Thursday, December 30, 2010

End-of-the-Year Celebration DAY 5!!

Sorry I'm late posting all this!

The winner of Day 4's giveaway is:
BookAddict (DreamingEvermore@...)

Congrats!
Lets get started with today's festivities! Remember, today and tomorrow are the final days of the Celebration! And you get to turn in your "banner points" for extra entries today! Here are the authors being featured in the final blowout giveaway!
Penny Zeller, Amanda Stephan, Loree Lough, Janice Thompson, and Suzanne Woods Fisher. :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?

Penny: God has been continually showing me how I can depend on Him in all circumstances – both big and small.  In July of 2010, our family was traveling home on the freeway from a Christian rock festival. We were involved in the worst blinding hailstorm the area had seen in years. I prayed for an exit where we could pull over from the freeway, and God provided one. As my husband maneuvered the truck and our travel trailer to the side of the road, we watched and listened as hail – sometimes the size of a baseball – hit against our truck and travel trailer. Our daughters crouched low on the floor in the back seat and we all prayed God would protect us as the loud hail came toward us with amazing force. In the end, our travel trailer was totaled (and would later have to be replaced) and our truck sustained over $7,000 in damage. Yet, no one was hurt. God had kept us safe.

As we ventured back onto the freeway toward the next two hours to reach our home, we saw people alongside the freeway with their windows broken out of their vehicles. Some vehicles were rolled over and people were standing sobbing alongside the road. Emergency vehicles were everywhere. As we crept along at a slow pace because of our damaged vehicle, we prayed for those we saw alongside the road. We were humbled and thankful. Things could have been so much worse. But God had protected us.

He is teaching me more and more the assurances found in so many books of the Bible, including Psalm 46:1-3, Psalm 91, and Habakkuk 3:17-19.


Amanda: Oh my, has God been changing me so much this past year! I was a stay at home, home-schooling mother that was quite content to stay behind the scenes and never bring attention to myself. Since the release of my first novel, I’ve had to be out in the public, talking and promoting my book. It’s been a tremendous step of faith. Ecc. 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (KJV)

Loree: The Lord has always been a steadfast source of calm and peace for me, no matter how turbulent and tumultuous life becomes. I believe He has underscored this knowledge throughout 2010, and the scriptures I return to time and again are
John 14: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe in me.

and

Philippians 4:6&7: …do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication and with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Janice: Several months ago our worship pastor preached a sermon about “success/fame.” Because I’m in a business where so much depends on people knowing who I am (and recognizing my name so that they will buy my books) the sermon hit me hard. He posed a question: “What would it look like if you stopped striving for success and just loved Jesus?” Wow. That question stopped me cold. I thought about it all the way home from church. When I arrived home, I took an eyeliner pencil and wrote those words on the mirror in my bedroom so that I would be confronted with them every morning when I woke up. God is really asking me to lay down my “striving” (pushing hard to be well-known/famous) and just trusting Him with my career. I’m learning that, as I crawl into His lap for one-on-one time, He will take care of the rest. What’s really important in the end, anyway? When I get to heaven, God’s not going to ask, “Why didn’t you do a better job marketing yourself?” He’s going to ask, “Hey, why didn’t I see more of you? I needed some cuddle time and you weren’t there!”


Suzanne: There have been a number of experiences this year in which I’ve been pushed way out of my comfort zone and have had to rely entirely on God, and He has been so faithful! The lesson for me is to continually invite God into a situation—every situation—take my sticky fingers off the controls and let Him work!

As for Scripture to support that: Proverbs 16:1-4: “To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue. All a man’s way seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works out everything for His own ends…” (niv).

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

Penny: His continued love, protection, and faithfulness in a variety of circumstances and His ultimate sacrifice of sending His Son to die for me tops the list.

Amanda: Narrowing it down to one is difficult! But, every time I felt like just throwing in the towel and giving up, He’d send along someone special to uplift my spirit. It’s much more common for people to tear others down than to exhort, so these people have really become very close to my heart. I look at these people as precious gifts.

Loree: My husband had a heart attack on New Year’s Eve, 2009, and after the ambulance rushed him to the ER and the team got him stabilized, the doc on duty told me that Larry’s main artery was 99% blocked, that the other two major arteries were 97% and 95% blocked, and that a couple of minutes was the difference between life and death, literally. I was too shocked to tell him that Larry had planned to head for the mountains to get in one last day of hunting before the season end. If not for a freaky, unexpected snow, he would have been there, and not at home, when he said “I’m not feeling very well….”

Larry went through surgery and recovery in record time—praise God and hallelujah!

