Woman of Faith

2012-02-16T07:10:00.000-08:00

Hush Little Baby

Due to a hectic day yesterday, my "Beautiful Life Wednesday" post is a Thursday post. Not that it matters, really. Read through for details of this week's book giveaway. And note that this is a two-part post--tomorrow we'll hear directly from Deb with some of her thoughts about why she wrote this particular book.

Today's guest is author Deborah Piccurelli who wrote Hush Little Baby.

Now, please understand: The book doesn't highlight the beauty of life directly; in fact, quite the opposite is true. But light shines brighter in darkness and Deb is giving us a fictionalized account of the darkness that is always present and seeking to destroy life. In the case of abortion darkness seems to succeed.

But we don't fight battles by closing our eyes to the enemy.

For this reason I thought her book was perfect for a "Beautiful Life" post, since nothing, not even beauty or life itself comes without a cost. We are called to be a voice for those without one. No minority population on earth has less "voice" than the silent unborn.

But don't get me wrong. Hush Little Baby is fiction. It's like a great detective show. They begin with a murder and even though murder is ugly and wrong, you watch the show to see the murderer brought to justice. You even enjoy it along the way. (Right now, the favorite in our family is "The Mentalist." Gotta love that Patrick Jane!)

Here's an early editorial review of Hush Little Baby:

The plot arcs, character arcs, subplots, etc., are all good. I've read several books that deal with abortion and fetal harvesting, etc., that are obnoxious in the handling. You have done an excellent job of showing us that real people, likeable people, can get sucked into this for very strong reasons. The characters and the story held my attention throughout the story.

Here's the back-of-the-book description:

Investigative journalist Amber Blake is a little person bent on payback for the death of her twin sister. Enlisted by her former partner and estranged husband Evan, she poses as a counselor in an abortion clinic to expose the doctor responsible for fetal harvesting. As a Christian, she struggles with concealing her beliefs to maintain her cover, while the doctor's romantic overtures tumble her stomach. Amber agrees to date him for the sake of the story . . . but nothing prepares her for what's behind a mysterious door in his office.

Wow. I have yet to read Hush Little Baby, but it's on my TBR list, I assure you.

I say we support this brave author who has dared to bring an ugly industry to light in her first novel. Will you join me?
Hush, Little Baby Amazon Purchase Link
Publisher's Purchase Link

And what do you think about this industry? About someone writing fiction to draw attention to it?

Leave a comment and you'll be entered in a drawing to get a free copy of Hush Little Baby.

I would urge you, however, if you can afford to do so, to support this author and to support the unborn by getting a copy now even if you win another later. You could give the book to someone you know, or leave it at a doctor's office.
Hush, Little Baby Amazon Purchase Link
Publisher's Purchase Link

Thank you, Deborah, for sharing this work with us and for having the chutzpah to write about a sordid industry. May God bless your efforts with His empowering grace! I'm off to get a Kindle edition of your book!"
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
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2012-02-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

DEVO MONDAY

From Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

Years ago when I was a new believer living in NYC, one of the brief radio "minutes" of meaty messages I had access to was from Ron Hutchcraft. A sound, sane voice amidst a lot of iffy theology.

Today's message is from Ron, via Crosswalk.com's newsletter. (Great newsletter, by the way.) Enjoy.

The Gospel According To the Birds

So who needs an alarm clock in our neighborhood? We've got ravens! Yeah, those big black birds discovered our backyard. Now, ravens apparently are early risers, a little earlier than most people are. And they are also, shall we say, active conversationalists. Which makes them wonderful alarm clocks for those early morning hours whether you want them or not! Frankly I don't mind it. It's great to have all the birds singing their little spring concert in our yard. Actually, they do more than sing, they preach!

Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Luke 12, where we find the Gospel from the birds. The Gospel's not for the birds, no, it's from the birds. The subject of their sermon is security. And that might be an issue that you have reason to be concerned about right now.

Well, Jesus has just told this in this passage about a man whose idea of security echoes that of almost everyone around us. He has a lot of crops to take care of, and he says in Luke 12:18, "I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to myself, 'You have plenty of good things laid up for many years.'" Well, that's pretty much our world's concept of security. "What have you got in your storeroom, man? What have you got to fall back on? What have you got in your IRA? What have you got for retirement? What have you got in case medical emergencies come up?"

Then here comes the message from that bird passage in the Bible as Jesus talks to us beginning at verse 22, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens...'" Well, I have no choice. They make sure I consider them every morning. Jesus said, "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds!"

I love these simple words, "They have no storeroom, yet God feeds them." And then He says, "If He'll do that for the ravens, He'll surely do that for you." Now, we live in a world that says surplus equals security. The Gospel according to the birds is simple but eloquent. It says, "Our security is this: We have a Father who is a great provider. That's where your security is; not what you have in your storeroom."

Jesus goes on to talk about how the pagans are chasing after things and after material security. But He says, "You seek His kingdom, and then sell what you have and give to the poor, and pass on the kingdom to other people." You're secure. Not because you can see where it's going to come from, but because of who your Father is. In fact, I wonder if some day Jesus isn't going to return and say to a lot of us, "What are you doing sitting on all of that? Why do you have so much in your storeroom?"

See, we are Father-fed people. We don't need big reserves. We're to feed others with the gifts that He's given to us. You don't ever have to worry about having enough. In fact, one day those ravens proved that God will always find a way to meet your need. When every other source of security and supply was cut off from Elijah, the ravens brought it. God will always find a way, even if you have to keep your window open for the ravens to come in with it.

If the usual means of supply are cut off, God doesn't need those. It's been God that's been the source all along. He'll deliver it another way. He will feed you from His storeroom. If you don't believe me, just ask the birds.
© (c) Ronald P. Hutchcraft
Distributed by Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
via Crosswalk.com's newsletter "A Word With You"

Still waiting to hear from the winner of Melanie Dickerson's, The Merchant's Daughter, grannyd. Contact me so Melanie can send you her book!

Check my last post for the lastest giveaway: an e-copy of Donna Sherpherd's humorous "just-in-time-for-Valentine's Day novelette, "Love Under the Bubble Wrap."

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

2012-02-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

Read This for a Valentine's Day Treat

NOTE: Winner of The Merchant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson is GRANNYD.Congratulations,Granny, and thanks to everyone who entered last week!

I promised I'd only post about books I could endorse for you. Today's belated "Fiction Friday" post, "Love Under the Bubble Wrap," is one I'm happy to let you know about--and just in time for Valentine's Day!

No, it's not a Valentine's Day story, but it begins with the arrival of a mysterious gift (hence, the bubble wrap). And it's fun and sweet and even romantic --perfect as a Valentine's Day gift for yourself.

According to the author, this is a novelette--short fiction, so it won't consume your whole day (or evening). Just curl up with some dark chocolate and get cozy.
Best of all? It's available for only .99 on Amazon Kindle!
You can't beat that price for a treat.

No Kindle? No Problem

Eventually, Donna will get it on Nook and Sony and other formats, but for now,
if you don't have a kindle, get the FREE Kindle App from Amazon and read it on your pc, iphone, ipad, or android.

Not Your Typical Heroine

Donna's story is one you'll really want to devour because the female leading lady isn't your typical twenty-something reedy willow who's drop-dead gorgeous. No, ladies--this is a story about YOU. This is a story about ME. That's the fun of it, too.

Here's the Amazon Blurb:
"Love Under the Bubble Wrap"- A novelette. A sweet escape for anyone wanting to discover love in everyday life. A charming, witty, engaging short story. - Mary DeMuth, author of The Muir House

"With a story aimed to encourage older marrieds (not just singles), Donna Shepherd's characters are as familiar as a best friend and yet this tale is as fresh as an unopened present. Realistic and humorous--can't wait to see more from Ms. Shepherd!" - Linore Rose Burkard, author of Before the Season Ends. (Hey, that name sounds familiar. Really.)

Product Description
"Love Under the Bubble Wrap" hits the mark for fun with a short story sure to tickle the hearts of women, married or single, young or old. Ms. Shepherd's debut romantic escape resonates with comedy, love, and enough mystery to keep the pages turning. The perfect length to read on your lunch break - or anytime!

Donna J. Shepherd is best-known for her children's books, although the members of the church she and her husband pastor might think it's for singing on Sundays, or leading women's groups. Besides writing children's books, Donna does voice-overs, and is the Co-Leader (with me) of Greater Harvest Workshops for Writers. Donna also loves to blog! Visit her on her website or one of her many blogs at:

Devotionals by Donna: http://www.devotionalsbydonna.com
Topsy Turvy Land: http://www.topsyturvyland.com
Donna and Friends: http://www.donnashepherdandfriends.blogspot.com
Reviews by Donna: http://www.reviewsbydonnashepherd.blogspot.com/
Recipes by Donna: http://www.recipesbydonna.blogspot.com/
Oodles of Fun (Dog Blog): http://www.poodleanddoodle.blogspot.com
VoiceOvers by Donna: http://donna-shepherd.blogspot.com/

My Ratings for "Love Under the Bubble Wrap" (to help you assess this work)
Five Star
Contemporary romance
Sweet, funny
Faith Element: Low

EXTRA: A New You-Tube video to Donna's latest book for children:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tINWwlRj8zg

Giveaway Alert!

Let us know what you think of the story! Don't wait to get a copy--it's only .99 cents, but you can also win a copy for a friend, loved one, mother, daughter, sister, etc. by leaving us a comment about how you liked it. Winner's name will be posted next week. So get your copy of "Love Under the Bubble Wrap," right away!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

2012-02-08T06:31:00.000-08:00

Beautiful Life Wednesday: Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark

I received this bit of wisdom from a friend via email a long time ago. It was one of those viral messages that get passed around but I saved it because it was so concise and yet spot-on.

I'm posting it as I got it, and then beneath that, with a teensy bit of commentary.

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned From Noah's Ark

ONE: Don't miss the boat.

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.

FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something
really big.

FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

SIX: Build your future on high ground.

SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.

EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow
waiting.

Now here's the same again with just a dash of my opinionated comments. : )

ONE: Don't miss the boat. [Stay alert to what's happening in the world and around you. Opportunities don't come with neon lights.]

TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat. [No one has it easy in life. Don't judge yourself against other people--you don't know what they're going through or have survived to get where they are.]

THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. [Listen to wise voices who know more than you and act accordingly.]

FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. [You don't know how long you'll live but staying fit is a gift you can give your future self and loved ones.You can accomplish much more than you think, at virtually any age.]

FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
[That includes your own inner critic.]

SIX: Build your future on high ground.[Trust the tried-and-true, like biblical principles that have prospered civilizations wherever they take hold. Christian nations are never ruled by despots and tyrants--not even communists, for that matter.]

SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.[Marriage is a good thing. And "a three-fold cord is not easily broken."]

EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.[Do the groundwork before starting any venture; take time to arm yourself with the knowledge you need, and, even if you're a snail, you'll catch up and overtake the cheetahs with your capabilities and expertise.]

NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile. [Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy! A well-rested individual can work and think at peak performance; All work and no play makes Jack (or Jill) dull!

TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. [I'm in the process of writing a book set on Titanic, so this one really struck me. The Ark was built by amateurs, perhaps, but was directed by a PROFESSIONAL--God himself. Seek GOD daily.]

ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. [Amen.]

Remember, it really is a beautiful life. Just keep it in perspective (God's perspective, that is!)

If you were writing the above tips, is there another you'd include? What little bit of wisdom do you live by that's based on a biblical principle? Leave your comment. I'll send one commenter a free copy of one of my books!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: http://www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

2012-02-06T00:25:00.000-08:00

Sex, Marriage and Fairy Tales by Jeff Bethke

Marriage is not for the faint of heart.

I've been married for more than 27 years, so I think I know of what I speak.

I love this YouTube vid (brought to my attention by GOD TUBE) in which Jeff Bethke gives his take on the subject. Thing is, he's just a young man so I don't know how he got so wise, but there's no denying the wisdom in his presentation. Which, by the way, is short, and, well, cool.

I'd embed the video here for you, but I find it starts playing as soon as the page loads, and when I post again that becomes a problem. So just CLICK HERE to watch it
on site.

And pay attention to this guy.

He knows of what he speaks.

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: http://www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

2012-02-03T00:45:00.000-08:00

An Unthinkable Danger

An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice.

Today is FICTION FRIDAY on Woman of Faith, and award-winning author (and personal dear friend) Melanie Dickerson is stopping by to tell us about her excellent latest book, The Merchant's Daughter.Isn't the cover just gorgeous? And don't you want to know what is the unthinkable danger? The unexpected choice?

To answer these questions, I found myself turning pages quickly while reading the book. I wouldn't feature a book here if I didn't think you, my readers, would enjoy it, no matter how good a friend the author is. So, take my word for it: you'll enjoy this medieval treat. It's a fresh take on Beauty and the Beast, a fairy-tale makeover for Christian girls. (And don't go away: Melanie's giving away a free book to one commenter!)

Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf's bailiff---a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past.

Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

I asked Melanie to give us some little-known facts about herself, and it turns out she had some major clues that writing was in her blood. How many authors can say the following of themselves?

Me: Melanie, what are four things most people don't know about you?

Melanie:
1. My father was named after the famous western writer, Zane Grey.
2. I was named after Melanie in Gone With the Wind.
3. I grew up about 30 or 40 miles from the town where Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird, grew up. And my maiden name was Lee.
4. I lived in Ukraine for one year, the same town that the most famous Ukrainian poet, Shevchenko, was from. And we lived on Shevchenko Street.

How's THAT for coincidences? Melanie, we'll have to concede that you were destined for literary greatness. OR, we could read your books and find out that way!

Here are links for you to check out Melanie's latest:
The Merchant's Daughter (from Amazon)

OR
From Barnes and Noble

WIN A FREE BOOK
Leave a comment for Melanie from now until next Friday and she'll award one commenter with a free book. Thank you, Melanie! You've made this Fiction Friday so special!

To learn more about Melanie, stop by her website at http://www.MelanieDickerson.com

2012-01-31T20:45:00.000-08:00

Each Wednesday I share a link (or post myself) about content that upholds the sanctity and beauty of life.

GREETING OF UNBORN JOHN TO UNBORN JESUS

Reprinted from ForChristianGirls.org

by Maxie Fortner
Have you ever tried locusts and honey? Nah, not the locusts…but kids in some countries would.You know of course that the locusts and honey were eaten by John who knew Jesus even before he was born.

In Luke’s account of the births of John and of Jesus, he tells of Mary going to visit John’s mother, Elizabeth who was her cousin. Elizabeth was much, much older but she was pregnant, too, and soooo happy that God had allowed her body to conceive at last.

When Mary greeted her, the baby inside Elizabeth jumped in recognition, also, beginning his work even before the birth of declaring the Son of God!

Both mothers in waiting knew they were FAVORED by God and were thrilled by it.

Both Zacharias and Joseph knew that they had been chosen to help raise the boys for the work God had planned for their adult lives.

You are also chosen, as God’s adopted son [or daughter] to spread the news of Jesus. No work on earth is as important. It has eternal consequences for any who choose to teach, and the ones who listen...

Luke 1:41 And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Suggested prayer, “Thanks, dear God, that John went about teaching the coming of Jesus. I pray that I will also have the opportunity to tell others about our Savior.”

That's my "Beautiful Life Wednesday" post for the week. Got a teen girl in the house? Point her in the direction of ForChristianGirls.org, where I first saw the above.

And remember, it really is a beautiful life. Just keep it in perspective.
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
website: http://www.LinoreBurkard.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/LinoreRose
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorNewsfromLinore/

2012-01-30T05:54:00.000-08:00

Hamlet, E.M.Bounds, and Prayer

Ever feel like praying leaves you high and dry? As though no one is listening? We all have moments when we're tempted to feel that way. Like the murderous Claudius in Shakespeare's Hamlet we leave our knees feeling that our efforts were fruitless.

Don't believe it!

Shakespeare was a literary genius and could portray characters with faulty theology to a turn. The question is, do you recognize when your theology regarding prayer is faulty? Had the characters in the play done so things might have turned out quite differently.

Here's a meaty quote from theologian E.M.Bounds. Afterwards, I'll post some of the lines from Hamlet where first the guilty King draws a false conclusion based on his own reasoning rather than Scripture; and then a surprising line from the young prince himself that hits closer to the truth.

Prayer, in one phase of its operation, is a disinfectant and a preventive. It purifies the air;
it destroys the contagion of evil. Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence.

E.M.Bounds (1835-1913)

And now, lines from Shakespeare's Hamlet. (Faulty theology can really ruin your day.)

Claudius killed his brother to usurp the Queen and the throne. He vacillates between thinking prayer can save him, or despairing that his guilt is too great because he isn't really sorry for what he's done. Poor Claudius! We've all been there.

KING:
What if this cursed hand(45)
Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow? [Yes, Claudius, there is.]

But, O, what form of prayer
Can serve my turn? 'Forgive me my foul murder?'
That cannot be; since I am still possess'd(55)
Of those effects for which I did the murder— [False conclusion]
My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen.
May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?
...
Try what repentance can. What can it not?
Yet what can it when one cannot repent? [He admits he's not truly repentant.]
O wretched state! O bosom black as death!
O limed soul, that, struggling to be free,(70)
Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay. [He asks angels, not the Lord, to help him.]
Bow, stubborn knees; and heart with strings of steel,
Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe!
All may be well.(75) [He dares to hope and falls down to pray.]

Unfortunately, he ends up where he began, as follows:

O, my offense is rotten. It smells to heaven,
It has the oldest, basic curse on it,
A brother's murder! I can’t pray,
Though my desire to is as sharp as my will.
My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,
And, like a man bound to double business,
I can’t decide where I should begin.

KING:
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.

Hamlet enters the room to find Claudius upon his knees and
puts off his mission of revenge, thinking the murderer is seeking forgiveness and thus ablution.

Enter Hamlet.

HAMLET:
Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;
And now I'll do't. And so he goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd. [Don't miss the sarcasm, here.]
A villain kills my father; and for that,
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.(80)
O, this is hire and salary, not revenge!

Hamlet recognized that no one is beyond repentance, but ironically, he seems to think once the King is no longer on his knees, he can safely be dispatched (no longer going to heaven). If the King had truly repented and sought forgiveness, he would have found it, however, and been "saved" as we Christians say.

Recall what Bounds said:

Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence.

And Scripture:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 1 Chronicles:7:14

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

Both Claudius and Hamlet mistake the matter. As I said, Shakespeare was a literary genius but Hamlet is certainly not a treatise for Christian doctrine, nor was it meant to be.

In the end, we can say with E.M.Bounds of prayer that:

It is a voice which goes into God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas,
as long as God's heart is alive to holy things.

God shapes the world by prayer.

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
PS: Bounds wrote numerous books on prayer. Here is one to download that is free online.

2012-01-27T05:48:00.000-08:00

Zoe Mack & The Secret of the Love Letters

Today's Fiction Spotlight is with author K.Dawn Byrd, whose latest release, The Secret of the Love Letters introduces endearing characters that you'll want to see more of. The heroine, Zoe, is 19 and in love and she doesn't let the reader forget it for more than a page or two at a time. Fortunately, there's a whole lot more going on and it all happens at a smart pace. At only 97 pages, there's no time to waste, but enough character development to make us want to see more of the main characters in a next installment.

Giveaway!

Leave a comment about the book or the author and one commenter will win a gift certificate for a free download of "Zoe Mack & The Secret of the Love Letters."

My ratings:
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Profanity: No profanity, gore, or sex (a little more going weak in the knees than was necessary, but then again some readers will probably love that).
Christian Element: Low, but there.
Fun Element: Yes.
Recommended? Yes, boyfriend-obsessed heroine notwithstanding!

