Get-Away

The weekend flew too quickly. Time just doesn't stand still especially when you're with your family trying to savor each moment.

We made a few classic rookie errors like thinking we'd just get off an exit to grab a quick bite. Our first hint was the sign that read it was six miles to a particular restaurant. A bit of construction on the six mile trek didn't help our time schedule. Then later that night, we traveled back roads to avoid rush hour traffic. When you really don't know the lay of the land, google maps doesn't know squat when calculating the amount of time it will take to get from point A to point B. Live and learn. 

One of our highlights was watching our children participate in a tree top obstacle course type adventure. What fun it was to watch as they gained confidence with each course and zip line. To see their smiles during each course was so amazing.

Sunday came much too quickly as it always seems to do each weekend. Before we left the hotel we attended a church service via live internet feed from Elevation Church. While I wouldn't want to attend church that way each Sunday since I tend to get distracted and go do something else, it was a great way to end our weekend together.

The Elevation Church lead pastor talked about the overused phrase 'God is in control' and other phrases like it in his sermon, The Second Circle. Nowhere in the Bible is that phrase used. Sure, there are scriptures that come close to that phrase but nothing with the exact wording. 

'God is in control' works well when things are going well.

You landed a new job...God is in control. 

You passed the test you thought you'd fail...God is in control.

Your medical test came back perfect...God is in control.

You lost your job, your house was broken in to, or your child has cancer. A person approaches you and says, 'God is in control' or 'God's got you'. Now what do you think? I know I'd start to question a few things. It was a great reminder of how I need to really watch my words.

If you have an hour, I encourage you to watch the sermon. Here is a blurb of the sermon:

"God is in control." It sounds nice and it makes a great bumper sticker - but do we really believe it? How can God, and all His infinite power, love, and grace, coexist in a world with cancer, divorce, human trafficking, and genocide? How can God possibly be in control when life often feels very much the contrary? In part 3 of our series I Don't Know What I Believe, Pastor Steven explains how God and His sovereignty give us a hope to cling to during the most tumultuous seasons of our lives.

God is always there. His plan is always His plan even when we human try to messing it up. God is always there and surrounding when hardships come. He is circling us.

Congratulations, Book Winner!

We have a winner! Sandy (aka: Anonymous  thewiggys8...)  Congratulations and I just know you will love Rebellious Heart just as much as I did.

Thanks, everyone, for playing along! I know you're sad your comment number wasn't picked by random.org. But, don't cry. Because Rebellious Heart in paperback form is available from amazon.com right this very minute! Or if you can't wait, I've heard it is also in various bookstores (brick and mortar) already. Or if you have a Nook or Kindle, tomorrow (Sept 15) is the day to download immediately. 

If you haven't read the rest of Jody's book, I encourage you to do so. I love all of her novels. They each have their own personality. Click on over to pinterest to find boards about each book. It's fun to see Jody's view of each book.

It's getting that time of year where a great book, comfy chair, and a cup of tea/coffee make book-loving people like us all giddy! Enjoy!

Rebellious Heart [Book] Giveaway

We have a winner. Sandy (aka: thewiggys8...) please check your email and respond to it within 24 hrs from the end of the contest. Congratulations and I just know you will love Rebellious Heart just as much as I did. 

My Dearest Friend,

Today is a most auspicious day. I, for one, am excited. For, today my friend, you will have a chance to win a marvelously written historical novel by author extraordinaire, Jody Hedlund.

Rebellious Heart's Susanna Smith is a young woman from a family of social standing. A saucy spitfire, this one. Eavesdropping is her specialty when it comes to desiring an education like her brother. Her compassion for others is evident in helping those less fortunate than her status in life. And, her love of books-like none other.

Ben Ross is a highly educated, poor country lawyer who is out to prove he isn't a lower class citizen. His fight for human freedom is of great importance. Ben knows Susanna from an unfortunate childhood encounter which left Susanna embarrassed and Ben harboring a feeling of resentment.

Years later the two are brought together by an unlikely situation. Danger and confusion over right, wrong and that ever-changing, pesky grey area becomes their life. One questions fear over man's authority verses doing right according to God. One breaks man's laws because it's not in accordance with God's.

Rebellious Heart, set in 1763 Massachusetts, is inspired by our second President and First Lady, John and Abigail Adams love story. Our dear author, Jody Hedlund, took liberty with her imagination to make this book a fine piece of fiction, indeed.

