Book News!

Ted Dekker Teams With Tosca Lee For New Trilogy.
http://titletrakkbooknews.blogspot.com/2010/04/ted-dekker-teams-with-tosca-lee-for-new.html

C. J. Darlington has signed a contract for book 2 with Tyndale House.
http://cjdarlington.blogspot.com/2010/04/writing-news.html

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Book Blogger Hop!

It's Friday and Book Blogger Hop!

Book Blogger Hop is a way for blogger's new and old (age of their blog) to meet each other. Every Friday gives a new chance to connect. See Crazy-For-Books.

It seems that most of the book blog's I visited this morning were young adult reading genre; their main focus is on paranormal, fantasy, vampire stuff. I don't read those kind of books; but I did visit a few.
Fragments of Life, Bookventures Book Club, and The Introverted Reader.

Happy Friday!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful for:
1. The ability to exercise, I walk 5 miles most days.
2. Freedom of speech; I can blog about books, or my religious belief's without fear of punishment.
3. Air-conditioning, whoever invented the air-conditioner would get a kiss from me.
4. Ice cream, I just cannot live without ice cream.
5. My husbands vacation is coming up in a week.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Review-So Long, Insecurity

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2010
352 pages
Link for the book:
http://www.tyndale.com/x_products/details.php?isbn=978-1-4143-3472-1
Book is available in Spanish.

This book is #5 according to the Evangelical Christian Publisher's Association

More links on the book and author:
www.lproof.org
http://blog.lproof.org/
http://www.solonginsecurity.com

This book was purchased by me for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

From the introduction:
"We're going to have to let truth scream louder to our souls than the lies that have infected us."

What lies have infected you?

After reading that quote, I had this mental image of a monkey in a cage jumping and flying back and forth screaming like a...well a monkey. No, I don't have a monkey in my head but I have had insecurities and lies that have taken up far too much residence in my brain and unfortunately my heart.
For example:
1. I do not wear a bathing suit. My boobs are too big and I have a little tummy, and well I'm 46. I want to share with you that when I was 18 and weighed 105 pounds I still would not wear a bathing suit because I thought I was too thin and had too small of boobs!
2. I have a fear of failure. Often I don't even begin something because I might fail.
3. I place other opinions ahead of God's.
Through my adult years and much Bible reading and study many of these insecurities have been put off--replaced by the new self. Some insecurities have remained; in order to be rid of them it was either a battle of using my own strength, or shaming myself for having them.
After attending the simulcast last Saturday (see my previous post), and after having finished reading the book So Long, Insecurity; I feel refreshed, renewed and excited about what God has planned for my life...after all I've been holding back!

"All of us have insecurities, both men and women." My own 87 year old father has insecurities, if we get low on toilet paper, peanuts, toothpaste, banana's, soap; my dad is literally pacing the floor waiting for me to take him to the grocery store. His insecurities are the result of growing up in the depression. Memories of poverty is a strong insecurity.
"The insecure man or woman lives in a constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate."  We are valid, we matter to God, He died on the cross for our sins, we are deeply loved by God. But, we have to accept this.
In chapter 6 media exploitation is talked about. Think about how often at the check out counter we see air brushed thin bathing beauties on the cover of magazines. Our first thought is we compare ourselves to them, then we beat ourselves up for not looking like them.
After reading this book I am appalled and ashamed at how much time I've spent thinking about myself, it boils down to pride. Heavy sigh! 
In chapter 16 Beth encourages us to allow God to use our past in order to help and be a testimony of what He has done in our lives.

I loved this book! Beth's personality shines throughout it, yet the emphasis is not on her but on the "new self we were created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4: 24 NIV. I am aware of those who dislike her, okay.... some people dislike me to. Beth's focus is not on pleasing the audience of people with her personality, her focus is always on an audience of ONE and that is Jesus Christ.
This book is filled with testimonies of some of those she interviewed for this book ( a total of 1,200 people).
The book has "many" questions that stir your heart and inspire growth. This is a book that will be highlighted, dog eared, and filled with post it notes marking pages. It is a book that will spur us onward to "put off the old self" and "put on the new self."

