Sneak Peek!

Here's a few pics from my trip to Georgia. I'm just going to give you a little teaser, until I get home (tomorrow!!). Wouldn't want to give all my news away in one post ya' know. ;)

I'll give ya' a hundred bucks if you can tell me where I've been. ;)

And yes, I had my fingers crossed when I said that.

See ya' soon!!!

~Brenda

Bon Voyage!!

Hello my Lovely Lurkers!!

Just wanted to say a farewell, as I am leaving the state for a week. Oh don't worry. Lady Laptop and I will still be joined at the hip. I'll be posting pics and all sorts of things this week, so all y'all stay tuned.

Meanwhile, head on over to this blog if you want to read a poem that I wrote. I didn't win the sought after prize of yet another book, but I did get an honorable mention for my short little witty thing I called a poem. ;)

Wish me luck, my friends. I've not been on an airplane since early 2,000. Celiac disease, gastroparesis, and 911 might make this a pretty interesting trip! ;)

Mo' later!

~Brenda

Time. And A Bottle.

Shaun's parents came over for lunch after church last Sunday. Jeanine was asking me how I was doing, and if I needed any help before my upcoming trip this Thursday (which is now tomorrow, holy cow!).

I said, "I'm doing okay. But if you have any time in a bottle, I'd appreciate a loan."

She said, "Did you say time in a bottle, or time and a bottle?"

:-))

She knows when I'm stressed and have too much on my plate, bless her heart. Nice of her to lighten my load by way of a little humor, if only for a few minutes.

I have to admit that it is sometimes tempting to turn to something in a bottle. And I'm not talkin' about time. No, I'm speaking of something a little more heavy duty. A little more comforting than time would be.

Post-surgery comforting, if you know what I mean.

But I know that's the wrong source to rely on. See, when my schedule gets busy (too busy!), I tend to crowd out God and my time with Him, rather than hover closer.

Why do I do that!!?? **beating myself over the head

Because I'm human, and frail, and but dust.

But still!! You would think I would learn my lesson. It hasn't been that long since the last upheaval of my schedule. And I learned this lesson last time. Stay close to God during times of stress. Stay close to God during times of stress. Stay. Close. To. God. During. Times. Of. Stress.

Am I really that frail and prone to wander?

Apparently ... I am.

So I hereby turn away from my own reliance. My own strength. My own ability to do anything without the help of my Savior.

I don't need time in a bottle. Or time and a bottle.

I need focus.

Now, please. Whatever your challenge is today, don't turn to time. Don't turn to a bottle. Turn to the Lord. Therein lies your true help, your true comfort, and your true peace.

In God let us strengthen ourselves. The gracious presence of God, his power, his promise, his readiness to hear prayer, the witness of his Spirit in the hearts of his people; these are the secret of his tabernacle, and in these the saints find cause for that holy security and peace of mind in which they dwell at ease.

The psalmist prays for constant communion with God in holy ordinances. All God's children desire to dwell in their Father's house. Not to sojourn there as a wayfaring man, to tarry but for a night; or to dwell there for a time only, as the servant that abides not in the house for ever; but to dwell there all the days of their life, as children with a father. Do we hope that the praising of God will be the blessedness of our eternity? Surely then we ought to make it the business of our time.

This he had at heart more than any thing. Whatever the Christian is as to this life, he considers the favour and service of God as the one thing needful. This he desires, prays for and seeks after, and in it he rejoices. (Ps 27:7-14)

~Matthew Henry Commentary, emphasis mine

Book Review: Rediscovering God In America

If you love U.S. History, God, and America, get this book!

One of my goals in life is to tour Washington D.C., but until then, this book served as a sneak peek of what I will find when I finally make the trip. Beautiful photography by Newt Gingrich's wife, Callista, is all throughout the book, giving the reader a second best tour of many of the main historical monuments and memorials. From the Lincoln Memorial to the Arlington Cemetery, Callista's photography is eye candy worthy to behold.

The book's main theme is to remind us of our rich, Christian heritage. Through Callista's photography, and Newt's vast knowledge of the sites, we are given a history lesson of how God, Providence, and Christianity are common themes throughout the rising and upkeep of our nation. If you have any doubt as to whether our country was shaped by the belief that we are a nation under God, read this book. You'll discover that there's no denying that our forefather's (and many recent presidents) believed that religion is an essential component to our nation's survival, as is seen on the permanent etchings throughout the sites of our nation's capitol.

This book will renew your love for our nation, and your resolve to preserve our precious freedoms.

~Brenda

You can learn more about and purchase Rediscovering God In America, by Newt and Callista Gingrich by clicking here.

My New Year's Resolution

If you're a regular reader here, you'll know that I have determined in my very own little heart to write a book this year. I've wanted to do this for quite some time. But frankly, I've been intimidated, and the self-doubts that arise in me are most overwhelming at times.

While I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions, I'm making an exception this year. I'm taking the plunge, putting myself out there, taking risks, trusting in my Lord and Savior, and ... writing a book.

