so much time writing and speaking against. I was on the verge of hardening my heart.

In those selfless acts of love and service, we are serving and honoring God by modeling what He has already done for us. Some may be called to be martyrs of the faith. . .most of us will simply need to learn how to daily put the needs of others before our own.

Well, ouch. As we say in the South, she skipped preaching and went straight to meddling! My toes are still smarting, especially since I've been juggling my mom's recent hospitalization. (Update: she's been moved to a skilled nursing facility for some additional care and therapy for a few weeks.)

This book is full of rich examples and applications from Scripture. (Her chapter on the Prodigal Son is incredible.) And yes, more conviction. She relates a story from Philip Yancey regarding a homeless prostitute who was asked why she didn't go to a church for help when she was destitute and couldn't feed her toddler. Her response? "Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse." Kathy Macias succintly sums up the problem many of us have:

We have spent a lot of time cursing the darkness, but precious little time lighting candles to dispel that darkness.

But the book doesn't just shoot darts of conviction and leave you feeling miserable about yourself and a total failure as a Christian. No, it provides insights on how to live a selfless life - one which has its foundation in an intimate relationship with God as we love Him with all our hearts.

This book is not only great for an individual to read, but Making It Personal questions at the end of each chapter make it ideal for a small group study as well. I encourage you to read this book and apply its principles to your life.

BOOK SUMMARY:
Living with others in Mind: Beyond Me is an invitation to pursue true discipleship. Using sometimes humorous but always vulnerable and meaningful examples, Beyond Me ties together current, historical, and biblically documented insights and teachings to encourage you to aspire to the higher calling of true discipleship. Beyond Me is appropriate for individual or small-group settings.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kathi Macias, popular speaker and prolific author, is an Angel-award winning writer who has published twenty-one books and hundreds of articles. She also was recently presented with the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) at the Golden Scrolls Award banquet. Whether keyboarding her latest book, keynoting a conference, or riding on the back of her husband’s Harley, Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias is a lady on a mission to communicate God’s vision. Her insightful words—filled with passion, humor, and soul nourishment—refresh audiences from all walks of life, and her Spanish devotionals, “Desde el Corazon del Padre,” (with English translations) can be found on Crosswalk.com each Monday. Her newest book, BEYOND ME: LIVING A YOU-FIRST LIFE IN A ME-FIRST WORLD, was released from New Hope Publishers and can be ordered at CBD and Amazon. To book Kathi for your next event, email kenbarry@thebarryagency.com. For more information and to view the Beyond Me music video, her website.


Happy Productive Reading!

Children's Extravaganza Book Tour!

It's been a few years since I've gotten to read picture books with my kids. The cherished memories of the hours we sat together reading make me smile.

I had the opportunity recently to read 3 sweet brand-new books for young children, and I'm pleased to participate in this week's Children's Extravaganza Book Blog Tour. And I have 2 sets of these books to give away!

GOD GAVE US HEAVEN
by
Lisa Tawn Bergren

Little Cub awakens one morning with some important questions on her mind: What is heaven like? How do we get there? Will we eat in heaven? Will we be angels?

During a delightful day spent wandering their arctic world, Papa gently answers each question, assuring Little Cub that heaven is a wonderful place, “a million times better” than she can imagine. He explains how God has made a way for those who love Him to enter their heavenly home forever after their lives on earth are over.

Reuniting the best-selling author-illustrator team from God Gave Us You, this gentle story provides satisfying answers for a young child’s most difficult questions about heaven. Parents, grandparents, childcare professionals, librarians, Sunday school teachers, and others will appreciate the gentle approach to a topic that’s on the minds of so many “little cubs.”

Through captivating, full-color illustrations and tender, biblically sound storytelling, young readers and those who love them will find reasons to rejoice in knowing that God Gave Us Heaven.

Lisa Tawn Bergren is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than one million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Heaven is Lisa’s fourth children’s book, following in the tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She makes her home in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

Laura J. Bryant studied painting, printmaking, and sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She has illustrated numerous award-winning children’s books, including God Gave Us You, Smudge Bunny, and If You Were My Baby. Laura lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

GOD LOVES ME MORE THAN THAT

and

WHEN GOD CREATED MY TOES

by
Dandi Daley Mackall

In two new books from best-selling children’s author Dandi Daley Mackall, clever rhymes and delightful illustrations help young children, ages three and up, understand God’s huge love for them and his joy in creating them. These enchanting picture books from the writer-illustrator team of Dandi Mackall and David Hohn will instill awe in young children as they revel in each page. Parents alike will appreciate the engaging stories that communicate God’s perfect plan and his divine purpose for little hearts.