Back-of-the-Book Blurb

When Zoe Mack moves in with her grandparents to start college, she's thrown into more mystery than she bargained for. Her cousin, Emma, is terrorized by a stalker who breaks into her house and leaves a photo-shopped image of Emma hanging from a tree. Nothing is as it seems and Emma soon learns that even the man she thinks she can trust is suspect.

Zoe can't wait to reunite with Nate, the bad boy who doesn't talk about his feelings much, but the passionate kiss he gave her last summer had to have meant something. When she arrives back in town and discovers that he's in trouble with the law, she must take matters into her own hands in order to clear his name. She has her hands full with a needy Emma, a cop who gives her the creeps, and Nate, the guy she desperately wants to call her own. Can Zoe solve the mystery, clear Nate's name, and make him fall in love with her?

Meet the Author

1) How did this story come to you?

Sometimes I get the strangest ideas! I love a good mystery and I love romance, but you don't find the two together very often. Also, there are very few books available with college-age characters. I pitched the idea of combining all of the above to Desert Breeze and the rest is history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.

I had already published several books with Desert Breeze when they opened a young adult line. I'm excited that they liked the idea for this new series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

1) I own two hairless Chinese Crested dogs.
2) I love sour things....pickles, lemons, sour candy.
3) I used to ride a Harley, but gave it up in order to have more time to write. (My husband always wanted to stay out way too long and take the scenic route home. He still has his bike, but I don't miss mine at all.)

4)What are you working on now and what's next for you?

I just finished the edits on my April release, Shattered Identity, which is the sequel to Mistaken Identity. I'm now working on the second book in the Zoe Mack series.

5)Parting comments?

Thank you for hosting me! For those of you who love Christian fiction, please check my blog for weekly book giveaways. I interview 3-5 authors a week who give away their books. www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational romance and romantic suspense with five books published so far. Recently, she tried her hand at young adult fiction and found that she really enjoyed writing it. Three books in the Zoe Mack Mystery Series are scheduled to release January, June, and December 2012. Shattered Identity, the sequel to Mistaken Identity, will release in April.

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Love is a Miracle

Have you seen this? A sweet YouTube vid with Sara Groves singing "Miracle." My favorite shots are those showing babies (of course!). Hopeless baby addict, here.
I've embedded the video so you should be able to view it here without waiting for another page to load.

Miracles come in all shapes and sizes, but they all include love.

Enjoy!
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
Connect with me on Twitter

2012-01-23T07:15:00.000-08:00

Picture Says (More Than) a Thousand Words

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you;" Jeremiah 1:5a

For You formed my inward parts ; You wove me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139:13

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27

Thank you, God, for the miracle of life! I couldn't say it any better than the above picture and verses, can you? And by the way, have you signed the petition (see post, below) to support the lives of the unborn? Please do so today! It takes less than a minute. If you missed the post or don't see it on your page, here's the link:

Sign the petition now!

Nancy Leigh DeMoss recently had something to say about why human life is precious (and deserves to be protected). Here's a couple bullet points from her e-newsletter:

God is the sovereign author and designer of life. That’s why He alone has the right to give and to take life.
Our dignity, our worth, our value is based on the fact that we were created in the image of God.
God has a purpose for your life, so don’t despise what God prizes so highly.

Thanks for taking a stand for LIFE--for those whose voices we never hear. The silent ones whose little heart-beats are ignored.
Hugs and Blessings,

Linore
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2012-01-19T07:12:00.000-08:00

It's Perfect Timing For The Polar Bear Plunge!

Here's a sweet little story that is wintry-wonderland fun, by author AND agent Linda Glaz. I read this, I believe, in one sitting, and all you need is a hot cup of cocoa or tea and a cozy spot, (and a copy of the book, of course) and you'll be set for one sweet afternoon or evening.

Description:

Striving to put meaning back into her life after her husband’s death, Aleni Callan immerses herself in hospital work.
Angry with God, she finds herself even angrier when hero, Brice Taylor, author of The Human Shield, arrives in the Emergency Room with a concussion and hypothermia after participating in the Polar Bear Plunge. Aleni wants nothing
to do with a man who willingly takes chances with his life.

Brice doesn’t understood how God could let him survive being a captive in Iraq, when he failed his troops so miserably. Writing about his escape brings fame he would rather avoid. And by meeting widow Aleni Callan, his feelings of failure only increase.

Megan Callan with the help of her three-year-old grandson, Ty, scheme to bring Aleni and Brice together.
And while the best laid plans often go awry, Megan isn’t one to accept no.

About the Author
Linda Glaz says:

I served in the military during a time when it wasn’t a politically correct thing to do. My years as a meteorologist during Vietnam were filled with travel, teaching, and meeting with quite a few characters. Winning awards, many of which were “firsts” for a woman in the Air Force, I experienced an array of unusual opportunities normally reserved for men.

I taught karate and women’s self-defense off and on for thirty years, refereed soccer for twenty-five, fifteen of which I was a National Instructor for the largest youth soccer organization in the world. After all those years, I went to work for a physical therapy clinic. Good place to be after all the soccer/karate injuries.

Now, I work as a writer and an agent at Hartline Literary Agency.

I’m active in an online crit group, the Friday Critters. All members, but one, are represented by agents or pubbed.

I’ve always got my fingers in so many pots, I’m surprised the short, stubby little digits aren’t all burned. I enjoy so many things in life. It’s truly wonderful, isn’t it?

I have to agree with Linda: Life is wonderful because God is good. But winter is still upon us and some people tend to get down during this cold season. This light, sweet read may be just the thing you need for a quick lift. So go ahead--take the (Polar Bear) plunge!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
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2012-01-16T07:06:00.000-08:00

Jesus, the Wind and the Waves

You know, the way we perceive our lives and especially our troubles might have more to do, not with how we choose to look at them, but with what we choose to ignore. Let me explain.

Remember the story of Jesus walking on the water. Scripture tells us that "When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, 'It's a ghost!' and began to scream because they were afraid."(Matthew 14:26)

These are grown men, remember. Screaming from fear. I love how the Bible never white-washes the humanity of anyone in its pages. Not their proudest moment, to be sure, especially when Jesus "immediately" responds "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!" (Matthew 14:27)

Peter at this point, delighted the Lord by asking Him to let Peter "come to (him) on the water." This was a great comeback for the disciple. His wounded pride, after screaming like a baby from fear, is ready to participate in the miracle of walking on water. His faith has been fully restored. Peter is wonderfully able to swing from terror to faith in seconds.

But what happens? After starting out strong "when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, 'Lord, save me!'" Not only does his mercurial faith spout in a second, it recedes just as quickly.

But, stop here with me for a moment. We've all heard the story and been told that we should keep our eyes on Jesus, not on the storms (of life). And this is true. But notice another thing. When Peter cries out, it is only reasonable to assume that he still had some distance to cover before reaching the Lord. If Jesus had been RIGHT BESIDE him, or DIRECTLY AHEAD of him, within arm's distance, say, how likely would he have been to succumb to the wind and waves?

Not likely at all. When you have GOD right in front of you, what is there to fear?
So it is reasonable to assume that Jesus still looked a bit far off. In the distance. THERE, but not so close that wind and waves didn't matter. Isn't this how we often see God?

When you have GOD right in front of you, what is there to fear?

So, here's the thing: After he cried out, "IMMEDIATELY, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, 'You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?'"

Do you see the amazing thing here? Jesus looked far off to Peter--far enough away to think he was in danger of drowning. Far enough away to make a grown man so afraid that he would SHOUT "Lord, save me!" But in an instant, a blink of an eye, IMMEDIATELY, in other words, the Lord "caught hold of him."

This is why I say that how we perceive our life, our troubles, our personal wind and waves, is not only a matter of how we choose to see, but of what we choose to ignore.

THE LORD IS NEAR. (Phillipians 4:5b)
Don't ignore that. No matter how distant he seems to you, he can IMMEDIATELY catch hold of you. In fact, he does hold you, and all of your circumstances, within the boundaries of his loving plan for your life, just as He does, mine.

How silly Peter must have felt when "they got into the boat,(and) the wind stopped blowing." (Matt.14:32) This was no coincidence. Jesus could have stopped the wind while Peter was out of the boat just as easily as he did when they were safe inside.

This is another take-away from the story. Our wind and waves are a test. They are only a test. We are always safe with the Lord, no matter where He takes us.
Let us CHOOSE to see Him near. Ready to catch hold of us, no matter the circumstance.
Let us CHOOSE to delight Him with our faith.

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
Linore Burkard.com. Sign up for my monthly mailing list and get a FREE pdf! Just click the link and give your email in the pop-up box.

Image source:http://www.allaboutthebible.net/art/st-peter/

2012-01-15T19:31:00.001-08:00

Have You Done This, Yet?

Our country's collective head-in-the-sand stance regarding the killing of unborn children has long been an issue close to my heart. Of course I signed the following petition. I hope you will, too.

I have just added my name to Concerned Women for America's
National Statement of Support for the Unborn Victims of
Abortion -- a statement that will be presented to key pro-life
members of Congress during CWA's "Celebrate Life, Embrace
Grace" event just prior to the March for Life rally.

Join with pro-life Americans from across the nation by
re-affirming your commitment to the unborn of our nation
by clicking below and adding your name to this important
national statement for the unborn victims of abortion.

Click here to have your statement presented to key pro-life
members of Congress during CWA's "Celebrate Life, Embrace
Grace" event on the day of the rally:

Sign the petition

With the help of tens of thousands of pro-life Americans from
across the nation, we can demonstrate to Congress that the
time is now to re-establish a culture of life to Capitol Hill
and beyond!

Click below to reaffirm your commitment to the voiceless
victims of abortion:

Let's Save Lives!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
Let's Connect on Twitter

2012-01-08T07:30:00.000-08:00

What's Holding You Back?

The following post is by Jennifer Slattery, and a timely message since it's still so early in the new year. January is the no-brainer time to reflect, re-organize, re-prioritize, and pray for direction. Sometimes we have the sinking feeling that what we need is NEW direction, despite having committed ourselves hook, line and sinker to a certain path. Didn't God lead us down that path? Didn't he bless it--for a time? Jennifer shares her story of hanging on, when the Spirit is saying "let go."

It's hard to hear that. It's hard to let go of something we're invested in. It brings to mind one of my "life verses," which is:

"He that finds (or saves) his life shall lose it. He that loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:39

When we let go, "lose" our lives for Jesus, we actually find it. It's one of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith. Here's Jennifer's take on this principle:
What's Holding You Back?

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
Linore Rose Burkard.com
Heart-Warming Soul-Stirring Christian Romance
NEW Kindle Short--Romantic suspense--.99cents

2012-01-03T07:20:00.000-08:00

OK--SO IT'S A MERRY BELATED CHRISTMAS

I love, love, love, Christmas. I love the season, the lights, the small-town main streets all decked out in holly and berries and candles and more. I even love the look of department stores with glitter and glimmer and ornaments shimmering, despite the commercialism. It doesn't dampen my spirit or heart--maybe it's the hopeless female-shopaholic in me, I don't know, but the only thing that really gets me down about Christmas is how fast it goes by each year.

This year went especially fast.
I had hip surgery on December 9th, stayed in the hospital for three 1/2 days, and after that, zip, zip, zip, Christmas came, Christmas went. Fortunately, my kids REALLY wanted us to decorate before my surgery, so the very night before, we did. I finished exhausted and not looking forward to the next morning in the operating room, but when I got home from the hospital, the decorated house was a wonderful sight.

I'm one of those who decorate big--not the outdoor glitzy stuff, but the inside, deck the halls and mantels, put a tree in more than one room, fill the picture-window sill with snowmen and santas and angels, and get the nativity just right. After that, layer on the lights!

I'm very visual when it comes to how I feel, and the visual beauty of Christmas is partially why I enjoy it so much. Don't get me wrong, however. I really know that Jesus is the Reason, and some years have been special JUST because of Him. Perhaps all my decorations and adornments only distract me from the Savior. In the end, though, I consider it THE best time of the year for evangelism, and I never feel there can be too much emphasis on the Son of God becoming flesh for our benefit.

HOWEVER: My post today is really an excuse to send YOU a belated Merry Christmas.
Due to my post-op recovering, I did less shopping, less sending of cards, less of just about everything (even decorating). And less cooking!

I also failed to get out a December issue of my online e-zine (which I hope you're subscribed to by now--if not, sign up on my website and you'll get a free download by email right away. Join here:Linore Burkard.com . The thing is, I usually fill the December issue with beautiful, historical Christmas images, as well as a good meaty article. I'm sorry I didn't get to do that...

Which is why this blog post is an excuse for me to at least send you a Christmas e-card, even though it's belated. Actually, I have two cards to share.

The first was sent to me by a sweet reader--The card only takes a minute to view, and it is well worth it! Also, if you have youngsters around, be sure to let them watch as the graphics are sure to delight young and old. Have your speakers on:
Click HERE

This next one is from me and other Ohio authors who are part of the ACFW chapter here in the Buckeye State. Author Michelle LeVigne put it together. A fellow Harvest House author, Mary Ellis, is in this, too. Enjoy it here!

Wait! Just like late night info-mercials, "that's not all!" If you act now (by scrolling down) you can ALSO get some belated lovely images from my collections. After this, I can say goodbye to Christmas.

SCROLL DOWN for IMAGES:

"Stirring the Christmas Pudding"

"Candlemas"

"Angels We Have Heard On High"

Last but not least, about keeping "Merry Christmas" in commercial outlets. My 9 year old loved this.

Merry Christmas!
Hugs and love,

Linore
PS: Today is the LAST DAY you can get The House in Grosvenor Square for only $2.51 on Kindle! If you have an e-reader or an e-reader APP, please don't delay!

2012-01-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

More About Paleo and the Science Behind It
(And Why the Evolutionary Argument Doesn't Work)

From Paleo Spirit comes this excellent article giving more information on why the so-called "caveman" diet is really not what it sounds like. It's not evolutionary logic which supplies the scientific mechanism for why this style of eating is so healthy and beneficial.

I'll cut and paste the blog post from Paleo Spirit below, or, if you like, you can click through to the source itself and get on that mailing list for yourself.

Here's the article: (A bit long but well worth the read)

Does the Paleo Diet Make Sense Only in Light of Evolution?
Posted on December 16, 2011 by Lea

The Paleo diet (or Primal if you prefer) is based on the premise that we humans are genetically adapted to the diet of our ancestors. There is a heavy reliance on the explanation that Darwinian Evolution is at the root of this – that we have EVOLVED to eat this way. Now I consider myself an intelligent person. For what it’s worth, while far from being the universal designation of intelligence, I do have a couple of degrees from great universities. I like to examine facts and evidence and use logic in making decisions. But guess what? While I acknowledge adaptations and the like, I am not a believer in Darwinian Evolution and I am not alone. There are many other people like me. The point of this post is NOT to debate evolution or change anyone’s mind (please, let’s not go there). But I would like to explore why it is that I am a devotee of a diet and lifestyle that appears so rooted in something I do not embrace.

Instead of relying so heavily upon human evolutionary theory, the Paleo diet makes sense for other reasons. I believe the argument “cavemen did this so you should too” is illogical. Sure, I like the fun, iconic caveman as much as the next person. There’s no reason we can’t have fun with this, right? But I believe as Matt LaLonde, a biochemist with a Ph.D from Harvard and a strong interest in Paleo nutrition, stated in episode #68 of Robb Wolf‘s podcast, that looking at what our ancestors ate is instructional at best. It can point us in the right direction but does not rise to the level of a convincing argument.

In fact, LaLonde said,

“It really drives me nuts when people justify what I’ll [call] the Paleo lifestyle or way of eating, by stating that ‘cavemen and modern hunter-gatherers ate meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds and they did not suffer from the diseases of modern civilization, so you must eat this way too if you want to avoid this disease.’ That is indeed a logical fallacy…It can be used to generate hypothesis that should then be tested. But it does not establish cause and effect.”

This “testing” might take the form of formal scientific studies with well-developed protocols, examinations of biochemical processes, or anthropological studies that focus on the health of our ancestors or modern hunter-gatherer populations. It might simply be what is known as an N=1 experient we conduct on ourselves. (I recommend a Whole30 elimination diet for that, btw.)

Matt LaLonde went on to say,

“One argument actually that gets me even more worked up than the previous one is ‘our Paleolithic ancestors evolved over millions of years while not consuming grains, legumes or dairy so we should not consume these foods because we are not adapted to them.’ This is an assumption, and it is completely incorrect. The assumption that [a] species is not adapted to a food because it never consumed that food is completely false. There are plenty of examples throughout evolution where a species finds a new source of food and thrives on it.”

Clearly Dr. LaLonde is a believer in the theory of evolution. So the point is not that you have to be an evolution skeptic to find holes in this whole argument. He and others have pointed out there are many and varied reasons for eating a Paleo diet OTHER than because cavemen ate this way or because we evolved to eat this way.

One of the reasons the Paleo diet movement (or whatever we call it) is attractive to me is the intellectual curiosity of many of those at the forefront (Robb Wolf, Matt LaLonde, Mark Sisson and many, many others). There’s a willingness to challenge the status quo and question conventional wisdom handed to us by government and others with self-serving agendas. There’s an independent spirit that I admire. And as an official “nutrition nerd” I love the modern nutrition science studies and discussions on the biochemical processes in our bodies. I also like the simplicity of it all – the getting back to basics. It just makes sense to me. And most importantly, I like how much my health has improved as a result of eating this way.

It has always struck me as unfortunate that the Paleo movement focuses so much on the evolutionary component because it can be a real stumbling block for some people. There are many like me who do not believe in evolutionary theory as fact. There’s an impression out there among some Christians, and other believers in a Divine Creator or Intelligent Designer, that adopting this diet and lifestyle somehow puts a stamp of approval on something rooted in what might be perceived as an atheistic world view. Now, please, I am NOT saying that everyone who believes in evolution is an atheist or if you are an atheist that you militate against those of us who do believe in God. Not at all. I am simply pointing out there are many people who might otherwise benefit from this way of eating if they could get past the emphasis on evolution. And sad to say, I have also witnessed some hostility out there to believers in God. It’s as though some folks adopt the Paleo lifestyle as a way of justifying their existing atheism. I have heard people say that because the Paleo diet works so well that it PROVES we MUST have evolved. I could easily argue we were CREATED to eat this way and that is why it works.

For me, the word “PALEO” means something ancient – something simple, a getting “back to the basics”, a harkening back to a time before mankind started adding lots of “stuff” to our lives and to our food. I embrace that word. The name of this site is Paleo Spirit after all! I think there is common ground in this idea. It is possible to come together whether you believe we EVOLVED to eat this way or whether you believe God CREATED our bodies to function best eating this way.

What do you think? Do you know anyone who has stayed away from the Paleo/Primal diet and lifestyle because they were turned off by the emphasis on evolution?

If you liked this post why not subscribe to Paleo Spirit?

[end of article]
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
I find that I always need to qualify my involvement with Paleo by explaining away the unfounded evolutionary associations, so I enjoyed this article very much. Thank you, Paleo Spirit!
Warmest blessings,

Linore
PS: LAST TWO DAYS for my publisher's promo on my book, The House in Grosvenor Square,for only $2.51 on Kindle! If you have an e-reader, don't delay! Promo ends tomorrow! (1/3/12) The print book is greatly reduced from retail, too, by the way. : )
http://www.amazon.com/Grosvenor-Regency-Inspirational-Romance-ebook/dp/B003V4B4HU/ref=pd_sim_kinc_4?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

2011-12-30T08:51:00.000-08:00

Author Gone Paleo!

