9 Short Things to Write in Christmas Cards (And a GIVEAWAY!)

If, like me, you are a Christian, meaning you know Christ, it follows that when you send out Christmas greetings you don't want it to be merely a greeting.

We who know Him want to share the joy of this season, the beauty and miracle and sheer JOY of His being Emmanuel--God with us. But how do we do that in a simple card when no one wants to read a lengthy devotion or message? Below are a couple of suggestions, things you can use to hopefully tug at a heart or knock at a conscience.

The Holy Spirit can use anything to speak to someone's heart. We know Scripture is alive and able to pierce through to the dividing of soul and spirit, but the usual Christmas Scriptures are so familiar, even to non-believers, that they lose their power unless someone reads them openly, with focus.

So, in addition to the usual Scriptures seen on many Christmas cards--that unbelievers routinely ignore--try some of the following little sayings.  (How do I know they ignore them? Because they don't convert! Anyone who truly understands the truth of God coming to Earth to save his or her soul from hell would convert in a second--if they're sensible.)  Every Christmas I struggle to find a terse, tight, meaningful nugget of truth to put in my cards to family and friends. And for the most part, I actually dislike the use of little pithy sayings without a fuller explanation of the deep truths behind them, but let's remember we're talking Christmas cards here.   

So here are a few I've used, and will use: 
(Either inside the card, or on the outside envelope where even postal workers might see them--choose your weapon.) :)

1.  JESUS:  DON'T LEAVE EARTH WITHOUT HIM! 

2. Got peace? Jesus IS the Prince of Peace! Isaiah 9:6

3.  WISE Men Still Seek Him! (The FOOL has said in his heart, "There is no God.") Ps.14:1

4. He came as a child but left through the clouds. Know any other babies like that? Didn't think so. 

5. Why are Christians so fanatical, so in love, with God?  Because He first loved us! "While we were yet sinners, Christ DIED for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6)  That means ME. That means YOU.

6. EMMANUEL= GOD WITH US = HALLELUJAH! What a miracle! 

7. Don't spend CHRISTmas without CHRIST. 

8. CHRISTMAS: A reminder of His coming, but have you thought about 

His returning? When He comes again, will you know Him? 

9. LOVE HAS COME! Do you know this love? Come to the One who came to die for you, so that

    when you come to death you will live for Him. (Avoiding what the Bible calls the "second death," an eternity apart from God, in hell. That's why we call it being SAVED!) 

Will some people take offense if you use any of these sayings? Probably. People who deny truth are often offended by it. And the message of the cross engenders deep offense because it calls people out on their sin. They miss the fact that it also gives them a clear and free forgiveness of that sin, but here's another thing to remember: Not everyone WANTS forgiveness, because they don't want to change.

Our responsibility is to share the truth, not control what people do with it.
I hope some of these sayings will help you do that in a small way this Christmas.

What about you? Got a little pithy message you put in Christmas cards, or which would be suitable for us to do so? Share your suggestions in a comment. If I like one enough to use in my next year's Christmas cards (this year is done already) I'll award a free book and one bar of dark chocolate to the commenter.
Can't wait to see what others put in their cards!

Winner will choose ONE of the following: 

 







AND get a bar of organic dark chocolate, my favorite kind.



LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER TO WIN!

Why I Missed Autumn (And Why You Did, Too)

[Read the post, leave a comment, and be entered in the GIVE AWAY!]

First: About November in Particular
Autumn in September and October is colorful and wonderful, but November can be another story. Bare November days don't frighten me anymore, but at one time I found them repressive. Now, I can enjoy their particular beauty (which Robert Frost elucidates precisely in his poem, "My November Guest," featured in my latest newsletter. If you aren't on my subscriber list, you can access the issue HERE.)

I seem to remember a preponderance of grey gloomy days from Novembers in my youth, though now I think some of that gloom was because I lived in Queens, New York. Not the endless, drab row-house Queens Hollywood loves to portray (which makes up only a tiny fraction of what the county is like), but in the last small-town outside of New York City within Queens County--College Point. This is to say it wasn't because my surroundings were tenement houses or gloominess--on the contrary, College Point was mostly middle class and had the houses with backyards to prove it. Homes were close together by country standards, but our home featured a driveway on both sides of the house, both of which were framed by flower beds and neighboring green yards. Our back yard was about 1/4 acre. (Despite what you see on television, much of Queens is still like this.)   