In God Loves Me More Than That, children learn that God loves them deeper than a wishing well, wider than a semi-truck, louder than thunder, and softer than a kitten’s sneeze. Each question, presented with charming child-like faith will help young ones grasp the great love of God through comparisons and descriptions they can easily understand. In short, they’ll discover that His love is bigger, wider, higher, and deeper than anything they could imagine!

In When God Created My Toes, kids are drawn into the wonder of their creation by God -- their masterful Artist who fashioned them just right for amazing and delightful adventures, such as roller skating, finger-painting, doing flips, and drinking cocoa. Children will come to an understanding that God shaped each part of their amazing bodies with joy, delight, and humor.

Dandi Daley Mackall has published more than 400 books for children and adults, with more than 3 million combined copies sold. She is the author of WaterBrook’s two other delightful Dandilion Rhymes books, A Gaggle of Geese & A Clutter of Cats and The Blanket Show. A popular keynote speaker at conferences and Young Author events, Mackall lives in rural Ohio with her husband, three children, and a menagerie of horses, dogs, and cats.

David Hohn is an award-winning illustrator who graduated with honors from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He has worked as both a staff artist and an art director for a children’s software company in Portland, Oregon, a position which led to his art directing an award-winning project for Fisher-Price. Hohn’s recent projects include Lisa Tawn Bergren’s God Gave Us Christmas.

MY COMMENTS:
These are wonderful books. They convey sweet truths in a pleasing, lilting manner, perfect for reading aloud while cuddled together. To be honest, books for children about heaven usually irritate me. It can be an awkward discussion to have with children, especially if they have personally experienced grief. Much about heaven is a wonderful mystery beyond our finite comprehension, and I have seen too many books offer simplistic or humanistic explanations that are not scriptural. But God Gave Us Heaven was wonderful - both in what it describes and promises and in what it doesn't! It even provides a simple explanation of salvation. And I love how it dealt with the question "Won't we get bored worshipping God all the time?" (a typical concern of children) and the concept of having "stuff" in heaven.

The other two books, God Loves Me More Than That and When God Created My Toes, are sweet rhyming books without being sing-song. And the soft drawings in all of these books are perfect for the topics being communicated. They gave me a smile as I read and made me wish for a little one to share them with.


But since my days of little ones are long gone, I will share them with you instead! A set of books (a set being 1 copy of each book) will be given to 2 of you! Please leave a comment on this post by 8:00 pm CDT Thursday (8/21) to be in the drawing. (Sorry, Continental US Residents only.) If you are no longer in the "mom of little ones" stage, they would make a great baby shower gift!

Happy Reading and Cuddling!

She Said, He Said

Venus & Mars live at my house. . . .

My girl: Mom, can we go to (insert store name) just to look around?
My boy: Why would you even go in a store if you aren't going to buy anything?

I promise, they were birthed from the same loins.

Celebrating YOU!

Friendship is one of God's sweetest gifts.

If anyone had told me when I tentatively started this blog back in January what blessings of friendship would come my way, I would not have believed them. After all, how can you bond with someone you have never met over the written word?

Of course, I have since learned that it is not only possible, but it is a reality! The foundation, obviously, is not just the written word, but the Word! God's Spirit transcends the boundaries to unite believers, whether across town, across the country, or across the globe.

Recently I have been blessed by a couple of awards that celebrate friendship. Peggy always leaves an encouraging comment on my Then Sings My Soul Saturday post. And Kim has touched my heart with her posts and with her sweet and encouraging comments on my blog. Thanks to both of these ladies for honoring me with friendship and with these awards!



If you have visited my blog and left an encouraging comment, I'd like to pass this award to YOU! It's a joy to "meet" gals from all over that I would not otherwise have the opportunity to meet. I would also like to specifically pass it along to some very special ladies:

Lisa The Preacher's Wife - before I even had a blog and was just a reader, I got to know Lisa through hers. We emailed a couple of times, and the rest, as they say, is history! I cannot wait to meet her in person and hug her sweet neck at the Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio this next weekend!

Xandra - She was one of the first ones to offer the hand of friendship and to tell me that my blog encouraged her. We met a couple of times this summer when I was down in her neck of the woods, and the time just flew. I am so excited that we get to spend the entire weekend together in San Antonio!