Todays' post is about food, which may surprise you. But what we put into our bodies is really a part of living and should be one of the ways we seek to please God. So, "Author Gone Paleo" is about some beneficial changes I've made recently in my eating habits that I wanted to share with you.

What is Paleo? It's an eating style--more, a lifestyle--which tries to universally reject modern food tinkering such as GMO's (genetically modified food), over-processing, pesticides, growth hormone-injected meat, etc. It's nothing new in essence, but there are new scientific findings that support this type of eating with one major new factor. Unlike the organic-food eaters of the past, the Paleo diet does away with modern grains. Yes, that means no whole-grain flours, organic wheat flour, etc. But make no mistake: this is NOT your typical low-carb regiment. With newer research showing that coconut flour (and oil) are actually good for you, that eating nuts and seeds are powerhouse nutrient sources and that these, too, are GOOD for you, the Paleo diet becomes rich in its own goodies. Almond flour is now a staple in my pantry. Squashes of all types, sweet potatoes, and fruit are important elements of eating this way, too.

For an in-depth look at what it's all about, visit The Wellness Mama . This Christian lady not only gives the first excellent argument I've ever read explaining why grains are bad for our health, reconciling it wholly with Jesus's calling himself "the bread of life," she also gives scrumptious recipes, tips and ideas that are really helpful. (Read her blog post called, "How Grains are Slowly Killing You." This one post did more to transform my thinking and get me eating better than anything else I've ever read.)

I explained my eating transformation to my friends like this: It's like when Neo (in the Matrix movies) suddenly sees the bad guys as nothing more than CODE--he realizes that they're not real beings, they're computerized code that he is seeing as real. AT that point, he becomes invincible and easily does away with the baddies. Well, reading that article on how grains are slowly killing us made that leap for me: instead of seeing a yummy bagel or doughnut, I suddenly saw POISON.Let me tell you, I love good good food and I come from a family where food is the center of our celebrations, but it was absolutely no stretch, no effort, for me to start eating differently after digesting these food-facts.

Does it work? Well, I lost twelve pounds in the first two months without even trying. I was eating a great deal of fruit and nuts. If you TRY to lose weight on this eating style, you can easily do so by eliminating most fruit, and by eating less nuts and seeds. I wasn't trying, so I ate what I wanted--and lost weight, anyway.

I'm not trying to explain the whole lifestyle here, but I did want to share my Paleo "Cereal" that I ate this morning. It's filling, and chock full of
protein, antioxidants, fiber, micronutrients, and healthy fats. (Not to mention, yummy!)

Linore's Paleo "Cereal"

In a nutshell (pun intended), this is basically a kind of trail mix that I added coconut milk to, and ate as a cereal. The best trail mixes are homemade as you can customize them to what you like best, but this is my current version. Feel free to customize your own as you like. Dried fruits like pineapple or apricots (use moderately), other seeds, nuts, and even spices like turmeric or cinnamon can be added.

Get a one or two quart container with an air-tight lid to store this in. Refrigeration is not necessary. (Ironically, I'm using a cleaned-out container that once held chocolate chip cookie dough--poison, lol!)

Three cups walnuts, chopped or not
Three cups pecans, chopped if preferred, but not fine.
One cup dried cranberries
Two cups pistachio nutmeats
One-two cups sliced almonds
Half cup pine nuts
One cup sunflower KERNELS
1/2 to one cup DARK or bittersweet chocolate chips (optional)
coconut flakes (optional)

I put in the chocolate only because it's Christmas week. But it's perfectly fine to eat a small amount of DARK chocolate every day.

IMPORTANT:
Don't eat scads of this stuff on a daily basis. It's nutrient-dense, so a little goes a long way.
I take a 4-6 ounce mug, fill it about 1/2 to 2/3 full of mix, and then add coconut milk. I wouldn't have this every day for breakfast, but it's a great energy-boosting filler and good for you, to boot.

NOTE: You must understand that if you're going to keep eating all the unhealthy white bread and grains in your diet, then adding paleo foods like trail-mix won't do you many favors.
In fact, you'll gain weight.

The key to using these foods to benefit your body is to remove the grains from your
diet, first. Don't try to do it all at once, but keep removing sugar or white flour
(or any flour) on a weekly basis.

Better health=better productivity in all areas of your life! This past Thanksgiving I made a totally Paleo feast (including grain-free stuffing), and two days later when I weighed myself, I had actually lost two pounds since the previous week. LOST weight, after THANKSGIVING! And I ate until I was more than full.

Resources: Wellness Mama 101--The Basics
Everyday Paleo by Sarah Fragoso and Robb Wolf

Paleo Spirit

Mark's Daily Apple: Primal Living in the Modern World(Ignore the evolution idiocy--for a guy who researches everything about the food he eats, why doesn't he do the same for so-called "facts" of evolution, carbon dating, the fossil record, etc? Even scientists who aren't ready to call themselves Christians conclude that evolution is a religion, a chosen belief-system, based on interpretation of facts that skew the evidence (which overwhelmingly supports a higher-intelligence Creator). After all, evolution is a THEORY. Funny how everyone leaves that word out when referring to this widespread heart-held belief system. Since even museums uphold this theory with religious fervor, people think it must be true.)

Resources:
Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed (DVD)

Answers In Genesis/Creation Scientists

The Riddle of Origins Series

Warmest blessings,

Linore
Linore Rose Burkard.com
Heart-Warming Soul-Stirring Christian Romance
NEW Kindle Short--Romantic suspense--.99cents

THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE--IRCC AWARD WINNER! Limited Time Promo Price of only $2.51 in effect right now! But hurry--promotion ends on 1/3/12)

2011-11-23T08:02:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving

I love this time of year, don't you? Scroll down to enjoy my way of wishing everyone, whether you live here in the US and celebrate Thanksgiving or not, a
joyful season.

See you soon,
(But not tomorrow--I'll be eating turkey and enjoying family and guests! Hope you'll be doing the same.)

Warmest Blessings,

Linore
ENJOY THE GRAPHICS!

2011-11-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

You Can't Take it With You

This post is another from Kathi Macias,who does a weekly devotion for CAN
(Christian Authors Network) of which I'm a member. My dad's passing is still very fresh in my mind and perhaps that's why I wanted to share this with you.
Kathi always finds a concise and focused way to say the things we know to be true but don't think about often. Enjoy.
--Linore

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (Not Kathi's title, by the way. But I thought it fit.)

Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give
you:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6).

I spent the last few days going through what remained of my
mom's clothes and personal belongings, sorting and searching and bagging up
the vast majority of it to donate to the Salvation Army. (To be honest,
there wasn't much left, as she'd already given away most of it while she was
still here with us.) I set everything out on the front porch, called for a
pick-up, and as of yesterday morning, it was gone.

Strange feeling, isn't it? We know we're only here for a short
time and that eternal life lies beyond, far better than anything we can
experience in this temporal setting. But the old saying, "You can't take it
with you," takes on a new depth of reality when we look upon the material
goods a loved one has left behind after "graduating to heaven."

Knowing that nothing we amass here on earth-whether billions of
dollars or just enough to eke out a meager existence-will accompany us on
that final journey through the valley of the shadow of death should give us
pause, as we consider those things that have eternal value. Peter nailed it
when he said to the crippled man, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I
do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and
walk."

It is those things we do in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
that will follow us to heaven. The times we told others about the Father's
great love, so great that He would send His only Son to die for us; the
times we cried and prayed for lost loved ones and even nations lost in
darkness; the gifts we gave out of our own needs rather than our abundance.
The One whose name we do it in-Jesus Christ of Nazareth-sees it all, though
at times it may seem that no one sees or cares.

Silver and gold will be left behind when we breathe our last,
but our legacy of all we did in the name of Jesus will continue throughout
eternity. And it is the one thing that will remain when our deeds are judged
and we receive the crown of heaven-which we will promptly and joyously lay
at the Savior's feet.

May we daily give whatever we can in the matchless name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth!

copyright 2011 Kathi Macias

2011-10-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another great post regarding the question of pain in this life. My husband is currently battling shoulder disabilities, which made this doubly meaningful right now for me. Read, and be encouraged. I got this from John Piper's "Desiring God" blog which arrives daily in my inbox.

The Day of Your Deliverance Is Decreed
By Jon Bloom | Oct 14, 2011 01:30 am

She hobbled into the synagogue to hear the healing rabbi. Hoping against hope. You see, she “had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself” (Luke 13:10-11).

Eighteen years. How many of her tears had God collected in his bottle (Psalm 56:8)? How many of her prayers in his bowl (Revelation 5:8)?

Eighteen years of suffering. The slow burn of chronic pain had worn on her soul. She had suffered the loss of capacities she once took for granted. She had suffered the indignities of others’ pity and disgust. She had suffered their suspicion that her body was bent under the weight of divine judgment.

Did she know that her affliction was Satanic (Luke 13:16)?

God knew. He knew all the ways she suffered, better than she did. And God had long permitted Satan to afflict her. Long, at least, for time-bound creatures whose mortal lives are measured in decades, not millennia (2 Peter 3:8).

Why? We rarely are given answers to such questions.

But we get a rare answer in this woman’s story. For suddenly, in that little synagogue, the grace of God engulfs her in the compassion of God the Son:

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight. (Luke 13:12-13)

Just like that. Eighteen years of bondage and with a look, a word, and a touch, the sea of her suffering parts. She has her exodus. This was the day God had decreed her deliverance.
God’s Compassion Is Patient

All those weary years of grief just to find that her pain had been predestined to play a part in revealing Messiah to Israel. God had not been slow to show his compassion; he had been patient (2 Peter 3:9). Was it worth it? “She glorified God” (Luke 13:13).
God’s Compassion Is Purposeful

Jesus’ compassion and this woman’s pain also had had a far-reaching purpose. If you, like this woman, discovered that your seemingly meaningless affliction turned out to be infused with meaning beyond what you imagined possible and resulted in joy inexpressible and filled with glory (1 Peter 1:8) for you and a multitude of others, would it be worth it? Sit down and catch your breath. It is. It’s promised to you (2 Corinthians 4:17).
God’s Compassion Is Powerful

And his compassion was powerful. When the synagogue ruler objected to such mercy as Sabbath-breaking, he found himself rebuked by the Lord of the Sabbath:

You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him. (Luke 13:14-17)

Not all the adversaries that were shamed were seen. Yes, the ruler of the synagogue and likely some Pharisees were humiliated. But Satan far more. This woman had been his captive and he had been disarmed and overthrown with a compassionate word. A horrible harbinger of an approaching defeat he was fighting like hell to thwart.

And it was a holy harbinger of an approaching final deliverance for all who love the Lord’s appearing:

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. (Revelation 21:4)

In this age, it is not the tears or mourning or crying or pain or death that is strange. “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). What’s strange is their defeat.
Your Deliverance Is Coming

Today you may say with Job, “my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning” (Job 23:2). You may say with Moses, “Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants. . . Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil” (Psalm 90:13-15).

But you need to know that, like this disabled woman, the patient, purposeful, powerful compassion of God in Christ for you is approaching like a relentless torrent. The day of your deliverance is decreed. It will come with a sudden joy. Every adversary will be shamed. Every tear will be wiped away. And the days he will make you glad will drown the days you have seen evil into glorious and happy oblivion (Romans 8:18).

________

Recent posts from Jon Bloom —

Love Is Patient
Neither Do I Condemn You
A Nationless Man for All Nations

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2011-10-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

My father passed away last week. Thankfully, I was able to be present with him, along with my four sisters and my mother. I'm even more thankful that I know where Dad is, that I knew, during his suffering, where he was headed, and that one day I will see him again. When that day comes, we will both be perfectly human (perfected humans) in perfect bodies, in a glorious heaven--a new earth (also perfect, as it was before the Fall).

Many people seem to think that humans become angels or live forever as disembodied spirits in a pie-in-the-sky heaven that is ethereal. I beg to differ. The Bible, (apart from saying that we shall "meet the Lord in the air,") does not teach these common fallacies. Instead, we shall inhabit a new earth! Not a fallen earth, like the one we live in now, but a new and glorious earth without tears, or sorrow, or pain.

I look forward to this, and while I'm still here, I want to help other people know about God's beautiful plans for eternity,so that I may see and enjoy them there, but even more so that THEY may enjoy God and His fabulous new earth, also.

For these reasons, when I read Kathi Macias's devotion this week it resounded in my spirit. I copy it below for your edification:

O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance (Psalm 16:5-6).

My mom passed away a couple of months ago, and I heard many glowing tributes to her at her memorial service. It seemed Mom touched many lives and left quite a legacy behind, though that legacy included nothing material because, when Mom died at 90, she no longer had anything material or monetary left to pass on to others. Her legacy was strictly that of fond memories, blessed relationships, and spiritual encouragement.

And that’s the point. As believers, we have the greatest heritage imaginable—God Himself! The psalmist says that the Lord is his inheritance, and He is ours as well. The psalmist also declares that his inheritance is a good one. Though some may inherit mansions or yachts or huge bank accounts when loved ones die, believers inherit the God of the Universe, the Savior of mankind, an unending life of joy and peace and light.

This is an inheritance that should not only cause us to rejoice but to do everything possible to impart that same inheritance to others. As Christians who desire to glorify God, this should be our main focus, our primary goal, each and every day, every moment that we walk this earth. We know the old saying that we can’t “take it [material things] with us” is true, but it is also true that the only treasures we can take with us to heaven and lay at the feet of Jesus are the lives we influence for God’s Kingdom.

The lines truly have fallen to us in pleasant places, dear fellow believers, for we have a good heritage—too good to keep to ourselves. Let’s resolve, while we still have breath within us, to pass it on to as many others as we can!

***My newest releases, Deliver Me From Evil and A Christmas Journey Home, are now available at most online venues and in bookstores across the country. You can find/order them, along with previously published books, on my website (www.kathimacias.com). You can also get a free download of the first two chapters of Deliver Me From Evil at www.newhopedigital.com.

***Kathi Macias, PO Box 772, Homeland, CA 92548

www.kathimacias.com

www.thetitus2women.com

Until next time,

Linore

RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: HEAVEN, by Randy Alcorn
and, HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, Todd Burpo

2011-09-06T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Gospel in a Nutshell

This small portion of scripture explains the hope we have in Christ, succinctly and without any ado. Share it with someone new to the faith or someone seeking to understand what Christians believe. I like to keep this one near my phone to remind newer believers who may be struggling to feel "good enough" to deserve God's goodness. It's a great reminder that we never have to try and be anything we're not, including "good enough." Salvation is a gift, pure and simple.

"He saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. God poured a generous amount of the Spirit on us through Jesus Christ our Savior. As a result, God in his kindness has given us his approval and we have become heirs who have the confidence that we have everlasting life.

Titus 3:5-7

What about you? Do you have a favorite portion of scripture that gives the gospel in a nutshell? (Besides John 3:16, that is!)

Sometimes, just hearing the truth worded a little differently from that which we're most familiar with gives us a new opportunity to digest it more deeply or in a new way. And we can never tell ourselves the gospel too often.

Warmest blessings,

Linore

2011-08-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

To Whom Do You Pledge?

This is a beautiful little YouTube from the AFA (American Family Association).
Posting here just to share a minutes' reflection with you.
Warmest blessings,

Linore

Watch NOW

Here's a link to the site where I found the above image--another good values place, where the memory of 9/11 is uppermost.

2011-08-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

Today's "guest post" is from a friend who sent me the following in an email. It's refreshing, though eerie in a way, to hear someone finally calling the kettle black.
Our nation is attempting to hide its sins by euphemisms, but Christians are called to be "truth and light." Read the following short prayer for a little light today.
Also, adopt the burden of praying for this sorry state of our country!

Linore

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbour's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honoured values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God!'

2011-08-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

Woman: God’s Beautiful Creation

Sharon Jaynes

I was sitting in a crowded restaurant with my family when she walked by in her full-length white satin dress delicately trimmed in lace and studded with tiny “jewels,” crinoline that swished as she moved across the room, a rhinestone tiara upon her head, and pearl studded slippers on her feet. Golden ringlets framed her rosy cheeks and puckered lips glistened with a hint of gloss. She knew she was beautiful and glanced around at the admiring smiles of onlookers as she walked through the crowd. She was three-years-old.

I’m not sure when the dream of being beautiful enters a little girl’s mind, but I do know when the dream ends – when the preacher says, “may she rest in peace.”

I remember as a little girl sneaking into my mother’s closet and slipping my child-size feet into her size seven high heels. I’d also stand on my tiptoes on a chair, pull a hat off the top shelf, and plop it on my head like an oversized lampshade. Her satin evening jacket with sleeves that hug eight inches below my finger tips gave a nice elegant touch to my outfit. A lady going to a party would never be caught without “putting on her face,” so I crept into the bathroom, opened the forbidden drawer, and created a clownish work of art on the palette of my face. Red rouge circles on my cheeks, heaps of blue eye shadow on my munchkin lids, and smeared orange lipstick far exceeding the proper border were finished off with a dusting of facial powder with an oversized brush.

From the time a little girl stretches on her tiptoes to get a peek in the mirror, she desires to be beautiful – perhaps like her mommy. As the girl moves into the teen years, she experiments with makeup, delves into fashion, and attempts various hairstyles. Then it’s on to makeover ideas in magazines and on talk shows. If one idea doesn’t work – well there’s always next month.

I believe the dream to be beautiful is not cultural, but at the very core of womanhood. John Eldredge, in his book Wild at Heart, describes three longings that lie at the heart of every man: a battle to fight, a beauty to rescue, an adventure to live. He also ventures to say that women have three longings of the heart as well: to be fought for, to share in an adventure, and to have her beauty unveiled. “Not to conjure,” Eldredge explains, “but to unveil. Most women feel the pressure to be beautiful from very young, but that is not what I speak of. There is also a deep desire to simply and truly be the beauty and be delighted in. Most little girls will remember playing dress up, or wedding day, or ‘twirling skirts,’ those flowing dresses that were perfect for spinning around in. She’ll put her pretty dress on, come into the living room and twirl. What she longs for is to capture her daddy’s delight.” (John Eldredge, Wild at Heart (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2001) p16-17)

We should never be ashamed of our dream to be beautiful. It is a travesty of the feminist movement that has tried to strip women of their femininity and make them more male. It is as if those in the movement were saying that being a woman wasn’t good enough and tried to make us into men. So they tried to make women tough, independent and rugged individuals who didn’t need anyone or anything. But those who were banking on the tenants of feminism were left spiritually and emotionally bankrupt.

A woman was and is one of God’s most magnificent creations. As a matter of fact, she was His grand finale. After He fashioned Eve, creation was complete and He took a rest! God has placed in our hearts a love for beauty and a desire to be beautiful – as He defines it.

In the New Testament, Paul writes, “For we are God’s workmanship” (Ephesians 2:10). The Greek word for workmanship means a work of art. Listen to these words as David describes the Creator at work.

For you created my inmost being;
You knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
When I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
Your eyes saw my unformed body. (Psalm 139:13-16)

Like an artist who sees the finished work in his mind’s eye, God saw your unformed substance and then began to fashion you from head to toe. He made no mistakes but planned each detail of your being. You do not need to compare yourself to other works of art, but thank the Artist for how He chose to create the masterpiece called…you.