Then, every single month after that, the family suffered at last one monumental blow. And every person I’ve talked with, from the cashier at WalMart to friends and family members I’ve loved for years, has had the same kind of year!

Yet…when we share our trials, we celebrate that God was and is with us through every tribulation, sure and steady and doling out comfort and peace even when things look most bleak. And we thank Him, too, when the waters grow calmer, that He has graced us with hearts that know and express gratitude for these gifts He has given!

Janice: Wow, just one? I could give you a lengthy list! Many of my readers know that I struggle with autoimmune arthritis. The pain is excruciating at times. Because this is a pre-existing condition, I’ve been unable to get health insurance, so getting the proper meds (and medical care) has been difficult. The rheumatologist told me about a medication that I needed to be on (a weekly injection) but it was too expensive to consider ($350/week). In January of ’10 I received word that I’d been approved for a grant to receive the meds for free for one year: $18,000 worth of medicine absolutely free. Talk about a miracle!

Suzanne: Just this morning, over coffee, I was telling my husband that this Christmas almost feels like the end of a book. This very week, a number of pending issues for our family have resolved in wonderful ways. One son has a fabulous new job, one daughter has graduated from college and is working/living in San Francisco, another son is happily adjusted to college, other daughter and son-in-law (who have a beautiful new baby)—just found out they will probably be moving back to the west coast within a few months. It feels almost scripted! My cup runneth over—to see my children all doing so well in life. God’s good gift!

What is your favorite memory from 2010?

Penny: I have many awesome memories from 2010, especially those involving camping with my family, but there is one that sticks in my mind… Our family was camping in the mountains over Labor Day Weekend. While it was chilly, we were having fun hiking, doing some target shooting, and sitting by the campfire. We watched later as people began to leave for home because of concerns of an early winter storm approaching. We prayed about it, then elected to stay since our travel trailer has a great heater. Besides, we were ready for an adventure! Hours later, we sat inside our trailer playing board games and eating snacks at the table until all hours of the night. It began to snow outside, the wind howled, and the temperature fell to 19 degrees.

In the morning, we awoke to more winter weather, but with wonderful memories. I wouldn’t trade that weekend in the mountains with my husband and children for anything.

Amanda: My favorite memory of 2010 is a recent one. This past week, our church put on a Christmas program. Usually I’m behind the scenes, but this year I headed it up. (gasp….) One little girl decided that she wanted to sit by me as I played the piano and not be in the play. As I was playing and the children were singing, she would do a variety of things like hang on my left arm and swing, lay her head in my lap, talk to me, and my favorite, stand up on the piano bench behind me. It was so cute!

Loree: When the surgeon said (on January 2, 2010, after 6 hours in the O.R.) “He did great, and he’ll be fine.” Yes, that was one bright and shining moment, for sure!

Janice: One of my favorite memories just took place a couple weeks ago. My second-oldest daughter and her husband live in Montana, a zillions miles away from our home in Texas. They came for a visit a couple weeks ago and brought my grandbabies. Two of my other daughters live here in the Houston area with their spouses and little ones. So, for ten days, I had three daughters, three sons-in-law, six grandbabies, and my mom. . .all together in one town! We did everything together. The house was a wreck, thanks to the six kids (the oldest is four) but it didn’t matter. We were just so happy to be together and to share in some new memories with the kids.

Suzanne: Personally, it was the moment when I held my first grandbaby in my arms!

Professionally, it was when “The Waiting” hit the top 50 bestseller list for both ECPA and CBA. Wow, wow, wow. I still have to pinch myself. Did that really happen?!

Do you have any New Year resolutions in mind?

Penny: I’m not really one to set formal New Year’s Resolutions. *grins*
I am seeking the Lord’s will for my life in 2011 and praying for His guidance, protection, and wisdom.

Amanda: Yes, and it’s rather stupid. I vacuum ALL the time, but I absolutely hate putting them away. ( I have two vacuums that I use everyday. I’m a vacuum-aholic) This year, I’m determined that when I’ve finished vacuuming for the day, I’m going to wind the cords up and put them where they actually go. (It’s going to be tough…)

Loree: I’m going to erase “extra sweets” from my diet. (Notice I said “going to” instead of “try to” because I’m also going to live more by the famous Yoda quote from Star Wars: “Do or do not; there IS no ‘try’.”

Janice: Might sound crazy, but I plan to rest more. I’m a workaholic. I literally work into the night most every night. Because of the autoimmune disease, however, I must slow down.

Suzanne: Oh… the usual. Lose five pounds. Plant a better garden. Improve my tennis game. Spend time nurturing my relationships. Stuff like that!

