10 TIPS TO SHOW SMART GRACE

Janet Chester Bly

Copyright©2010

Anytime the subject of grace comes up, I realize how short I fall in bestowing graciousness in every thought, word and deed. It begins with, just how well do I know God? He’s the epitome, the originator of grace. And I always remember hubby and pastor Stephen Bly’s definition for grace: "God’s love freely given to guilty sinners in defiance of what they deserve."

FACELIFT, a new novel by Leanna Ellis

FACELIFT
B&H Publishing

BOOK BLURB:

A ‘can do’ kind of woman runs her own business, raises her teenage daughter, and takes care of her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. But Kaye learns a facelift is more than skin deep. Joy is more than tacking on a happy face. It's relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life.

Read an excerpt from Facelift here:
http://leannaellis.com/facelift.html

BITS ABOUT LEANNA ELLIS:

Leanna Ellis

“I grew up watching Gene Kelly movies. My backyard became a stage for my own musicals. Hence, the start of my own ‘That’s Entertainment!’ I not only loved to dance, but I began to write as well during these elementary years. My fourth grade teacher made me write a poem. I wrote about my dog, Sport. The poem was horrible. It was even worse having to read it to the class. So began my hatred of poetry. (I have since learned to love it, just not write it.) In sixth grade, my teacher introduced me to Edgar Allan Poe. I wrote a story, a dark Poe-esque type tale about murder and mayhem, and fell in love with writing. It, like choreography, tapped into my soul and unleashed my creativity like nothing else.”

FACELIFT book trailer, a new novel by Leanna Ellis

DON'T GIMLET YOUR HORSE...or YOUR FAITH

On The Trail with

STEPHEN BLY

Copyright©1993,2008

One way to measure the skill of a cowboy in the Old West? Determine how well he takes care of his horse.

A horse provided his job, his travel home, his net worth. The beast became a companion and sometimes an escape route too. Other cowboys didn’t think much of a man who would, without good cause, run a horse down.

In order to save your life, you might need to ask more of your pony than he could safely give. But that was the exception.

One sure sign of a tenderfoot, or a worthless cowhand: when he gimleted a horse, that is, rode him until his back was sore. On the big cattle drives the cowboys avoided this by changing horses several times a day. When traveling from place to place on the same horse, they’d ride a couple hours, climb off, loosen the cinch, then hike a while to give the horse a rest.

John Wayne

One complaint I have with some western movies and TV shows—a cowboy seldom climbs down to give his horse a break. However, an exception. . .John Wayne does make the point in a dramatic scene in The Searchers.

It just makes good sense to take special care of what keeps you going. The same’s true in the spiritual realm. Your faith keeps you safe, guides you, moves you toward positive goals. So why not take good care of your faith?

St. Paul complained of those who “shipwrecked their faith” (1 Timothy 1:18,19). Shipwrecked faith looks something like a gimleted horse—rundown, misused, devalued because of neglect.

But instead of giving your faith a break, ride it harder. Activate it daily. Study God’s promises. Practice gut-level believing them, one by one. Do some spiritual aerobics. Exercise trust. 

What one thing can you do today to prevent a gimlet of your faith? 

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

GOT A TEEN IN YOUR LIFE?

Sandra Byrd

GIVE HER THE LONDON CONFIDENTIAL SERIES

By Sandra Byrd

LONDON CONFIDENTIAL: where British fashion, friendships, and guys collide, and where an all-American girl learns to love life and live out her faith.

HERE’S TWO NEW RELEASES:

 

Book #3: Don't Kiss Him Good-bye

It was just a kiss. A simple kiss, a quick kiss, an innocent peck because they were saying good-bye and no one was watching. But someone was watching them–me. Not that I'd meant to. I didn't know why the kiss troubled me, but it did. I hid it well, though. Or so I thought. 
 

Now established in her quirky British village, Savvy works hard to get an article with her own byline published in the school newspaper. When an attractive and mysterious boy asks her for help with his school work, Savvy is slowly pulled into his circle and soon finds out that the wrong set of friends-boys and girls-can influence her own behavior. Following her own advice to cut ties with a charming bad boy would mean abandoning her dearest wishes, and it just doesn't seem as wrong as it feels. Is it? Read on for surprise twists throughout the book!

Book #4: Flirting With Disaster

If you forward this to 10 friends within 2 hours something good will happen in your life 2day and 2morrow. But if you don't then something bad will happen 2day and 2morrow. For sure. 

 
In a shocking turn of events, all writers for the Wexburg Academy Times will cast their votes for next year's editor - and it looks like Savvy's vote will be the tie breaker! She must choose between a nasty-girl-turned-nice, with a sudden interest in letting Savvy get what she wants, and the prickly Hazelle, who promises nothing at all. Savvy then finds herself wrapped up in a new, seemingly innocent but potentially dangerous activity. It's all at risk in this book: her position on the paper, the boy she likes, the ministry she wants to go well. At a critical moment, Savvy must figure out how to rely on God rather than luck and to overcome temptation before it is too late.