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." 
Proverbs 31: 25


Thank you Beth it was a book I needed to read, and a praise is that my young daughter in-law is reading the book and attended the simulcast last Saturday.
Beth you are a blessing!

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Review-So Long, Insecurity Simulcast on April 24, 2010

Another blogger and I had posted a couple of "our thoughts" on the book So Long, Insecurity. Doylene  wanted to take the negative take on the book, I the positive. Doylene was unable to continue in her postings and decided not to finish the book. I on the other hand finished the book last night and attended a simulcast event last Saturday in my city to hear Beth Moore speak live on the subject of her book--Insecurity.
Beth Moore spoke at a church in Stockbridge, Georgia; but there were 869 churches in North America that were hosting groups of women...and some men, to hear Beth speak. An astounding 300,000 people were listening to Beth teach on Insecurity at the same time, this is awesome to me! Beth remarked that "God was certainly up to something!" Travis Cottrell was the guest singer and he lead all of us in singing several praise and worship songs; my favorite was Holy, Holy, Holy. Travis reminded us that we were not a sea of faceless souls, we are dearly loved by God. There are several points in an acronym that I want to share with my reader's that Beth made.

1. S aved from herself.
2. E ntitled to truth.
3. C lothed with intention.
4. U pended by grace.
5. R ebounded by love.
6. E xceptional in life.

Please be advised that the following are from the notes that I personally took and reflect not only what my ears heard, but what God wanted me to hear.
I will explain a little on each of these from the acronym:
1. Insecurity makes everything curve back on us. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit it goes up and out. Insecurity directs it back to us. Humility and security does co-exist. Insecurity is pride/self absorption. We must clothe ourself in strength and dignity.
2. Beth had us look at Ephesians 4: 17-22:
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." NIV
We are entitled to know the truth. In looking at verse 19, this verse is referring to addictions. In an addiction we do so much of it and it works for a time, but then it quits working so we do more, and we loose sensitivity and need more and more and more. Often we say that if we could just have a certain thing--material item--or if we were more like this--then we would be perfect. But, perfectionism is an art form of insecurity.
3. Put off the old self and put on the new self! See Proverbs 31:25
"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." NIV
Insecurity takes away our dignity. Christ Jesus is our security! We must let Him be our security!
We must make a decision in our minds to be secure, don't wait until we feel secure to be secure.
A question to ask ourselves in a moment or time of "feeling insecure". How would a mature woman respond to this?
Secure people don't spend time thinking about themselves all the time!!!
4. Grace takes up space in a secure woman. Grace others as Christ Jesus has graced you. How much more likely could we forgive if we were secure? Is your past truly in the past? Nothing can hold us in our insecurities like unforgiveness. Guilt will trap us. Believe you are forgiven and receive it.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" NIV
Unforgivess is like a tapeworm eating us alive.
5. Ephesians 5:1-2
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself  up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." NIV
We are completely loved by God, it is an unwavering love. Live like the dearly loved child you are. Be imitators of God. How different would life be as the dearly loved child of God? Life is hard, if a heart does not heal, it then hardens. Allow God to tend your heart! Security is not in people, people are not our savior. You cannot out sin His forgiveness, but you must assimilate Him--His Truth in your life. Love others without needing them to meet our needs!! We are never more like our Father in heaven when we love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-9
"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the fames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no recored of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." NIV
6. We all have a need for significance. If we become a woman secure in every area, we will stick out and will be the exception. Let Christ over take us! Have people be able to see we are exceptional.
What will I do with what God has told me?

I felt this was an awesome event! My 28 year old daughter in-law and I sat beside each other in the packed church where we heard the simulcast of Beth speak. Beth punctuated often with tid-bits from her life, many laughs were shared. She taught being fully led by the Holy Spirit, she had notes but remarked that her week had not gone as planned, and when she worried that she'd not be prepared the Lord reminded her to trust in Him. Beth's security is in the Lord Jesus Christ!
I feel refreshed, awakened, renewed, empowered, invigorated; and having put off the old self of my insecurities, my prayer is that I will not hold myself back from what the Lord has prepared for me to do!
If you do not regularly read Christian non-fiction I want to encourage you to read the book So Long, Insecurity. My next post will be the review this book.