Lid Linda - She is my clone in Indiana. We were born within a year of each other relatively late in our moms' lives (for the 1960's) and with lots of similarities, even down to the way we mis-type our name. Except she is a big-time blogger who has famous people and large quantities of people read her blog -- yet she still takes time to be a friend to me. Although she almost didn't get this award when I found out she doesn't like musicals!

Kelly - Although I'm sure she's only friends with me because I thought she was 10 years younger than she is, we've bonded over Chick-fil-A, laughter, and her baby whose picture is in the dictionary next to the word "adorable."

Chris - She has 5 kids; I have 2. She's a pastor's wife; my man's an engineer. On the surface we don't have a whole lot in common. But somehow (that would be the Holy Spirit!) our hearts connected and I'm glad she's back to blogging a bit after her very busy summer.

I could go on and on all through my blog roll. You each bless me more than you know!

Blog friendship is on my mind as the Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio quickly approaches. It's going to be fun to meet the people behind the blogs. But I'm going to be missing many of you! How I wish we could all be together!

So, here's a song for all of you for a mini-Siesta Fiesta! This Point of Grace song completely expresses how I feel about you.

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
We were made to love and be loved
But the price this world demands will cost you far too much
I spent so many lonely years just trying to fit in
Now I’ve found a place in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends we have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That every orphaned soul will know
And all will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

If you weep, I will weep with you
If you sing for joy the rest of us will lift our voices too
But no matter what you feel inside there’s no need to pretend
That’s the way it is in this circle of friends

In a circle of friends
We have one Father
In a circle of friends we share this prayer
That we’ll gather together no matter how the highway bends
I will not lose this circle of friends

Among the nations, tribes and tongues we have sisters and brothers
And when we meet in heaven we will recognize each other
With joy so deep and love so sweet
Oh we’ll celebrate these friends
And a life that never ends

In a circle of friends
We have one Father
In a circle of friends
We share this prayer
That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

That it will not be long before
All will enter in
To the shelter of this circle of friends

Thanks for being my circle of friends!

Then Sings My Soul Saturday - The Very Thought!

There are new hymns. There are old hymns. And then there are old hymns!

I recently was reminded of one such hymn. The message found in its words is beautiful in itself. However, considering the time period in which it was written, it becomes even more precious.

This hymn text comes from the height of the Middle Ages, a period of history often scornfully called "The Dark Ages." The spiritual and moral darkness of the church had reached a new blackness. The institution founded by Christ some one thousand years prior was mainly degenerate and corrupt. The moral standards of many of its prominent leaders were characterized by disgrace and shame.

In such a time, the life of Bernard of Clairvaux shines brightly. "Knowing God," he said, "is a matter of the heart." It was a truth that dominated his life. At a very early age he was drawn to spiritual things, largely influenced by the piety of his mother. At the age of twenty-two he entered a monastery at Citeaux, and three years later he founded a monastery at Clairvaux and served as its spiritual leader until he died in 1153.

Bernard never lost sight of what he prized most -- the love of Jesus. God's love was Bernard's lifeblood, pulsing through everything he said and did. His knowledge of God was deeply personal, a mystical love affair that not only gave meaning to his life on eart but formed his vision of heaven. As Bernard said, "[God] is Himself the reward of those who love Him, the eternal reward of those who love Him for eternity."

Sources:
1. Amazing Grace: 365 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions by Kenneth W. Osbeck, Kregel, 2002
2. The Complete Book of Hymns: Inspiring Stories about 600 Hymns and Praise Songs by William J. Petersen & Ardythe Petersen, Tyndale, 2006

I'm sure Bernard of Clairvaux never imagined that his hymn would be known and loved almost 1000 years after his death, much less transmitted across an internet that he had no concept of! Read the beautiful timeless truths below as you listen to the song:

JESUS, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE
Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the mem'ry find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest name,
O Savior of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find? Ah, this
Nor tongue or pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now
And thru eternity.

WORDS: Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153)
Translated by Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
MUSIC: John B. Dykes (1823-1876)

Be sure to visit Amy's for more songs for your Saturday!

Catching My Breath

First things first: It's time to announce the winnner of Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy from Monday's blog tour and interview!

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Timestamp: 2008-08-15 00:16:11 UTC
Congrats to Hil'Lesha! Please email me your address and the publisher will send the book your way.