How would you like to stop right now and thank God for the wonder of you? Let’s pray together:

Dear Lord, thank you for making each and every part of my being. For eyes that see, ears that hear, legs that move, fingers that feel, arms that hug, feet that run, a heart that beats, a brain that thinks, a tongue that tastes. Oh Lord, forgive me when I complain about your workmanship and wish for something different. Help me to always remember that I am your workmanship…and you make no mistakes.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

As you go about the rest of your day, make a mental list of all the parts of your body that you are thankful for. You may even want to jot them down. This could take quite some time and perhaps you’ll need to come back to your list several times before it is complete. Then go back and thank God for each one. You are quite a work of art!

Originally posted July 28, 2009.

This article was adapted from Sharon Jaynes’ book Dreams of a Woman: God’s Plan for Fulfilling Your Dreams. To learn more about Sharon’s ministry and other books, visit www.sharonjaynes.com
(Post from CrosswalkFaith Update)

2011-07-25T08:46:00.001-07:00

20 Promises For Your Life--from God

(Updated-- and with a free giveaway for leaving a comment.)

It's all happening starting today at Gail Pallotta's blog.

Stop by, leave a comment and you might win my short story "Coach and Four: Allisandra's Tale."

Enjoy reading about promises in the Bible for you, and good luck in the drawing!
Warmest Blessings,

Linore

2011-07-24T12:49:00.000-07:00

Read the First Chapter of Before the Season EndsFor Free

Press on the blank screen icon (small rectangle) and a new screen will open on your pc. Enjoy!

Warmly,

Linore

2011-07-15T08:32:00.000-07:00

What Does the Lord Look For?

Today's post comes from my current read, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World," by Joanna Weaver.

Are you a little bit Mary and a little bit Martha? Or, as in my case, a whole lot of Martha?! Read on for encouragement. God doesn't expect us to live in any extreme, but he does expect us to be transformed from either extreme as we grow closer to Him. We can have balance in our lives if we learn how to.

Ms. Weaver says:

"(God) isn't looking as much for workers as he is looking for sons and daughters--a people to pour his life into."

..."When we put work before worship, we put the cart before the horse. The cart is important; but the horse must come first, or we end up pulling the cart ourselves. Frustrated and weary, we can nearly break under the pressure of service, for there is always something that needs to be done."

"When we first spend time in his presence--when we take time to hear his voice--God provides the horsepower we need to pull the heaviest load. He saddles up Grace and invites us to take a ride."

Amen to that.

Later she adds, .."Good news is woven through the New Testament in a grace-filled strand that shines especially bright in the Gospel stories of Mary and Martha. The message is this: Salvation isn't about what I do; it's about what Jesus did."

I don't know about you, but these are good thoughts for me to begin my day with!
Warmest blessings,

Linore

2011-07-14T10:22:00.000-07:00

Summer is Flying By...

Summer is FLYING by. June was politely sedate in its stride, though tempestuous and moody in its weather. But since July 4th, the days seem to fall one upon another like dominoes crashing or a house of cards collapsing.

There can never be enough blue-sky, green-field days of July!

2011-07-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

Hey, I'm a guest on Lynn Squire's blog today, sharing parts of my testimony I don't usually talk about! Click through if you're interested... Faith, Fiction, Fun and Fanciful: Interview with Linore Rose Burkard: "A fellow historical fiction writer, Linore Rose Burkard, joins us today. Linore, thank you for coming. Her featured book (The House in Gro..."

2011-06-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

Got Little Ones?

"If I had my child to raise all over again, I'd build
self-esteem first, and the house later. I'd finger-paint
more, and point the finger less. I would do less correcting
and more connecting. I'd take my eyes off my watch, and
watch with my eyes. I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play. I would run
through more fields and gaze at more stars. I'd do more
hugging and less tugging."
Diane Loomans

Have you played with your child today? Summers speed by so don't forget to make it one they'll remember.

Click the photo and "save as" to your desktop. Then print out the picture, a free sample from Dover Books, to enjoy with your little one.

2011-06-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

20 Promises For Your Life

Psalm 91 has long been one of my favorite portions of Scripture and this morning I was reminded why. Did you know that tucked inside the 16 verses of this Psalm are no less than 20 promises?

It's true.

There are nineteen instances of what God WILL do for the believer, and one "I WILL" (a promise) by the believer. That makes 20 promises. Nineteen for us to receive and one for us to do. I'd say that's a generous ratio!

Let's take a closer look:

1. Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High WILL remain in the shadow of the Almighty. (vs.1)

2. I WILL say of the LORD, You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.(vs.2)

3. He is the one who WILL rescue you from hunters' traps and from the deadly plagues.(vs.3)

4. He WILL cover you with his feathers,
5. and under his wings you WILL find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor.(vs.4)

6. You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day,
plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon. They WILL not come near you...(vs.6-7)

7. No harm WILL come to you.(vs.10)

8. No sickness WILL come near your house. (vs.10)

9. He WILL put his angels in charge of you to protect you in all your ways.(vs.11)

10. They WILL carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.(vs.12)

11. You WILL step on lions and cobras.(vs.13)

12. You WILL trample young lions and snakes.(vs.13)

13. Because you love me, I WILL rescue you.(vs.14)

14. I WILL protect you because you know my name. (vs.14)

15. When you call to me, I WILL answer you.(vs.15)

16. I WILL be with you when you are in trouble. (vs.15)

17. I WILL save you and honor you.(vs.15)

18. I WILL satisfy you with a long life. (vs.16)

19. I WILL show you (vs.16)

20. how I WILL save you. (vs.16)

Wasn't that fun? I love "unpacking" the scriptures, as my pastor, John Butler, likes to say. This is an amazing Psalm. What promises are speaking to you today?
What promises do you want to remember? Write them down somewhere now.

"For all the promises of God in Christ are yea and Amen!" (2 Cor.1:20)

2011-02-01T08:28:00.002-08:00

Goodbye for Now!

My blogging here has been dismal lately, but with surgery scheduled this month--as well as an aggressive writing schedule--I've regretfully decided to put both my blogs on hold. (My other blog is: http://shesgotcharacter.blogspot.com, which I've kept up with.)

I've got some novels in the works and I need to concentrate on them--as well as my family and my recuperation, so I'm saying goodbye for now, but God willing, I'll pick up again in the future.

I look forward to going forward this year, holding His hand, and I pray you do the same. I'll still be leading some workshops as part of the team behind Greater Harvest Workshops. We're tentatively scheduled for mini-conferences in July in Centerville, Ohio, and October in Middletown, Ohio. Get on the Greater Harvest mailing list (or join my mailing list on my website) for updates and more information as those months approach. I also hope to be part of a Captivating Women conference this year with Erin Campbell Ministries. So--I'll be around!

I'll very likely be "resurrecting" this blog again at some point this year, so stay tuned for more here, also.

Thanks so much for being my reader, and I pray that God blesses 2011 abundantly for you!

Until we meet again,
Yours with love,

Linore
PS: Please feel free to browse the archives here for something that may encourage you on a rainy day. And I am always available via email at Linore (at) LinoreRoseBurkard (dot) com. (no spaces)

2010-10-16T06:08:00.000-07:00

Written by my dear friend and children's book author (and Pastor's wife) Donna J. Shepherd, I just had to share this with you.

No Minor Rescue

by Donna J. Shepherd

"For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" – 2 Corinthians 5:21 nlt

Every Thursday on my Facebook Fan Page, I post a 'Thursday Thanks.' Today I am rejoicing that rescuers saved 33 miners trapped for 69 days one-half mile down into the earth in Chile. The men are being called national heroes.

While I thank God for the miners' safety, I keep thinking about the drilling experts at Center Rock, Inc. who worked day and night to make an escape for those men – and way ahead of schedule, too.

But most of all, I cannot stop thinking about the first rescuer, Manuel Alejandro González Pavez, who got into a 900-pound capsule, not knowing for sure that it would work properly, and descended into that cave. The trapped men never made the choice to be there. Manuel did. A hero indeed.

And I can't help but think of Someone else who descended to earth to save me. Jesus Christ did not descend a half mile, but descended from Heaven, laid down His life on the cross, died and rose again to rescue me from the penalty of sin. The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, "So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21). Sin brought death and condemnation, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God.

The heroic rescue of the miners was broadcast live and watched by millions around the world. Jesus spoke of a day when He will return. He said, "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory" (Mark 13:24-26). John says in the first book of Revelation that every eye shall see Him.

I watched each miner come to the surface to reunite with family and friends. Tears of joy streamed down faces as each one thanked his rescuers. I, too, have been rescued. I can hardly wait to see Jesus face to face to thank Him for saving me!

Prayer: Thank you, God, for your Love and grace and that You view me as worthy to redeem. Thank You that Jesus came to rescue me. I praise you for my salvation!

--
Posted By Donna J. Shepherd to Devotionals by Donna at 10/14/2010 11:35:00 AM. Please stop by the blog to leave feedback. Bless you, Donna

2010-10-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

Did you get my latest ezine? I always include a free download, no strings attached. (But you need to be subscribed to get new issues.)
Click the link below, take a peek, and sign up if you like what you see. : )

Warmest blessings,

Linore

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Linore-Rose-Burkard-s-E-Zine.html?soid=1102375433676&aid=bhPAw3JK-WU. Every issue comes with a free download

2010-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Susan Meissner

and the book:

Lady In Waiting

WaterBrook Press; Original edition (September 7, 2010)

***Special thanks to Cindy Brovsky of WaterBrook Press, a division of Random House, Inc., for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Susan Meissner has spent her lifetime as a writer, starting with her first poem at the age of four. She is the award-winning author of The Shape of Mercy, White Picket Fences, and many other novels. When she’s not writing, she directs the small groups and connection ministries at her San Diego church. She and her pastor husband are the parents of four young adults.

Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press; Original edition (September 7, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0307458830
ISBN-13: 978-0307458834

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Jane

Upper West Side, Manhattan

ONE

The mantle clock was exquisite even though its hands rested in silence at twenty minutes past two.

Carved—near as I could tell—from a single piece of mahogany, its glimmering patina looked warm to the touch. Rosebuds etched into the swirls of wood grain flanked the sides like two bronzed bridal bouquets. The clock’s top was rounded and smooth like the draped head of a Madonna. I ran my palm across the polished surface and it was like touching warm water.

Legend was this clock originally belonged to the young wife of a Southampton doctor and that it stopped keeping time in 1912, the very moment the Titanic sank and its owner became a widow. The grieving woman’s only consolation was the clock’s apparent prescience of her husband’s horrible fate and its kinship with the pain that left her inert in sorrow. She never remarried and she never had the clock fixed.

I bought it sight unseen for my great aunt’s antique store, like so many of the items I’d found for the display cases. In the year and half I’d been in charge of the inventory, the best pieces had come from the obscure estate sales that my British friend Emma Downing came upon while tooling around the southeast of England looking for oddities for her costume shop. She found the clock at an estate sale in Felixstowe and the auctioneer, so she told me, had been unimpressed with the clock’s sad history. Emma said he’d read the accompanying note about the clock as if reading the rules for rugby.

My mother watched now as I positioned the clock on the lacquered black mantle that rose above a marble fireplace. She held a lead crystal vase of silk daffodils in her hands.

“It should be ticking.” She frowned. “People will wonder why it’s not ticking.” She set the vase down on the hearth and stepped back. Her heels made a clicking sound on the parquet floor beneath our feet. “You know, you probably would’ve sold it by now if it was working. Did Wilson even look at it? You told me he could fix anything.”

I flicked a wisp of fuzz off the clock’s face. I hadn’t asked the shop’s resident and unofficial repairman to fix it. “It wouldn’t be the same clock if it was fixed.”

“It would be a clock that did what it was supposed to do.” My mother leaned in and straightened one of the daffodil blooms.

“This isn’t just any clock, Mom.” I took a step back too.

My mother folded her arms across the front of her Ann Taylor suit. Pale blue, the color of baby blankets and robins’ eggs. Her signature color. “Look, I get all that about the Titanic and the young widow, but you can’t prove any of it, Jane,” she said. “You could never sell it on that story.”

A flicker of sadness wobbled inside me at the thought of parting with the clock. This happens when you work in retail. Sometimes you have a hard time selling what you bought to sell.

“I’m thinking maybe I’ll keep it.”

“You don’t make a profit by hanging onto the inventory.” My mother whispered this, but I heard her. She intended for me to hear her. This was her way of saying what she wanted to about her aunt’s shop—which she’d inherit when Great Aunt Thea passed—without coming across as interfering.

My mother thinks she tries very hard not to interfere. But it is one of her talents. Interfering when she thinks she’s not. It drives my younger sister Leslie nuts.

“Do you want me to take it back to the store?” I asked.

“No! It’s perfect for this place. I just wish it were ticking.” She nearly pouted.

I reached for the box at my feet that I brought the clock in along with a set of Shakespeare’s works, a pair of pewter candlesticks, and a Wedgwood vase. “You could always get a CD of sound effects and run a loop of a ticking clock,” I joked.

She turned to me, childlike determination in her eyes. “I wonder how hard it would be to find a CD like that!”

“I was kidding, Mom! Look what you have to work with.” I pointed to the simulated stereo system she’d placed into a polished entertainment center behind us. My mother never used real electronics in the houses she staged, although with the clientele she usually worked with—affluent real estate brokers and equally well-off buyers and sellers—she certainly could.

“So I’ll bring in a portable player and hide it in the hearth pillows.” She shrugged and then turned to the adjoining dining room. A gleaming black dining table had been set with white bone china, pale yellow linen napkins, and mounds of fake chicken salad, mauvey rubber grapes, and plastic croissants and petit fours. An arrangement of pussy willows graced the center of the table. “Do you think the pussy willows are too rustic?” she asked.

She wanted me to say yes so I did.

“I think so, too,” she said. “I think we should swap these out for that vase of Gerbera daisies you have on that escritoire in the shop’s front window. I don’t know what I was thinking when I brought these.” She reached for the unlucky pussy willows. “We can put these on the entry table with our business cards.”

She turned to me. “You did bring yours this time, didn’t you? It’s silly for you to go to all this work and then not get any customers out of it.” My mother made her way to the entryway with the pussy willows in her hands and intention in her step. I followed her.

This was only the second house I’d helped her stage, and I didn’t bring business cards the first time because she hadn’t invited me to until we were about to leave. She’d promptly told me then to never go anywhere without business cards. Not even to the ladies room. She’d said it and then waited, like she expected me to take out my BlackBerry and make a note of it.

“I have them right here.” I reached into the front pocket of my capris and pulled out a handful of glossy business cards emblazoned with Amsterdam Avenue Antiques and its logo—three As entwined like a Celtic eternity knot. I handed them to her and she placed them in a silver dish next to her own. Sophia Keller Interior Design and Home Staging. The pussy willows actually looked wonderful against the tall jute-colored wall.

“There. That looks better!” she exclaimed as if reading my thoughts. She turned to survey the main floor of the townhouse. The owners had relocated to the Hamptons and were selling off their Manhattan properties to fund a cushy retirement. Half the décor—the books, the vases, the prints—were on loan from Aunt Thea’s shop. My mother, who’d been staging real estate for two years, brought me in a few months earlier when she discovered a stately home filled with charming and authentic antiques sold faster than the same home filled with reproductions.

“You and Brad should get out of that teensy apartment on the West Side and buy this place. The owners are practically giving it away.”

Her tone suggested she didn’t expect me to respond. I easily let the comment evaporate into the sunbeams caressing us. It was a comment for which I had had no response.

My mother’s gaze swept across the two large rooms she’d furnished and she frowned when her eyes reached the mantle and the silent clock.

“Well, I’ll just have to come back later today,” she spoke into the silence. “It’s being shown first thing in the morning.” She swung back around. “Come on. I’ll take you back.”

We stepped out into the April sunshine and to her Lexus parked across the street along a line of townhouses just like the one we’d left. As we began to drive away, the stillness in the car thickened, and I fished my cell phone out of my purse to see if I’d missed any calls while we were finishing the house. On the drive over I had a purposeful conversation with Emma about a box of old books she found at a jumble sale in Oxfordshire. That lengthy conversation filled the entire commute from the store on the seven-hundred block of Amsterdam to the townhouse on East Ninth, and I found myself wishing I could somehow repeat that providential circumstance. My mother would ask about Brad if the silence continued. There was no missed call, and I started to probe my brain for something to talk about. I suddenly remembered I hadn’t told my mother I’d found a new assistant. I opened my mouth to tell her about Stacy but I was too late.

“So what do you hear from Brad?” she asked cheerfully.

“He’s doing fine.” The answer flew out of my mouth as if I’d rehearsed it. She looked away from the traffic ahead, blinked at me, and then turned her attention back to the road. A taxi pulled in front of her, and she laid on the horn, pronouncing a curse on all taxi drivers.

“Idiot.” She turned to me. “How much longer do you think he will stay in New Hampshire?” Her brow was creased. “You aren’t going to try to keep two households going forever, are you?”

I exhaled heavily. “It’s a really good job, Mom. And he likes the change of pace and the new responsibilities. It’s only been two months.”

“Yes, but the inconvenience has to be wearing on you both. It must be quite a hassle maintaining two residences, not to mention the expense, and then all that time away from each other.” She paused but only for a moment. “I just don’t see why he couldn’t have found something similar right here in New York. I mean, don’t all big hospitals have the same jobs in radiology? That’s what your father told me. And he should know.”

“Just because there are similar jobs doesn’t mean there are similar vacancies, Mom.”

She tapped the steering wheel. “Yes, but your father said . . .”

“I know Dad thinks he might’ve been able to help Brad find something on Long Island but Brad wanted this job. And no offense, Mom, but the head of environmental services doesn’t hire radiologists.”

She bristled. I shouldn’t have said it. She would repeat that comment to my dad, not to hurt him but to vent her frustration at not having been able to convince me she was right and I was wrong. But it would hurt him anyway.

“I’m sorry, Mom,” I added. “Don’t tell him I said that, okay? I just really don’t want to rehash this again.”

But she wasn’t done. “Your father has been at that hospital for twenty-seven years. He knows a lot of people.” She emphasized the last four words with a pointed stare in my direction.

“I know he does. That’s really not what I meant. It’s just Brad has always wanted this kind of job. He’s working with cancer patients. This really matters to him.”

“But the job’s in New Hampshire!”

“Well, Connor is in New Hampshire!” It sounded irrelevant even to me to mention the current location of Brad’s and my college-age son. Connor had nothing to do with any of this. And he was an hour away from where Brad was anyway.

“And you are here,” my mother said evenly. “If Brad wanted out of the city, there are plenty of quieter hospitals right around here. And plenty of sick people for that matter.”

There was an undercurrent in her tone, subtle and yet obvious, that assured me we really weren’t talking about sick people and hospitals and the miles between Manhattan and Manchester. It was as if she’d guessed what I’d tried to keep from my parents the last eight weeks.

My husband didn’t want out of the city.

He just wanted out.

***************************************************************************

2010-10-05T04:48:00.000-07:00

For Your Health

Since I'm posting scriptures of healing and well-being, I thought I should also share a link for a free pdf concerning how to buy foods that are not genetically modified. GMO products have been proven to be highly dangerous (see Mercola.com for the article) but how do we avoid them?

See if this guide can help.

God bless your day,

Linore

2010-10-04T03:09:00.000-07:00

Healing Words

I'll be regularly posting "healing words" here, as I see no good reason to keep them to myself. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I have what I call "The Book of Healing which is a collection of God's Word--scriptures that speak of health, healing, and well-being.

May they speak and minister to you today:

Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation. Selah
Our God is a God of salvation,
and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death.
Psalm 68:19-20

The Lord will turn away from you every illness.
Deut.7:15a

But I am lowly, and in pain;
let your salvation, O God, protect me.
You who seek God, let your hearts revive.
For the Lord hears the needy,
and does not despise his own that are in bonds.
Psalm 69:29, 32-33

He delivers the needy when they call,
the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
Psalm 72:12-13

The crowds..followed him; and He welcomed them, and
spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and
healed those who needed to be cured.
Luke 9:11

Warmest blessings,

Linore

2010-09-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

Pick Up This Free Book

Crosswalk.com is giving away copies of R.C.Sproul's The Holiness of God.
People weep after reading this or while reading it.