"She is clothed with strength and dignity: she can laugh at the days to come." Proverbs 31:25

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Amazon Blast for No Greater Love

Forbidden romance, an unlikely martyr and an even more unlikely hero. Orphaned four years earlier when their parents, active in the African National Congress (ANC) movement against apartheid, were murdered—16-year-old Chioma and her 15-year-old brother Masozi now live and work on an Afrikaner family’s farm.
When Chioma and Andrew, the farm owner’s son, find themselves attracted to one another, tragedy revisits their lives. Chioma escapes to join an ANC rebel band in her effort to survive and gain revenge for her family and culture. When cultures clash in life-or-death struggles, Chioma must choose between violence and revenge—or forgiveness and selfless love.
Loosely based on historical events and set near Pretoria , South Africa , in the violent upheaval prior to ANC leader Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990 and his ascendance to the presidency of South Africa , this story of forbidden romance produces an unlikely martyr who is replaced by one even more unlikely.

To purchase the book from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1596692774

www.kathimacias.com
http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com

New Hope Publisher's---http://newhopepublishers.wordpress.com

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Rendezvous With Destiny

Vickie Moss is the author of Living Water Fiction
Vickie asked me to repost her tribute in honor of PFC Jonathon David Hall 1986-2010.

Click on the below link:
http://livingwaterfiction.com/blog.htm

The verses mentioned in the post:

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5 NIV

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

When your rendezvous with destiny rolls around, what will be found in your pockets?

Wham!

What are you struggling with today?
A bad day at work? A child failing classes at school? A parent that is in poor health and needs you to care for them? Over due bills? A bad report at a doctor's appointment? Possible layoff's at work? A family member with an addiction? Or maybe you are just tired?
It seems to never end does it? Just when you think that life seems to be going along okay, wham! Another problem creeps up and some of those problems are more mountain in size than a mole hill.
I could not begin to tell you how many times I've suffered in silence (only to respond irritably to someone), paced the floor, spent sleepless nights tossing and turning, or regurgitated the acid that has flared up in my rumbling stomach.
Why? Because life is difficult and it is hard.
Our first gut reaction and because we are human we respond in a physical way, something we ourselves can do to fix the problem! We want to immediately put out the fire and make everything peaceful again.
But what if we can't fix it? What if the problem is so big that we feel we may be swallowed by it and eaten?
We react by doing what we should have done in the beginning.... get on our knee's and pray.
Tell Jesus we can't handle this, it is to much, tell Him we have to have His help, His grace.
On the day my son David left for his last deployment to Iraq the weather was icy cold, one of those rare Texas winter day's that is windy, sleeting, miserably cold. It had only been about 6 weeks since I'd had both breasts removed because I had had cancer. My grandson, David's son, was only 5 days old. The day was my mother's birthday, my mother that was in a nursing home with end stage Alzheimer's. When the time came for David to load up on the bus that would take him to the plane, I told the Lord, "obviously this is your will for our lives and I accept this, but I am telling you I cannot do this on my own, you are going to have to carry me." And He did.
I'm sorry that you are going through a hard and difficult time; but you are not alone, you have a Savior that is always with you, His Spirit abides in you. It is His strength and His grace that will help you not only until this season has passed, but for all the future season's in your life. 
"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." John 15:4-8 NIV

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am thankful:
1. Jesus' redeeming work on the cross.
2. That I can with confidence approach the throne of grace in prayer.
3. Quite-solitude.
4. To be an American.
5. Eternal life, not a future event--but the very moment that I accepted and believed by faith in Jesus as the Christ I inherited eternal life.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Book Blogger Hop!

Book Blogger Hop! is a weekly event held on Friday's as a way for blogger's to mingle and meet one another. Crazy-For-Books is the author of this social event.
So far I've met BriMeetsBooks a new book reviewing and chatter blog, And-the-plot-thickens a new book review blog, Afterthoughts specifically a children's book blog, and Mel's Books and Info a lovely book blog devoted to teen reading and some adult reading. Today I visited 10 blog's I've never visited before, lot's of fun! If  you have a blog...then join the hop!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Welcome!

