Toni Shiloh's Blog, page 118
May 4, 2015
A Review on Falcon by Ronie Kendig
What can I say about Falcon that won't give anything away? I don't like reviews with spoilers but this book was so good, I want to relay all of my favorite scenes. Let's just say Ronie Kendig did it again.
The story of Salvatore "Falcon" Russo and Cassie Walker took me on a journey of the grief cycles, forgiveness, and a chance for redemption. The characters are so real I almost forgot it's a fiction book. Ronie Kendig did great giving themreal issues and showing howGod's grace can overcome t...
The story of Salvatore "Falcon" Russo and Cassie Walker took me on a journey of the grief cycles, forgiveness, and a chance for redemption. The characters are so real I almost forgot it's a fiction book. Ronie Kendig did great giving themreal issues and showing howGod's grace can overcome t...
April 27, 2015
The Power of Words
Yesterday at church, we heard a wonderful sermon about the power of words. I know this, yet it never hurts to be reminded.
Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (KJV). However, most of us do not use the wisdom that God gave us to use our words wisely. As an author, I find myself more cognizant of the power of words, but mostly when I'm in imagination land. Like everyone else, I have momentarily lapses in judgment and do not use my words wisely.
So today, my prayer is that I speak life and not death into those I come into contact with.
Do you have a special memory of the time someone spoke positivity into your life?
Proverbs 18:21 states, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (KJV). However, most of us do not use the wisdom that God gave us to use our words wisely. As an author, I find myself more cognizant of the power of words, but mostly when I'm in imagination land. Like everyone else, I have momentarily lapses in judgment and do not use my words wisely.
So today, my prayer is that I speak life and not death into those I come into contact with.
Do you have a special memory of the time someone spoke positivity into your life?
April 18, 2015
A Life to Live Ebook Sale
A Life to Live is on sale for ebooks at 99cents!
Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/pxdfpx8
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/q7nrvt7
From the back cover:
"Mia is headed to the famed Nottingham for a month long vacation. She never imagined she’d run into her high-school sweetheart thousands of miles away from her home town. Why would God throw them back together?
Caleb always regretted the way things ended with his high-school girlfriend, Mia. After a chance encounter in the streets of Nottingham, Caleb feels God is giving him a second chance to right the wrongs he committed. Unbeknownst to him, Mia has secrets that may require his forgiveness. Will her past overshadow his wrongs?
As Mia and Caleb work through old hurts and broken hearts will they let the blessing of forgiveness redeem their relationship?"
Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/pxdfpx8
Nook: http://tinyurl.com/q7nrvt7
From the back cover:
"Mia is headed to the famed Nottingham for a month long vacation. She never imagined she’d run into her high-school sweetheart thousands of miles away from her home town. Why would God throw them back together?
Caleb always regretted the way things ended with his high-school girlfriend, Mia. After a chance encounter in the streets of Nottingham, Caleb feels God is giving him a second chance to right the wrongs he committed. Unbeknownst to him, Mia has secrets that may require his forgiveness. Will her past overshadow his wrongs?
As Mia and Caleb work through old hurts and broken hearts will they let the blessing of forgiveness redeem their relationship?"
April 15, 2015
An Answered Prayer
Sometimes, I lack understanding when reading certain scripture. In the past, whenever I would read Philippians 4:11-12, I was left feeling disconnected and confused. It reads: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (NKJV)
I didn't understand how Paul could be content in whatever state he was in. I asked the Lord to help me understand and to show me how to live the words. Thus begin my journey.
As a child, I had childish behavior and the 'wants'. What I saw, I wanted. If I was fortunate, I received it. More often than not, my mother knew I didn't need it; therefore, I went without.
As a teenager who entered the workforce, I was able to quench my 'wants' from my steady paycheck. I didn't have any bills so I was able to buy what I wanted. With that thought process, my 'wants' quickly became 'needs' to me. I needed to have new clothes, new shoes, books, vacations, etc.
As I got older and my 'wants' looked like they would start to outweigh my paycheck, I turned to those pretty pre-approved cards that came in the mail. Now, I never let my bills exceed my income; but I wasn't being a good steward of my money.
Fast forward and you'll find me married with two kids. Our family hit a rough patch when my husband lost his job. I quickly realized that my bills really did exceed my income. Down to just one income, I slowly but surely drowned and couldn't meet all my payments. Although I didn't realize it at the time, God was working on me to show me how to be content with what I had.