I'm getting a copy--here's how you can, too.
Click HERE and grab a copy while they're free. Even shipping is free!

Blessings,

Linore

2010-09-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Words for the Hurting

There are so many people in my world who are sick right now with serious ailments.
One is my dad, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 3 Esophageal Cancer. I pray for him daily, of course, and try to send him lots of encouragement by email and phone calls.

What about you? If you are like most people, you probably know someone who is ill.

Years ago I started a notebook which I titled,The Book of Healing. A rather lofty title, no? But it wasn't going to be for my words or thoughts. My idea was to write down every single scripture I came across that spoke of healing or promised it--as I was doing my yearly read-through-the Bible.

I don't read through the Bible every year. And I often get sidetracked.

I did manage to collect a bunch of good verses, however, which I have read myself when I've been sick or in pain, and which may encourage you or someone you love, too. My original thought was to get a large collection of these Bible promises and put them on an audio tape. Listening to Scripture is one way to get it in our hearts--and sometimes to get it in our very bones, which can bring healing. I've known this to happen!

Anyway, here are a few for you or anyone who is sick:

"For I will restore you to health
And I will heal you of your wounds,"
declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 30:17a

I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
Again, I will build you and you will be rebuilt,
O Virgin of Israel.
Jeremiah 31:3b-4

Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh;
Is anything too difficult for me?
Jeremiah 32:27

Behold, I will bring health and healing,
and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.
Jeremiah 33:6

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.
It will be a healing for your flesh
and a refreshment for your body.
Proverbs 3:7-8

Father, bring healing today to those we love, to ourselves, and to your people. Thank you for being a GOD WHO HEALS. Thank you that in Christ, we have the privilege of laying our needs before your throne. Thank you that there is POWER in the blood! (Of Christ) Amen.

Have a prayer request to share? Please do so. I'll pray for you.
And while you pray, remember my dad, won't you?
Warmest blessings,

Linore

2010-09-14T06:06:00.000-07:00

Mother Saves Baby that Doctors Left for Dead

There's nothing I can say that will beat the lift this story can give you.
Click on the title and see for yourself.
(I love this.)

2010-09-13T09:27:00.000-07:00

Cheer Up! These Things Are True

Yesterday my pastor gave our church some truths to consider
which can make any dark cloud seem just a little brighter if you
think about them. The key is to really consider the meaning of these
four immutable and perfectly beautiful truths:

If you are a child of God (and not everyone is, you know)
then you can say the following:
1. I am CHOSEN
2. I am ADOPTED
3. I am REDEEMED
4. I am FORGIVEN

These things are true for the Christian no matter he or she feels;
no matter how low they feel they've gone;
no matter what they've done;
no matter what they think.

A person who has placed his or her faith and trust in Christ as
their Lord and Savior is always, at all times, irrevocably,
CHOSEN (called out from the crowd; set apart; picked specifically for God)
ADOPTED (Removed from their old life and into God's family; they have a new
identity; a new name; a new reason for being.)
REDEEMED (living for a purpose; given meaning to their lives; freed from
the chains of their past or their history)
FORGIVEN (made ready for heaven; no longer held guilty for sins--as long as there is ongoing prayer and asking for forgiveness.)

This really is GOOD NEWS.
I hope it's true for you as it is for me.
Have questions? Need to know how to become a part of God's family?
Leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

Warmest blessings,

Linore

2010-09-11T11:50:00.001-07:00

THE WOMAN NEXT IN LINE

TobyMac is putting out a book of encouragement, and asked for contributions for the
website. I shared a very brief story about "the woman next in line." A true little thing that happened to me once,and which I hope will encourage you. You can read it, HERE. Afterwards, take a moment and browse the other stories people have sent in, and maybe even think about getting TobyMac's book when it comes out.

Warmest blessings,

Linore

Image from etfotolia.com

2010-09-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

A Success "Secret"

On my blog for writers, today's post is about a secret to success. I think the secret applies to all of us in any area of our lives, so I'm giving you the link HERE.

As you read, translate the advice to whatever area you are struggling in, or are having to wait in. We are all working on some area of our lives or relationships or other, and this success "secret" is really all we need to focus on.

Hint: The last paragraph of the post tells it all. : )

Warmest blessings,

Linore

2010-08-30T03:57:00.000-07:00

I saw a quote the other day that got me thinking. It said:

Raising children may be the most important job in the world, but you can't put it on a resume.
Ann Crittenden

Did you know that in God's economy He does precisely that? Raising children is a worthy entry on the resume of a woman of faith. Note the following:

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband,and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.
1Timothy 5:9-10

Isn't that fabulous? Mothers, take heart: What you do day in and day out matters so much to God that He included it in his list for the assessment of widows in the New Testament Church. If they needed assistance in their old age, they had to qualify for it, and it wasn't a matter of the size of their monthly income. It was completely a matter of heart, of conduct, of value, and the Lord clearly values
raising children.

Kingdom values are not skewed according to what the world considers trendy or expedient. I like the saying, "Working Mother is a redundant term." Every mother is a working mother, and mom, your work is not in vain.
God bless you today whether you are a mom, a daughter, a grandmother or wherever you may be in life. Let me encourage you not to shirk the call of being a godly mother, or give it any less than the honor that the Lord grants it. It is a high and holy calling, and may your children rise up and call you blessed!
Hugs,

Linore

2010-08-06T07:13:00.000-07:00

Five Reasons (Women of Faith) Lose Their Spark

Do these pitfalls apply to you? Check out this article from the site "Revive Your Spark" and find out.

You've heard of 'food for thought'? You just might get 'food for prayer,' here. I know I did.
Warmest blessings,

Linore

2010-07-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

You can't be everybody's favorite mom all the time if you want a clean house. Much as I love, love, love, having a family around me, I get tired of all the work. (Read: constant cleaning. Same jobs, over and over.)

I've never believed that a parent should try to be their kids' best friend. (I feel sorry for those who play that game.) But at the same time, I've tried not to make their lives miserable by keeping as much fun as possible in our lives. I'm not meticulous when it comes to the house. I don't mind a bit of the "lived in" look.

But now I only have one child who is under ten, and the kids aren't getting much better at cleaning up after themselves--without prodding--than they ever were.

So--what's a girl to do?

Whatever it takes.
According to the children, when I get fed up, I get "mean." All this really means is that I make them work! I've pointed out that even Adam and Eve, in a PERFECT world, had work to do. In heaven there'll be wonderful, fruitful gardens, but I doubt they'll take care of themselves.

I guess I haven't done a great job in teaching them that WORK isn't all bad. It's necessary for a productive life, and it's definitely necessary for a smooth-running house. And a house that I don't mind living in.

Good thing I don't care about being everyone's favorite mom!

2010-05-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Victor Hugo said, "The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves."

I mention this because it seems to me that only the Christian faith gives us precisely such assurance of being loved. Only Jesus Christ, in dying for us who were rebellious, unlovely, and sinful, demonstrated the supreme love that can give us the supreme happiness.

God, who knows our every thought, who knows us just as we are, not as we would like to be or wish we were--died to win us for heaven, and for Himself.
"Oh, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us!"

2010-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

"The Armed Man Will Not Harm You"

Years ago I was told this true story, and it has never left my mind, though the names of the people involved have long been lost to me. I can't even remember who told it to me, but it was during a Bible Study somewhere.

There was a visiting evangelist at a church one Sunday who offered to pray for anyone who came up and knelt on the step that ran across the front of the podium area. The Pastor's daughter was one who went up for prayer. As the man made his way across the kneeling saints, praying for healing for one, for blessing on another, he was also "operating" in the gift of the Spirit, a thing which he had painstakingly explained to the congregation beforehand. His emphasis was on the gift of the Word of Knowledge, sometimes called the gift of prophecy.

When he reached the pastor's daughter, he prayed over her and then, very distinctly and clearly pronounced, with his hand upon her head, "The armed man will not harm you." He moved on, and when the girl got home she and her family discussed what the meaning of these cryptic words might be. What armed man? Why would she encounter such a person, and where?

The years went by and they remembered these words less and less, no longer discussing their possible meaning. If anything, they assumed the evangelist had made an error in her case.

A few more years went by, and the daughter took a job for a company where her responsibilities included taking the weekly receipts and depositing them in a nearby bank. She did this every Friday and had never encountered a problem. But one day, as soon as she pulled up in her car and had parked in the lot, there was suddenly a man at the door of her car. He had a gun and he was pointing it straight at her head. He demanded that she hand over that heavy, leather bag which held the company's money.

For a second, she wavered. Why not give it to him? Surely the money wasn't worth sacrificing her life for. But for some reason, and she wasn't sure herself what made her do it, she ignored him. She got out of her car, and he pressed the gun into her side, demanding she give him the money. But she felt strongly she did not need to. It was almost as though invisible hands were at her sides, moving her along, and she simply turned, behaving as though he wasn't even there, and started walking for the bank. Each step strengthened her conviction that she was doing the right thing, and she was hardly even frightened.

She didn't turn around but thought she may have heard him running away.

It was only later on when she and her family were discussing the matter, that someone remembered the evangelist's words: The armed man will not harm you.

Has God given you a few words that you know you must cling to, even though you aren't sure what they mean for you, at this point in your life? He told me about a year ago to "strengthen the things that remain." This made no particular sense to me, and I have puzzled over it many times.

Yesterday morning I was praying and it all fell into place. It made perfect sense. There are things I need to strengthen, and the Lord reminded me of this while I was praying about things I feel I have lost. Well, life does bring loss. Sometimes God restores things, replaces things, and sometimes He doesn't. I need to accept that some losses will never be replaced. Not in this life, anyway.

And yet, I can focus on things that remain, and even strengthen them. It takes work and study and effort to strengthen them, so I'm thankful He gave me this word. It will help me to follow through with it.

What word or phrase has He given you? At the right time, the meaning will become clear. Hold onto it and hope, for He is faithful.

2010-05-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

YES, I CAN!

We Are Able

Hello from Bonnie in rainy Southern Oregon.

How often do you feel unfit to fulfill the call of God on your life? Once a month? Once a week? Once a day? More than that? I don’t keep track, but I know I frequently doubt my abilities as a writer, a teacher, mentor, wife and mother. When I don’t reach my expectations I feel I’ve failed. We’re all uncertain, some of the time, about our skills and our readiness to fulfill obligations. I believe our lack of confidence exists because we rely upon the wrong power source.

We tell ourselves we’re not smart enough, not capable enough, not gifted enough. And we aren’t, not when we rely upon ourselves instead of God. He decided long ago who we would be and what our life should look like. He created us with the gifts and talents and passions he wanted for us. When we can’t see beyond our own vision and desires we restrict the power of God to use us.

I've faced challenges with sucees, but there have been times when I’ve thought, “God you ask too much of me. This is too hard. I can’t do it.” In those moments I am weak and sometimes I've actually felt as if I’ve been set adrift. When I find myself in such a place it’s because I’ve sought strength in myself rather than in Him.

God is our supply. When we seek him with our whole heart and place all that we are in his capable hands, then he will whisper to our spirits, “You can do all things through me,” and we will believe it.

Sometimes we’re going to feel inadequate. It’s okay. We’re just human. But don’t stay in that place, trapped by unreasonable expectations and an inability to produce perfection. God doesn’t ask us to be perfect. He asks us to trust him more than we trust ourselves. When it’s hard to push on, reach for the true source of power. He lives in us and he will supply all our needs.

Seek him first. Never let a lack of natural ability keep you from fulfilling His call. He wouldn’t ask us to give if he hadn’t provided us with what we need.

[This is a reprint from the CAN blog (Christian Authors' Network) by Bonnie Leon.]

Posted at 02:27 PM in Bonnie Leon | Permalink

2010-05-06T10:31:00.000-07:00

Is God Sovereign Over Human Disability?

This is a reprint from http://www.desiringGod.org/blog/, which is the blog of John Piper. I've been struggling with this question a bit lately, and I appreciated this "commentary" of Knight's. Please note that I changed one little thing: He had written "Apert Syndrome," but since one of my children has Asperger's Syndrome, I inserted it instead.

Posted: 05 May 2010 11:30 PM PDT

(Author: John Knight)

Yes he is. He tells us so in Scripture:

Then the Lord said to (Moses), "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?" (Exodus 4:11)

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:1-3)

To be clear, God's sovereignty doesn't mean he merely permits disability. These verses show us that he sovereignly intends it, both for his glory and for our good—"that the works of God might be displayed."

With that in mind, what do you think about this expansion of Psalm 139:13-16? I've added some additional descriptors in italics to bring out what we really mean if we believe that God is sovereign over disability:

For you formed my inward parts with Down syndrome;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb without eyes.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made with cognitive challenges.
Wonderful are your works in creating me without limbs;
my soul knows it very well though my ears will never hear a sound.
My frame was not hidden from you as you made me with Asperger's Syndrome,
when I was being made in secret with autism,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth without Hexosaminidase A.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance with spina bifida;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me with cerebral palsy,
when as yet there was none of them.

2010-04-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

FOLLOWING THE CALL

Musings on Matthew 4:18

It must be significant that the first four disciples that Jesus called to follow Him were fishermen. The symbolism is telling, and the famous line, "Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men," was uniquely applicable to them. What a simple way to voice the vast change from being typical fishermen to incredible, supernatural disciples; men who would soon take hold of eternal truths from that time forward, and cast them out, catching men in the process, and saving souls from hell!

Think about what Jesus did when He called them: He took these blue-collar workers and transformed them

From FISHERMEN to FISHERS OF MEN,
From LOWLY occupation to DIVINE occupation,
From COMMONALITY to ROYALTY (sons of God)
From INSIGNIFICANCE to ETERNAL SIGNIFICANCE
From TIMIDITY to BOLDNESS
From POWERLESSNESS TO (Supernatural) POWER
From IGNORANCE to KNOWLEDGE
From DARKNESS to LIGHT

The same calling is for each of us, today. The Lord may not require all of us to drop our nets, but He does call us to follow Him. Each of us must discover the ways He wants to make us fishers of men. And ladies, raising children is to do so, by raising them in the "nurture and admonition" of the Lord. Don't drop that net!

For some, following Him will mean that their nets must be abandoned, and so be it.
His calling is higher.

Others of us will remain in our occupations as we serve Him; but we must find a way to serve in the midst of it: To be about the Father's business, not just our own.

A holy, high calling demands it.
It is this calling which, more than anything else life can offer, uplifts us into the transformations that the early disciples underwent, and which we, too, like every disciple, can enjoy.
From being a fisherman to being a fisher OF men.

When I write my novels, I keep in mind that the writing is not just for enjoyment or entertainment, but it is part of my "net." Part of the manner of calling God has given me, to fish for men for Him.

So--how's your fishing, lately?

2010-04-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

Saving Faith

I have a line in my first novel where the heroine (Ariana Forsythe), speaking very softly but earnestly, tells the hero (Phillip Mornay) this:

You can choose at any moment to put your trust in Christ.

One of my goals when I wrote the book was to demonstrate that crossing over from the life apart from Christ, to one of living with and for Him, was not something out of anyone's reach. In other words, I wanted to show that becoming a Christian was a very real option for WHOSOEVER WILL.

There are times when it is appropriate to warn others to count the cost of discipleship, to remember that the just shall live by faith, not sight, and that this a challenge. Counting the cost was not the message I wanted to share, at least not in that book. And not because I don't deem it as important (it is, of course, equally valid) but because my emphasis was to encourage anyone--whosoever will--that Jesus welcomes sinners to his fold. Period.

For the most part, I am happy with that emphasis.
But if we look into the "meat" of the gospel, not the early, sweet milk for newborn believers, we do find a deeper calling, for it is God's intention to love us so well that we offer Him everything: our whole heart and lives. We must eventually offer Him all that we are, which, I believe, is NOT something we can merely choose at any moment to give, but must be overwhelmed by His majesty, love, and power, that we do it out of love and obedience and gratitude.

These do not come, usually, upon the whim of the moment. Contemplation, Bible reading, and experiencing the love of the Saviour in our day-to-day lives, however, do and must result in such submission in the life of a believer.

Call it what you will: sanctification, growth, counting the cost and paying it willingly, (as He has paid our way so that we can even CONSIDER giving back the little we call our own); by any name, it is discipleship, it takes determination and discipline and frequent "reality checks"--remembering that we owe all to Him.

Perhaps I'll even be privileged to approach these themes in another book someday.
My Full Life Bible says this, in the commentary: (which started my thoughts today)

"The preaching of repentance must always accompany the gospel message." And, "The definition of saving faith as mere 'trust' in Christ as Saviour is wholly inadequate in the light of Christ's demand for repentance. To define saving faith in a way which does not necessarily involve a radical break with sin is to dangerously distort the Biblical view of redemption."

There is an undeniable difference in emphasis between sending out the invitations to the wedding feast to any passerby; and warning the virgins to fill their lamps with enough oil for the bridegroom when he comes. This is a tension-filled double-edged part of the gospel. It is available as a free gift for anyone and everyone; and yet the way is narrow and many there be that miss the way, choosing to take the broad road instead, despite the cries of Wisdom, calling out to those in the street.

May you (and I) heed the voice of Wisdom when she calls to us, today.

2010-04-03T11:48:00.001-07:00

Resurrection Day

A short while ago, I bought a bunch of buttons for my family which show three crosses, and the words "Easter Means HE LIVES."

Even more than Christmas, Easter is the day when Christians should rejoice, for it is the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ that our faith rests upon. If Jesus didn't first die for us, as our substitute, and then defy death by rising from the dead, we would have no faith to lean upon, no Saviour to trust, and worst of all, no hope after death.

It is the resurrection of Christ, even more than the birth of Christ, that gives us hope. It was the sacrifice of God the Son, fully God and fully man, that provides us with eternal joy.

I pray you can say with me,

Rejoice, for Christ is risen!

He is risen, indeed!
Let us take a few moments to meditate on and thank God for this priceless gift!

2010-03-31T08:10:00.000-07:00

Kindle Freebies

Last night I got carried away when I was browsing titles available for Kindle.
As a writer, I love old books, and there were many "new" old titles available--and almost all of them were free. (How could I resist?)

It occurred to me that many of these books would be of interest to some of you. Lots of my readers are writers also, or mothers, homeschoolers, etc. (I have such smart women readers!) So, here's the list I picked up: Books are free unless otherwise noted: (If you don't have a Kindle, take a title that interests you and check Project Gutenberg for it. Most older books that are free in one place will also be available there, and you can download the books as a pdf. In addition, unlike the Kindle versions, Project Gutenberg offers books WITH illustrations intact. That's my biggest complaint with Kindle--illustrations are often missing.)