I have had several new followers join me on Twitter, to you and to those that are new, or even long time followers......
a big HOWDY! WELCOME! So glad you take the time to visit!

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

God...Who Are You And What Can You Do For Me?

This has been a ten week study (we are on week 9) authored and led by Jenifer Jernigan from By His Grace Ministry. Next Monday we will review what we've learned and the study will be complete.
Each week discussion questions have been asked, many of us participating have answered these on our blog's.
All of the questions have been more than thought provoking, some have pierced my heart. Between this study and BSF the Holy Spirit has been working to deepen my faith by asking me some questions that I needed at this season in my life to answer. Meaning, who Jesus is to me now, is not who He was to me 5 or 10 or even 20 years ago. When we are abiding in Him and growing in our relationship with Him, He reveals more of Himself to us at just the right time when we are ready. Jesus has been since the age of 9 my Savior, my belief by faith in Jesus has not changed. What has changed is my dependence in Him, and the surrendering of my will and life to Him. Do you understand what I am saying? In Jesus is eternal life, but also in Him "is life."  Life is not a series of waking up, driving to work, putting in 8 or more hours, then driving home, doing your evening chores, then retiring to bed only to get up and do it all over again. Jesus is life, His Spirit lives in a believer--guiding us, directing us, teaching us, he is our constant companion (although we don't always acknowledge Him). He is also the steady rock in our lives when all around us is earthquakes, typhoons, diseases, volcano eruptions, political squabbles, and war.
This weeks discussion questions are "How much do you look like your Father today? and Do you stand out from the world or are you blending in like a chameleon hiding from its prey?"
I'm uncomfortable with answering the first question, because I feel that only Jesus can answer that question. For the second question I'm sure that I stand out in the world, I'm told I do; my constant prayer is that people will not see me but Jesus.
There was a third question in the study for week 9, "Who is God to you?"
On February 8th this question was asked during week 1 and my answer was:
http://awell-wateredgarden.blogspot.com/2010/02/getting-to-know-almighty-god-who-is-god.html
Jenifer is asking the question again to see if we have grown during this Bible study and maybe we would have a different answer. My answer would be the same, except I would add that my dependence on Him has grown, there is less of me and more of Him, meaning less of what I want and more of what He wants for me. I've also noticed that His presence is stronger--this is not something that I can explain in any other way except that when we draw nearer to Him, He reveals more of Himself to us.

1 John 3:1-3 states "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." NIV

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NIV

"We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that His life may be revealed in our mortal body." 2 Corinthians 4:10-11 NIV

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NIV

"Yet for us there is but One God, the Father, from who all things came and for whom we live; and there is but One Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live. 1 Corinthians 8:6 NIV

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Thankful Thursday

I know it's Friday! But I'm still thankful!

1. Bible Study Fellowship and the study of the Gospel of John this year.
2. The Bible study that Jenifer Jernigan did on the names of God--from By His Grace Ministries.
3. That I was born in America, and better still Texas.
4. For friends that are encouraging me to write.
5. Hot fresh coffee in my cup.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Book Giveaway-Forget Me Not

I have "ONE" copy of Forget Me Not to giveaway to someone who leaves me a comment on this post.
I will pick a winner on May 1, 2010.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Review-Forget Me Not

By Vicki Hinze
Published by Multnomah Books 2010, 329 pages
Christian Fiction Romance Suspense
Link to read more information about book or to purchase book:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601422057

The author's website:
www.vickihinze.com

This book was provided to me for free by WaterBrook Multnomah for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