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

Penny: To be better at prioritizing goals and doing a better job at managing my stress level.

Amanda: One goal is to try to be a better witness for Him wherever I go, no matter where I am!

Loree: I will spend more time writing. (Again, I won’t try to spend more time, I’ll do it!) Why? Because the Father has made sure I know, each day as I sit at my desk, that He aims to use me as a missionary of sorts to carry His word to the places and people He wants to touch and reach in unique and special ways, so they will know the power of His love and the blessing of His grace.

Janice: I hope this isn’t too shocking to my readers, but I plan to write less. I’ve been a full-time freelancer for years and have depended solely on the income from my writing. Because of that, I’ve taken nearly every job that’s come my way. My health will no longer allow that, so I’m slowing w-a-y down, and will probably only write three or four books this year, as opposed to the usual ten to twelve. (I’ve been doing a lot of write-for-hire work on “little” books—devotionals and short pieces.)

Suzanne: I want to be sure to continue to develop as a writer. Every book, I hope and pray, is better than the one before it. I am so grateful for this author gig—I can’t even begin to describe how blessed I feel with the opportunity to write for Revell, to connect to readers, to spend time doing something I love. What a gift!

~~~~~

Giveaway! These authors, along with Debby Mayne and Deeanne Gist, have generously offered these 8 books to one lucky winner!

McKenzie and Kaydie, autographed, by Penny Zeller

 
The Price of Trust, autographed, by Amanda Stephan
Maverick Heart, autograhped, by Loree Lough
 
Star's Collide, autographed, by Janice Thompson

The Search, autographed, by Suzanne Woods Fisher
 
Special Mission, autographed, by Debby Mayne

The Trouble with Brides omnibus, autographed, by Deeanne Gist (3-in-1 of Dee's books!!)

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.


**Today is the day to turn in your banner day count! Let me know how many days you had my banner up and it will count towards this giveaway!**


This giveaway ends tomorrow (Friday, December 31) at 11:59 p.m. CST. I will try to promptly contact the winner after that time or the next day. I will also announce all the winners a second time in a separate post on January 1, 2011!

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.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

End-of-the-Year Celebration DAY 3!

The winner of Day 2's giveaway (Meander Scar, The Seeker, A Love of Her Own) is:
Virginia!! (vrush729@...)

Congratulations!
Lets get started with today's festivities! Today, I'm featuring authors Vickie McDonough, and Susan Page Davis!!

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?

Vickie: He’s been teaching me to lean on him more and to not do things on my own. Do you have any scriptures to go along with/support that? Proverbs 3:5 & 6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Susan: This has been a year of changes and new perspectives. Many times I’ve asked God to show me what is important in His eyes. Micah 6:8 tells us, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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

Vickie: I don’t know that I could pinpoint one single thing, because He did many things.
Susan: We have adopted two animals this year (a cat and a horse), and both have brought joy to our family.


What is your favorite memory from 2010?


Vickie: My husband and I, our four boys, my dil, and our granddaughter went together and rented a cabin on Table Rock Lake for two days. One day we all went to Silver Dollar City. It’s the first time since our oldest son married and our boys were grown that we’d all gotten away together. It was a very special time, especially since our #3 son was leaving. He is now deployed to Egypt for a year.


Susan: Entering our new home together.


Do you have any New Year resolutions in mind?

Vickie: Yes, I have a number of books to write this year, and my goal is to get each one done and turned in on time.


Susan: Not really. Every year I just want to do my best as God allows me to. I don’t make formal resolutions, but I always have goals.


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


Vickie: To do a better job in having a daily devotional and time in prayer. I’m the kind of person who jumps out of bed and gets right to work, so I have a habit of thinking I’ll do my devotions later in the day, but work tends to keep me busy, and I forget. I want to do better in that area.

Susan: To see my two youngest children safely through some important milestones in their lives.

~~~~~
Giveaway! These authors, along with authors Judith Miller and Lisa Wingate, have generously offered these 4 books to one lucky winner!

Wild West Christmas, by Vickie McDonough
Somewhere to Belong, by Judith Miller
The Blacksmith's Bravery, autographed, by Susan Page Davis
Larkspur Cove, autographed, by Lisa Wingate

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 (Monday, December 27) 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.

Sunday Funnies #41!

*Hilarious email I got a while back!!*

It was a tough year, but I made it...

-The economy is so bad that I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

-I ordered a burger at McDonald's, and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

-CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

-If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you have to call them and ask if they mean you or them.

-Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

-McDonald's is selling the 1 /4 'ouncer'.

