Tuesday, December 28, 2010

End-of-the-Year Celebration DAY 4!

The winner of Day 3's giveaway (Wild West Christmas, Somewhere to Belong, The Blacksmith's Bravery, and Larkspur Cove) is:
groovyoldlady!!

Congrats!
Lets get started with today's festivities! I'm featuring authors Daniel Darling, Shawna Williams, and Michelle Sutton this time! :D

What is one thing or area where God has been changing you in 2010? Do you have any scriptures to go along with/support that?

Daniel: 2010 was a stretching year, a year where God really used some tough times to teach me to become more dependent upon Him and to dig deeper and to learn what it means to be a man of God—husband, father, pastor, leader.

I think the most powerful Scripture this year is John 8:32. I’ve know this verse my whole life, but this year really learned that Jesus is that Truth that sets us free. It’s not a set of facts that sets us free. It’s a Person and the more we lean into Jesus, the more we’re set free from the things that shackle us.


Shawna: This past year has been exciting, stressful, financially worrisome, and busy on all levels, but God has given me peace over all of these things, and a reassurance that He really is in control. When I freak out over sales, or meeting a deadline, or my messy house, the kids' schooling, any number of things, all I do is rage against a brick wall. He's really helped me to relax a lot this year, and just accept the good with the bad and know that ultimately it's all in His hands anyway.

This was a prevalent theme in my book, IN ALL THINGS, and even the prequel, NO OTHER. It's something I needed to be reminded of often. Romans 8:28 is a wonderful verse.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose."


Michelle: I have learned that no matter what happens to me, even if it comes from another person who claims to love the same Jesus that I do, I need to be careful regarding my response to them. It should be a godly response, not an angry one, because "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble." I have also learned to pray for people who have hurt me rather than just grump about it. It's easier to heal when the person who hurt you is on your prayer list because it changes you even if the person who hurt you never changes or apologizes.

Here is another supporting scripture…
Micah 6:8 – What does the Lord require of you? But to act justly, and to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.

Tell one thing that God did for you this year just to show He loved you.

Daniel: God used me this year in ministry. There is a certain insecurity that comes with pastoring and writing –you wonder how and why you have a right to speak about God with any authority. But then you realize that it is not you, but God. And if you believe God can use you and you put feet on that belief with obedience, you begin to see the powerful love of God who invites us to be part of His Kingdom purposes. What love that God would use me, a broken vessel.

Shawna: He pulled two more stories out of me that I wasn't sure I could write, and they turned out pretty good!

Michelle: He had two friends send me money so that I could go to American Christian Fiction Writer's Conference in September 2010. I had pretty much decided I couldn't go because I had no money. I had attended every year since 2004 so it was killing me to stay home. My dad suggested I tell the Lord I still want to go and let Him provide for me. Well believe it or not, I prayed and said, "If you want me to go, Lord, you'll have to foot the bill." I never mentioned it to anyone and within a week a friend asked me if I was going to conference. I told her I couldn't afford it and she told me she felt like God told her to contact me and pay my way (we're talking about 500 bucks here!) Needless to say I was speechless and felt very, very loved by God and by my friend. Come to find out, she wasn't even planning to go to conference herself. That was so God! Another friend offered to buy my plane ticket.

What is your favorite memory from 2010?

Daniel: Wow, that’s tough. We have three young children, so there were so many wonderful memories from our family. Then we had great memories at church. And of course, to have books published, is cool. I also got to meet some great heroes, authors like Randy Alcorn and others.

Shawna: Sitting around the dining room table at my grandmother's 90th birthday and listening to her tell us stories about when she and Papa were young. I will cherish that forever!

Michelle: Probably when I had a publisher offer to publish Never Without Hope. I didn't think it would ever sell because it was so edgy, but God obviously wanted to use it to reach people.

Do you have any New Year resolutions in mind?

Daniel: Yes, this year I’d like to become a better Dad to my three children. My resolution is to be more intentional about my time with them.

Shawna: Yes, to find a balance between writing and having a life.

Michelle: I don't do resolutions because I stink at keeping them.

What is one goal you have set (or God has put on your heart) for 2011 apart from New Year resolutions?

Daniel: I'd like to share Christ with at least two people this year.

Shawna: I have a goal of writing two books this year. One I have a deadline for with Desert Breeze. The other is to take to conference and pitch. These are just goals.  What I pray for is that God will press upon my heart each book's spiritual message, and pull from me a story that will deliver this message in a way that touches others. Without that this goal doesn’t have any significance.