Forget Me Not is Book One in the Crosswords Crisis Center

The book begins in a dramatic intense way with a murder. The books tone is then continued when a mystery woman shows up in the same city looking eerily like a woman that recently died. The mystery woman does not remember what her name is, nor anything about her previous life, she only remembers that she is a believer in God. Both the mystery woman and the woman that previously died have ties to The Crossroads Crisis Center. The owner of the center is Benjamin Brandt and he is at a loss and even angered at first, as to what kind of motive does this mystery woman have. The book has a dark villainous cast of characters, those that sit behind desks, those that hide behind a facade of wealth and power, and those that are paid to do the dirty work.
This book is entertaining, quick and fast paced, it has twists and turns.
My questions while reading the book was who are the bad guys? And what is the connection between the two women that look a like?
The front cover of the book is a haunting photo, an image of a woman is in the background (but not a full face given), a dark and undefined house is in the forefront. The front cover I felt captured the mystery of a woman that does not remember in full who she is, and of a dark and foreboding home that holds dark secrets.
The author states in the book that this is her first Christian fiction book, she has done a great job. I'm praying that she'll continue to write more books!

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Day of Discovery

Are you familiar with Radio Bible Class now known as RBC Ministries? Or the magazine devotional Our Daily Bread? An additional ministry that is included in the family of RBC Ministries is Day of Discovery. The Day of Discovery show comes on one day per week, and during its thirty minute program, it takes viewer's on a vivid and amazing trip to the Holy Land. The Day of Discovery website also has these programs available to watch on their site.
Examples of the documentaries are:
Jesus and The Gospels
The Jewish Roots of Christianity
The Wonder of Creation

Day of Discovery programs on the ION television network Sundays at 7:30 A.M.

Blissful Blogging!
Annette

Review-Wiersbe Bible Study Series, 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon-It's Always Too Soon to Quit!

Published by David C. Cook a B & B Media Group, 2010---8 lessons plus a bonus lesson, 127 pages

Link for the book: 
http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/Detail.cfm?sn=106474&source=search

Other new studies released:
Galatians,
Proverbs,
Matthew,

"Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe is an internationally known Bible teacher, he is the former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, and the author of more than 160 books. For 10 years he was associated with the Back to the Bible radio broadcast, first as Bible teacher and then as general director. For over 30 years people have come to know him through his "Be" series of commentary books."
Last fall a new study Bible was published The New Living Translation Study Bible, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe is the general editor.
His commentaries are being re-published under David C. Cook publishers.
His newest releases are the Bible studies based on the "Be" series that he wrote.

I have found his commentaries and this Bible study---on 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon---to be easy to read and understand and easy to apply to my life.
Wiersbe writes that "life requires endurance", reading the Scriptures and studying the Scriptures prepares me and all believer's to be prepared for those times when endurance will be required!
It is always a pleasure to read anything from this author, he writes in such a way that he does not talk at you, nor down at you; but he speaks on a level that is understandable and taken to heart.
This Bible study would be great for small group study or personal study.

This book was given to me for free for the purpose of reading/reviewing.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Roundabout

Roundabout is a post that I try and do at least twice per month. I visit all of the "70" blog's that I follow and then post those I found that maybe of interest to my own reader's.

April Issue of Exemplify Magazine
http://exemplifyonline.com/magazine/issues/april-2010-2/

April Issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine
http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/MonthlyNewsletter.html

J. Kaye's 365 Days of Novel Writing is inspiring and motivating. You go girl!
http://365-days-of-novel-writing.blogspot.com/

A top book reviewing blog! It is well respected in the book blogging community.
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

April 11-17 is National Library Week--follow the link for more information---Thank you Katy @
A Few More Pages
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.cfm

Three Precious Words by Todd Pruitt
http://pjcockrell.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/three-precious-words/

Hard working Becky at Becky's Book Reviews--This is her secular book blog--A top stop!
http://blbooks.blogspot.com/

Advice on writing and publishing from the author Bonnie Grove.
http://fictionmatters.blogspot.com/

Visible and Invisible Wounds by Jill Nutter
http://inkwellinspirations.blogspot.com/2010/04/visible-and-invisible-wounds.html

Do You Have Extreme Devotion? by Kathi Macias.
http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com/

Many of the blogger's that I follow participated in a 24 Hour Readathon---Dewey's Read-a-Thon.
Sandy gave a great journal of her reading 
http://sandynawrot.blogspot.com/

All of the blog's that I follow are authored by hardworking---dedicated blogger's!!!!!



Now stop reading my blog and go watch PBS Masterpiece Theater The Diary of Anne Frank.