Thanks for the many sweet anniversary blessings you sent my way. We had a lovely dinner out. Our new joke is that my man took me out for our anniversary and then we went and got my rings cut off! No, twenty years doesn't mark the end. My rings needed to be resized because (choose one): (1) they shrank (2) summer heat has made my fingers swell, or (3) as a 40-something mother of two I'm not as svelte as I was 20 years ago. (Feel free not to tell me what your vote is!) Anyway, my sweet husband took me after dinner to choose an anniversary ring, which I will wear behind my wedding set, and it was either cut off the rings or cut off my finger!

We barely managed to eke out a celebration. My mom is back in the hospital, and I still haven't quite recovered from spending Monday night in the Emergency Department with her.

Blissfully unaware that I would be up all night, I spent much of Monday shopping for school supplies with my girl and making arrangements for her birthday next week. Just as I was about to get ready for bed, they called about my mom. As I followed the ambulance to the hospital, I was very aware that her days are waning as she is becoming increasingly frail.

Suffice it to say it has been a frenzied, exhausting, and stressful week. By the time I got up Wednesday, I was facing a day of laundry, grocery store runs, and a visit to the hospital. I was feeling a little bummed that it was such an ordinary day, when I realized that actually, my day was the epitome of marriage. I thought back to those days in my early 20's when I had the Revolving Roommate Syndrome, as my friends only needed to room with me for 6 months to a year and they were guaranteed a trip down the aise!

And I realized I would not change a thing. I delight in having a husband and two children who need me to wash their clothes and stock the refrigerator with good things to eat. And I can't imagine going through the stress of caring for my mom without my man's loving support.

It's amazing what a little perspective can do. And how God can speak through things as seemingly mundane as dirty laundry and groceries.


Pictures courtesy of stock.xchng

Book Tour - That's (Not Exactly) Amore

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
That's (Not Exactly) Amore
FaithWords (August 14, 2008)
by
Tracey Bateman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracey Bateman published her first novel in 2000 and has been busy ever since. There are two other books in the Drama Queen Series, Catch A Rising Star (#1) and You Had Me At Goodbye (#2)

She learned to write by writing, and improved by listening to critique partners and editors. She has sold over 30 books in six years.

She became a member of American Christian Fiction Writers in the early months of its inception in 2000 and served as president for a year.

Tracey loves Sci-fi, Lifetime movies, and Days of Our Lives (this is out of a 21 year habit of watching, rather than enjoyment of current storylines.

She has been married to her husband Rusty for 18 years, has four kids, and lives in Lebanon, Missouri.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Laini Sullivan lands a job designing Nick Pantalone's coffee shop, there are two problems: one, Nick's nephew Joe hates all of her ideas and two, Laini has to admit he's right--she's a disaster at design. Still, she can't risk losing the job. To compromise, Joe brings in help on the project, while Laini continues to bake the goodies that keep his customers lining up.

Their relationship is moving along, so when new guy Officer Mark Hall implies that Joe's family is tied to the mob, Laini doesn't want to believe it. But things spin out of control when she meets the family, including "the uncles," who seem to confirm Mark's suspicions. To make things worse, Nana Pantalone makes it clear Laini isn't the kind of girl she has in mind for her grandson. Laini's not sure if she should give Joe the benefit of the doubt or just set her sites on Mark and fuhgetaboutit.

"Tracey draws us into the world of family and friendship with a few surprising twists along the way. Bravo!"
~RACHEL HAUCK, author of Diva NashVegas and Sweet Caroline

If you would like to read the first chapter of That's (Not Exactly) Amore, go HERE

MY COMMENTS:
I enjoyed this book. There have been some days recently when I needed to curl up with a light-hearted book that reminded me of the value of good friends, good food, and growing faith. This book definitely served up all three!

Happy Reading!

August 13, 1988 - A Holy Day

As I walked through the door, I sensed His presence,
And I knew this was a place where love abounds.
For this is the temple, Jehovah God abides here
And we are standing in His presence on Holy Ground

We are standing on Holy Ground
And I know that there are angels all around
Let us praise Jesus now
We are standing in His presence on Holy Ground

In His presence there is joy beyond measure,
And at His feet peace of mind can still be found.
If you have a need, I know He has the answer.
Reach out and claim it, you are standing on Holy Ground.

Twenty years ago today that song, sung by my husband's long-time best friend, began our wedding.

How grateful I am for the man God gave me to hold my hand and my heart as we walk through life.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!