We made some decisions and took the path to becoming debt free. When my husband got a new job, it seemed like an answered prayer. I finally realized I needed to turn over my wants to the Lord and 'my' money as well. Going through the unemployment season showed me He would provide all my NEEDS. It showed me that all my wants were just that. Wants. I didn't need them to survive or make me happy.
Now, we are once again in an unemployment season, yet I do not fret. My God has supplied all my needs. My wants are things I can live without. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my body, and food in my belly. I am rich in love and friendship. God finally lifted my confusion and answered my prayer. He showed me how to be content in whatever state I am in.
I didn't understand how Paul could be content in whatever state he was in. I asked the Lord to help me understand and to show me how to live the words. Thus begin my journey.
As a child, I had childish behavior and the 'wants'. What I saw, I wanted. If I was fortunate, I received it. More often than not, my mother knew I didn't need it; therefore, I went without.
As a teenager who entered the workforce, I was able to quench my 'wants' from my steady paycheck. I didn't have any bills so I was able to buy what I wanted. With that thought process, my 'wants' quickly became 'needs' to me. I needed to have new clothes, new shoes, books, vacations, etc.
As I got older and my 'wants' looked like they would start to outweigh my paycheck, I turned to those pretty pre-approved cards that came in the mail. Now, I never let my bills exceed my income; but I wasn't being a good steward of my money.
Fast forward and you'll find me married with two kids. Our family hit a rough patch when my husband lost his job. I quickly realized that my bills really did exceed my income. Down to just one income, I slowly but surely drowned and couldn't meet all my payments. Although I didn't realize it at the time, God was working on me to show me how to be content with what I had.
We made some decisions and took the path to becoming debt free. When my husband got a new job, it seemed like an answered prayer. I finally realized I needed to turn over my wants to the Lord and 'my' money as well. Going through the unemployment season showed me He would provide all my NEEDS. It showed me that all my wants were just that. Wants. I didn't need them to survive or make me happy.
Now, we are once again in an unemployment season, yet I do not fret. My God has supplied all my needs. My wants are things I can live without. I have a roof over my head, clothes on my body, and food in my belly. I am rich in love and friendship. God finally lifted my confusion and answered my prayer. He showed me how to be content in whatever state I am in.
April 2, 2015
The Body of Christ
It has been a season of sickness for myself and many of my friends. The one thing that has amazed me throughout this time is the amazing body of Christ. I have seen people band together to help one another. Whether they have used prayer, meals, childcare, etc., they have done it with the simple desire to take care of one another.
I have also been amazed by the cheerfulness and perseverance of those facing sickness. I have seen those go in for surgeries, sometimes multiple times, yet they continuously fixed their eyes upon the Lord and looked to Him for their help.
Throughout this season, one thought has remained: The Lord is Good!
It is amazing what can be accomplished when the body works together.
I have also been amazed by the cheerfulness and perseverance of those facing sickness. I have seen those go in for surgeries, sometimes multiple times, yet they continuously fixed their eyes upon the Lord and looked to Him for their help.
Throughout this season, one thought has remained: The Lord is Good!
It is amazing what can be accomplished when the body works together.
March 23, 2015
God's Provision
In the past few days, I have been amazed by God's provision. Last week was a particularly busy week for me including the weekend. Now normally I don't mind having things to do, but I started to feel run down. Well God provided me with absolutely nothing pressing to do today. Therefore, I was able to nap. And how I needed that! I'm so glad that He knew I needed the rest and made a way for it.
Not only that, but my husband has been unemployed for almost a year now. After a discussion between the two of us about making a plan on how to get through the future of this unemployment season, I had two people talk to me regarding the situation. One person informed me of a job that would provide benefits but not be in his career field. The fact that it isn't in my husband's career field was a non-factor to me, because it felt like a God conversation and I was so very thankful. The other happened the next day and that included help with his resume and providing contacts in his career field. I am overwhelmed by His love and provision.
How has God provided for you?
Not only that, but my husband has been unemployed for almost a year now. After a discussion between the two of us about making a plan on how to get through the future of this unemployment season, I had two people talk to me regarding the situation. One person informed me of a job that would provide benefits but not be in his career field. The fact that it isn't in my husband's career field was a non-factor to me, because it felt like a God conversation and I was so very thankful. The other happened the next day and that included help with his resume and providing contacts in his career field. I am overwhelmed by His love and provision.
How has God provided for you?
