Sarah's Choice

Sarah's Choice
Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1401689247
May 2014/320 pages/$15.99
Only one thing stands in the way of Sarah's success . . . her unborn baby.

Sarah Collins is about to receive a promotion that will give her everything she's ever wanted: a huge pay increase, a new car, a fabulous apartment, and first-class travel.

But then she discovers she's pregnant. And while she thinks she loves her boyfriend, Matt, she isn't sure he's mature enough to be a responsible father. And the job she's pursuing is open only because the previous employee is out on maternity leave. She'd never be able to handle the travel as a single mom.

Torn between advice from her coworkers, the adamant insistence of her mother and sister that she keep the baby, her insecurity about her relationship with Matt, and the void where her father should be, Sarah has no idea how to make this decision.

A Christmas card from a mysterious old woman is the catalyst for three visions of her future—and may just be the miracle she needs. But can she trust the visions? Are they the yearnings of a conflicted heart? Or are they true visions from the God she thought had turned his back on her?

For every woman who has made painful decisions, Sarah's Choice offers comfort, wisdom, and hope.


ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Rebecca St. James is a Grammy and Dove Award recipient and a best-selling author whose books include Wait for Me and What Is He Thinking? Her leading role in the film Sarah’s Choice won critical acclaim. A passionate spokesperson for Compassion International, more than 30,000 children have found sponsorship through her worldwide concerts. Twitter: @RebeccaStJames Facebook: RSJames

Nancy Rue is the best-selling author of more than 100 books for teens, tweens, and adults, two of which have won Christy Awards. Nancy is also a popular speaker and radio guest due to her expertise in tween, teen, and young women's issues. She and her husband, Jim, have raised a daughter of their own and now share their Tennessee lake home with two yellow labs. Website: www.nancyrue.com Twitter: @NNRue Facebook: nnrue


MY THOUGHTS

I bought this book earlier in the summer when I was swamped with other reviews and finally got a chance to read it the other day. It was worth waiting for, as I knew it would be. Anything written by Nancy Rue is a must-read for me! She has teamed up with award-winning singer and author Rebecca St. James to write books which tackle issues facing young women and the result is a compelling story. Older teens and twenty-somethings will connect with Sarah and the eclectic group of characters within this novel and, whether they are facing a similar crossroads or perhaps have chosen unwisely in the past, they will find wisdom and grace within its pages. My one slight disappointment (and I recognize that one novel can only do so much) is that the focus of regret seems to be the inopportune pregnancy, not the conviction that what led to the pregnancy was sin. (Minimal spoiler/soapbox alert) Late in the book, when Sarah's Choice has been made, Matt flops on Sarah's bed for a nap and she snuggles up next to him, which for me was an indication that the root of the issue had not been dealt with. How easy it is to grieve over consequences and "getting caught" than over sin itself. Overall, though, I recommend this book and hope it will help young women in a situation similar to Sarah's make the best choices for the precious lives they carry within.

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10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #10

Welcome to the final day of Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on 10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! I've loved having Nancy hanging out every day with me here! She is such a delight. If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #10:

This is the last of the Valentine’s Week posts, and I want to say “thank you” to Mocha with Linda for hosting me as we finish up our 10 Reasons To Fall In Love With Jesus. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate ALL of you moms who are reading this (and hopefully other relationships outside of mother/daughter too. Do share if this is you, who have you shared these nuggets with?). The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’ve given you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the tenth one.

Reason #10: Because Jesus returned after a horrible death to show us that we can have a new life too – with him. The death of Jesus and his rising from the dead to life again is a hard thing to understand because it never happened before and it hasn’t happened since. What’s even harder to get is why? What was that all about? There are a number of reasons, and the one I want to focus on is simply that Jesus wanted to show us that new life is possible. That no matter what we’ve done in the past, what we’ve believed, who else we followed, just by believing in who he is – the way to God – and following him we can leave all of that behind and be new – and we can do it every time we backslide. It’s a new life and a free life. You don’t have to worry about having “stuff.” You don’t have to stress because not everybody likes you. You don’t have to prove yourself. All you have to do is believe you’re taken care of and obey what Jesus shows you along the way of your life. It’s simple, yes, but not easy. That’s why you have the Bible. That’s why you have older people who love you enough to teach you about Jesus. That’s why you pray. And that’s why you pay attention, because Jesus is showing up all over the place. It’s a new life. Let’s celebrate!