Anyway, here's my list of my latest and greatest free ebooks:

1.Tillie, A Mennonite Maid: A Story of the Pennsylvania Dutch
2. Woman's Life in Colonial Days
3. The Prairie Traveler: A Handbook for Overland Expeditions
4. The Paradise of Children (From, "A Wonder Book for Girls and Boys")
5. Under the Lilacs (Penny Books) (This one cost $1.00)
6. The Betrothed (Penny Books) (Also $1.00)
7. A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes
8. Woman's Institute Library of Cookery: Various Volumes (I got three)
9. Directions for Cookery, In Its Various Branches
10.Mary at the Farm and Book of Recipes Compiled During Her Visit Among the Pennsylvania Germans
11.The Homeplace (Singing River Series #1) (This won't be on Gutenberg)
12.Stopping Time, Part One
13. Stopping Time, Part Two
14. A Gift of Grace (Kauffmann Amish Bakery Series#1)(won't be on Gutenberg)
15.The Twelve Sacred Traditions of Magnificent Mothers-in-Law (I can't wait to see this one! HA.)
16. Publish on Amazon Kindle With the Digital Text Platform (this may help with a workshop I teach on self-publishing.)
17. The Grey Fairy Book (Also the Brown, Blue, and Lilac are available.)These are the classic books that Dover puts out, too.
18. Handy Dictionary of Poetical Quotations
19. Familiar Quotations
20.The Book of Three Hundred Anecdotes,Historical, Literary and Humorous: A New Selection
21. The World's Greatest Books, Volume Two: Fiction (I'm trying this one out. What the heck--it's free.)

Now you know why I love my Kindle! Every so often I go on a book "buying" frenzy and it costs me practically nothing. Actually, the real reason I love it is because it's truly helping me read more. I no longer have to annoy my husband with my reading light because the Kindle light is way less obtrusive to others in a room. He gets to sleep while I get to read!

I've had other book-gathering frenzies for my Kindle, which I'll share another time. But use this list to take advantage of freebies while they last if you have a Kindle, or check Project Gutenberg.

Happy Reading!!

2010-03-29T07:31:00.000-07:00

Using Your Talents

"Don't be satisfied with a mere feeble measure of spiritual life. Strive to have the abundant life and to be well-rounded Christians. Seek to have every power of your life developed to its utmost possibility and usefulness."
J.R. Miller (from, 365 WWJD? by Nick Harrison)

As a co-leader of Greater Harvest Workshops, it is part of my responsibility to encourage our workshop participants to hone their God-given talents so they may use them in His service.
The workshops are primarily for writers, speakers and (ministry)leaders; but each one of us has been given unique talents to use uniquely--for God.

Have you given any thought lately to the unique talents that God has endowed you with? Joy comes from serving Christ with our gifts: the passions and skills and abilities He has given you. Read that again: JOY is found in giving them expression and using them for the Kingdom.

This is not the same thing as doing what other people ask or expect, unless those expectations are based on your God-given abilities. In addition, we all have things we MUST do in life that we are decidedly not passionate about, to say the least. But a "well-rounded" Christian will seek to hone and develop his or her unique gifts and talents to not only honor God, but to live the abundant life that He promises His followers.

What is one way you can develop a talent that you've kept buried for too long?
Ask God to open a door for you to use it. Today!
Remember the parable of the "talents"? The one servant who was AFRAID to use his talent buried it "for safekeeping," and the Lord described him as wicked!

Your gifts are not meant to be a burden, but a blessing--for you and for others. Consider one area that you are gifted in, and seek to use that gift this week to bless someone else's life.
The blessing will pursue and overtake you, too. : )

2010-03-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Whatever You Do...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
Colossians 3:23

When I thought about this verse today, I realized that the principle here, of working as to GOD and not man, reflects one of the first "commandments" of effective time management. When I teach a workshop on How to Write A Novel, I tell writers that the biggest and most effective thing they can do to reach the goal of novel writing is to FOCUS unswervingly from it. To work at it consistently, and without allowing distractions to get in their line of vision. Is not this the same as working at it "with all your heart"?

In this small verse, the Lord gives us one of the MOST effective principles to live by, period. Even people who live ungodly lives, if they follow this idea, of working at something with all their heart, can accomplish great goals.

This does not mean that we develop tunnel vision and ONLY work at one goal; it does not mean that we spend all our time obsessed with one idea. We can approach every area of our lives with the hope and privilege of bringing it to the feet of Christ, offering it to Him, and working towards improvement in that area for Him, and not man.

Think about something you have wanted to improve at, something that has long been on your heart but which you have not focused on, or made holy through consecration to the Lord. Can you think of one thing, one goal, one aspiration that has been on the back burner but needs to be brought forward? Perhaps you have a few things on the burners of your life, and they all need to be consecrated?

Give those things to the Lord today; do it right now.
Ask Him to empower you as you offer them to Him, that you may work as unto GOD and not man. Thank Him for the help and improvement you will receive.

And, if your goals are not in line with what God would have you do, ask Him to help you give them up, period. Life is too short to spend it on the wrong pursuits.

Whatever you do today, do it as unto Him!

Today's image from www.readthespirit.com

2010-03-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Does Beautiful Equal Thin?

Today's broadcast on Nancy Leigh DeMoss's "Revive Our Hearts" show discusses this with a youth pastor's wife who came out of bondage on this issue. I used to be there, just like her, and even now, I struggle with weight issues when it comes to self-worth. But I am far healthier than I was when I was stick thin.

I once caught a glimpse of myself by accident when I was walking down a busy sidewalk in Queens, NY. There was a wall that was mirrored, and I glanced ahead, not realizing it for a second. I saw a thin, lovely woman. Then I realized it was ME, and the image changed instantly. Right before my eyes, I gained weight. Because my self-image was not the same as my true image.

It was really never a weight issue, however, but a heart issue.

Like Erin on today's show, I never felt thin, even though I was. And I certainly did not feel beautiful.

Have you found your beauty in Christ? Have you discovered how he imbues us with value and yes, beauty, by indwelling us?

Take a listen or read the transcript:

Does beautiful equal thin? What does God think? http://bit.ly/a38gHl

2010-03-12T05:10:00.000-08:00

I'm furiously at work on my next novel, which leaves me short on time for blogging. Until I meet this deadline with my agent, I'll be sharing mostly short, succinct posts or quotes from my personal collection. If I can team up a quote with a scripture, I'll do so.

When read often, encouraging quotes can be quite powerful, and scripture, of course, never returns to God void. In other words, it has inherent power. Use it in your life daily!

"Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time."
Thomas A. Edison

And, "With God, all things are possible."
Matthew 19:26

2010-02-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

ARE YOU THIRSTY?

"Come all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!" Isaiah 55:1

I love this verse. God offers to meet our needs
fully and unconditionally if we only go to Him!
Notice he is aware of our thirst ("you who are thirsty")--and offers "waters."
The very thing we need. He not only has what we need precisely,but
he has an abundance of it! ("Waters, plural. There's plenty, he seems
to be saying.)

He is aware of our hunger, (come and eat) and
our poverty--our inability to meet our own needs effectively.
("you who have no money.")
Then, He tells us, we who have no money but are hungry,
to "come, buy and eat."

Why does he tell us to "buy" if we have no money?
There can be only one answer. Because what he offers
has already been paid for. It is free--to us. But there was a price,
and Jesus Christ paid it. He "paid our way" for the banquet
of God. We can feast on God as much as we like. We need
only come, with His "ticket" (our faith in Christ) and we get
entry to the feast.

Have you handed in your ticket today?
Or are you allowing your soul to hunger and thirst when the Lord
is eager and ready to fill your need?

"If a person is admitted into the vault of a bank, and told to help
himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor?"*

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Thank you for being the answer to our
needs--of any kind. Thank you for the living water you offer, the
solace when we are hurting, the healing in your wings. Thank you for
having and being all that we need now, or will ever need. Help us
today to trust you for all that is required from us. May we rest
in your comfort, and your riches of mercy and grace to help us in our
need. May we drink freely from your fount, and eat of your bread
simply because we CAN--through Christ--and you encourage us to. Amen.

WORSHIP: Worship the Lord for how He can answer your problems today,
and meet all your needs, whether you can see his answer and help right now, or not.
(Remember, them that honor him, He will honor!)

hugs,

Linore

Note: Today's image is from livwat.com (their logo)

2010-02-23T05:05:00.000-08:00

O Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy
endureth forever. Psalm 136:1

This morning as I contemplated the day, and read a selection from
365 WWJD (by Nick Harrison) I thought how simple things become if
we only concentrate on GOD instead of ourselves.

All we need do to approach, to drink in, to absorb the beauty and
loveliness and blessing of knowing Him is to "give thanks unto the
Lord; for he is good!"

Rather than look at the daily concerns, needs, chores,
and duties that quickly engulf our time and hearts, let us look
up to the One who has provided for it all. He truly knows all
that we need, and has it under control.

O Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy
endureth forever.

PRAYER: Lord, let us approach you with a spirit of praise
and thanks, for you ARE good! Your mercy endures forever!
Your mercies are new every morning! Surround us with your mercies
today, O God, and be with us through all that we must face. Give
us your wisdom to walk humbly with our God, and help us never
to forget that wherever we go, whatever we do, we are safely
within Your hands. We thank you and praise you, O Lord!

WORSHIP: Sing a song to God, or just continue worshipping
at His feet before going about your day. Bask in His presence
and Know that He is God.

love,

Linore

2010-02-19T05:50:00.000-08:00

The Country House Courtship on the Blogosphere!
(Have Book Will Travel)

Today is the first "organized" blog tour for my newest release, The Country House Courtship. The book has been making the rounds among bloggers and book reviewers since it's release last month, but today marks the first day of a blog tour organized by someone other than me! My publicist, Rebeca Seitz of Glass Road Public Relations set this one up.

What does this mean? That something like forty bloggers will be posting about the book today, including many of their thoughts on it. I love getting feedback in the form of reviews, so I've been looking forward to this!
Some of the places you might see Country House today? Here's a few:

http://christinelindsay.com
http://ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com
http://Favoritepastimes.blogspot.com
http://bl.books.blogspot.com
http://www.christianromancewriter.blogspot.com/
http://novelreviews.blogspot.com
http://jessicacoultersmith.wordpress.com
http://wordvessel.blogspot.com
http://myheartbelongs2books.blogspot.com
http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/
http://livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com
http://www.rorreviews.wordpress.com
http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com
http://ww.annetteirbyreviews.blogspot.com
http://ambermillerauthor.blogspot.com

If you've never been to some of these blogs, they are all well
worth a visit for book lovers, readers or writers. "Bookish"
places, all!

Here are some more:

http://hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com
http://cherryblossommj.blogspot.com
http://readinggrounds.blogspot.com
http://www.aweakrose.blogspot.com
http://www.mainlymystery.blogspot.com
http://www.myfriendamysblog.com
http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com
http://ribbit-ribbit.blogspot.com
http://www.notesofjubilee.blogspot.com
http://wynsbooks.blogspot.com
http://reviewsplus.blogspot.com

(Are these great or what? : )

http://somanybooksblog.blogspot.com
http://jeanniecampbell.blogspot.com
http://yougottareadreviews.blogspot.com
http://www.teresaslack.blogspot.com
http://lynnmcmo.com
http://www.patiacuzzi.com

I may not have included everyone on the tour, and if
you see this and your blog is missing, let me know
and I'll post yours in a new entry!
And thanks so much for all the wonderful bloggers
and book reviewers out there that have featured
my book! I appreciate you!

2010-02-08T07:36:00.000-08:00

NO Doubt About It

Part Two

Today we'll look at the New Testament for its clear and unmistakable instruction on when life begins. Again, our emphasis is not to condemn anyone for past mistakes regarding an abortion, but simply to reveal that there is only one "choice" that is biblical. Women are still told today that their babies are nothing more than a blob of tissue which they should not feel badly about aborting. If that is true, then we are all merely bigger blobs of tissue!

Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air....Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

Ephesians 4:23-24
Be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and (to) put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Matthew 22:39
And a second commandment is like (the first): You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (If we should love our neighbor, who is not even a relative, should we not love what is of our own body? A child? Is it loving to ourselves to abort that which has been created within us by God? An abortion is a traumatic event, biologically and emotionally.)

Colossians 3:9-11
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator......Christ is all and in all.

Returning to the Old Testament, here is the punishment for an involuntary abortion, caused by another: (It isn't the woman who is punished, but the perpetrator.)

"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life" (Ex.21:22-23).

One website says: "God does not make exceptions that tolerate injury to any pregnant mother, or any child in the womb. (He provides them strong protection) In fact CURSES "come upon" and "overtake" nations that refuse to administer justice (Deut. 28:15)."

Links, information, a great many more Biblical references and more, can be found at Pro-Life America.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the matter.
Blessings, my friends.

2010-02-05T05:49:00.000-08:00

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!

The President continues to call for his health care "reform" bill. But when there is legalized abortion, can it be called "reform?" How long will our nation continue to enjoy the blessings of God while we are killing our most helpless future citizens?

For those who may doubt whether or not the Lord really condemns abortion, I offer the following verses from the Bible: Just read them once, and I think you'll agree there can be no doubt about it--abortion is the murder of a child. I don't raise this issue to condemn any woman who has undergone this traumatic event; I have, on the contrary, a great deal of compassion for her. "But for the grace of God, there go I." This is not to condemn, but to enlighten. Let's start right at the beginning of the Bible:

Genesis 1:26a "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
Genesis 1:27-28 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.'"

Psalm 139: 13-16 "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them."

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;"

Notice these verses are from the Old Testament. Tomorrow I'll share some from the New Testament that speak equally strongly of how God is the creator of life, from the womb, and that there are no "accidents" in the divine scheme.

Blessings, my friends.

2010-02-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

GREATER HARVEST WORKSHOPS

announces its first 2010 event for Writers on Sat., February 27th,
at the Healing Word Assembly of God, in Middletown, OH.
Do you have a book inside you? Want to learn more about how to make that book a reality? Come to the Greater Harvest Workshop and let our panel of experts answer your questions.

Presenters include Children's Author Donna Shepherd, Historial Romance Novelist Linore Rose Burkard,(hey, she sounds familiar!)Inspirational Novelist Teresa Slack, Children's book illustrator Liz Ball, and Freelance Writer Diana R. Jenkins.

Details, schedule of workshops, and registration information is available online at
http://www.greaterharvestworkshops.blogspot.com/
Seating is limited. Get your registration in soon! Workshop hours are: 8:30AM-1:30PM.

I'd love to see you there!!

2010-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

HAVE BOOK, WILL TRAVEL--Around the Blogosphere, that is.
GIVEAWAYS GALORE! (The Blog Book Tour)

Interested in reading The Country House Courtship, but can't buy a new book right now?
Follow my blog tour and simply leave a comment to be entered in multiple drawings for giveaways of my book.

Here's this week's round-up of stops on the blogosphere: (Where you can read more about me or the book, and enter drawings to win a free book!)And most posts remain up (and the drawing is in effect) for up to a week, so check them out even if you miss the initial posting date.

Still Available: Sat. Jan. 9th
http://petticoatsandpistols.com (Catch me here discussing weaponry and duelling during the regency)

Monday January 11th:
Living Our Faith Out Loud
Word Vessel
Margaret Daly's Blog (DON'T MISS this interview with the heroine of Country House--Miss Beatrice Forsythe. You'll get some "insider info" as to what makes her tick.)

Wednesday, January 13th:
Inkwell Inspirations
Scones recipe from me at: Living our Faith Out Loud

Thursday, January 14th:
A personal post from me on Living Our Faith Out Loud

Friday, January 15th
The Sword and Spirit

Saturday, January 16th-17th
A unique interview with me on: International Christian Fiction Writers Blogspot

And don't forget that if you aren't on my mailing list yet, all new subscribers are
entered in a drawing to win a free book from me--it could be one of my books or a Christian fiction book by a different author which you'll love--so sign up today!
You'll also get my monthly "Regency Reflections" e-zine, with illustrated articles, specially chosen links for you to enjoy, and author news.

2010-01-09T06:30:00.000-08:00

Catch my guest post today on PETTICOATS AND PISTOLS about weapons during the Regency.
I'll be stopping by once or twice to say hi to visitors, too. One of my daughters' turns 13 today, so I can only hop by quickly, but I'll do my best.

Even if you can't come and visit, think about this truth today as you go about your tasks:
GOD IS GOOD.
(Ps. 119:68; Ps.136:1)

GOD IS FAITHFUL
(Constant, loyal, reliable, steadfast, unwavering, devoted, true, dependable)
Deut. 7:9
Psalm 119:90
II Timothy 2:13

Just this past week, I had occasion to experience the faithfulness of God. It had snowed a little during the night, but I was up bright and early to go to an appointment I had. As I was driving happily along, I began to notice that the road was perhaps a bit slippery, and decided to slow down. It was a country road and I had been driving around 45mph. As I began to slow, in one second I was suddenly on an angle and unable to control my van.

I frantically tried to remember what to do when a vehicle is skidding, but watched helplessly as my van crossed the road and went headlong into a ditch. Even in the ditch it didn't stop immediately, but continued along until a large, bare bush stopped me, ruining the driver side mirror in the process. But I was okay!

Heart pounding a little, I reached for my cell phone only to realize I hadn't brought it along! "Oh, no," I fretted to the Lord. "How are you going to get me out of this one?" The road was empty, a few houses along the way were all quiet and still--no sign of life anywhere. First, I did the thing a stranded driver should not do: I tried to back out of my predicament. When the van moved a few feet, I felt elated, only to have it start to dig into the snow and dirt. After that, I was well and truly stuck!

I looked in my rear view mirror at the looong stretch of road I'd just come. My home was at least a mile away, maybe more. I was wearing snow boots, thankfully, but I was not relishing the idea of that long walk in the cold. I prayed, "Lord, I don't see how you can help me, but I know you can. Please help!"

I got out of the van to survey the damage, and saw that I was definitely not going to get my van out of the ditch. The back tires had carved a deep gully around them of about half a foot. (Probably less, but it looked deep.)
I stood by the van just looking across a wide, empty, wintery field and down the road in the direction I was going to have to walk. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. There was a woman walking a dog right on the side of her house.

Funny how good news brings energy. I was suddenly hurrying down the road towards that nice new house with a woman and a dog, but she was already disappearing around the back of her home. After a few calls, she re-appeared, and thus began my rescue.

She was visiting her daughter for the Christmas holidays, allowed me to use her cell phone to call my hero, er, my husband, and the next thing I knew I was inside that cozy home speaking with two sweet ladies who were so happy to help me. I love meeting neighbors, and a mile from home in the country means you're neighbors! It was great, and they were thrilled to discover that I was an author.

Later on, the woman's husband used a truck he owned to pull my van out of the ditch, so I gave the ladies a copy of my first two books. I love that I had them to give.
And honestly, sometimes I think that women who read and love Christian inspirational romance are the sweetest women on the planet.

Moral of the story: It doesn't have to look like help is there for God to have help there. : ) I missed my appointment, which was to have blood drawn for my annual physical, but that was rescheduled. Meeting those women was worth it.

At least it feels that way. When my husband gives me the bill for having the mirror fixed, we'll see. But THANK YOU, LORD. You have proved your faithfulness and loving kindness to me once again!

2010-01-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

WHAT SHOULD I WRITE NEXT?

I'm working on a new book, but I thought I'd throw out this question to see what my readers might think. What would you most like to see from me, next? More regencies? An Early American? A time-travel? A contemporary?

Click this link and let me know. What Should I Write Next?

You could also leave your opinion on my Facebook Reader's Page.

I look forward to seeing what you want from me!

2010-01-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

THE COUNTRY HOUSE COURTSHIP IS HERE!

My latest book is now "officially" released and in book stores across the country.

Do you have a blog? Would you like a ready-made post about this book, replete with images, an interview with me, and everything you ever wanted to create a great blog post about a book?

I have a handy-dandy "blogger's toolkit" for this book. You can access it HERE. And here's a bonus tip: If you're an author too, use this toolkit as a template for your next release. It'll save you scads of time and trouble.

If you choose to do a post to your blog about my book, let me know. I'll offer a free copy to one of your commenters, which will help increase traffic to your blog. The only catch is that you must garner at least ten comments from different people to offer the giveaway--but tell this to your readers and they'll help bring you more!

So, once again, here's the free and easy to use "Blogger's Toolkit" for The Country House Courtship. And if you're curious about the book, but don't blog yourself, you can access the toolkit too, and read all about the book. Is it for you?

Here's a short blurb for

England, 1818: It has been five years since Ariana Forsythe married The Paragon, Mr. Phillip Mornay. Now, Ariana's sister, Miss Beatrice Forsythe, is seventeen and determined to marry advantageously as well. (Surely Ariana's society connexions all but guarantee Beatrice's success-especially if Mr. Mornay is created a baronet by the Prince Regent!

But the Mornay's have disappeared from high society as they raise a family at their country estate. Can Beatrice persuade them to chaperone her in London? And what about her business with the curate, Mr. O'Brien, whom Beatrice rashly promised to marry years earlier? She is too sophisticated now to settle for a mere clergyman-despite his agreeable countenance and gentle, understanding ways. When Mr. Tristan Barton becomes tenant of the Manor House, Beatrice's hopes seem to have found their object. But when Ariana falls gravely ill, secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and pretenses that are easy to keep up in the darkness begin to crumble. As hearts are bared and truths uncovered, a country house courtship like no other cannot be far behind!

Fans of Linore's first books, Before the Season Ends, and The House on Grosvenor Square, will be delighted with final addition to the Regency Inspirational Series, as will all readers of historical romance.

Remember, if you post about the book and want to let me know or offer a giveaway, email me
at Linore (at)LinoreRoseBurkard (dot) com.
I look forward to hearing from you!

2009-12-30T06:51:00.000-08:00

GOOD NEWS

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
Isaiah 40:9

On today's "Revive Our Heart" broadcast, Nancy Leigh DeMoss reminds us that we have GOOD news to share with this world. Are you weary of all the bad news today? Look up, and BEHOLD YOUR GOD.

Be reminded of the One who has all things in His hands.
Who has called you with an everlasting love,
Who knew you from the womb, before you were born,
Who is the same yesterday, today and forever;
Be reminded of the love of the Saviour for YOU.

To forget God in his glory and strength is to forget His love and care for you.
It is to falter from the wind and waves like Peter on the water.

Your life is the water, fellow believer.
Don't allow the wind and waves to frighten you, though at times they may be fierce.

Instead, BEHOLD YOUR GOD.
Accept his strong hand of help. Bask in the GOOD news that He is
ready and willing to help you across the sea of this life.
In fact, He knows precisely which direction for you to take.
He certainly has led me on my path! And I praise him for it.

Behold your God!
Amen.

2009-12-26T08:42:00.000-08:00

Zoom Out
(reprinted from the CAN blog --Christian Authors' Network)

For many, 2009 has been a tough year. Very tough. I've watched friends lose their homes, battle horrible illnesses, lose a loved one in tragic accidents, have financial setbacks. My family has endured its share of hardships as well. But, I want to talk about zooming out this season, because this is a time when we tend to focus on hope and God's promise that came in the form of his Son.

When we're trying to find a place on a Google map, we zoom in and check out the nearby streets, so we know how many blocks to go before we have to turn left. But, with the focus so tuned in, we often have no clue where we are, relative to where we are going. We have to zoom way out to establish our location in the bigger locale--and once we see the freeways and neighborhoods printed on the map, we relax, knowing exactly where we are.

I propose that zooming out is the antidote to succumbing to despair when hard times overtake us. Some call it looking at the bigger picture. But I like this image of a map, because we can often recognize small landmarks around us--familiar stores and parks and such--but can't put them in perspective with the world at large. Those of us who know God's purpose for humanity and the hope He holds out to us have this magical "zoom" button at our fingertips. Anytime we want, we can just click on it and voila! We've pulled way back to a God's-eye view of our lives. The problem is--we often forget that little button is there.

What happens when we zoom out? We see things from God's perspective, from his sweeping view of time playing out over the ages. We understand a thousand years is only a day to the Lord, and as a watch in the night. Psalm 30:5 says "weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Jesus is our promised morning star, the daystar that rises in our hearts. Why are we told this? Because the promise of the morning star is the promise of a new day dawning. God used a star to lead the way to the infant Christ And so, in this season, we need to remember the promise of this star, which is foretold to rise in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19). The Bible speaks of "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Col 1:27). Do we ever really ponder this mysterious and precious gift--that Christ resides in our hearts--which is the promise of hope, a promise of glory.

So, as we weather more hard times to come--for there will surely be more--let's remember to zoom out. See things from God's view of time. Know that this "slight affliction" will pass and one day we will be with Christ and see him face-to-face. We are told to hang on to this hope, this anchor for our souls. May we be ever joyful in the midst of pain and sorrow, for the joy of the Lord IS our strength.

This article is reprinted from the CAN blog (Christian Authors Network).

2009-12-17T05:48:00.000-08:00

Have You Left Your First Love?

None of us try to leave the Lord out of this season, much less leave him altogether. But how easily we let our fellowship with Christ slip away! I certainly never plan on doing so. I keep my prayer time and Bible reading first on every "To-do" list I write. But there are days when it feels like just one more thing to check off instead of the delight, the relief, the joy, that it should be.

How about you? Take a look at this list from Nancy Leigh DeMoss and see if any of these evidences apply to you today. And then, if some of them do hit home, do something about it. Personally, I like to fall to my knees before Him and confess my inadequacy--not only for all the challenges I face in life, but even just in being an excellent follower of HIM. It's a funny thing, but once you confess it, it doesn't matter anymore! Jesus doesn't only love us when we please Him perfectly (thank goodness! How rare would that be?). The very act of asking His forgiveness restores us, and can bring back the joy we so delight in and need.

40 Evidences that you may have left your first love.

I pray this encourages you today to return to your first love--the lover of your soul.
Oh, not that you tried to leave Him, of course; but you could stand to move a little closer today to him, could you not? I know I can!

Oh happy day.

graphic by Viki

2009-12-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Championship Living

On days when I can't do a full post, I've decided to share something short and inspirational, such as a quotation. Here's one for today:

"The people who will really accomplish great things in life are those who are willing to discipline their lives, who maintain their health, their vitality, their efficiency through this process of rigorous disciplining of what they take into their bodies and what they do in life. It's a very important thing in terms of championship living."

--Bob Richards, American Olympic Pole Vaulting Champion

2009-12-13T06:34:00.000-08:00

E.M.Bounds: On Prayer

The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier
the forces against evil everywhere.

Prayer, in one phase of its operation, is a disinfectant and a preventive. It purifies the air;
it destroys the contagion of evil. Prayer is no fitful, short-lived thing. It is no voice crying unheard and unheeded in the silence.

It is a voice which goes inot God's ear, and it lives as long as God's ear is open to holy pleas,
as long as God's heart is alive to holy things.

God shapes the world by prayer.

E.M.Bounds (1835-1913)
Author of numerous books on prayer, here is one that is free online.

2009-12-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

Happiness and Fun (Are Not Related)

According to theologian Dennis Prager, "Fun and happiness have nothing in common."

He points out that rich and beautiful people like Hollywood stars get to have loads of fun--luxurious vacations, expensive toys, elite parties--but yet many admit to having great depression, loneliness and emptiness. In short, they are not happy. What should have brought them joy instead left them high and dry.

I read one book about Princess Di (written by her former butler) and the depths of her unhappiness astounded me. Don't little girls everywhere dream of being a real princess? My youngest daughter sure does. But it is obvious that being royalty is not a shortcut to happiness, any more than other types of celebrity. (Sarah Ferguson would agree!)

So if money, beauty, fame and fortune--even royalty--do not bring happiness, what does?

Things that involve "considerable pain," says Prager. "Marriage, raising children, helping others, personal achievement"--things that take time, commitment, and come with a cost. These are the things in life that truly bring happiness--not the bells and whistles.

The good news is that you don't have to worry about the people who seem to have "all the fun." Beyond a basic need for rest and relaxation, having fun just doesn't hold water for us emotionally. It's like the broken cisterns the people in Isaiah's time carved for themselves, only to discover they leaked. They were trying to fill themselves up apart from God, but their "cisterns" didn't hold water then, and they won't for us, either.

God's solution is to come to him for his water, what he calls "living water." It satisfies. It brings happiness. It may lead us down a tough path involving pain and self-sacrifice, but we'll be all the better for it.

I'll take the living water anyday. And I can commit myself to spending time on the really important, though painful things in life, for they are the ones that give back a real reward.

Besides, the next time your kids want to go to Disney, you can just read them this post. Fun doesn't bring happiness. (HA! Kidding.)

2009-12-10T06:44:00.000-08:00

Be Encouraged!

Life can be tough, there's no doubt about it. That's why I thought I'd share a link with you today from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about OVERCOMING. God puts trials in our lives, the devil tries to hit us when we're down, and the world can be a cold, cruel place. So take some encouragment. The Lord knows we must struggle in this life in order to grow, but He never intended for the difficulties we face to keep us down. Overcoming the world, the flesh and the devil is our heritage as followers of Christ!

Take a listen or read today's transcript from Nancy's teaching HERE. And hold your head up, fellow Christian, as you go about your day. We serve a risen Lord! The battle has been won.

2009-12-03T08:01:00.000-08:00

A Phenomenal Statement

"Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him." Luke 15:1

If there was nothing else written about Jesus, this one verse alone would tell you something important. Thankfully, we do have a great deal else written so that we can put this into a better context, but this single verse is nevertheless phenomenal in what it tells us about Jesus.

1. Tax collectors and sinners--ie, the dregs of society at that time--were not afraid to come to Jesus.
2. They didn't feel condemned by him, as they would have by a Pharisee, for example.
3. They didn't feel so ashamed that they wanted to hide.
4. He caught their interest, and gave them hope. Why else would they go near an evidently religious person? Someone who would never be a compatriot in their deeds or lifestyle?

Contrast this to how these same people would behave around a Pharisee or Sadducee. These men were the "elite" of the Jewish faith. Their desire was to be seen and acknowledged as the holiest, the most reverent men of their time. They were the ultimate in respectability.

Sinners and tax collectors would most likely cower in their shadows, if not hide outright if they were seen approaching. Not that the Pharisee would bother to notice them, of course, because such people were not worth his trouble. If he did notice the sinner, he'd most likely bestow a sneering glare of disdain before turning away.

Jesus felt differently.
Somehow, he communicated this.
He appealed to them.
He loved them.

Do you know a "tax collector or sinner?" Are you showing love towards that person?
Maybe you ARE that person.
If so, come near to Jesus. He promises to never turn away anyone who seeks him. Anyone.
He does love you--just the way you are!

Does He expect you to change? Not without his help!

That's good news, people.

If you have a minute, scroll down and let the first song on my music list speak to your heart.
("How Deep the Father's Love.")
Warmest blessings,

Linore

2009-12-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

A Merry December Deal!

It's finally here! December: the "most wonderful," the blessed, the busy, the exciting, exasperating, merry time of year.
I love it.

Even though this is a devotional blog, I'm going to do something different and share my first promotion of the month here. I'm an author as well as a daughter of God, wife, mother and friend; so it is a part of my life that I run promotions now and then on my books. And it only makes sense, now that I've given it some thought, to include that here.

Like anything else in life, you can ignore this if it doesn't interest you--though I hope it does!
If you have readers on your gift list, I'm simply offering an incentive for you to consider giving my regency series as a gift to them. I'm going to randomly choose five people to get a FREE copy of Country House Courtship from among those who participate.

If you've already pre-ordered Country House Courtship, and you win a copy, you can go on and give it away as a gift, too.
FOR FULL DETAILS, see the "Latest News" area on the my website HERE. It's right on the lower right-hand portion of the home page.

Not only will you give a gift that has delighted thousands of readers, but you'll be helping ME out, AND you might win a free book as well. Of course I'll sign the books for the winners. But EVERY PARTICIPANT will get something from me in the mail. I guarantee it. You might get a signed poster of one of my book covers, a stack of postcards with my books on them (which I hope you'll share), a personal note from me with a card, etc. (WARNING: GIFTS ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE CHOCOLATE!)

If you choose to take part, I look forward to sending something to YOU!
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
Full details, again, are HERE: http://www.LinoreBurkard.com

2009-11-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

Deep Thanks

With Thanksgiving coming this week, it's the perfect time to remember the blessings of life.
We serve such an awesome God and He gives us so much.
One of my pastor's recent sermons was about deep thanks, and how a Christian living in the light of Christ's sacrifice could never be without cause for thanksgiving.

In a very real sense, our degree of thankfulness is a thermostat to how "in touch" we are with God's judgment, which necessarily entails sentencing. If we know the judgment (that we are guilty, in one way or another) and we know the sentence: eternal damnation--it makes us eternally grateful (yes, thankful) for Christ's sacrifice for us. We are spared the judgment, the sentence, the very wrath of God.

Instead of trying to say in this short piece what he put so well in a sermon, I give you a link to hear Rob Turner, a Senior Pastor at Apex Community ( "A Gathering of Churches") here.

Give the subject just a few minutes of deep thought--and you too, will find yourself in a spirit of deep thanks.
Warmest Blessings,

Linore

2009-11-11T06:11:00.000-08:00

Random Acts of Kindness

Reprinted from a blog post of Phyllis Zimbler Miller (with comments by me--in red) : )

Internet marketing is a subject that I usually discuss in terms of promoting your own brand, book or business.

Yet one of the things that I truly love about Internet marketing is the opportunity to commit random acts of kindness from the comfort of my computer screen.

Many of you know the concept of "pay it forward" - doing a kind act and not expecting any return except for the receiver of the kind act to do a kind act for someone else.

Internet marketing is a global opportunity to "pay it forward."
Actually, internet participation on most any level brings opportunities to pay it forward, if you think about it. Social networks, yahoo groups, any group you belong to, all come with some people who need help of some kind or another.

Watch for an opportunity today to offer help to someone as you go about your daily involvement on the web. I can just about guarantee you'll find one or more opportunities to commit a random act of kindness. In fact, the Lord brings us these opportunities, even if only because helping others is a wonderful boost to our own self-esteem and "happiness quotient."

Yes, sometimes you can commit a random act of kindness and the person returns the favor to you. But that is't the point. The point is doing a random act of kindness that, if you were in need, you hope someone would do for you.
I love how this is really an acting-out of the Golden Rule: "doing unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Thus I want to urge the readers of this column to spread their generosity through cyberspace whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Now I don't mean you should spend hours of [the] day trolling for people asking for free help.

What I do mean is, for example, if you see a brand-new person on Twitter ask the Twitter universe if she should add a bio to her profile, you reply to her and say "yes and add a photo too."

(Note that this type of reply can be done publicly. If it were a more sensitive question, a direct message might be required, which then requires that person to be following you. You could, of course, tweet a public reply asking the person to follow you so that you could share info with her.)

Answering this public tweet only "costs" you a couple seconds of your time, and it's the kind of random act of kindness that's great to commit.
Amen!

If you think of cyberspace as a level playing field where everyone can join in the game (which I do), then keep your eyes open for opportunities to commit random acts of kindness.
___________________

Article reprinted from Miller Mosaic, LLC Power Marketing: http://www.millermosaicllc.com

2009-11-04T11:29:00.001-08:00

THRIVING ON LESS

Today I'm simply sharing the availability of a free ebook, called, "Thriving on Less." My quiet times lately have resulted in a spree of reducing, eliminating and trimming of "fat" around the house. I haven't read this ebook yet, but I downloaded it, and the table of contents looks like it will help me declutter even more.

Here's the Table of Contents

Introduction
1. A Simple Lifestyle
2. Focus on the Essentials
3. Thriving on Less, Not Struggling
4. Focusing on Enough, Not More
5. Make Small Financial Changes First
6. Look at Large Expenses for the Long Term
7. Changing Your Spending Habits
8. A Guide to Getting Out of Debt
9. Tools for a Frugal Life
10. Resources

Debt is not my problem, but nevertheless there are some chapters that hold promise for me. I am also reading a book on de-cluttering, by the way, which has been useful. I'll talk more about that soon.
Why am I focusing on cleaning when this blog is supposed to be "devotional?"
Because having a neat and orderly environment helps me focus on other things, including God. I just find it easier to pray when I'm not distracted or weighted down by a cluttered room. An added bonus is that I've recently discovered a thrift shop whose mission is to support other missions. Therefore, my giving results in helping missionaries whose call is to spread the gospel. That's what I call a win-win situation~!

2009-10-28T21:33:00.000-07:00

(Today's post is from John Piper's "Desiring God" blog. This topic is important to really understanding much of Scripture; as Piper says, it's a "principle." I think it's a vital one.)

One of the Most Important Principles in Reading the Bible

October 27, 2009 | By: John Piper | Category: Commentary

Sometimes readers of the Bible see the conditions that God lays down for his blessing and they conclude from these conditions that our action is first and decisive, then God responds to bless us.

That is not right.

There are indeed real conditions that God often commands. We must meet them for the promised blessing to come. But that does not mean that we are left to ourselves to meet the conditions or that our action is first and decisive.

Here is one example to show what I mean.

In Jeremiah 29:13 God says to the exiles in Babylon, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” So there is a condition: When you seek me with all your heart, then you will find me. So we must seek the Lord. That is the condition of finding him.

True.

But does that mean that we are left to ourselves to seek the Lord? Does it mean that our action of seeking him is first and decisive? Does it mean that God only acts after our seeking?

No.

Listen to what God says in Jeremiah 24:7 to those same exiles in Babylon: “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.”

So the people will meet the condition of returning to God with their whole heart. God will respond by being their God in the fullest blessing. But the reason they returned with their whole heart is that God gave them a heart to know him. His action was first and decisive.

So now connect that with Jeremiah 29:13. The condition there was that they seek the Lord with their whole heart. Then God will be found by them. But now we see that the promise in Jeremiah 24:7 is that God himself will give them such a heart so that they will return to him with their whole heart.

This is one of the most basic things people need to see about the Bible. It is full of conditions we must meet for God’s blessings. But God does not leave us to meet them on our own. The first and decisive work before and in our willing is God’s prior grace. Without this insight, hundreds of conditional statements in the Bible will lead us astray.

Let this be the key to all Biblical conditions and commands: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13). Yes, we work. But our work is not first or decisive. God’s is. “I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

2009-10-23T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hearing From God

"A wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15

How are you at taking advice? Could there possibly be anyone more qualified to give it than the One who made us? Yet, many Christians are wary of trying to hear God's voice for themselves.

Reading the Bible is the single most important way to hear from God. Since it is God's WORD, it follows that when you read and live accordingly, you are listening in the sense of obeying. When you "hear" the Word come alive in your heart, you are doubly "listening"--letting it speak to you at the core of who you are. However, there is still another way to listen to God, which is, during prayer and quiet Bible reading time to actually listen for God's whispers--personal promptings and urgings which you won't find elsewhere.

There are Christians who have been earnest believers for decades but have never experienced hearing just such a "God-whisper." Are you one of them? Admittedly, it takes faith. And, if you aren't already familiar with God and His Word, you can mistake your own wishes for the voice of God, so it's not surprising that some choose not to even try and hear a personal word for themselves. Generally, however, people who do not "hear" the whisper of God (and it may not be an audible voice), do not hear it because they do not listen for it. There are a few main reasons which prevent some from doing so:

A: They don't believe they can hear from God. If you simply don't believe that God can inspire your thoughts with his own, or yes, "whisper" to your heart, then you are very unlikely to have it happen. God in his sovereignty can choose for it to occur, but it's far more likely to happen in the life of a believer who lives in expectation of it. Faith ushers in the fact of occurrence.