Ben Ross is swoon-worthy, kind and passionate in his beliefs. Susanna Smith is priceless in her fight between what is proper for her status and what her rebellious heart is screaming. You'll fight with yourself as the pages turn. You'll not want the story to end but cannot help yourself as the pages turn quickly with your need to know what happens next.

I, personally, devoured the last page three days ago. I have yet to start another book, which is uncharacteristic, because the lessons to learn from Rebellious Heart have kept my soul deeply searching.

In the joy of reading each and every page, may you ponder; if faced with similar situations could I really make a difference and face fear with courage or let someone else be the difference while I stayed comfortable.

Hurry, my dearest friend, hurry. For you only have a short period of time to enter the great giveaway.

May favor be upon you as you enter in the comment section.



Enter to win a signed copy of Rebellious Heart even before the book is released!!

To Enter:

• Leave a comment with your email address so I can notify you when you win. If you win, you'll then have 24 hours to email me your address or I'll pick another winner.
• You must be a residence of the lower 48 states (USA).
• And share. Share like your mamma and daddy taught you. Tweet, share link on facebook, email all your friends who can read, text someone you know would love this book. Shout it from the rooftops about the chance win this book. But, tell everyone to hurry and enter because....

Giveaway ends Friday, September 13th at 8 PM ET. At which time I will use True Random Number Generator at random.org....just to be fair and stuff.

Where readers can find Jody Hedlund:
Facebook: Author Jody Hedlund
Twitter: @JodyHedlund
Website: jodyhedlund.com

All Things New

Wars and rumors of war. One cannot turn on the radio or television without hearing some sort of disaster, talk of war, murder, shootings, children missing and the list could go on and on.

One can get discouraged, frightened, and even depressed. What do we do when we feel like no matter how hard we pray nothing is happening. No matter how much we talk about situations, no one hears.

Then we remember. God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He sees all, hears all. I believe He cries and shakes His head in disgust when we mere humans think we are god.

The grave has lost and He makes all things new. Peace and hope are within reach and settle over us. His love is never-ending.

His Word says:

  ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
 ⁵ And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶ And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. (Revelation 21:3-6 ESV)

Take some time to listen to this video and remember He makes all things new. Worship with Him as you sink into the music.

I Spy Lessons

I spy something green. 

Is it your shirt?

No. 

Is it.....

Remember when you were a kid and your mom/dad had a brilliant idea of playing I Spy? Sometimes I think it was just a ploy to keep us occupied when life got a little crazy. Read: when we drove our mom nuts arguing/screaming and running in the house.

When is the last time you really looked around & listened? I mean really looked. And really listen. When is the last time you sat on a porch swing and observed what is going on all around?

I used to play a game with our kids when getting them unwound at bedtime. We would all be quiet and listen. We'd then name off all the sounds. There were so many sounds we never heard during the busyness of day. The ticking of the clock. A plane in the distance. The noise the furnace made while blowing throughout the house.

At this very moment I am sitting on our "porch" swing which is outside connected to the swing set. What do I see and hear?

• Shadows dancing on the house siding.
• Swing creaking as I rock back and forth...
• Pine needles falling on the keyboard as I type. 
• I hear a lawnmower in the distance.
• Vehicles rushing down the road.
• Wind rushing through the trees
• Beautiful white, fluffy clouds. The kind of clouds we used to lay on the ground watching what shape they'll form next.
• The bluest of skies.
• Our dog freaking out because of the horsefly 'messin' with him.
• Corn bending and waving in the wind.
• Corn stalks turning a shade of yellow as fall threatens to come closer.
• Horses nickering.
• Kittens thinking their humans and sleeping on an outdoor chair. 
• A vulture in the sky circling gracefully. 
• Cicadas singing their song.
• Crickets competing with the song of the cicada.
• A spider busily rebuilding its web.
• A sound from the neighbor which made the dog jump (and me too!).

When I take the time to sit down and really look and listen, I am amazed at all the beauty and wonder God has made just for us. 

Now, there are some things I really wonder what God was thinking when He made them and said they were good....like skunk (smell), mosquitoes, ants, swoopy birds....but I'll ask Him about those when I see Him face to face one day. ;)

Update: a few posts ago I told you about a giveaway coming up. September 11 is the day to mark on your calendar, phone or whatever electronic gadget I can't keep up with! Giveaway entry is only open for a limited time...as in it will be over the next day. So, make sure you tell all of your friends who enjoy Christian Fiction to head over this way on the 11th. Giveaway is the newest book of Jody Hedlund - Rebellious Heart.