Anneliese Dalaba's Blog, page 24

First Line Friday #19

First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. Then check out the books other readers have featured in the comments on this blog or on the Hoarding Books link at the end of the post. You might find a book you would like to read simply by reading the first line. You can also click on the title of the book below and it will take you to Amazon so you can see what the book is about and the reviews other readers of shared.

The book I’m featuring today is Serendipity by one of my favorite authors, Cathy Marie Hake. She writes books that inspire you to want to live a godly life while at the same time providing entertainment and laughter for the reader.

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Carver’s Holler, Arkansas, 1893

“Hoo-ooo-ie, she’s het up!”

The story is about two people who fall in love and quickly marry. Unfortunately, they know little about each other and, after the vows are spoken, realize they come from two very different cultures. Clashing dreams and the pressure of marriage makes them realize they mistook infatuation for love. Now they must find a way to build a life together.

Now it’s your turn. Place your first line in the comments and then check out other bloggers who participate in First Line Friday. Just click on the link below.

 

 

The Battle of Finding Time

The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. ~Terry Pratchett

    That’s where I’m at right now. I’m telling myself the story. I wanted to finish the first draft by the end of 2017. Alas, it’s taking a bit longer. Finding time to write is an ongoing battle, but one I’m determined to win.


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    What seems to work best for me is to work after everyone living in our house has retired for the night. It’s quiet and I can completely concentrate on my story. Sitting in my recliner in my cosy family room, with my dog sleeping beside me, the words finally fly from my fingertips.

    When do you find uninterrupted time to work on your writing? How do you keep yourself disciplined to get the job done? I’d love to hear from you.

 

First Line Friday #18

First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. Then check out the books other readers have featured in the comments on this blog or on the Hoarding Books link at the end of the post. You might find a book you would like to read simply by reading the first line. You can also click on the title of the book below and it will take you to Amazon so you can see what the book is about and the reviews other readers of shared.

The book I’m featuring today is The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep. This novel is a page turner, filled with action, adventure, and emotion.

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London

February 1770

My precious Lord;

My only hope;

My Savior, how I need You now.

Eleanore Morgan repeated the words, over and over, scrubbing her fingernails more vigorously with each repetition.

Now it’s your turn. Place your first line in the comments and then check out other bloggers who participate in First Line Friday. Just click on the link below.

 

Conversation With a Taxi Driver

I’ve never sat in so many taxis in one week! On our family vacation in Dubai, we chose not to rent a car, so taxis were the handiest means of transportation for us. Since this city is amongst the most international in the world, our drivers were from various countries: Kenya, India, Pakistan, Jordan, etc.

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Given the current political strife between the USA and Pakistan, when our driver from Pakistan found out we were Americans, he turned the subject to President Trump and politics. We gave him the opportunity to share his views and were sympathetic toward his situation. We laughed together when talking about life in general. Finally, when we were almost at our destination, he said in his broken English, “The people get along with each other and even like each other, while our governments fight.”

I saw a wonderful movie once that portrays this perfectly. It was a Hallmark Christmas movie I highly recommend called Silent Night (made in 2002). American soldiers during WWII find shelter in a cabin inhabited by a German woman and her young son. Before they can leave, a couple of German soldiers arrive seeking shelter as well. It is Christmas time and the woman insists the weapons be placed outside until they can all leave. The soldiers reluctantly agree. It’s a stirring film, forcing these soldiers to look beyond the political disagreements, propaganda, and prejudices, and finally seeing each other as human beings. The movie is thought-provoking and deeply moving.

Over the past 30 years of our marriage, my husband and I have opened our home to people from various parts of the world, often from countries where our governments are not allies. We’ve shared many meals and conversations with people who, politically, should be our enemies. The wonderful thing about opening yourself up to people from different cultures and backgrounds is that it forces you outside of your little box. You are compelled to see the world through someone else’s eyes. You are stirred toward compassion for the plight of others and gain an enlightened understanding.

God doesn’t look at the world through an American lens or even a western lens.  His view encompasses the entire globe and His plans are for His Kingdom — not ours. This is how God instructed the children of Israel to treat the foreigners among them. “When a stranger resides with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34 NASB)

We must never forget we were once foreigners. Maybe you, yourself, were not, but your forefathers were. How would you have wanted them to be treated? Treat others that way. I didn’t say, “How were your ancestors treated?” I asked, “How would you have wanted them to have been treated?” Jesus said, “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” (Matthew 7:12 NLT) Again, he didn’t say to treat them as they have treated you, but rather, as you want them to treat you.