B: They've never experienced it before. Just as people laughed at Noah when he said it was going to rain because it had never yet rained on the earth, some people scoff at the idea of listening to God simply because they've never heard him for themselves and don't think it's possible to. Often in life, we get what we expect; conversely, we don't get what we don't expect. We miss what others see, simply because they have conditioned their minds to be open to it; Which brings us to the third reason some people never will hear God's whisper:

C: They're secretly afraid to. What if God tells them to go be a missionary to Africa? On a less extreme note, what if God simply tells them to do something they don't want to do? What if their nice, ordered world is disturbed? If this is you, you are likely rushing through Bible reading and prayer, without getting still before the Lord. "Be still and know that I am God," is not one of your favorite verses. In a similar vein, some are afraid they will 'mis-hear,' and perhaps make a terrible mistake in life due to the misguided notion that "GOD SAID."

It is a good idea to be aware that this has happened to many well-meaning people. That's why the Lord also instructs us to consult "a multitude of counselors" on important matters. If your pastor, your godly friends, your spouse, or even your own inner voice is shouting "NO!" then it is unlikely you are following the voice of God, in a path that is controversial. Likewise, knowing the teachings of Christ and the Bible is a a safeguard against mis-guided ideas of your own invention.

Actually, the Lord is much more likely to gently encourage you in baby steps of growth that will lead you to become more like Him, rather than sending you straight off to Africa. Often, he wants to encouragie us in ways to use the gifts he has given us, things that will improve our lives and the lives of others; He may help you to focus on an important issue you've been ignoring or putting on the back burner too long. Another day, He may remind you of a relationship that needs healing, a step you need to take to initiate it.

Do some people abuse the notion that God speaks to his people? Absolutely. The person who constantly says, "God told me this," or, "God said that," (who wears green socks instead of black because "God" told him to) is likely mistaken. Great errors have been made based on someone's mistaken idea that "God" told him or her to do something. This is why a knowledge of scripture is vital for listening. The Lord will never direct anyone to do something outside of his revealed will in His Word!

The best way I know to "listen" for God's voice is to keep a pen and notebook with me during prayer and Bible study time. It is during those quiet times with the Lord that I get thoughts for the devotions I write. God is giving me the lesson, and I simply share it with you. So try it. Keep a pen and paper handy. Jot down the names of people the Lord brings to your mind while you pray, or during your reading. Be willing to stray from your own prayer list as the Holy Spirit reminds you of other needs. Often, I am reminded of unfinished business with a person, and sometimes I stop right there and then to shoot off an overdue email, or pick out the right card to send to someone later. I do this trusting that the Lord knows the important from the urgent, whereas I often confuse the two.

"Wise men store up knowledge." Proverbs 10:14a.

Action Step

Next time you pray and read the Word, have a pen and paper with you. Make an effort to "listen" by asking the Lord to speak to your heart, and keeping an open mind. Then, see what happens! Use a notebook just for this purpose, and soon you'll be storing up knowledge-right from the mouth of God!

This article was first published on the devotional blog "Inner Fulfillment" by Linore Rose Burkard. "Inner Fulfillment" offers daily short devotions for Christians, by a group of talented writers.

2009-10-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

WHAT DO YOU CRAVE FOR?
(NEW BOOK TO READ)

I just added this to my to-be-read list. [CRAVE: by Chris Tomlinson] I love reading about how other Christians experience God, as I compare/contrast their experience with my own. It's also encouraging and uplifting to see how the Lord works with other people in ways that can be at once both similar and unlike the ways He works with me. God is so cool in that He is knows us each so intimately that he tailors His dealings with us according to who we are, and our level of understanding. I just can't get enough of Him--which I guess amounts to a craving. What about you?
Do you have God in your life today? Got cravings?

Watch the trailer for the book (Click Here)

Today I hope to remind myself that when cravings for ANYTHING hit, the real need of my life is for more of God.
It's the real need of your life, too.
Have you reached that decision, yet? If not, consider getting this book. You have to start somewhere to explore the possibility that God is calling you, that He is real, and that He really speaks to His people. Not only is He 'out there,' but He wants to use each and every craving and need in your life to point you to Himself.
I pray you take the opportunity to read Crave for yourself, and let the Lord fill you up.

For more info on Crave you can also click on the book cover. For special music today, I couldn't figure out how to get songs by Chris Tomlin (the singer/musician who does such beautiful worship CDs) onto this blog, so here's a link to listen. Hear Chris Tomlin: Not the same guy as the author.

2009-09-28T06:21:00.000-07:00

What Jane Austen and Thomas Aquinas Have In Common

This past weekend I gave a presentation for a local chapter of JASNA (The Jane Austen Society of North America) on the theme of "The Faith of Jane Austen." I don't wish to recap all of my points here, but I came across a statement by (St.)Thomas Aquinas which summed up perfectly what Austen's attitude about faith was, as expressed (0r not expressed, I should say) in her books:

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." Aquinas

The first half of this statement was particularly true for Jane when it came to writing her books. She mostly sidesteps the issue of religion, operating on the assumption that most of her audience were members of the Anglican church, just as she was. Being an Anglican in her day meant that you had familiarity with (and implicit agreement with) the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Faith, which school children had to study. Certainly, all of the genteel class, like the Austen family themselves, would have been thoroughly familiar with the articles, (which summarize the beliefs of the church). Children, in fact, were supposed to memorize it in whole or in part, including some of the psalms and collects from the Book of Common Prayer--the primary book of reading for adherents. Anglicanism was the "Church of England," the state religion, and so of course Jane
assumed that most of her readers were familiar with its teachings.

Jane's thrust in her books was to go beyond mere "religion," mere elemental outward tokens of an assumed faith, to sift the motives of her characters. Like Christ, she examines the heart.

Religion was necessary, and church is mentioned in passing often enough so that we know, for instance, that Mr. Darcy attended services, as indeed, all of her sympathetic characters do. Even the ones she is critical of are assumed to do the same. Additionally, these issues didn't present challenges for her personally--Austen doesn't bother with elemental faith issues because they were settled for her (she was devout), but also because she didn't feel an explanation was necessary. The important thing was to know how deeply people were, or were not, living the virtues of a life based on that faith, on their religion.

She was not afraid to poke fun at clergymen or others who were hypocrites, as she had no fears of such undermining the validity of her beliefs. Such people were moral failures in one way or another, and Jane was particularly able to spot them, for she grew up surrounded by models of what true churchman were. She knew better than most, what a proper clergyman was; she had a father and two brothers who served as models; she had cousins and uncles in the profession; she had neighbours and friends of the clergy. She was surrounded by models, both good and bad, and she knew how to show both types in her fiction.

No less than three of her six major works have clergymen as their heroes.The other three have men who are as morally developed as a clergyman should be, at least by the end of the novel (Darcy, Ferrers) if not at the beginning (Knightley). (Edward Ferrers is not yet fully developed in his social manners, but he has behaved with undeniably heroic virtue.)

Every sentence I've written here could be expounded upon at length, and I wish I had the time to do it! But right now I don't. However, let me add that for most of her life, Jane did not like or approve of evangelicals, another reason her works are singularly NOT evangelistic in nature; but she had no less a sincerity of faith than they; and by the end of her life, she reassessed her position, saying,

"I am by no means convinced that we ought not all to be evangelicals, and am at least persuaded that they who are so from reason and feeling must be happiest and safest."

Note that "reason" and "feeling" are keywords in Austen. Reason and feeling=sense and sensibility, and only a balance of the two can make a person fully moral and actualized. One of Austen's themes is that decisions or behaviour based ONLY upon reason, or ONLY upon feelings, can be unfortunate at best, or disastrous at worst.
However, the person who acts upon a proper balance of both, (and with an implicit moral understanding based on their knowledge of God) will be acting wisely, and will get the best results in life.

During my presentation, I discussed how Austen always shows her sympathetic characters questioning their behavior (manners) based not on a modern idea of asking "Who am I?" but on the basis of who they are in society. This is an enormous distinction. In a sense it is, "to whom much is given, much is required." If you are truly noble, it is not your title that will determine it but your manners and actions. If you are truly Christian, it is not your outward vocation, but your motives and actions that will prove it.

I find myself thinking that Austen, in this light, has much to teach us today about the way we should live. Much to teach me. Who we are in society--our society, our personal circles of family, friends, and co-workers, should in large part determine how we behave. For example, are you a mother? Take care of your children. A wife? See to your husband. A manager? Treat those under you with compassion and mercy. The values in Austen's books will always be with us and always be relevant: they come from the Judeo-Christian ethic, the Bible.

This has been a jumble of thoughts about themes that I enjoy exploring in Jane Austen. There is much more to be said on any of them, of course. What about you? Care to comment? Have you found that the "manners and morals" of Austen have spoken to you in your life? I'd love to hear about it.

2009-09-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Charge to Young Women
Note from Linore: Today's post comes from fellow writer Bryan Davis, which he shared on facebook. Be sure to read it all, as it gets better as it goes. : )

By Bryan Davis (http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/ChargetoYoungWomen.pdf)

She is born with a passion to uplift, empower, and support. She is the mainstay and sail for the captain’s ship. She is the heat in the warrior’s resolve and the salve that heals his wounds. She is the heart that pumps vitality to every joint and sinew. Yes, she is a woman.

Every girl in existence has been lovingly fashioned—from her caring and sensitive brain, to her tender and compassionate hands, to her tireless feet—to be a pillar of strength and resolve. While she might not be a warrior who draws a sword, she is the healer who strengthens the warrior’s hands and heart. Without her, every weapon would drop in futility, every muscular arm would wilt, and every pair of tired legs would shuffle home in defeat, for the heart that drives the warrior forward has stopped beating.

Some young women choose to take up the sword themselves, to step out alone in the midst of darkness to carry a lantern to the lost, to battle oppression and bring relief to the abused and neglected, or to transport life-giving supplies to the destitute wherever they may be. Their partner is the Spirit of Christ, and their sword is His word. They must know Him well if they hope to shine His light and pierce the darkness without the help of an intimate human partner.

Speak the truth. Live the truth. Be the truth. Never let the faithless ones persuade you to abandon any of those three principles. Remember that you are an oracle of fire, as is every faithful follower of our Lord. For all true disciples possess the pure silver, purged of all dross, and the fire of God’s love burns within, an everlasting flame that others, even those who give lip-service to the truth, will never comprehend until you are able to pass along that fire from heart to heart.

Many girls will choose to partner with another in this pursuit, hoping to be the light, the energy, and the drive that pulses within the breast of another. Yet, some never discover what it means to be such a heart. They never learn the secret of the captain’s sail or the recipe of the healing salve. Why? Because they listen to a counterfeit call, a trumpet blaring a falsehood—that their beauty is a lure to capture rather than an inspiration to set free. The inner desire to help and support becomes a lust to take and own. The hope to hear words of affirmation that she has been a good and faithful helpmate transforms into a hopeless search for eyes that admire and lips that speak words of appreciation for her outward appearance rather than for the beauty of her soul. And such a search never ends in true satisfaction.

You, however, are listening to your creator’s call, a gentle voice within that whispers reminders of how you were really fashioned, to be a woman of virtue, of inner beauty, of priceless value. The trumpet announces your need to strut, expose, and seduce, while the inner voice sings of ways to dress your soul in virtue—to feed the hungry, cover those laid bare, infuse encouragement into the hearts of the downtrodden, and nurture the victims of poverty, disease, and abandonment.

As a young woman of virtue, you understand what will happen if you heed the trumpet’s call to lure with flesh and flair. You will draw attention, but from whom? Someone who values face and form but not the heart. He will take, use, and abuse. His desire is for his own benefit, because what his eyes perceive is a girl who offers to fulfill the cravings of his body, and he responds, not with love, but with lust for his own satisfaction. And when your flower of youth fades, he will not perceive value in your soul, and you will never achieve the holy union of hearts for which you were created.

If you listen to the creator’s call, you will suffer temporary loss. When you pour out compassion and pity instead of skin and superficiality, you will be considered old-fashioned, out-of-touch, a prude. Yet, within the fair bosom you are saving for a true warrior, you will be nurturing a heart of unspoiled beauty, for it has not been taken at a cheap price. It has not been hardened by a wolf who captures, abuses, and leaves. And with such a heart, you will be able to reach out and be the captain’s sail, the warrior’s reason for drawing his sword, and the soothing salve for hearts less whole than your own.

The heart of a woman is more precious than pearls, and a man of worth sees it as a priceless treasure. He knows that she is the energy that drives his purpose, and without her, the pursuit of his vision for God’s purpose will be sluggish indeed. For the honor of taking that heart to join with him in fulfilling that vision, he will give his life, his heart, and his soul. The woman who has prepared her heart for that adventure will never regret the small price she paid. Scorn fades, and satisfaction blossoms. Contempt crumbles to dust, and contentment rises in its place. Ridicule is forgotten, while refreshment of the soul lives for as long as the heart pumps its life-giving energy.

Whether you take up the sword yourself or choose to unite with a warrior, now is the time to live according to this standard. It might seem that you are walking the path alone, yet, you are never alone. The One who planted the heart within you will never leave your side, and He will continue to sing the song that fashioned you as a woman of virtue. Listen. It is there. You will have to tune out the surrounding noise, but the sounds of love and virtue will never be silenced, if only you know the Singer and His song.

2009-09-15T05:02:00.000-07:00

What Single Women Should Remember

Ariana Forsythe, the heroine in my first two books, (Before the Season Ends, and, The House in Grosvenor Square) is not the typical regency miss when it comes to the "marriage mart"; Why? Because she is not satisfied to look for a husband who is merely wealthy or titled, attractive or agreeable. Instead, like the authentic young woman of faith that she is, she bases her discrimination of "husband material" on 2 Cor. 6:14.
"Do not be bound together with unbelievers."

This one thing sets her apart from the vast majority of single women, not only then, during the regency, but today.

In the first book, the above verse is recalled numerous times, but I had no opportunity to really delve into the reasoning behind it, the reasons why God instructs his people to be separate, to marry only fellow believers. It is not prejudice, or whim; it is not because God wants to make life difficult for his people: No! Quite the contrary. Note the following reasons, all of which are given in the context of that injunction: Why should Christians only marry fellow Christians?

Partnership "For what partnership have righeousness and lawlessness?" (2Cor.6:14b)
Fellowship "Or what fellowship has light with darkness?" (Ibid)
Harmony "Or what harmony has Christ with Belial? (2Cor.6:15a)
Commonality "Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?" (2Cor.6:15b)
Agreement "Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God." (2Cor.6:16)

Wow. Read those words again: Partnership, fellowship, harmony, commonality, and agreement. I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't want to enter a marriage that was lacking in any of these areas FROM THE GET GO. In other words, before you even have a chance to disagree on something, you are in disagreement. You are coming from opposite camps, as it were, and the degree of partnership is forever limited, forever handicapped, if your spirits are not both in the Lord.

Christian, you are a temple of God. You have the enormous privilege of being called into the fold of the redeemed. There are many, many differences to face in marriage, differences of temperament, of habits, of viewpoints in many things. What a tragedy if all of the natural differences we bring to marriage are compounded by the irreconcilable difference of SPIRITS!
According to this passage, when a Chrisitan marries, they bring into that marriage the Holy Spirit in them (they are a temple of God); the unbeliever also has a spirit, but it does not contain God. (In fact, according to today's verse, it is the spirit of Belial.)

Some that will argue that the person they are dating is so nice, so "good," even if they are unbelievers, that they must be acceptable partners. However, unless they know Christ, according to GOD, there can be no real partnership. Do you chafe against this? Do you yearn for marriage apart from God's revealed will (the Word)?

Trust him, my sister. He will bring the right mate for you in His time.
Trust!

2009-09-02T07:49:00.001-07:00

Our DRASTIC God

This morning as I gathered my equipment for my quiet time, (pen, notepad, Bible, devotional book), I suddenly realized that there are only two things that are essential for an effective time with the Lord. Two things.

1. ME (YOU)
2. GOD

The astounding thing about this simple realization is that there is never an excuse for anyone not to spend time with the Lord, at His feet, like Mary. We have ourselves (for better or worse); and God is always with us. No matter how busy we are, we can stop at any time and spend at least a few moments with the Savior. This is not an ideal way to expect change in your life, for that requires intention, purposeful listening, studying the Word. But, at its essence, you have yourself, and you can put yourself in a position to seek God. (ie., on your knees, or butt in chair.) Silence around you helps (immensely).

The thing is, some people seem to think that if God is real, (and worth my time) then He'll have to do something to prove it to me. Send a lightning bolt. Invade my mind forcibly, or do SOMETHING really drastic because they are just not convinced He is there, ready to hear them.

Let's review the facts: God has already DRASTICALLY, ONCE FOR ALL TIME, taken these steps:
1. He CREATED this huge, amazing, intricate, beautiful, unfathomable world. The earth and all that is in it is a drastic proof of His existence.
2. He ENTERED His creation in the most vulnerable way possible to experience it as we do--"in every way tempted"--He was born through a VIRGIN (how's that for drastic?), became a wriggling, wrinkled, squalling infant: Very man and very God! I mean, that's drastic, folks! [All you software developers and game creators, it's like you turning yourself into pages of code, a piece of software, so that you could enter the cyberworld as a genuine part of it--putting yourself in the midst of the rest of that code--smack dab in the middle of it--(sort of; there's no perfect analogy to this single, drastic action that God took, because it was SO singular, SO unprecendented, SO compassionate--SO gosh darn DRASTIC--that nothing can fully compare to it in all the world!]

3. This next drastic action requires a small story: The gospels tell of a rich man who daily walked past a poor beggar, paying him little heed. He was too busy with his successful business, thinking of ways to manage his wealth (think: investments, new bank accounts). (Luke 16:20-25)

When he dies suddenly and unexpectedly, and finds himself in a terrible, torturous place, he begs for the poor beggar (named Lazarus) who he sees (surprise!) in the "bosom of Abraham," a euphemism for heaven--to give him a drop of water to help his terrible thirst in that dry and hot place he is in; (thinks of his own needs first). Then, he begs Lazarus-- who is now the one in the enviable position--to return from the dead, go back to earth and to his brothers so that they won't end up in the same horrible place as he has.

This is perfectly understandable; having discovered that his whole life was wasted on erroneous principles of gain and pleasure, he doesn't want his brothers (who he KNOWS are doing the same thing) to end up with the same result. So again he calls to Lazarus the beggar to go and warn his brothers. If one returns from the dead, he says, they will listen! He thinks that returning from the dead would be so drastic that it will get the attention of his hedonist family.

But what does Lazarus tell him? For one thing, it's impossible for him to go back; he's receiving his reward, and there is no way to return to earth. Secondly, and this is the most interesting part, he points out that even if someone were to return from the dead, his family still wouldn't listen. Hmmm.
How does he know this?

He knows this because Jesus has already raised two people from the dead. The other Lazarus, from Bethany (a twist of irony, that this man, who WAS raised from the dead, DID go back, had the same name); And He raised the young man whose mother was weeping for him, an only child, and restored him to life. Did these resurrections make people listen? Some, but not most.

IF YOU RETURN FROM THE DEAD, the rich man says, THEY WILL BELIEVE.
Ahem.
Jesus returned from the dead. He is alive today. Millions of people all over the world attest to this, and I am one of them. He changed my life, and continues to change me as I submit to Him.

You want a God who does DRASTIC things to show you He is real?
You got it!
The question is what are you gonna do about it?

Jesus entered the world of his creation by becoming like you, and then dying for you (through the drastically cruel method of crucifixion) and was raised from the dead. He lives again. These facts, my friend, are drastic.

Now, what will you do with this man/God named Jesus?