-Parents in Beverly Hills and Malibu are firing their nannies and learning their children's names.

-A truckload of Americans were caught sneaking into Mexico.

-Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

-Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

-The Mafia is laying off judges.

-BP Oil laid off 25 Congressmen.

-Congress says they are looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh, great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $ 1 .5 Trillion disappear!

And, finally...

I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, and our bleak future, that I called the Suicide Life line and was connected to a call center in Pakistan. When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited, and asked if I could drive a truck.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 13, Love

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

Love
by Lauraine Snelling


When asked to write a Christmas message, one of my first thoughts was Do I climb up on my soapbox regarding changing the words in Christmas songs, using only holiday, etc. I thought about it and decided no. After all, they’re only words and what difference does a word make---really make after all?

Then I kept on thinking. If they’re only words… But we as writers know the power of words, as do readers. When the wrong word is used, it jars, while the right word can be most powerful. Take one highly overused and under practiced word---Love. Four letters is all. We toss it around so glibly, saying love ya and luv and love. But think about the power in I love you. Three of the most precious words in our language when put together. Those of us who write romances or books with romance in them, understand the power when one of our characters tells another, I love you. As humans we can never hear that enough or too much.

Christmas is about love. The greatest love story ever told, that of God for us humans, and it never changes. Customs change, politics change, the years change but God’s love never, ever does. At Christmas we are invited to share that love, to give it away, to pass it around. To find wonder again and joy in simple acts of love. We make contact with people we might never see or talk with through the year. That says I love you. We buy and make gifts to give, we reach out to strangers in need, we try to make sure everyone has a special dinner and every child a present. By giving, we receive.

So, let’s use the power words, but more so, put feet on those words and pass the love around. Let’s look for and find the wonder, the joy and the peace, maybe in small bits and pieces and perhaps in an avalanche of blessings. Make your days brighter with the simple gift of a smile, a kind word, a touch, for every single one that you give away, will come back to you multiplied. As you give, so shall you receive. Merry Christmas my friends. May we all recognize our blessings----and let an attitude of gratitude permeate this holiday and every day. With love and joy on this day, Lauraine!

 ~~~

About Lauraine: Lauraine Snelling is the award-winning author of more than sixty books, with sales of over 2 million copies. She also writes for a wide range of magazines, and helps others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the country. Lauraine and her husband, Wayne, have two grown sons, and live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a cockatiel named Bidley, and a watchdog Basset named Chewy.

For more information please visit Lauraine's website: http://www.laurainesnelling.com/.


~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

Friday, December 24, 2010

12 Pearls of Christmas: Day 12, An Unforgetable Gift

Welcome to the 12 Pearls of Christmas! Enjoy these Christmas "Pearls of Wisdom"! Please follow along through Christmas day as each post shares heartfelt stories of how God has touched a life during this most wonderful time of the year. AND BEST OF ALL ... there's also a giveaway!!!! Fill out the quick form at the link located at the bottom of this post to be entered to win a PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS!  Pearls - a tangible reminder of God's grace to us all.

~~~

An Unforgettable Gift
by Karen O'Connor


On Christmas morning, 1912, in Paducah, Kentucky, fourteen-year-old Charlie Flowers and his three brothers and two sisters huddled in their beds, fully dressed, trying to keep warm as the wind howled outside their small frame house.
      
It was a desperate time for the family. Earlier that year the children's father had died. And their mother had not found work. The coal had run out and there was little money––none for gifts. Their scrawny tree with decorations made from scraps of colored paper had been given to them the night before by a local merchant.

"Can't sell this one," the man said with a nod of his head before handing it over to the eager children.
  
To pass the time, the siblings joked and shouted stories from their bedrooms across the hallway from one another. Then suddenly a racket from the alley at the rear of the house broke into their games.
      
"Charlie," his mother called, "would you see what's going on out there?"
     
Charlie pulled on his shoes, grabbed a thick overcoat from the hook by the door, and ran out back.

There stood a man in a wagon bent over a load of coal, shoveling it into the shed as fast as he could.
      
"Hey Mister, we didn't order any coal," Charlie shouted. "You're delivering it to the wrong house."
      
"Your name's Flowers, isn't it?" the man asked, still shoveling. 
      
Charlie nodded yes.
      
"Well then, there's no mistake.  I've been asked to deliver this to your family on Christmas morning." He looked the awe-struck boy square in the eye. "And I'm under strict orders not to tell who sent it," he teased.
      
Charlie ran into the house, his coattail flapping in the cold morning wind.  He could hardly wait to tell his mother and brothers and sisters. God had provided––just as he had on that first Christmas morning so long ago when He sent his only son to a needy world.
      