EMBRACING GRACE

Janet Chester Bly

 

We returned recently from a trip to the Oregon coast. We rented a house there via internet, not only for ourselves, but also for family members who would meet us there. On the way, we got nervous about what we’d committed to.  “What if it’s a junker?” “What if the beds hurt our backs?” “We’re so looking forward to rest and refreshment. What if . . . ? What if . . . . ?”

We followed the directions to the place. As we got out of our truck, opened the gate, and entered the yard, a splay of sun-rays burst through the coastal fog. I ran back and got my camera and shot these photos. Good thing. The wonder moment didn’t last long and never returned during our stay. We considered this a sign from our heavenly Father that he was here, that this was a good place for us to be. We embraced his grace for that whole week. 

In the cliff-side house we stayed in, we navigated steep stairs, but enjoyed glorious landscaping with numerous footpaths. . .a mini Buchart gardens, we called it. The upstairs bathroom was smallish, but several of the other rooms displayed full-length windows overlooking Agate Beach. We spent hours with jigsaw pieces and evening movies. We read, toured the region, collected beach treasures, watched the tides. One of our crew did suffer a nasty fall. Not free of mishaps. But there was plenty of laughter and comfy space for all of us. And, yes, we slept well on the just-right mattresses. An excellent vacation spot.

Now that we’re home, we continue to look for splashes of sun, even if it’s cold or foggy or sad news intrudes.

But most of all, we’re trusting in God’s daily grace.

THE PERFECT BLEND, a new novel by Trish Perry

from The Tea Shop Series

The Perfect Blend

TRISH PERRY writes about. . . 

True Love. Real Laughs. Pure Fiction.

 A little about The Perfect Blend: 

Steph Vandergrift left everything to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, who then stood her up at the altar. Too embarrassed to return home, Steph hopes to earn enough to get by until she can decide what to do next. Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel hires her and appreciates the extra help at the tea shop. 

Also appreciative of Steph is Kendall James, one of the kindest, most eligible bachelors in the area. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her run-away fiancé returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always blended so well.  

Christie Burnham, the frank-talking equestrian from whom Steph rents a room, and her frillier sister Liz become fast friends and confidantes to Steph. Between the two sisters, there isn't much any man is going to pull over on Middleburg's newest bachelorette and tea shop employee.

A ROMANCE SCENE EXCERPT from Throw The Devil Off The Train

Stephen Bly
Release date: March 2011
Center Point Publishers
Copyright©2010


The muddy North Platte River paralleled the train tracks and scattered buildings at Patterson's Siding. Mountains of firewood blocked Catherine Goodwin's view of the river, but as she and Race Hillyard strolled west, the river and bluffs behind it came into view. 

To the south, short, dry, brown grass sprawled for miles across treeless, rolling prairie. Occasional wagon ruts recorded the direction of an intrepid pioneer.The morning sky flashed a deep, royal blue with high streaks of white clouds that looked like thick paint slung across the sky. A slight breeze drifted towards them. 

Catherine's high, lace up brown leather shoe slipped off the gravel. She grabbed Race's arm. "Excuse me, Mr. Hillyard, I hope I didn't twist my ankle." She stretched her foot.

"You're just trying to butter me up for a loan."

She poked him in the ribs, then pulled her arm away. "You better be teasing me."

He reached over and slipped her arm back into his. "As long as the good Mr. Phillip Draper won't mind, I'm happy to assist a pretty lady on a walk."

"Hmmm. . .a compliment from Mr. Race Hillyard. Should I be suspicious?"

"I'd be disappointed if you weren't."

Catherine studied the faces in the train car beside them. "You know, yesterday I held you in deep disgust."

"Has that changed?"

"Yes, today I hold you in mediocre disdain."

LETTERS IN THE ATTIC, new novel by DeAnna Julie Dodson

an Annie's Attic Mystery

Letters in the Attic

About Letters in the Attic:

Up in her grandmother’s attic in Stony Point, Maine, Annie Dawson finds a stack of old letters from her childhood friend Susan Morris. Annie remembers Susan fondly and would like to get back in touch, but nobody seems to know what’s become of her. Her friends at The Hook and Needle Club aren’t much help either. All they remember is that Susan left town more than twenty years ago to marry a very wealthy man, but none of them is quite sure who he was. And Annie can find no record of any marriage.

The more Annie searches, the more she begins to wonder if something has happened to Susan. Something bad.

FORMULA FOR DANGER, novel by Camy Tang

Camy Tang

CAMY TANG writes ‘romance with a kick of wasabi’ ….

FORMULA FOR DANGER Book Blurb: 

HER LIFE WAS ON THE LINE!

Formula For Danger

Someone wants dermatologist Rachel Grant's latest research, and they'll do anything to get it. Including trashing the plants needed for her breakthrough  scar-reducing cream—and trying to run Rachel down.

Desperate for help, she turns to Edward Villa, the only man she trusts. But the greenhouse owner knows too much about Rachel's research, and now he's a target too. 

Break-ins, muggings, murder … the would-be thief is getting desperate—and getting closer. Edward vows to protect Rachel at all costs. Yet with time ticking away, Edward knows they have to uncover the madman shadowing Rachel before their chance for a future is destroyed.

READ AN EXCERPT:  Excerpt of FORMULA FOR DANGER by Camy Tang.doc