Blissful Blogging!
Annette

A Distant Melody Contest

For more information and to enter the contest click on the below link:
Contest is April 5-25.
http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/27386/

A Distant Melody

Debut Author, Sarah Sundin, earns rave reviews from BOOKLIST. "Sundin's debut Christian historical romance is an emotionally gripping, detail-rich but fast-paced trilogy set against the backdrop of WWII at home and abroad. Romance readers and military history buffs will find much of interest here."

Seattle, WA - 4/9/2010 - Rarely does a book come along from a debut author that is as well received as Sarah Sundin's A Distant Melody. The story grips you on page one and doesn't let up until the last page is turned. Critics and readers alike are impressed with both the accurate historical detail and complex cast of characters. From the fertile California orange groves to the soggy terrain of England, A Distant Melody, weaves an exciting and tender tale of love, courage and sacrifice. Not to be missed!

Historically Accurate High-Flying Adventure!

Never pretty enough to please her gorgeous mother, Allie will do anything to gain her approval--even marry a man she doesn't love. Lt. Walter Novak--fearless in the cockpit but hopeless with women--takes his last furlough at home in California before being shipped overseas. Walt and Allie meet at a wedding and their love of music draws them together, prompting them to begin a correspondence that will change their lives. As letters fly between Walt's muddy bomber base in England and Allie's mansion in an orange grove, their friendship binds them together.


But can they untangle the secrets, commitments, and expectations that keep them apart?

God...Who Are You And What Can You Do For Me?

For week 8 of this study the discussion questions are:
See www.Titus2AtTheWell.com

"My life before Christ...
How I came to know Christ as my Redeemer...
My life since coming to know Christ as my Redeemer..."

What Jenifer is really asking is, what is my testimony of Jesus Christ?

I never remember a time when I did not know who Jesus was, from the beginning of my life my parents took me to Sunday morning Bible study and Church, I was taken to Vacation Bible school every summer. My parents both taught a Sunday morning Bible class. On Saturday night Daddy would ask my brothers and sisters and I what our lesson was on for Sunday morning, we'd better be prepared to give an answer and "God" was not a thorough enough answer. But, it was during the devotional time at Vacation Bible School when I was 9 years old that I invited Jesus into my heart. I loved Jesus, He was my Savior; but being 9 years old there was not a dramatic life change. As an older teenager I rebelled, I wanted to do what I wanted to do--isn't that rebelling? I made some poor choices, choices that I will always regret.
God is faithful, even when we are not.
I married at age 18 and immediately had 2 sons. While I was pregnant with son number 1 I started attending church and Bible study regularly and reading my Bible (not daily yet). I was an avid listener to Christian radio--Focus On The Family. The years when I was in my 20's I was busy as a wife, mother, job, and college student. But, there was a dark period that was coming, a painful season; yet God used this season to dramatically deepen my relationship with Him. One night I had a nightmare, a rarity for me, but in this dream I heard someone banging on the front door to my home, knocking on the windows, jiggling the door handle--I heard no voices, did not see the person; but I perceived that it was Satan and he wanted in my home. In reality my husband had already opened the door to Satan's influence.
God is faithful, even when we are not.
This was a turbulent, painful, gut wrenching period. I often felt like I was apart of a theatrical drama that I did not even want to audition for much less take a role in. What did I do? I fell on my face before the throne of grace! The earth had been ripped up from underneath my feet and I fell into the Savior's arms. Jesus sustained me, His Word became Technicolor and 3-D to me. I read Scripture and studied it everyday, I prayed fervently. I held on to the only life-raft I had, Jesus. In time-- in His time, lessons were learned, character was built, ugliness was chiseled away, the Potter molded both my husband and I into the beginning of what His plan was for our lives. It is in the hard painful times that if we allow Jesus full access He will not only chisel out those ugly rotten areas, but He will create something that is lasting and that can be used for His glory!
It was not long after this storm that another one was on the horizon, my precious mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She would be sick with this disease for many years, she went to be with Jesus in her eternal home March 2008.
Several storms and some hurricane in size have barreled in to our lives, some without warning. In late 2005 I was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer, I was 41. Even though it was an early stage of cancer I had a spray of it in the left breast, the surgeon said the left breast had to go, and feeling compelled by the Holy Spirit (who had led me to aggressively have a biopsy) I asked that both breasts be removed.
One of the memories I have imprinted in my mind of this time and this was just a few days after surgery is when I was trying to bathe at home. I had drainage tubes and could not get the upper part of my body wet, I was weak and terribly sore. I was sitting on the edge of the bathtub giving myself a sponge bath when my husband came in the bathroom. The look of love and tenderness and pain was evident in his hazel eyes. He told me, "if I could take your place I would." This is so precious to me, because all those years ago when our marriage was nearly destroyed God knew what we did not know and that a deeper love would blossom from that painful time.
God is faithful, even when we are not.
Within 6 weeks of surgery a grandson was born and then 5 days later my son David was deployed to Iraq. Many times during David's 2 deployments I would be awakened during the middle of the night with an urgent alarm to wake up and pray! I would scramble out of the bedsheets and on to the floor beside the bed where I would kneel and pray for David. There were a few times that the alarm was more urgent, more severe, "this is serious Annette you must pray for David now, you must battle in prayer!" For the first time in my life I prayed prostrate on the floor toward the east (I don't know why east, just was compelled to pray this way). One night I prayed until dawn. I asked David about 1 of these times, with a blank expression he told me that that was when they were ambushed.
God is faithful, even when we are not.
God was very gracious to us in that David did come home, and he is now completely out of the military after over 8 years.
In the course of my life God has progressed from being someone I knew to someone I know! There is a difference between knowing "about" someone and knowing someone.
Know--the word is ginosko and it "means to know by experience, to know by becoming acquainted, to learn to perceive, it is the knowledge of grateful recognition." From Dr. John Phillips Exploring The Gospel Of John.