Charlie Flowers died in 1994 at age 96. And right up to the last year of his life, not a Christmas went by that he didn't tell the story of that sub-zero Christmas morning of his boyhood when two men gave his family an unforgettable gift.
      
It wasn't the coal that was remembered or cherished, Charlie often said––welcome as it was––but rather what two men brought to his desperate family. One, for his gift of recognizing their great need and taking the time to do something about it. And the other, for being willing to give up part of his own Christmas morning to deliver it.
      
That gift of so long ago has continued to warm the Flowers family from one generation to another, as Charlie's son––my husband, Charles––calls to mind these two unknown men each Christmas morning and whispers a prayer of thanks.

 ~~~

About Karen: Karen O'Connor is an award-winning author and writing mentor living in Watsonville, California with her husband, Charles Flowers. Karen’s latest book is 365 Reasons Why Gettin’ Old Ain’t So Bad (Harvest House 2010).

For more information, please visit Karen on the web at http://www.karenoconnor.com/.


~~~

A three strand pearl necklace will be given away on New Year's Day. All you need to do to have a chance of winning is {FILL OUT THIS QUICK ENTRY FORM}. The winner will be announced on the Pearl Girls Blog (http://margaretmcsweeney.blogspot.com/) on New Years Day!

12 Pearls of Christmas Series and contest sponsored by Pearl Girls®. For more information, please visit http://www.pearlgirls.info/

End-of-the-Year Celebration DAY 2!

The winner of Day 1's giveaway (Blood Ransom, Portrait of Love, and Sharpshooter in Petticoats) is:
Renee Ann (reneeasmith61@...)
 
Congrats!
Lets get started on day 2 of the festivities! Today, I'm featuring authors Lisa Lickel, and Ann H Gabhart! :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?

Lisa: God is helping me care more about the details of grammar and punctuation and helping me strive to take better care of my approach to the written word. Philippians 4:8-9 "…if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think on such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me--or seen in me, put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

Ann: I’ve often got way too much on my schedule especially now that my mother is in fragile health and needing constant care. But I keep wanting to do it all. Write the books, read the books, bake the cookies, keep the grandkids, do the church bulletin, send cards and letters, blog, keep in touch with readers, take care of Mom. The list could go on and on. And where in that list is time for reflection, time for spiritual renewal? Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God” often settles in my mind. That’s what I think the Lord wants me to remember in the midst of my busy days. To stop and lift my thoughts to Him and know that He is to be exalted and worshiped as the rest of the Psalm verse goes on to say.

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

Lisa: He gave me a very special friend in retired pastor Bob Seater in our new church to care about, and who blesses me so much every time we meet and helps me feel peaceful about our very tough decision.

Ann: How can you condense a year’s worth of blessings into one thing? So I’ll just say he gave me another story to tell.

What is your favorite memory from 2010?

Lisa: My favorite memory of 2010 regarding my career would be sitting in the QuadCities Christian Writer's Conference as my friend author Robin Steinweg praised God with the precious gift of music. When she played and sang my favorite hymn, Be Thou My Vision, I knew I was in the right place at the right time. What a blessing. My favorite family memory is celebrating my parents' 50th anniversary with all of our immediate family including both my sons and their wives all together.

Ann: A lot of great things happened in 2010. Grandkid hugs and kisses. Walks in the woods. A trip to California. But I’ll go with a writing related memory – seeing the cover for my book, Angel Sister, due out in February. Every time I see that cover, I smile.

Do you have any New Year resolutions in mind?

Lisa: I keep trying to be a kinder person, less judgmental, to be more supportive. I can see I make small steps on that path with each choice and each attempt at networking.

Ann: I’m not great with New Year resolutions. But I do hope to establish a better writing routine. Oh yeah, and clean out my closet.

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

Lisa: I so need to screw my courage to the sticking point and get out there and peddle my wares. If God made it good enough to create, I should believe it's good enough to share. I keep telling myself. In between hyperventilating. Okay…shh!! Don't tell anyone. We multi-published authors are supposed to love addressing big cheering crowds of adoring fans.

Ann: I want to write a book that will inspire and encourage readers and entertain them too. That’s my goal every year.


~~~~~


Giveaway! These authors, along with Maggie Brendan, have graciously offered these 3 books to one lucky winner!
 


Meander Scar, pdf, by Lisa Lickel
The Seeker, autographed, by Ann H Gabhart
A Love of Her Own, by Maggie Brendan


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 [CHRISTMAS!] (Saturday, December 25) 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.