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

PS: again, it has been wonderful hanging out here. THANK YOU! I hope you will connect with me in the future. I would love to hear from you and we do quite a bit of chatting over on my blogs. Not only for you, but there are also blogs for teens and tweens. Do share. They love being on the internet so I love to meet with them there. We have a lot of fun.

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

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10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #9

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on 10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #9:

I would love to be having coffee with you mothers and grandmothers of Mini-Women, discussing their issues and giving each other support... Mocha with Linda has given us the next best thing by bringing us together here on her blog, and I appreciate that. In fact, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate ALL of you moms who are reading this. The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the ninth one.

Reason #9: Because Jesus accepts you as you are. That doesn’t mean he wants you to stay exactly like you are in some areas that need tweaking (maybe that lying habit, or your short-fuse temper), but right now, this moment, he accepts and loves everything about you. Who else does that? And doesn’t that make it easier to hold your head up and be yourself and not care quite so much about what the “popular” kids think? Yeah, that’s good stuff.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #8

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on 10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #8:

I’m jazzed to be spending some more time with you here on Mocha with Linda’s blog. She certainly has sacrificed her time and space to allow me to share one of my passions with you.

For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the eighth one.

Reason #8: : Because Jesus always takes you back when you wander off. When you were a little kid (or maybe even now!) and you strayed from your mom or dad in Wal-Mart or someplace, they always took you back when you found them or they had to find you. I mean, right? They might have been mad at you, grounded you, took away your computer privileges, but they didn’t say, “Sorry, kid, but you aren’t ours anymore.” Can you even imagine that happening? Jesus is exactly like your parents only he leaves out the punishment. If you get sidetracked, forget to pray, whine about going to church, have a season where you and your friends are snarky to people – as soon as you realize you’ve wandered off, you can go straight back to Jesus and he’ll take you in. And continue to teach you. And you’ll wander away less and less. Ya gotta love how that works.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue


Interested in reading more from Nancy?  Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #7

I love you, Mothers of Mini-Women! Can’t tell you how much I appreciate ALL of you moms who are reading this. The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s (or maybe you are a grandmother, auntie, big sister, guardian) life. Please do share with us who you are sharing this with so we are all encouraged to do something similar.
I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the seventh one.

Reason #7: Because Jesus shows you exactly what to do in tough situations. We’re talking exactly. There isn’t a situation you can face that he doesn’t talk about in his teachings – or show you in our own life, sometimes through other people. Just stay connected. Jesus loves that.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #6

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #6:

Hey, , Mothers of Mini-Women! I have been loving being a guest blogger this Valentine’s week with Mocha with Linda for letting me be part of her blog (and basically take over!). Can’t tell you how much I appreciate ALL of you moms who are reading this. You are the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:
Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the sixth one.

Reason #6: Because Jesus forgives your sins. I think we’ve all had the experience of messing up, asking for forgiveness, being told, “It’s okay” – but then it never is, at least not the way it was before. Jesus doesn’t work that way. When you go to him and say, “I really made a mess out of that whole thing and I’m sorry and I want to be better than that,” forgiveness is a given and the entire situation is forgotten. Jesus loves you exactly the same way he did before you managed to tangle everything up. Maybe even more, because you went to him. That’s what he’s there for.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue


Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #5

Hel-l-o-o-o Mothers (and Grandmothers!) of Mini-Women! Welcome to our fifth post on this Valentine’s Week – and thanks again to Mocha with Linda for letting me join you all. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate ALL of you moms who are reading this. The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the fifth one.


Reason #5: Because Jesus knows exactly how you feel, all the time. Other people, especially moms and dads, may tell you they do, but sometimes they just don’t. No other person can really get into your heart and get right where you’re coming from ALL the time. Jesus can. You can count on it.


Blessings,
Nancy Rue














Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

10 Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #4

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #4:

For the mini-women:Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the fourth one.

Reason #4: Because Jesus makes you want to try harder and be better. How many rules do you obey ONLY because you don’t want to get in trouble? Like if you didn’t HAVE to follow them, you wouldn’t? Here’s the thing about Jesus: he doesn’t give you a bunch of rules to make you feel like you’re in a cage; when you love him, you actually WANT to do better and be better. And when you want to, you will. You’ll even realize you can do things – good things – you never thought you could.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com


Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus: Reason #3

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series of guest posts on Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! If you've missed the previous days, you can catch up here. Now here's Nancy Rue with today's Reason #3:



For the mini-women:

Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the third one.

Reason #3: Because Jesus makes SURE you understand. Ever had a teacher who couldn’t explain the work to you and when you didn’t get it after the second time, he just shook his head like you’re dense or something? Jesus never does that. He told story after story after story to make what he was teaching clear. Don’t you wish ALL teachers did that?





Blessings,
Nancy Rue

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:


Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

TEN REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS: Reason #2

Welcome back to Nancy Rue's series Ten Reasons to Fall in Love with Jesus! Today Nancy shares Reason #2, a great reason for both Mini-Women (tweens) and us grown-ups! (If you missed Reason #1, click here.

A big-time Mini-Woman thank you for returning today and again to Mocha with Linda for having me on her blog as we travel through Valentine’s Week together. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you moms who are reading this. The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women:
Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re giving you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the second one.

Reason #2: Because Jesus brings you to life. In the story you’re about to read, he literally brings a young girl back to life. As in, she was dead and now she isn’t. The message for YOU is that when you fall into a “dead time” – you’re cranky, snarky, unhappy, and feeling farther away from God than you are from Paris, France – Jesus can, and does, bring you back to a great life with him. Not just once, when you give him your life, but over and over and over again.

“DREAM GIRL” Feature (Matthew 9:18-26, p. 1108 from FaithGirlz Bible)

A crowd is knotting together in the street, probably again surrounding that Jesus person everyone talks about. You tug on a nearby girl’s cloak and ask, “What’s going on?” Her eyes bulge at you. “A man asked Jesus to bring his daughter back from the dead!” Yeah, right, you think, until two men slice through the group. One is strong in the shoulder, but his face is gentle. That must be Jesus. The other is your best friend’s father. His face is long and sad as if someone has… “Did his daughter die?” you whisper to the girl. She nods, and you let out a wail. But it’s lost in the noise of the shoving crowd. You follow the men to your best friend’s home. You elbow through the crowd and scramble onto the wall where you and your friend have often spied, giggling, on those in the house. Through the window you see her face is ash grey against her sleeping mat. Her chest doesn’t’ rise and fall. Not a muscle twitches. You stifle another cry as Jesus puts up his hands for quiet. “The girl is not dead but asleep,” he says. Some people snicker. As wrong as you know he is, you would never laugh at this man. There is something about him that keeps you peering into the house as he enters. He takes your precious friend’s limp hand in his. She rises from the bed. The color rushes to her cheeks, and her eyes spring open, bright as a bird’s. She is alive! And so, it seems, are you….more than ever, as if his power has overflowed from the window into your soul.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Click the title to find out more about the NIV Faithgirlz Bible, Revised Edition. The ones she is giving away are leather-bound, so you definitely don't want to miss that! Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

(By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.

View blog reactions

TEN REASONS TO FALL IN LOVE WITH JESUS: Reason #1 (Nancy Rue Guest Post)

Along with my regular blog posts, I'm excited to be hosting one of my favorite authors, Nancy Rue, over the next several days in a special series aimed at Tweens (or as Nancy calls them, Mini-Women!) and their moms, encouraging the Tweens to dig into their Bibles and fall in love with Jesus. If you have a Tween in your family or know one, please encourage them to come join us over here! And I suspect even those of us beyond this stage might benefit from Nancy's thoughts, as well! Here's Nancy:

I want to give a big Mini-Women thank you to Mocha with Linda for being a part of our 10-Day blog campaign. Can’t tell you how much I appreciate all of you moms who are reading this. The eye-rolling and “Mo-om!” notwithstanding, you are still the most important influence in your tween daughter’s life. I hope you’ll share this with her:

For the mini-women: Like most M-W’s, you’re probably way aware that the Valentine’s Day season is here, and you probably either love the cards, the candy, the frills – or you can’t wait for the thing to be over because it makes you so painfully aware of who DOESN’T like you! One being DOES like you. He loves you, in fact. He’s just waiting for YOU to fall in love with HIM. Why would you? In ten different posts, each one giving you a peek at a feature from the FaithGirlz Bible, we’re going to give you a Reason To Fall In Love With JESUS. Here’s the first one.

Reason #1: No matter what you have going on, Jesus is there to handle it with you. Unlike your friends who try to help, he actually knows everything. Unlike your parents, he always has the time. And unlike that crazy world out there, he’ll never lead you someplace you don’t need to be.

Blessings,
Nancy Rue

QUESTION FOR THE COMMENT SECTION:What is your opinion of Valentine's Day? Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in-between? For you Mini-Women, cut out a heart and write on it "Fall in Love with Jesus" and place it by your bed or on your deask where you will see it. He'll still be there long after Valentine's Day is over!

Interested in reading more from Nancy? Please be sure to connect with her in any of these places:

Website: http://www.nancyrue.com/
Blog for Tween Girls: “’Tween You & Me”
Blog for Teen Girls: “In Real Life”
Blog for the adults: “The Nudge”
Teen Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
Adult Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nnrue
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NNRue
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/nnrue/
YouTube: FaithGirlz Channel
E-mail: Nancy@Nancyrue.com

Nancy Rue is hosting a contest and giving away a pile of Faithgirlz Bibles! Here's a peek at one of the features included in the Bible. Click the Rafflecopter below to enter!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

(By the way, there are A LOT of ways to for someone to enter. This is because we have girls not allowed on Facebook so we want to make it an equal opportunity as possible. So be sure to enter! You can also enter here.


ABOUT NANCY RUE

For Mini-Women: If you're a girl between 8 and 12, you have come to the right place, because Nancy Rue is all about mini-women like you. She's written 103 books (count 'em!) for young people and she teaches (you know, in person, all over the country) about the stuff you're facing in your life right now. She's a Christian, but if you aren't, don't run away! What she has to share is for every girl who wants to be the absolute best she can be.

For Grown-Ups: “I try to live a God-guided life,” says the author: “doing what I was meant to do, what I love to, what allows me to give what I’ve been given. I spend as much of my time teaching, filling my well, hanging out with the people I love, as I do writing, and that has made all the difference."

2012 marked Nancy Rue's 30th year as a published author. In that time, she has become a best-selling author of books for ‘tweens, teens and adults. Over her career she’s written more than 100 books and has won two Christy Awards as well as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year distinction. For a complete list of titles, click here.

Nancy travels the country speaking and teaching at schools, churches, home school groups, and for groups of ‘tween girls and their moms. Please contact Nancy if you are interested in more information on booking her for a workshop or event. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. Their daughter, Marijean, son-in-law, Brian, and baby granddaughter Maeryn, live in nearby Nashville. The Rues’ two yellow labs and tabby cat King Arthur share Jim and Nancy’s home, and without them writing would be difficult.

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Nancy Rue's Blog Tour Continues!

Nancy Rue is still touring the blogsphere on the back of her husband's Harley, celebrating the release of her newest novel, Too Far to Say Far Enough, the conclusion of The Reluctant Prophet series. Today she's hanging out with Julie Cantrell, discussing “That Whole ‘Unequally Yoked’ Thing. Be sure to check out all the stops she's making all week, not only for the thought-provoking questions she discusses, but to enter her great giveaway! And be sure to check the top of my sidebar for my giveaway of this entire series!

Monday: Nancy Rue, The Nudge “What Hank Says . . . About Leaving the Pew”
Tuesday: Mocha With Linda “Will the “Real” Christians Please Stand Up?”
Wednesday: Jen Hatmaker “When the Nudge Drives a Wedge”
Thursday: Julie Cantrell “That Whole ‘Unequally Yoked’ Thing
Friday: Far From Perfect MaMMa “Is It Worth Having a Record?”

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Will the "Real" Christians Please Stand Up?

I love Nancy Rue, both as an author and as an individual. It has been my delight to get to know her personally over the past several years, beginning with a time about seven or eight years ago when she spoke at an event for tweens at our church and I got to "chauffeur" her between the airport, hotel, and church. It's a whole 'nother blog post how much my girl adores her and how much she has promoted Nancy's books, both officially at event book tables and unofficially by giving them as gifts and even chatting with someone at a bookstore trying to decide on the perfect gift for their granddaughter!)

So I am absolutely delighted to be one of Nancy's stops on her week-long blog tour to celebrate the release of Too Far to Say Far Enough, the final novel in The Reluctant Prophet series. (If you are new to my blog, be sure to check out my review and bonus giveaway, which I posted yesterday.) Each day this week, Nancy is addressing some tough topics, and today she asks how we define a "real" Christian. Fill up your mug and enjoy this mocha break with Nancy Rue!

Will the “Real” Christians Please Stand Up?
by Nancy Rue

If I were posting on my own blog, “The Nudge”, I would start off by saying, “Hello, fellow Nudgees!” We’re creating a community of people who feel nudged by God (or suspect we are) and need a place where people don’t think we’re crazy. I so appreciate Linda for allowing me the chance to bring that community to yours – craziness and all. Knowing the amazing Mocha Linda as I do, I have a feeling you are “Nudgees” just like we are. And can I just add that I’m so glad she’s been nudged to be such a loyal supporter to me?

We’ve been talking about God’s wisdom as imparted in The Reluctant Prophet series, and we’ve discovered that more often than not, the answers we seek come to us through even more questions. Somebody has counted how many times in the Gospels Jesus responds to a question with a question. (If anybody knows, fill us in, would you, and maybe this time I’ll actually write it down!). It only makes sense that that sort of conversation with God would continue in our relationships with him.

So here’s one.

Protagonist Allison Chamberlain is like so many of us: she’s built a foundation of faith in the church, with the help of a loyal group of friends (who she fondly refers to as “The Wednesday Night Watchdogs”), and has studied Scripture until she could probably recite the Synoptic Gospels on demand. Her entire Christian experience has been within a body of solid believers, and so just as most of us card-carrying Jesus-followers do, she has defined Christians as people who have been baptized. Who belong to a church. Who pray and try to live pure lives and – well, you know the list.

But when Allison is nudged by God to get outside those walls and see what’s really going on out there, her definition of “Christian” is challenged. Is it only those who have answered an altar call and prayed the Sinner’s Prayer and have agreed to follow the plan for salvation? Could people who unintentionally live as Jesus did, perhaps without being able to put it into words, be included under the category of “Christian?” Do we call hypocrites and bigots and just plain judgmental folks Christian because they have formally accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior – and yet not be willing to give that name to people who are in the trenches, fighting for justice in our society out of love and the desire for every human being to be seen? Could it not be that if your life looks like the one Jesus led and you know that comes from God – you are, indeed, among the saved? Or does it have to look the same for everyone?

As I’ve said so many times before, The Reluctant Prophet is not an indictment of the church or anyone’s way of celebrating every soul that is saved from a living death by surrendering to God. It’s an indictment of anything that isn’t real. Some social justice communities tend to morph into ‘anything that’s warm and fuzzy is Jesus so why even mention his name’ – and that isn’t real either.

What I want to see is what’s promised near the end of the trilogy, in Too Far To Say Far Enough: the church doing the Jesus-thing . . . all the way. And that means every one of us asking ourselves, not, “Is that guy over there a ‘real’ Christian?” but “Am I?”

Drives me to my knees every day. Good thing we’ve got God and grace and this body of folks we journey with.

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including Healing Waters, which was a 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year, and The Reluctant Prophet which received a Christy award in 2011. Nancy travels extensively-at times on the back of a Harley Davidson-speaking and teaching to groups of `tween girls and their moms and mentoring aspiring Christian authors. She lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin' husband Jim and their two yellow labs (without whom writing would be difficult.)

Thanks so much, Nancy. Lots to think about, both here in your post as well as in this book and series. Readers, let us know in the comments: what do you think is the most subtle and/or dangerous lie folks believe today about what makes someone be a "real" Christian?

Now what you have probably been waiting for…
winning books!
Nancy’s publisher, David C. Cook is giving away:

• Reluctant Prophet series (3 books) to 10 winners,
• PLUS 10 copies of The Reluctant Prophet to each winner’s recipient of choice.

Nancy will personally sign each book as well as include a letter with The Reluctant Prophet to your person of choice.

Visit here for the Rafflecopter entry form and official rules.
If you are joining the hop midway through and not sure where to go, here are all the stops for each day. That way you are able to maximize your entries into the giveaway, as well as capture Nancy’s heart as she wrote this series:

Monday: Nancy Rue, The Nudge “What Hank Says . . . About Leaving the Pew”
Tuesday: Mocha With Linda “Will the “Real” Christians Please Stand Up?”
Wednesday: Jen Hatmaker “When the Nudge Drives a Wedge”
Thursday: Julie Cantrell “That Whole ‘Unequally Yoked’ Thing
Friday: Far From Perfect MaMMa “Is It Worth Having a Record?”