Let me detour on a short history lesson: When I was a child and teenager College Point was still a small town. This was mostly because it was cushioned on three sides by the East Bay and had only three roads in--or out--two of which would flood after a good rain. In retrospect, these roads (harrowing if you were on a school or city bus that had to navigate a passage without getting stuck) were what kept us isolated. The mushrooming of other portions of Queens County into Astoria look-alikes (read: mini Manhattans) was held at bay for the near two decades of my life spent there. In contrast, the last time I was in College Point (summer of 2013), I kept saying, "What happened to Bedford Falls?" It now seemed more like Pottersville. The old College Point had vanished. 

In any case, Novembers were often gloomy then. I used to marvel that the great blue skies and fluffy clouds of September and October could disappear into the grey oblivion of gloomy November. As the days darkened, my spirits seemed to sink with them. New York winters seemed long and dark as well.

Nevertheless, as an adult, I often feel that I never enjoy the seasons as I did as a child, including Autumn even in November.  Yesterday, November 10th, the weather was unseasonably warm, and the sky a cheery blue. The radio forecaster warned that this would be the last of the warm weather for now, so I purposed to take my daily tea break in the yard to enjoy it. Sitting there, hardly hearing the sound of children's voices wafting over from a neighbor's property, it occurred to me that once again I was feeling as though I'd missed the season.

This didn't make sense, exactly.

As a gardener, I'd gotten to spend a few wonderful days cleaning out my garden, chopping the languishing frost-tipped greens to put  back into the beds to nourish next year's soil. I'd harvested the very last of the year's squash and tomatoes, reluctantly saying goodbye to the delight of fresh produce, but happy to have had these days to play in the dirt before winter. We'd also gone apple picking--twice--a definite must for Autumn in my case, if one is to try and be true to childhood's rhythms.   The accompanying smells of cinnamon and nutmeg filled the house, we ate homemade (Paleo) apple pies, and I infused the house with yet more of the heavenly scent by dehydrating a good amount of the 60 lbs of apples we picked, after sweetening them with a sprinkling of cinnamon and xylitol*. My daughter and I collected a respectable amount of pumpkins, and we even did a pumpkin craft when she had a friend sleep over. (See picture.)

Grace's owly pumpkin

So, in other words, I'd done my time. I'd been outdoors. I'd 'oohed and aaahed' at the fall colors on drives about the countryside. I closed up the summer backyard accoutrements, we'd covered the pool, and my husband was sealing up doors and windows to be winter ready. I'd even sat out on the pool deck in the afternoon sun just to admire the huge oaks around the property and the other beauties of the season.

So why was I still feeling like I'd missed it?

Second: About Autumns of Childhood, in Particular
As I sat outside, the sound of the children's laughter--one of whom was my daughter, as she was playing with friends--penetrated my jaded mind, and it hit me: I couldn't reclaim the feeling of being outdoors in the fall as I had when I was a child for the simple reason that I'm no longer one. I got kicked out of the club somewhere along the line, you might say, and there is no going back. You can't renew your membership in that one. I could sit outside for three hours and it wouldn't begin to echo the Autumns of my childhood because then, one hour would have been spent with my best friend Juni, as we hunted out newly fallen chestnuts hiding in the brown crunchy leaves; we'd pry them from their green, prickly houses for our collection. (There is nothing quite like extracting a beautiful shiny new chestnut from its casing. It felt to us little different, I'm sure, than a diver feels upon finding a pearl--though not quite as rare.)

The second hour would have been spent by walking and talking, kicking at leaves, making a pile of them, perhaps, or having a game of hand-ball in the schoolyard mid-way between the block and a half that separated my house from hers. Sometimes we'd walk down to the town park and traverse the paved trail that followed the rocky water's edge. It was fenced, keeping you safely off the rocks, but we had been known to find an opening in that fence and have a heck of a time balancing along the jutting--and treacherous-- rocks until we'd gotten clear to the other side of the park--where the fence abruptly ended. We might stop at the playground in that park and hit the swings, perhaps the monkey bars, too. By the time we got back home, just before dusk, our hands and feet were deliciously cold, and our cheeks red and frosty. THAT is how you enjoy an autumn day. 

Nowadays, I may be outside to do yard work, rake leaves, clean a garden, or even sit and admire the trees and sky, but I'll tell you something: It isn't the same. 

How did I miss Autumn? I missed it by growing up. And you, probably, did too.

What do you think? Is Autumn anything like that of your younger days? What do you do to enjoy the fleeting splendor of the season?  Leave a comment and I'll choose one person to win a copy of one of my books--my choice. Winner will be chosen using random.org, and will receive a copy of EITHER Before the Season Ends, The House in Grosvenor Square, OR The Country House Courtship.  

*Xylitol --a natural, diabetic safe sweetener used as a safer alternative to sugar. I use it as part of a healthy Paleo diet.
    

 Linore Rose Burkard is best known for writing historical regency romance. In addition to writing, she is a writing workshop instructor, homeschooling mother of five, gardener, Paleo cook, and reader. Subscribe to Linore's mailing list at http://www.LinoreBurkard.com.

Saying Goodbye--For Now

I haven't posted in awhile, so I thought I'd let you know that

I did not fall off the planet. (In case you were wondering.)
Haven't gone to my heavenly home.
No--I've been, it seems, in the netherworld of INDECISION.

I see that, now. I also recognize that I need to say an official farewell, to you, my faithful friends and readers! It's time to switch out this blog for something that aligns more closely with my current pursuits.   

Here's the thing:
This blog has been with me for some time now. When I started, my idea was to share the devotionals I enjoy writing, as well as other inspirational posts to support and encourage believers and writers (among whom I have many friends).

As a published author of inspirational romance, I like to write. The blog was a forum. Simple, right?

Not so. I'm still a Christian and still a writer, but my blog focus began shifting from devotionals and Christian issues to other stuff. (Lots of writers post devotionals and some of them do it really, really well. How many of us need another source?)

Then, just to complicate matters further, my WRITING focus started to shift. Instead of crafting novels, which I enjoy doing, I started dreaming of a children's series. Not just any series, but one that would combine my love of children's stories with my passion for Paleo-style food. Voila! A new venture was born. A venture that doesn't exactly fit beneath the heading of "Woman of Faith."

Am I a woman of faith? Yes! At my deepest, darkest moments I may get angry with my Lord and shout all kinds of undeserved things in His direction, but I would find it impossible to ever lose my "faith"--that would be like trying to deny my husband exists. Ain't gonna happen. I've had too many encounters with Jesus to ever doubt Him. (That's another work in progress, by the way. For my family if no one else, an autobiography of my "God-encounters." God is awesome! I want my family, including my descendants, to know it.)

But being a woman of faith and maintaining a blog called "Woman of Faith" are two different things. One is inescapable--that is who I am, by God's grace. A woman redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. A sinner saved by grace, written in the Lamb's Book of Life, not due to any merit on my part. A human being given the greatest honor possible...to know the Lord!

The other gets tricky.
It takes time, planning, forethought, and all that stuff to maintain a good blog.
So, the INDECISION was whether to cut the cord on this baby and let it go.....or not.
My absence was a sort of default option, letting it go by sheer neglect while I focused on the kids, all five of whom are still at home, and that Paleo lifestyle I've adopted. (I told you about that, right? 
It takes time, planning, forethought and all that stuff to maintain a healthy family and kitchen. And I want to create a blog that is a reflection of where my time, planning and forethought are going.)

I also lost a much loved sister-in-law this September. The summer was tinted with grief, knowing she was failing, and it became a flood of sorrow for me. I mention it only because it contributed to my absence from blogging. But, in my grief, I did a lot of reflecting.   
   

And now, much as I've enjoyed this place, I'm saying goodbye...for the time being.

I've got one children's picture book in the works and a whole series after that, for tweens.
I've got novels to work on, too, and I'll check in now and then just to let you know how they're doing.
In the meantime, I sincerely pray that all of you wonderful friends and believers and writers will
continue to be beautiful women of faith, and keep that faith well,
stay in touch,
and leave a little room in your heart for me for when I manage to revive this blog.

Thank you for being with me. One of the most rewarding aspects of being a writer doesn't come with royalty checks. It's YOU--readers!

I'll send out a post when my new blog is up and running, along with an invite so you can come along
on the new journey of health and well-being, and kid lit. I believe with all my heart that if any people in the world should know how to live well, it is God's people. The Paleo lifestyle, despite its name (Paleo, short for Paleolithic) is in reality a call to return to food as God made it.


But more of that on the new blog...
Stay tuned for my invite!
Warmest Blessings,

Linore
PS: When I say to keep in touch, I mean it! Please feel free to contact me at Linore (at) LinoreBurkard (dot) com, or leave a comment here. I love to hear from you.

   

Blog for Sale! (And Winner Announcement)

Yesterday's post went out by accident, so I apologize for the missing winner announcement.

I  still can't figure out how that happened, but in any case, here is the winner of the current giveaway: 

 

 

Veronica Sternberg!*

 

 

 BLOG FOR SALE

When I first started this blog, I called it "Today's Woman of Faith" because I was posting devotionals and Christian content with regard to books, ministries, and current events.

I've veered away from those posts--not because I'm less interested in these things but I really enjoy sharing information regarding healthy living and "honest learning." So I've prayed about it and agonized over it and I've decided to put the blog up for sale so that I can start one with a title that is more fitting for my content.

 

Do you know of a ministry that might want the WOMAN OF FAITH blog to call their own? Please spread the word that it's up for sale.

  

As for what to title my new blog? I need your help with that!

There are literally tons of food blogs and recipe blogs, but mine will be geared towards healthy living AND learning. I'll continue to feature Organic recipes, Paleo recipes, make it yourself home products and beauty products, etc. But it will also have posts on visiting museums and historic sites, since I love to do those things and share my experiences.

If you have an idea of something to call such a blog that can incorporate these interests beneath one umbrella--send it along. I'm putting together a basket of goodies for someone who sends me a winning name.

It's not that I see my current interests as clashing with the "Woman of Faith" title, but I recognize that women who lead ministries for other women could make better use of it. And I think it fails to describe the content I've been putting up.

So--as my readers, what do you think? Do you like the idea of my re-vamping what I'm doing with a new blog, new title, to better fit my healthy living and learning themes?

 I appreciate the feedback I've already received on this question, but please keep sending in your thoughts and ideas. What blog title would grab YOUR interest? What sort of content would make you check the blog often for new posts?

Regarding the sale of this blog: Interested parties please email me for details at Linore (at) LinoreBurkard (dot) com.
(*Veronica, please send me your complete mailing address via the above email so I can send out your prize!)        

No-Bake Brownies and Healthy Mini-Cakes

I promised to begin posting some of our favorite healthy desserts, so today I have two for you. Both recipes fit the bill for when you need something sweet, but don't want to sabotage your healthy eating lifestyle.

 

The Brownies are of the gooey sort; if you like yours more like cake, this may not be the recipe for you. (You could always add 1/4 cup of almond flour to the recipe and see if that makes it more cake-like, but I haven't tried it so I don't know if it will.) 

 

One of my daughters is a true chocaholic and these brownies pass her taste test AND satisfy her chocolate cravings, yet they're free of refined sugar and white flour--I call that a winning recipe. :)

Raw (No-Bake) Brownies & Frosting

1 cup walnuts

1 cup dates, softened

1/4 cup cacao powder, preferably raw

1/4 tsp vanilla 

 

Place walnuts, dates, cacao and vanilla in a food processor and process until a ball of dough forms. (Process well--until smooth)

Place brownie batter into an 8 x 8 in. baking dish and press down to form a consistent thickness.

Frosting  

1/4 cup raw cacao powder

1/4 cup coconut oil, (liquid)

 

Mix cacao and coconut oil by hand or in blender until emulsified. Frost brownie. Freeze for 10 minutes and then cut into squares and enjoy! 

The following recipe would work as a donut if you have the pan for it. If not, just make muffins as we do.  The glaze topping is optional, but it adds a wonderful touch. You won't believe how sweet it tastes--with no sugar!

Paleo Mini-Cakes (Muffins)

1/4 cup almond flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

3 eggs

2 Tablespoons honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

 

Mix all together. Bake in muffin cups @ 350 F. for 10-15 minutes, or until brown. Add glaze topping. (optional)

 

Glaze Topping

1 banana

2 Tablespoons milk

 

Microwave 30 seconds and then mash up banana and milk. Add another dash of milk, if necessary, to bring to glaze consistency. Use a knife or pastry brush to glaze muffin tops. 

 

You could also sprinkle cinnamon or chopped nuts, (or even chocolate mini-chips) over the tops of muffins after glazing, if desired.  My favorite is finely chopped nuts.   

In a hurry? 

If you absolutely must have something sweet but don't have time to make something, my go-to solution is organic dark chocolate. Trader Joe's has some good selections. A small piece of chocolate, which I sometimes slather peanut-butter over, is a craving-quencher that is very low on sugar but high in antioxidants.  You may be surprised to find that one or two bitefuls is really enough to give you that feeling of having indulged in something decadent, but without the guilt. Try it!

Giveaway Still Going On

Don't forget that the giveaway of Inspiring Women of the Faith is still going on. Leave a comment to be entered. Each comment counts as one entry.

 

How Kids Think

WE HAVE A WINNER  Did you enter the drawing for the beautiful romantic cupcake set I'm giving away? If so, the winner announcement follows this post, so read on!

How Kids Think

Any mom knows how tough it is to keep the whole family happy when it comes to food on the table, or even in the cupboards, for that matter. I try my darndest not to run out of the staples my husband cares most about, such as eggs, milk and cream for coffee.  But keeping the offspring happy can be tricky.

For instance, anyone following this blog knows how I've reformed my eating habits. I eat mostly organic, fresh foods, and have drastically decreased consumption of processed foods for the family. If anything, it raises the challenge of keeping happy campers because the kids need to re-learn healthy habits, too.

Kids are supposed to learn quickly, aren't they? Ha--witness the list I found on the fridge this morning: 

Older child put up the list. Youngest child added items 2 and 3: "Junk Food" and "Maccoronie"(sic)"

 The youngest knows it would be fruitless to say to me, "Mom, we need junk food!" but apparently putting it on a list is different. (I'm surprised she didn't add "Thou Shalt Buy," before her items.)

Just so you know, I sometimes DO buy food I consider "junk" because it's my fault I've raised junkies, and I don't want their transformation to healthy eating to cause withdrawal pains! (Some people consider sugar to be a drug, by the way. Sally Fallon includes information about this in Nourishing Traditions, a book I've spoken about before here on the blog. Dr. Mercola also warns about sugar as being drug-like; check out his post called "Is Sugar More Addictive than Cocaine?")

At the same time, I believe our penchant for preferring sweets is a God-given thing, so it's not all bad. Fortunately, I'm seeing my older daughter making more and  more healthy desserts, with no prodding on my part. (I'll share some of those recipes eventually.) She benefits in two ways: learning the ropes in the kitchen, (as she experiments with substituting healthy sweeteners for empty calories in white sugar) AND by discovering that eating healthy can be satisfying and yes--even sweet!

Are you trying to re-educate the youngsters in your life? How is that going for you? Maybe you're still trying to educate yourself--aren't we all! Share a comment and you'll be entered in my new drawing for the following:

  
Inspiring Women of the Faith--Stories about Sojourner Truth, Florence Nightingale, Corrie Ten Boom and many others. This is the sort of book I like my daughters to read; books that show women have always had gumption--courage--and used it for God. Recently I noticed in the Book of Chronicles, for instance, that there was a woman named Sheera who is credited with building three cities! A woman--in ancient Israel--BUILT three cities. (I'm not saying she was the actual brick-layer, but she WAS the mastermind, the architect, the visionary and director. I call THAT inspiring.)


Leave a comment and you're in the drawing for the book.

AND NOW: WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE JUNE GIVEAWAY:

   

 The winner of this lovely set (left) is MELODY, "Missionwife." 
Congratulations, Melody! Perhaps you'll find a healthy dessert recipe here or somewhere else (like Wellness Mama) so that you eat well while eating beautifully. :)
 

Welcome to the Regency!

My youngest daughter in front of a regency gown display at the Cincinnati Museum

Just for fun, I thought I'd share some illustrations from my favorite era in history to write about: The Regency, of course! If you're not familiar with this turbulent dawn of the nineteenth century in England, please check out my free PDF, "Welcome to the Regency." It will give you a fun, quick overview so that you'll understand what it means to read a "regency romance" as opposed to Victorian, or Early American, etc.

Far too often, this blog is SERIOUS, so today is just for FUN. I have an eclectic collection of period illustrations, and I'll be sharing some of my all-time faves. 

Here goes!

The "quintessential" Regency Evening Get-Together. Cards and Conversation.

The female waistline shows that this illustration is actually post-Regency (but pre-Victorian) and I love it because it is indicative of a wonderful spirit of worship which existed among the faithful during even the hedonistic Regency.

A Regency Girls' Day Out?

Headgear 1802

 Bonnets! 1812

I use the above as the background of my Twitter profile--gotta love a great bonnet!

 

 

This exquisite outfit fascinates me. The shawl is a work of art in itself.

 

 

This woman's hat looks suspiciously like a mobcap. I love it's exuberance of lace. This portrait, in fact, was the model I used to imagine the housekeeper for Mr. Mornay's residence in The House in Grosvenor Square. 

Quintessential Early Regency Style--feminine and beautiful

I have a weakness for illustrations with mothers and children. I'll do a post someday with this theme. (Btw, look how nicely the serving-man is dressed!)

Lord Grantham. A Regency hunk. :)!

A many-caped greatcoat. (I love to put one of these on any of my heroes when they're at the whip, that is, driving an equipage.)

Men's Fashions 1810

Hope you enjoyed this peek into this beautiful era. Don't forget to download my free PDF "Welcome to the Regency," if you haven't, already. 

CURRENT GIVEAWAY:  Leave a comment to be entered into a drawing for the current giveaway:

Leave contact information in your comment, please, so I can notify you if you win! Drawing will be held on 
Sunday, June 19th, after midnight.

Sale Ends 11:59pm, Monday, June 10th!

I don't often use my blog for promotion, but this sale was too good not to share. I was pleasantly surprised to hear from my publisher (Harvest House) regarding the current sale of my regencies, as well as to receive the wonderful image (above) that they made. Isn't it pretty?

So now I know the details of the sale, and it's all good: Except it's ending 11:59PM, Monday, June 10th.

Here's the scoop:

They are available at bargain-basement prices wherever the ebooks are sold: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD.com, (The lowest price I've ever seen! Only $1.59 here!)  iTunes, etc.  (Would you believe I didn't even know they were available on iTunes? How neat.) 

A Regency Inspirational Romance Series:

Before the Season Ends – on sale for $1.99

The House in Grosvenor Square – on sale for $2.99

The Country House Courtship – on sale for $3.99

They told me, "That means your readers can get the entire series for less than $9.00, which is a really great deal."

So go get your summer reading on the cheap!

But the sale ends Monday night--please tell your friends.

 

And if you've read my books but are interested in other Christian fiction, check out the rest of the sale Harvest House is doing  by clicking HERE.  Don't go on vacation or relax this summer without a few good books! 

 NEW GIVEAWAY!

 I promised to show a picture today of this month's romantic but fun giveaway, and here it is: 

 Isn't it sweet? The set contains 24 paper cupcake cases & 24 paper cupcake toppers. The toppers read 

"love," "always," "forever," and "yours." 

Adorable!

Leave a comment telling other readers why they would want to get and read any of my books (especially now, while they're on sale!). If you've got the books or one of them but haven't read it yet, tell us what made you buy it, or what you're hoping for from the book. Just share something relevant, reader to reader and you're in the drawing for this lovely, elegant set. 

Thanks so much, and  may you find a great summer read (or two)!

Warmest Blessings,

Linore

Small print: Drawing open to US/Canada Only. People from other countries may enter, but will receive an ebook as their prize (one of my books). All winners are drawn using random.org. Drawing ends Sunday, June 16th.

Three Things & Contest Winners!

1. Announcing

...winners for the last two giveaways here at Woman of Faith!  (Finally!) The first giveaway winner receives
the book English Country House Murders, and the CD, "Voices of the Faithful," from Beth Moore Presents.

And the winner is....MARY PRESTON. Congratulations, Mary! I'll need your mailing address to send your prizes so please email me at Linore(at)LinoreBurkard(dot)com.

The 2nd giveaway was for a free copy of Pearls from the Sea, by MaryLu Tyndall and Debbie Mitchell.
And the winner is....VICKIE MARNEY. Congratulations, Vickie! Your ebook will be automatically mailed to you by one of the authors.

Hope you both enjoy your prizes. :)

2. UPDATE to "If Sickness Doesn't Kill You, Modern Medicine Will."

Last week I wrote about having gone for a CT Scan at my doctor's request, which he felt was necessary because I have high cholesterol. I mentioned that high cholesterol, according to the latest science, has absolutely NO causative relation to heart disease, especially in women. I went for the scan, received a chest full of radiation (yuck!) and said I'd get back to you with the results. I felt that maybe the toxicity of the test would be worth it if I found out something useful.

So--the results came back (the very next day): I have a score of ZERO cardiac calcium. "You have NO heart disease," the nurse told me during the call. So I underwent getting all that radiation to find out it wasn't necessary. I am trying to console myself with the fact that it was good news--even though the test WASN'T necessary--it is far better to find out that I have no diseased cardiac arteries, than to feel it was worthwhile getting it because I do. 

Bottom line: Don't be eager to undergo tests that aren't necessary, especially if they entail radiation exposure. If I could turn back the clock, I'd ask, instead, for a test that measures arterial blockage in the neck, and that is far less toxic, if at all. I'm not sure why my doctor didn't suggest this test to begin with, and I will ask him that at my next opportunity. 

3. The Sale Continues! (But for how much longer?)

 

It's odd to be an author and not know when your books go on sale but it happens. Recently I was on Amazon and discovered accidentally that my books (the Kindle editions) were on a deeply discounted sale! Apparently, ( a reader told me) that the Nook editions are also at these bargain prices.

Before the Season Ends   Only $1.99                                    

The House in Grosvenor Square  Only $2.51

The Country House Courtship  Only $3.03

I love sales because it means more readers take a chance on me; some of my dearest friends are women who read my books and contacted me! Of course I enjoy getting more readers anyway, but a great deal on my books is something I'm happy to tell others about. I love a deal myself, so I can totally identify with you on that.  

The Regency Books on Sale on Nook

Stay tuned for an announcement of the new drawing--June is the month for weddings and romance, so I have something beautifully fun and romantic to give away! All commenters this month are automatically entered in the drawing, so even if you comment today, it counts.  I'll have a picture of the June giveaway by tomorrow.
Hugs and Blessings,
Linore

If Sickness Doesn't Kill You, Modern Medicine Will

Note: I have excerpts from Mary Lu Tyndall's and Deb Mitchell's new devotional for you (and a giveaway!) below, but first, pardon my rant. I have something to get off my chest--or out of, you might say!

OK, so I have high cholesterol, which, in case you haven't been following the latest science, is not shown to cause heart disease, especially in women. Read this carefully: CHOLESTEROL IS GOOD FOR YOU. Nevertheless, mine is VERY high, and so I agreed, at my doctor's suggestion, to get a cardiac calcium score. Somehow I was thinking it was an echocardiogram type of test. He assured me it wasn't in the least invasive.

Today I went for the test, only to find out it's a CT Scan. So I just filled my chest with radiation to check a score due to high cholesterol which isn't dangerous.  Aargh! I spend more to buy organic food, raw milk, free-range eggs, and so on, all in an effort to ensure good health. Then in one fell swoop I am dosed with countless radioactive particles--on doctor's orders. If it turns out that my cardiac arteries are in fact loaded with calcium clinging to their sides, then I suppose this may have been worth the toxicity. IF it turns out that way. I'll let you know. In the meantime, take a lesson from me and learn to ask more questions than you think you need to when your doctor orders a test.

(Oh, and I had to pay $100 bucks to get a chest full of radiation. I found out when I got there that my insurance won't cover it--which in itself raises questions. If a test is necessary and helpful, shouldn't it be covered?) 

Well--onto something much more edifying.  I have great excerpts for you from

 Pearls from the Sea: 180 Days Sailing the High Seas with Jesus at the Helm.  

    

Read the excerpts and you'll see this is a book that will enrich your devotional time with the Lord. I love the theme of oceans and sailing as we all know that wind and bad weather accost us from many sides in life. Mary Lu Tyndall, in case you're not already acquainted with her, writes wonderful historical swashbuckling adventures, and so she is on very familiar territory. Deb Mitchell is new to authorship, but is an avid reader and Christian.

Ryan Smith, an Amazon reader, says, "This devotional is awesome, and easy to read and understand. It has humor too. I highly recommend it. I love it!!"

Excerpt #1: (Mary Lu Tyndall)

A Stuck Rudder

Jumbo, one of the largest elephants in captivity, was part of the Barnum and Bailey circus for a number of years. He was a gentle giant who used to give rides to children on his back. When Jumbo was captured as a baby, his owners would tie him to a stake to keep him from escaping. Since he couldn’t pull himself from the stake, he learned to remain where he was. As he grew, he became so strong and mighty that he was known to pick up massive trees with his trunk and uproot them from the ground. Yet, still, every night, his owners would tie him to this simple, tiny stake in the ground, and he never tried to escape. Why, when it would have been no problem at all for him to yank that stake from the ground and gain his freedom? Because he had learned when he was little that he couldn’t pull up the stake, and he continued in that belief well into adulthood.

Now, think of yourself as that tiny elephant. That’s you before you met Christ. That’s you when you were young in the faith, or when you didn’t really know God or understand His power, when your spiritual muscles were weak. Problems easily overwhelmed you, and your rudder got stuck in the mud. You couldn’t move. You couldn’t live the life God had for you because you didn’t know how to pull your rudder from the mud and sail away. You thought you were helpless. You didn’t know who God made you to be.

Do you realize that as a committed Christian, you are the child of the King of the Universe? Do you realize who your Daddy is? Do you realize the power He’s given you at your fingertips, the strength? the wisdom?

Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37 NLT).

If God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31NIV)?

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13 NKJV)!

Why are you standing there next to that tiny stake? Why are you allowing that same problem to keep your rudder stuck? Change your thinking. Seek God. Study His Word. Mature in your walk with God. You are a child of the King! Call upon the God of the universe, your Daddy, and flex your faith muscles, and then wait and see what He will do.

One of the biggest problems many Christians struggle with is unbelief. They simply don’t believe who they are in Christ. They are still encumbered with problems they’ve had since childhood, not realizing that God not only wants to set them free, but can set them free.