Michelle: To get all of the books I've promised to submit to the publishers ahead of schedule. I don't ever want to be late because that throws everything off schedule.

~~~~~



Giveaway! These authors, along with Roseanna White, have generously offered these 5 books to one lucky winner!

iFaith, autographed, by Daniel Darling


Orphaned Hearts, (pdf) by Shawna Williams
It's Not About Me and It's Not About Him, autographed, by Michelle Sutton
A Stray Drop of Blood, by Roseanna White
Rules:
For this party, only people with USA mailing addresses can enter. You must leave your email address in order to be entered so that I can contact you if you win.

Mandatory first entry: You must be a Google Friend Connect follower (in sidebar) of this blog, OR be an email subscriber (in sidebar) to this blog to enter this giveaway. Let me know in your comment to enter (with your email address) which you are.


Extra Entries:


+1 Post the link for this giveaway on Facebook and/or Twitter. (If you do both, that is +2)

+1 GFC follow or email subscribe to my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.

+1 Put the buttons for one or both of my blogs on your blog. (You can get the HTML in my sidebar.) If you put both buttons up, that is +2.


+1 For every friend you get to come, enter this giveaway, and say that you sent them. (Make sure they use a name that I can connect with you. I want to make sure the extra points go to the right person!


+2 Post about this giveaway on your blog, telling which books will be given away.


+3 Leave a comment for at least one of the authors in this giveaway encouraging them with something you like about them personally, their writing, or one of their books.


I have one special way to gain extra entries, so pay close attention… For every day that the banner for this End-of-the-Year Celebration at the TOP of your blog (starting the 22nd) it will count as +1 entry towards the final blowout giveaway on the 30th and 31st. That means you can earn up to 10 more entries in the final giveaway!!! You can grab the banner’s HTML HERE.


This giveaway ends tomorrow (Wednesday, December 29) at 6 p.m. CST. I will try to promptly contact the winner after that time. Winners will be announced in the next morning’s post.

35 comments:

Jo said...

I'm a email subscriber

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Jo said...

I'm a GFC follower.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

The Crazy Cat Lady said...

Oooh, these look good! Thanks for the opportunity! I'm a follower of both your blogs, and I put your buttons on both of my blogs.
http://thisnthatnthose.blogspot.com
http://www.thepriceoftrust.com

Cheerio!
kjv1611as at gmail dot com

SarcasticMuse said...

I follow your other blog and I sent TheCoolMom.

To Michelle Sutton: Keep up the good work with your writing. There are many different types of people out there, which is why we need different types of fiction. So for your next novel you write I pray, may your words come easy, the story flow and may you not get stuck in the middle trying to reach the end.

DreamingEvermore[at]gmail[dot]com

amber said...

I subscribe via email. These look sooo good!!

amber (afren07[at]gmail[dot]com)

amber said...

I am also subscribed to your other blog via email :-)

amber (afren07[at]gmail[dot]com)

Virginia said...

+3 I like what Shawna say, Shawna: Sitting around the dining room table at my grandmother's 90th birthday and listening to her tell us stories about when she and Papa were young. I will cherish that forever! to me that is so wise to sit and listen to the stories that can only come from grandmother, stories to pass down...I love it. I didn't have grandmothers to get to do that.
+1 am a GFC follower...a carman blog follower, Carman's too fun
+1 and I'll put this on FB as I want everyone to have a chance to win...Happy NEw Year!!!!

so a total of +5 I think
vrush729(at)aol(dot)com

Giveaway Lady said...

I am a GFC Follower and would love to be entered in this great giveaway:) Please enter me. Thanks so much!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

Posted on Twitter.
http://twitter.com/kingsdaughter24/status/19871180496306176

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

GFC Follower of your other blog as well.
esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

I posted about this on my blog #1

http://giveawaygal.blogspot.com/2010/12/friends-book-giveaway.html

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

Posted on my blog #2

http://giveawaygal.blogspot.com/2010/12/friends-book-giveaway.html

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Giveaway Lady said...

I read Shwana's first book and really liked it:) She has a great style of writing. Would love to read her book.

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

What a wonderful giveaway. Thank you for the chance!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I posted this on my Facebook Profile.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1124305054

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I Tweeted this giveaway

Timmy1966

http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2010/12/end-of-year-celebration-day-4.html

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I follow you on GFC and I subscribe to Christian Book Giveaways by email!

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

Shawna I loved your note about Sitting around the dining room table at your Grandmother's 90th birthday. How I would have loved that...I never had a Grandparent. You are very blessed.

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Ariel Wilson said...

I have heard all of these books are excellent! :D I'm so excited!!!

I'm a GFC follower.

I follow Christian Book Giveaways. +1

pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

authorkathyeberly said...

These books all sound great and I would love to receive them! I'm also a follower!
authorkathyeberly(at)gmail(dot)com

thecoolmom said...

I'm an email subscriber.

thecoolmom AT gmail DOT com

thecoolmom said...

I'm an email subscriber to CBG.

thecoolmom AT gmail DOT com

B. J. Robinson said...

I'm a follower of this blog and have left reviews of two of Michelle Sutton's books on my blog. I will go to my blog and announce the giveaways as well. This is my second comment. I enjoyed reading these posts. God helped me find a new position this year, which showed me He loves me. My email is Sunflower05@comcast.net.

Tori said...

I am following via gfc
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

I tweeted - http://twitter.com/MommaTori82/status/20198601913274369
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

I am agfc follower on your other blog
vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

I blogged - http://thriftytori.blogspot.com/2010/12/other-blog-giveaway-books.html

by the way the giveaway Lady sent me. :)

vrtheriot@gmail.com

Tori said...

I blogged - http://thriftytori.blogspot.com/2010/12/other-blog-giveaway-books.html


vrtheriot@gmail.com

Emillie Rose said...

I now follow - gfc - emillie
hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

Emillie Rose said...

I posted a link to the giveaway on my facebook - emillie rose
hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

Emillie Rose said...

I posted a link to the giveaway on my twitter - hisprincess886
hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

Emillie Rose said...

I now follow Christian Book Giveaways - gfc - emillie
hisprincess886(at)yahoo(dot)com

lilac grandma said...

Oh no! I am in Canada. Really great giveaway! Keep on writing Michelle!

Unknown said...

Wow what a fun giveaway! I am a follower and have your button on my personal blog, Kaitlynology.com/blog. I also follow Christian Book Giveaways. Thanks!

Kait
momiswayweird(at)gmail(dot)com

Shawna K. Williams said...

I should tell you guys that some of those memories my grandmother shared made it into Orphaned Hearts. My grandmother is such an amazing woman, and the story was inspired by her and my granddad, so it just seemed appropriate to do so.