"For my determined purpose is that I may know Him that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him perceiveing and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share his suffereing as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death."
Philippians 3:10 Amplified Version--The full meaning of the Greek and Hebrew.

How do you know Him? By reading His Word--immerse yourself in His Word--and

"Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."  James 1:22 NIV

Do you know "about" Jesus? Or can you say with confidence that you know Jesus?

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Review-Forgotten God, Reversing Our Tragic Neglect Of The Holy Spirit

Link for the book:
http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/Detail.cfm?sn=105954&source=search

Links for the author:
http://francischansblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.cornerstonesimi.com/

http://www.forgottengod.com/

http://www.crazylovebook.com/

 Book was published by David C. Cook in 2009, 186 total pages (including excerpt from Crazy Love)
Christian Non Fiction 


The author, "believes that the Holy Spirit is more obviously active in places where people are desperate for Him, humbled before Him, and not distracted by their pursuit of wealth or comforts (like we are)."

Are you desperate for Him? Are you humbled before Him? Do you want the Holy Spirit to have free access to every area of you life? Does that last question make you squirm and hesitate?

"We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified."
Martin Luther

Francis Chan is the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, California. He has written 2 powerful books that are being read, discussed, studied, and promoting a challenge to Christians everywhere to "grow up in our faith."
The book Forgotten God is about the Holy Spirit.
The book is not just directed to Churches, but the Church itself--us--believers in Christ Jesus. 
The book is biblical, applicable, and challenging. More that anything it stirs the heart and soul of the reader to not just read the book, but act.
I loved this book, loved it! On a recent visit to LifeWay Christian bookstore an employee stocking a nearby shelf recommended the book to me, he said it was powerful, and I agree!
Before each chapter is a short biography of a man or woman and the story of the Holy Spirit's work in their life.
Questions are abundant in the chapters, they are not just added at the end of each chapter, but all throughout.

This book was bought by me for the purpose of reading/reviewing.
I have also purchased Crazy Love by the same author, hope to read/review this book within the month.

Blissful Reading!
Annette

Winner!

I have a winner for a copy of Liz Curtis Higg's newest book
Here Burns My Candle.


The winner is Francine!

Next week I'll have another book give-away---Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze.

Easter

"I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."
John 11:25 NLT

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."
1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV