Be a dog for Jesus!

I love animals, always have. My mother didn't let us have dogs or cats growing up so I had fish. And although fish are peaceful and beautiful to look at, they just don't inspire much affection!  Although I'm more of a cat person now, I adore dogs. They offer that unconditional love that we all are seeking from each other.

Just think of what a dog is like. He's faithful, loyal, always loving and adoring his master. When his master chastises him, the dog is repentant and sad. He never holds a grudge and always wants to please his master. Whenever the master goes, the dog wants to come along, and whereever the master stays, the dog sits by his feet.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could be like that with Jesus? I believe that's how we are supposed to behave. Yet I find that so many Christians behave more like cats than dogs. They are aloof, distant from God, forcing Him to move toward them first, rather than running into his arms. They raise their noses and behave as if the world revolves around them. They are picky with the gifts God gives them, sometimes even rejecting them and walking away. If you've ever owned a cat, you know what I'm talking about! I can never get my cats to do anything I say. They don't come when called. They hide when they know I'm looking for them. They sleep half the day and only give me a cursory glance when I walk into the room.

Oh, how horrible to behave that way with God!!!
Hear the words of Jesus

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.  John 12:26

Did you notice that Jesus said that where He was, His servants would be also?  He didn't say that where His servants were, there He would be also. Yes yes, Jesus is always with us in the sense that He indwells us. But I'm talking about who's following who? How often do we head out on a certain course without consulting God, without praying and waiting for his answer? Whether it be a new job, a decision about a relationship, school, or a trip, we forge ahead and then pray for God to bless it.  I can't tell you the times I've heard "I'm just hoping God will bless my efforts." 

Are you in His will? Did He lead you to this spot? If so, then of course He'll bless what you're doing. If not, I'd be on my knees finding out if I've headed out to sea without Jesus as the captain of my ship! And if He's not the captain, I'd be worried about who is!

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice John 10:4

So, I challenge you to analyze your reationship with God. Are you more like a cat? Are you indifferent, even unresponsive to God? Do you run and hide when He's looking for you? Is it all about what God can do for you?
Or, like a dog, is there no place you'd rather be than at the feet of your Master?

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Tis a Writer's life for me--creating a Heroine

Last week, I shared how I generally start a story by coming up with a theme, some message I feel God wants me to get across in the story. Out of that theme, I create characters who can best express that theme through the plot and the struggles and the changes that happen during the book.

I usually create the hero first. As I mentioned last week, I follow these steps:

• I choose a personality from one of several personality types. I don't follow this exclusively. I sometimes combine personalities or I add characteristics of my own. But this gives me a baseline to start with.
• Next I give my character a great backstory! I do this by interviewing my character, by filling out a character chart and listing good and bad qualities.
• I find a picture that matches what I thnk he or she looks like (I usually just browse online or go to a royalty-free photo website)
• And lastly I create both a spiritual arc and  character arc for my character.

So now I have my hero. What about a heroine to match?

To create an interesting relationship, you need sparks, chemistry, problems. Let's face it, as nice as a great, loving relationship is, it doesn't make for an interesting read.  You want your couple to face problems, both with each other and with the world. They must clash. There must be tension between them, obstacles to overcome. In fact, there must be seemingly unsurrmountable obstacles to overcome!  Otherwise, your reader will lose interest. I'm not sure why we humans love conflict but hey, that's a topic for another post.

So how do I choose my heroine? In the case of the book I'm currently writing, Forsaken Dreams, my hero was a Colonel in the Southern army. He lost his brother in the war and his entire family in the Atlanta fire. He suffers from Post traumatic stress syndrome and is bitter, unforgiving, and angry. He hates the North and anything to do with the north.

So, I created a heroine who was married to a Northern General. Though her husband is long dead and her marriage was loveless, she hides this small fact from everyone because she knows her fellow Southerners would ostrasize her as her family has already done.

So of course they fall in love. Talk about conflict! Especially when my hero discovers the truth. But wait, I've also chosen my heroine this way because her past will help my hero learn forgiveness and learn to release his bitterness to God and receive healing for his heart.

Choose a heroine who in some way is in direct opposition to the hero.

• A goal that clashes with the heroes  (Think Charlisse and Merrick in The Redemption)
• A past that the hero cannot accept  (Think Hope and Nathaniel in The Blue Enchantress)
• A past act that keeps them apart (Think Isabel and Kent in The Restitution)
• A heritage that makes them an enemy (Think Rose and Alex in Surrender the Night)
• A past that causes intense mistrust (Think Cassandra and Luke in Surrender the Dawn)

I'm sure you can think of others, but you get the point!
Once you have a general idea of your heroine, you can follow the same steps to flesh her out as I used to create my hero.

And voila, you have the makings of a very electric romance!

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This is how I pictured Charlisse Bristol in my pirate series!

What do you think? Is this how you pictured her?

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Wordless Wednesday!



Batten down the hatches, grab yer lifelines! Tis a storm!



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Here's how I pictured Captain Edmund Merrick from my Pirate series!

         
Just with longer hair!!

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Did you know you are a Priest?

You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth Rev 5:10

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Rev 1:5-6

I guess I've read this Scriptures a thousand times before. I always thought. Oh, how cool! But I never took the time to stop and reflect on what it meant to be a priest. If you are born again and have the Spirit of God living within you, then guess what, you are already a priest.

So, what does a priest do? Here's what I came up with.

A priest offers sacrifices to God on behalf of others
A priest spends a lot of time in God's presence to discern His will.
A priest is God's representative to the people
A priest studies the Word of God
A priest knows the Word of God and teaches the people
A priest comforts those who mourn
A priest encourages those who are weak
A priest warns those who are lost
A priest loves the unlovable
A priest forgives
A priest cares for those in need
A priest offers Godly counsel

Can you think of other things a priest does?
I don't know about you, but as I went through this list, it really convicted me.  Am I any of those things? Well, maybe I do some of them on occasion, but do I take my role as priest to a dying world seriously? Or do I spend most of my time thinking of what God can do for me? 

No, we can't offer animal sacrifices anymore, but we can offer the sacrifice of our time in prayer for the lost. We can fast and paray for a world that's going to hell. It's so important that we remember that the minute we toss our feet over the side of our bed in the morning, we must put on our priestly robes. Whether we go to school, or stay at home, or go to a job, we are priests to every person we meet.

It's a new mindset for me. A different way to look at my purpose on earth. But it has changed the way I look at life and at people. I am God's representative! What an awesome responsibility! And I must know God's Word so well and know Him so well, that I am ready with a good answer to anyone who questions me, that I'm ready with a word of comfort, of love, of forgiveness. That I let people know I'll pray for them.

I must be Christ on earth.

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?  2 Corinthians 1:14-16

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Tis a Writer's life for me. Creating a hero!

This week I started on the first book in my Escape to Paradise series, entitled Forsaken Dreams. Before getting started,  I spent a couple of months doing research, reading old journals, taking copius notes, studying the reconstruction in the South after the war...etc.. etc..  Then I spent weeks creating characters, a hero and heroine for each story plus a plethora of secondary characters, all people who are traveling along on the journey to Brazil.

But let's backtrack a bit and start with the hero. How do I create a hero for the book?

 First I have to decide on a theme for the book, some moral or lesson I want to express through the story, something the reader can take away, something that might resonate with them and bring them closer to God. I decide this through much prayer and searching of the Scriptures to see what God would have me write about. It could be forgiveness, obedience, destiny, loving others, humility.. you get the picture. Then and only then do I begin to create characters.

You see it is through the characters that this theme will be expressed. It is through their lives and struggles and the things they learn that my message (or the message God gives me) becomes real for the reader. To start with, I create a hero and heroine. If I wasn't writing a romance, I wouldn't need both of them but romance demands a couple!  I must create a heroine and hero who are basically good people but they are flawed. (Like most of us!)  But I need to create flaws in both of them that can be used to forward the theme. For example if my theme if forgiveness, I need to create a hero who has a problem with forgiveness. It's not always that simple but you get the picture.

In Forsaken Dreams, the hero, Colonel Grant Wallace, has lost his entire family in the war, including his younger brother whom he encouraged to join the effort. Consequently, Grant is bitter and angry and filled with hate for the Yankees. He isn't sure there is even a God anymore, and all he wants to do is escape to a place where he can forget.

Next I choose a personality for my hero. There are many personality charts you can use for this. I use serveral but I like 45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt.  From the personality or personalities that I choose, these charts give me a list of qualities the person has. I use some of them and add my own to form the person I have in mind.

Now, I give the hero a backstory. I basically write him a history. I do this by filling out character chart listing his fears, dreams, disappointments, physical description, quirks etc. A good way to get to know your character is to interview them as you would a friend. "Hi Grant, where were you born? Did you have any siblings? Were your parents happy? Did you grow up wealthy or poor? What did you want to be when you grew up? How was your relationship with your father?"  Things like that. It's actually fun and you'd be surprised at your own answers! 

Once I have the hero's personality and backstory, I'm really getting to know him! He's starting to become a real person in my mind. Now, I need to create both a character arc and spiritual arc for him. These tell me how I want him to grow both internally and spiritually in the story. What is Grant like when the story begins, and what do I want him to be like at the end? How does he grow? What things does he learn? And very importantly, how do I get him from A to B? 

Last but not least, I go looking for a picture of the man I have created. That puts the final seal on my new guy. He's not just a fragment of my imagination anymore. He's as real as if he were sitting right next to me!

Seems more complicated than you probably thought, huh? Tune in next week when I'll write about how I choose a heroine to compliment my new hero.

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Pictures of models for my pirate series book covers!

I found these old pictures of the actual live models they used for Captain Merrick and Charlisse Bristol, the hero and heroine in the first two books of my Legacy of the King's Pirates series.  I thought you'd enjoy them.

Can you see the resemblance to the covers?? 

This was the only time my publisher allowed me to approve the models used. At the time, I thought it was normal... but I guess not. 

   

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Wordless Wednesday!

Arg, A broadside fer them Spanish Slaggards!

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Stop believing the Lies!

They say that the spiritual battlefield is in the mind. I quite agree!  I feel like I'm always in a battle with my thoughts. How about you? Some of it is my old sinful nature shining through. Much of it is Satan and his lies. And LIES are what they are!. It's so important to recognize when a lie has been planted in your mind. Once you do that, you can easily rid yourself of that damaging enemy with the Sword of the Spirit.

So, how do we recognize the lies? Anything that goes against what God's Word says about you, your family, and your life. Don't just allow thoughts to flit about in your mind uninhibited. You must capture each thought and check it against the Truth.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ  2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Let me give you some examples from my own life.

Lie
My own father didn't want me. Why would anyone else ever love me?

Truth
God adopted me into his family and now I call him Father.
(I received God’s Spirit when he adopted me as his own daughter. Now I call him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15)

Lie
Who do you think you are? You can't write a novel. You don't have the time or the talent.

Truth
God will give me everything I need to do what He calls me to do.
(And God is able to make all grace abound toward me, that I, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8)

Lie
My prodigal children won't ever get saved

Truth
My children will be saved
(But the descendants of the righteous will be delivered Proverbs 11:21
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; They will spring up among the grass like poplars by streams of water. Isaiah 44: 3-4)


You may have other lies being told to you. Lies like you are worthless, you are ugly, dumb, won't amount to anything, you've made too many mistakes, you're a bad mother, wife, worker. You'll never find someone to love you.. Whatever the lie is, if it goes against the WORD of GOD, IT IS A LIE!. So stop listening to the Father of Lies and search the Bible for the truth that defeats that specific Lie. It takes discipline. It takes studying the Bible daily. But it's worth it!  So, read the Word of God and ask Him to show you His truth.
 
I created a document with 2 columns. On the left side, I wrote all the lies I've been told my entire life (some I'm still being told). On the right column I list the truth and the Scriptures to back it up. Then I hung it up somewhere where I can easily see it and everytime the enemy lies to me, I counter with a Scripture.
 
If you do the same, you'll soon find that the lies will not come as often. Not only that but you'll start believing the truth. When your mind is filled with the truth of God's Word, it becomes renewed, and you have the mind of Christ. Then, watch out world!  Nothing will be impossible for you!

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Win a free Tote bag with 4 books inside!

Isn't it cute? I have two of these tote bags to give away, each with 4 books inside. One of my own books and 3 others from other authors that I've read and recommend.

All you have to do is write a NEW review of one of my books on any of the following online stores. Reviews you've already written in the past do not count. I'm looking for new reviews. However, if you've written reviews for All of my books at All of these sites, let me know and I'll enter your name anyway. Thanks!

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Christianbook.Com

When you've written your review, send an email to marylu_tyndall@yahoo.com  with the following informaton:

• The name you placed the review under
• The book you reviewed
• The online store you reviewed in at. 

And I will enter your name in a drawing!  The more books you review in the more places, the more times your name gets put in the pot.

If you've never written a review before, don't be shy. It's easy. Just tell people what you liked about the book without giving too much of the story away. What about the story did you like? The characters? Did the book keep you up at night? Did it teach you anything.  It doesn't have to be long and it doesn't have to be a 5 star review either.

I will draw a name on December 9th!
Have a wonderful weekend!!

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Pictures from Hawaii!

Some of you may know Brenda, a sweet lady and friend from Canada who often posts on my blog. Well, she was fortunate enough to spend a few weeks in Hawaii last month. She sent me some beautiful pictures and I thought I'd share them with you. Enjoy!



Gorgeous Sunset



Beautiful Hawaiian Girls

Flamingos! We had these in Florida

Ah.. the beach!



A heron, I think?



Crashing surf!

Wish I was there!



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Wordless Wednesday!

Come aboard, we sail at dawn!

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Ways God Speaks to us - Part 3

In the past two posts, I mentioned 4 ways that I've noticed God speaks to us and I gave you examples of the first three. If you missed them, please check the archives.  My hope is that many of you have begun to realize that God has been speaking to you for years and perhaps you didn't know it. If you did know it, I hope I've given you affirmation of God's constant presence and involvement in your life.

Here are the four ways. (Not an exhaustive list. Just my experience)

 

• Gently guiding us / Revealing
• Discerning/Perceiving
• Direct speech by Angels
• Direct speech by Holy Spirit

Today we will deal with the fourth way God speaks to us and the most rare. Directly. I'm including dreams and visions in this category because through them God is speaking to us one on one.  Here are some examples from Scripture. Notice how specific the communication is:
 
Saul's conversion on the road to Damascus in Acts 9 where Jesus Himself calls to Saul saying "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul answers and he and Jesus tells him to go into the city and wait.
 
Ananias, the same chapter, received specific communication from Jesus in a vision telling him to go to a certain house and lay hands on Saul to receive his sight.
 
Peter sees a vision while on the housetop in which Jesus tells him specifically that "What God has cleansed, you must not call common." Jesus was instructing Peter to accept Gentile believers into the fold.
 
Philip was instructed by an angel to travel down a certain road where he saw a chariot and a eunuch in it who was reading Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”  So he did and was able to explain the Scriptures to this man and he believed!
 
Acts 18: Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;  for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
 
Acts 23: But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”
 
So, you see that when the Lord speaks to us directly, it's normally to give us specific directions or tell us specifically what to do or what will happen.  Isn't that amazing? Some people would say.. yea, that was in Acts. Things like that don't happen today? Really?

I'll give you an example from my own experience. Years ago, I was stuck in a dead-end job that I absolutely hated. I had been a Christian for a few years and I was begging God to deliver me. I was sure He had something else for me to do with my life. I had spent years searching different job opportunities.. school options.. and came up empty. Finally at the end of my prayer walk one morning before work, I simply lifted my hands and gave it all up. I completely surrendered to God and told Him that I'd stay where I was.. that I'd scrub toilets for a living if that's what He wanted. I felt such peace after that and a couple yards later as I was nearly home I heard this voice. It wasn't audible. It came from deep within me. And it spoke with authority and yet it was full of joy. The voice said. "I've got something for you to do that will blow your socks off!"  It literally said that. I laughed at first. But then I wondered where it came from because I wasn't thinking about jobs or my future anymore, I was just praying. So, I told God that if that was Him, Thank-you and I went on my way. At the time I wasn't writing anything. I hadn't written in years.. but two years later, I got my first publishing contract and they've been coming ever since.  I now know that was God's voice I heard.

Since then I've heard Him speak directly to me several times. Usually in instruction or answering a question or just telling me He loves me. Sometimes it's a warning. People tell me it's just my imagination. Satan tries to tell me I'm crazy, but I know the Lord's voice. 

 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. John 10:4

How do you know it's the Lord and not you or Satan?  Here's some criteria that may help you.

It's clear and specific.
It's directed at you
It brings peace
It is authoritative
It seems to come out of nowhere when you least expect it.
It never defies anything in Scripture.
 

So, what about you? I'd love to hear your stories!!  Have you heard from God?

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Tis a writer's life for me!

Can you get too close to the story you're writing?

The answer is YES.  I've been working all week on edits for my next release Veil of Pearls.  Just when I thought I was done with the story, it shows up in my email once again!!  You see there are two kinds of edits in the publishing business. A substantive edit and a line edit. The substantive edit reveals things that don't make sense, holes in the plot, characters that need some work, things like that. Usually, my edits on these are pretty light. This time. Not so much! In fact, I had to delete an entire chapter! Plus move several scenes around, introduce a new character, etc.. etc.. Of course once you do that, everything else in the story is affected. Sigh.  But, I have until next Friday so I should be good. It's just HARD WORK. (Just in case there are any wanna be writers out there who think my life is easy!)

  My problem this time? I think I was just too close to the whole story. And because I was rushed, I didn't take the time to ponder things. Pondering is a good thing for all you writers out there. I highly recommend it. All it requires is stepping away from the computer, talking a walk, thinking about what you just wrote and any upcoming scenes and working through the details, making sure everything makes sense. If you don't do that. If you get rushed, things can end up garbled.  But Thank God for good Editors!!! Mine is Traci Depree.. a lovely lady and an author herself. She always catches my goofs. God love her!
Never fear, though, the story is going to be FABULOUS! I'm very excited about it.

So, other than that what have I been doing?  Well, I hired some maids (very cheap ones) to clean my filthy house and they spent 3 hours getting it spotless! They even got the wood floors so clean, my hubby and my stepson and I are slipping on them. I even fell once!   Not complaining, though. I just haven't had time lately to clean.

We went and saw Courageous last week. Check for the post on my review. Go see it!!! Bring the men in your life!!
My best friend is moving away.
I found out another good friend doesn't have cancer! Praise God!
I made an appointment to be tested for Sleep Apnea. Uggg. I don't think I have it, but I do wake up alot.
And my hubby and I are enjoying the new show, Person of Interest, with Jim Cavaziel. Hubba hubba. (The hubba hubba is for both my hubby and Jim)

What's new with you this week?

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Rainy and cold in California!.

Last week I had my shorts and T-shirt on and it was 85. This week, I have jeans and a sweater, and it's 65. What the heck?  I guess Fall is here. Plus it's raining! I always love the first rain of the season (For those of you who don't live in California, it doesn't rain all summer!)  The air smells so fresh and clean and somehow, its as if the parched land just breathes a sigh of relief.  Soon, all the brown hills will turn green again.
That part is good. The part that is bad is that the rain won't stop until April!  But I suppose that will help me stay inside and get all my books written!!
What's it like where you are?

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Wordless Wednesday!



Abandon ship! Head for the lifeboats!



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Ways God speaks to us - Part 2

God wants to talk to you. Does that surprise you? It did me at first. I mean, why would God want to talk to little ole me? But the truth of the matter is He does. He's desperate to talk to us. All you have to do is read through His Word to see that. Repeatedly throughout History, God reached out to mankind, through direct communication, through signs, wonders, prophets and finally by sending His one and only Son. Today we have the Holy Spirit who fills us and guides us and tells us things the Father wants us to know.  If you're a believer in Christ, you are adopted in God's family. He is your father. And like a good father, He wants to be involved in your life. He Loves to spend time with you. Wants to talk with you. .

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “ Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15

Last week I mentioned 4 ways that I've noticed God speaks to us and gave you examples of the first two. I hope that perhaps you thought of moments in your life when God spoke to you and you didn't even realize it.

• Gently guiding us / Revealing
• Discerning/Perceiving
• Direct speech by Angels
• Direct speech by Holy Spirit

Today, I'll cover the third way God speaks to us. Theses last two ways are far more rare than the first two, but they do happen, and they've happened to me.

 
Do Angels speak to us? Yes. Absolutely! They spoke to people in the Bible all the time. They spoke to people after Jesus's Resurrection as well. And they've probably spoken to you too! 
You just may not have recognized it.
 
I believe we each have an angel or at times, multiples angels assigned to watch over us.  The Bible is clear on this:
For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways Psalm 91:11
Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven Matthew 18:10
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels Hebrews 13:2
An example of an angel speaking to someone after the resurrection can be found in John 20 when Mary went to the tomb to see Jesus, an angel appeared to her and spoke to her, telling her Jesus had arisen.
 
I believe I had a personal encounter with an angel once. Maybe she was even my guardian angel. I was walking on the trail behind my house as I do every day. This was before I was an author and I had to go walk early in the morning before I went to work. It was my quiet prayer time, the only place I could go to be alone. Usually, there's no one up there at that hour. It's barely dawn and everything is misty and cold.  I reached the end of the trail, turned to head back and there appeared before me a woman.. probably 30ish. Young. Attractive but not in a made up way. She had a gorgeous dog with her. It looked like an Alaskan Malamute with bright blue eyes. I was startled because there had been no one following me on the trail and there's no place she could have come from. And I hadn't heard her at all. She smiled at me as she passed. And she said "God Bless you." That's it. Just God bless you. Now, let me tell you that nobody says "God Bless you" here in California.. not unless you're in church! In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't outlawed soon. So I was so stunned, I kept walking, shaking my head. After a few minutes, I turned around and she was gone.
 
Was she an angel? I don't know. Have other angels spoken to me in my lifetime? Probably. Just don't discount the stranger who appears in your life with a word.  Check it with Scripture. Ask God if that was from Him. And if it is.. be blessed!

On a side note, I know of a very Godly, trustworthy man whose guardian angel frequently appears to him. My husband has also seen angels on several occasions. They exist. They are God's messengers and their purpose is to minister to God's kids.  Don't worship them. Don't fear them. But open your spirit to believe they exist and to receive whatever they have to tell you.

Can you think of a time you might have had an encounter with an angel?

Tune in next week for the final way God speaks to us--directly.

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Courageous - my review!

Courageous - the Movie! My thoughts.


First of all, it's GREAT to see a movie that has no sex or violence or foul words, but even more than that, a movie that has a great theme, a moral, and talks freely about God and the Bible. All in all, I thought the movie was pretty good. It kept my attention, had great drama and action. Hey, I even cried!! On the down side, the acting wasn't superb and the plot seemed to wane in the beginning. But I could set that all aside due to the fabulous theme of Fathers stepping up to be Leaders, the Protectors, the Instructors, the Providers, and the Spiritual Guides of their wives and children!! We see so little of that in this culture. I, for, one grew up without a Dad so I understand first hand the horrible effect that can have on a child's sense of belonging and value.

The Movie is an appeal to Fathers to step Up! To not be ashamed to be Men of God. To be courageous enough to take a stand against this culture and say I am a man of God. I will be faithful to my wife and cherish her! I will spend time with my kids and instruct them with Biblical principles! If even half the Christian men in this country would do this, we could change the next generation and quite possibly save our country from its present course!
 
So, I highly recommend you grab your neighbors and friends and go see this movie. I truly believe that those men who open their hearts to its message will be forever changed and will leave a legacy of honor and integrity after they die.

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I highly recommend this book, releasing today!!

A Necessary Deception
Laurie Alice Eakes
Publisher: Revell

When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

Readers will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the future.

Available at Christianbook.com  and Amazon

Endorsements

Four-Star Review from Romantic Times

"The first in Eakes’ Daughters of Bainbridge House series, this is a great Regency-era novel with characters who may not be who people think they are." --Patsy Glans

"With her clean, sleek prose, Laurie Alice Eakes is one of the best storytellers the world has today. A Necessary Deception is one of her best, deftly weaving an intriguing spy chase with the elegant life of the ton in a beautiful love story that kidnaps unwitting readers and holds them hostage to the very last page."--Delle Jacobs, award-winning author of His Majesty, the Prince of Toads

"In A Necessary Deception, Laurie Alice Eakes weaves the fine silk threads of historical richness, dangerous intrigue, and forbidden romance into a flawless literary tapestry. This is Georgette Heyer meets Terri Blackstock in 1812 Regency London, an adventure that will leave readers breathless."--Louise M. Gouge, award-winning author of At the Captain's Command

"Laurie Alice Eakes writes a page-turning story with an in-depth knowledge of the period, an eye for detail, and an escalating mystery that will keep readers guessing till the end."--Ruth Axtell Morren, author of Wild Rose and The Rogue's Redemption

"Intriguing, suspenseful, masterful, and romantic--all the things you want in a great book! Add to that enchanting characters with real problems and real flaws who grow throughout the story, and a twist-and-turn plot, and I guarantee that once you dive into this book, you'll be happily lost in Regency London for the duration."--MaryLu Tyndall, Christy Award nominee and author of the Surrender to Destiny series, Hey!! That's me!! LOL

"Laurie Alice Eakes's novel is a captivating combination of romance and suspense set in the glittering Regency period."--Jane Myers Perrine, author of Second Chance Bride

"A Necessary Deception will lure you into a fascinating Regency full of danger, surprises, and a romance to quicken your pulse."--Jillian Kent, author of Secrets of the Heart

"A time of romance and intrigue with characters who grip one's heart and won't let go--this is the kind of book I look forward to reading when I want to be uplifted and carried away."--Jennifer Hudson Taylor, author of Highland Blessings and Highland Sanctuary

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