If you would like to connect with Nancy, she can be found here:

Website: www.nancyrue.com
facebook (adult fans): www.facebook.com/nnrue
facebook (for teen fans): www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
twitter: www.twitter.com/nnue
pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nnrue
In addition to Nancy’s blog, The Nudge, (for her adult audience), she also has a blog for teens (In Real Life) and for tweens (Tween You and Me)

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Too Far to Say Far Enough GIVEAWAY!

Too Far to Say Far Enough
The Reluctant Prophet, Book 3
Nancy Rue
(David C. Cook)
ISBN: 978-1434764904
October 2012/396 pages/$14.99
Allison Chamberlain has done everything God required of her-—but as He continues to nudge her in the third and final book of The Reluctant Prophet Series, she is ready to say, "Enough!" Even with two Sacrament Houses open, the Sisters' secondhand clothing boutique making its debut, and the orphaned Desmond legally adopted, Allison Chamberlain receives the divine nudge to go another mile. Eventually responding with her usual reluctant obedience, she finds herself caring for a very young prostitute and facing the deepest roots of evil. Despite the adversaries who threaten those closest to her, Allison finds that she has not gone far enough until she conquers hate and learns to love as God does. No matter what the consequences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including Healing Waters, which was a 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year, and The Reluctant Prophet which received a Christy award in 2011. Nancy travels extensively-at times on the back of a Harley Davidson-speaking and teaching to groups of `tween girls and their moms and mentoring aspiring Christian authors. She lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin' husband Jim and their two yellow labs (without whom writing would be difficult.)

If you would like to connect with Nancy, she can be found here:

Website: www.nancyrue.com
facebook (adult fans): www.facebook.com/nnrue
facebook (for teen fans): www.facebook.com/nnrueforteens
twitter: www.twitter.com/nnrue
pinterest: www.pinterest.com/nnrue
In addition to Nancy’s blog, The Nudge, (for her adult audience), she also has a blog for teens (In Real Life) and for tweens (Tween You and Me)

MY THOUGHTS

I have never ridden a Harley but I don't think that would be nearly as adventurous as just living the life of Allison Chamberlain. . .or my own life if I paid heed to the nudges God directs my way! Borrowing a phrase from the bikers, Nancy Rue concludes The Reluctant Prophet series with Too Far to Say Far Enough. I have been eagerly anticipating this book since the close of Unexpected Dismounts (reviewed here) and all I can say is wow! What a ride! While Rue could have written a perfectly satisfying book utilizing the characters already introduced in the first two novels, she apparently decided Allison didn't have enough commotion and upheaval in her life and introduced some new "situations" for her to deal with. Of course, Desmond, Chief, and the gals living in the Sacrament Houses--not to mention her nemesis, Troy Irwin--still contribute plenty of drama and too many moments that have her teetering on the edge of walking away from it all, except for those Nudges from God that keep telling her to "go another mile."

Like its predecessors, Too Far to Say Far Enough is brilliantly crafted. Nancy Rue authentically portrays a reality and segment of population that most of us would prefer not to think about, much less engage. Raw, honest emotions are palpable and the story moves rapidly without being rushed. I wondered how Rue would bring the series to a close, especially regarding the relationship between Allison and Chief. I won't give any spoilers but I will say that while it wasn't what I expected, it was completely satisfying!

If you believe that Christians should cocoon, living in a bubble apart from the world, and if you are satisfied with perfunctory Sunday church attendance, this novel and series is not for you. But if you are committed to following hard after Christ, if you wrestle with what it means to really live like Jesus, if you are willing to get your hands and feet dirty--and your heart bruised--while serving others, this is a must-read.


David C. Cook and Nancy Rue are hosting a blog tour, and I am honored that my blog will be a stop on this tour tomorrow! Nancy will be my guest. She is kicking off the tour today on her own blog, so be sure to visit her at The Nudge “What Hank Says . . . About Leaving the Pew.”



BONUS GIVEAWAY!!

Independent of the giveaway occurring with the blog tour, I have been given the opportunity by Wynn-Wynn Media to offer a complete set of this series PLUS a Starbucks gift card to one of you! US mailing addresses only, please. You can enter more than once and there are several ways to enter - just click the Rafflecopter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway




Read my reviews of the first two books in this series:

The Reluctant Prophet (includes interview with Nancy Rue immediately following her receipt of the Christy Award for this novel)
Unexpected Dismounts



I purchased a copy of Too Far to Say Far Enough for my personal use and to promote in this review. Wynn-Wynn Media is providing the complete series and a Starbucks card for my giveaway.

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