Don’t be like Jumbo. Wise up and free your rudder.

Walt, another reader on Amazon, says:  "If you are tired of the same old devotionals that all feel and look the same this is bit of fresh air. Well worth the time very well priced."

Excerpt #2: (Debbie Mitchell)

Shake the Sand out of Your Shorts

I love going to the ocean and walking along the shoreline, allowing the waves to caress my feet. During the course of the day, the tides can change how the waves come and go. Sometimes, the waves are small and gentle, and you can walk along the shoreline without any fear of being pushed into the water. Then there are times when the crash of waves is so strong, you have to be careful your feet don’t fly out from under you.

Years ago, when I used to go to the ocean quite often, I saw a small child playing along the shoreline, and a wave came in and knocked him down. When he got back up, his shorts were filled with so much sand that it weighed him down as he waddled back to his parents.

Life can hit us as hard as a wave crashing onto the shore.

In our spiritual walk, when things weigh heavy on our minds, we can be like that child. Our shorts get so full of sand (worry, fear, illness, etc.) that our steps begin to slow down. At times like this, we need to call upon our Savior to lighten our load.

In Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Jesus doesn’t want us to be burdened by this life. He wants us to be strong so that we can face anything that comes our way. And when we occasionally fall in the sand and water, through Christ we are able to stand up and shake the sand from our shorts and continue on without delay.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:10–11 NIV).

Be prepared for what’s ahead. Plant your feet firmly in the sand so that you can stand against any waves that may come your way.

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen (Amos 1:24–25 NLT).

 Click here to see the book on Amazon.com, and leave a comment to enter the drawing for a free download of the ebook.  Do you use devotionals? Tell us why or why not, and you'll be entered in the drawing! I'll choose a winner next week, using random.com.  Thanks, and may you be blessed with that free copy!

Pearls from the Sea Giveaway!

I have a recommendation for you today for a unique devotional by two Christian women, one of whom (Mary Lu Tyndall) is multi-published in historical fiction. I've really enjoyed the novels by her that I've read. Co-author Debbie Mitchell is a woman much like you: an avid follower of Jesus, a reader, a learner. These ladies got together and, using the motif of taking a "journey with Jesus at the helm of your ship," they've produced this sweet little book that I hope to read soon, myself:
Pearls from the Sea: 180 Days Sailing the High Seas with Jesus at the Helm
From what I know of these two women, this book has got to be a treasure. 

And thanks to their generosity, one of my commenters can win a free ebook copy! Leave a comment to enter the drawing. But first, read more about the book, below.     

 All aboard! From the shores of salvation to eternity's horizon, embark on a 180 day journey with Jesus at the helm of your ship. You'll encounter storms, ship wrecks, and battles but you'll also enjoy days of smooth sailing, glorious sunsets, and rainbows that span the skies. In short:  Life with Jesus is an adventure. But He will never steer you wrong. Is your compass broken? Need some wind in your sails? Lost your anchor? Or maybe you've spotted an enemy ship on the horizon--they come all too often. If any of the above sound like you, come aboard! Join us as we help you trust in the Captain of your souls. (And hang on. You're in for the voyage of your life!)

MaryLu Tyndall Bio

MaryLu Tyndall is a Christy Award Nominee and author of eleven Inspirational Historical Romance Novels.  Her books are not only known for their romance and adventure but for their strong spiritual themes. MaryLu has been walking with God for fifteen years, but prior to that, her experience as an agnostic has given her a unique perspective on things both spiritual and carnal. Her life mission is to encourage believers to not take for granted the love and power of God and to live their lives fully for Him!  MaryLu lives in California with her husband, six children, and three cats.

                                     Debbie Mitchell Bio

A Sunday school teacher for over 20 years, Debbie Mitchell is a firm believer in reading through the Bible annually; she is working on her 13th time through. Keeping in the Word and teaching Sunday School has helped her to recognize and face the enemy. She lives in California with her husband Jack and their two dogs. She has one son, two daughters, two sons-in-law and has been blessed with grandchildren that truly make her days.

Note From the Authors:

It is our prayer that readers will be blessed by this devotional, that these messages God has given us will bring them closer to Him and empower them to keep sailing strong for His glory! Especially when the storms hit.

We all need strength behind our sails during storms. Has God helped you through a storm, recently? He can do so through so many different means, but often simply by the taking to heart of his Word. OR by a good devotional that helps us do so! Leave a comment for your chance to win this one. :) Thanks. And thank you to Mary Lu and Debbie for supplying that copy for one reader.