I have many ideas and plans for the books (plural!) I want to write. But I quickly narrowed it down to three:

1. A devotional book, with a theme on suffering.
2. A devotional book, with no particular theme (other than Christ centered, obviously).
3. A novel.

I love devotionals, and I seem to have a knack for writing them, and blessing others in the process. So I really leaned towards this idea. The book I would like to write on suffering, would, in my opinion, take a huge amount of planning, prayer, and studying. All of which I am not sure I am prepared for.

The second book would certainly be easier for me to write, but after consulting my best friend (who also happens to be my husband), I could see how I would possibly have trouble getting that type of project published. After all, I am not well-known.

Heck, I'm not known at all!!

I also struggled with the idea of writing a novel. Not because I wouldn't love the process, but because I want what I do to have an eternal effect. Not just for me, in the form of pleasing the Lord and living a life that is not wasted. But in other's lives as well. I wasn't sure that a novel could accomplish all of that, and I've struggled the last couple of months with whether novel writing is a futile undertaking.

I asked myself if writing a novel could lead others to desire a closer relationship with God. Could a fictional story truly glorify God? My fictional story?

Again, after consulting with my best friend, I am convinced that it can. Ok, maybe convinced is too strong. I am hopeful it can and trusting it will.

I am reminded of my sister-in-law, who came to know Christ by reading some Christian fiction that I had loaned her. It was a story about a young lady that was nearly as stubborn as herself, who had to ultimately learn to lean on Christ after an accident that left her blind.

I am also reminded of the many fictional pieces I have read, and the resolve that I have walked away with to live my life for the better, because of what my favorite (or not so favorite) character had shown me.

What better way to encourage my readers to live a life for the glory of God than to give them an example to follow? Or to learn how to heal from past hurts? Or to learn how to deal with difficult people? The list goes on and on.

If you haven't guessed by now ... you're dense!

With God's help, I'm going to write a novel this year!!!!

If that's not the most difficult, wild and crazy resolution I've ever made, I don't know what is! I personally think I'm nuts! But I suppose Noah was deemed nuts also when he started building a monstrous boat in a world that had never seen or felt a drop of rain. And David? What kind of small-statured nut case goes out and fight's a giant with a piddly little sling shot and a few stones?

The kind of nut case who is God fearing, obedient when the task seems impossible (ridiculous even!), and the kind who realizes that it will not be his own strength that wins the battle, that's what kind. Noah and David had what seemed to be impossible tasks. And now so do I.

I can't do it without God's help. But I will do it regardless of who tells me that I can't (this includes myself). I'll do it because God wants me to. I'll do it because with God, all things are possible.

I'm trusting in that truth. I'm trusting in Him to enable me. And I'm trusting that He will be glorified thought it all.

May He increase, while I decrease.

~Brenda

Decisions

My Facebook status yesterday:

Decisions, decisions. I hate 'em.

Jessie's comment on my status:

That's why they invented eenie meenie minie moe.

Not only did that make me smile, but maybe there's something to it! I think I'll try it next time! ;)

~Brenda

P.S. Speaking of decisions, I'll soon be announcing what type of book I'll be writing this next year, so stay tuned!

Eenie, meenie, minie, moe .....

Book Review: The Making of a Madam

I just finished reading The Making of a Madam, by Patsyann Maloney, with Wayne Holmes. Wayne is the author of the book that I contributed to a few years back. You can find that book here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The Making of a Madam is a story of turmoil, hardship, and heartache. While growing up in a family of fourteen children, Patsyann's physical, spiritual, and emotional needs went unmet, until she ran away from home. Patsy and her sister eventually went to live with older siblings. But although her physical needs were met, emotional turmoil continued. While still living with her father and mother, she was sexually molested at a very young age by an old man, and she learned at a young age that men would provide a little pocket change in return for sexual favors. Moving in with her older sister should have remedied that situation, but instead, it continued as her brother-in-law continually molested her until her engagement near the end of high school.

Patsy's story takes almost every imaginable turn for the worst. From molestation, to her husband cheating on her with a man, and beyond. Just when I thought the story couldn't get any worse, it does, and soon she is in to full blown prostitution to provide for her children, and then on to being a madam. All in the hope of gaining what her father could never give her.

However, God's grace and mercy go farther and deeper than any imaginable pain, suffering, and sin. When Pasty is incarcerated, she learns (through programs available to inmates) healthier ways of thinking, and for the first time in her life, she sees a possible ending to her tumultuous life.

Because of good behavior, Pasty's time in jail was cut much shorter than her original sentence. Not long after she was set free, she humbly and eagerly gave her heart to Jesus Christ. While that did not instantly make her life and relationships golden, it paved the way for her to reconstruct the relationships with her children, siblings, and others that she hurt along the way.

The Making of a Madam is a true story of human frailty, victory over sin, and Christ's love for us. It's a page turner that will pull at the strings of your heart, and ultimately make you weep with those who weep, and rejoice with those who rejoice. It's an inspiring read that you won't soon forget.

~Brenda