When I moved to this country years ago as a young girl of almost eight, I briefly attended a school in Philadelphia. I was a minority there and one girl in particular had it out for me. She picked on me whenever she found the opportunity. Not knowing the language yet, I could not defend myself well. A few months later, after my family moved to New Jersey, I  attended a school in the suburbs. My second-grade teacher taught me to read in English in the back of the classroom while the other students were working on an assignment. When I became fluent in my reading, she instructed me to read a page of the book in front of the classroom. After I finished, my classmates started clapping for me. I felt accepted and welcomed. It was a wonderful feeling! Now I had a choice. I could treat others, including foreigners, as my classmate in Philadelphia had treated me or I could encourage them as my classmates in New Jersey had encouraged me. My choice determines my future.

There isn’t much we can do about how our governments treat each other outside of the voting booth, but there is much we can do for the foreigner in our town or neighborhood. Why not show kindness and let them feel welcomed? If you see someone being impatient with a foreigner or unkind, why don’t you step in and try to help them? Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

I doubt I will ever meet the taxi driver in Dubai again, but I’m glad we gave him a good impression of people in America. Should someone ever speak ill about Americans in front of this man, maybe he will remember the American family he enjoyed chatting and laughing with for a few minutes in his taxi cab in Dubai. It may not make a difference globally, but if everyone reaches out in love, imagine what an impact that would make over time.

 

First Line Friday #17

First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. Then check out the books other readers have featured in the comments on this blog or on the Hoarding Books link at the end of the post. You might find a book you would like to read simply by reading the first line.

The book I’m featuring today is Runaway Bride by Mary Connealy. This book is part of a series by this gifted author who loves to take her readers on an adventure. This particular book is a novella.

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Houston, Texas

March 20, 1879

Quiet, she had to be quiet.

Now it’s your turn. Place your first line in the comments and then check out other bloggers who participate in First Line Friday. Just click on the link below.

 

Memorable Dubai Vacation

I haven’t been posting on my blog for the past couple of weeks because our family took a vacation to Dubai. We departed on December 31st and actually went into the New Year while flying the friendly skies. As we entered the airplane, the airline attendants greeted us with party hats.

We stayed at the Al Bustan Rotana hotel, which I would highly recommend. They were friendly, clean, and accommodating. Unfortunately, the airline lost our luggage and it arrived about 36 hours later. However, the hotel took care of picking up the luggage at the airport and delivering it to our room at no extra cost.

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One of the first sites we visited was the Dubai Mall (the largest in the world) and the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world), which is situated in front of the Dubai Fountain (the largest choreographed fountain system in the world).

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The two pictures above are of the Global Village, which is another site worth seeing. In the next three pictures below, a yacht took us out onto the Persian Gulf. These are just some of the sites we saw.

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We visited the magnificent Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo located in the Dubai Mall. See the next two pictures below.

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The malls are huge and beautiful in design and decor. There are several to choose from, but I would encourage tourists to visit them all. Pictured here are the Mall of the Emirates, Ibn Buttata Mall, and the Dubai Mall.

How can a person visit the middle east and not take advantage of the desert? So we enjoyed a Desert Tour, with a show, and a delicious meal.

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Here are just a few more images of the things we saw and experienced.

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There was also the Little Venice of Dubai pictured below. (My daughter and son-in-law are in the photo.)

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I’m grateful for the opportunity to have visited Dubai, one of the most beautiful and wealthiest cities in the world. The added benefit was that we probably escaped the coldest winter weeks in Michigan of 2018 while enjoying temperatures in the 70s.

 

Make 2018 a Year of Growth

[image error]Care for the things (possession, talents, relationships) God has blessed you with. Appreciating a gift isn’t enough. You must make it better than what it was when you received it. That takes work!

“A lazy person is as bad as someone who destroys things.” Proverbs 18:9

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A good New Year’s Resolution for 2018 is to determine to work hard.

~ Take care of the people in your life. Treat them with kindness and caring. Let them never doubt that you love them.

~ Take care of the things you own: car, house, furniture, yard, etc.

~ What talent(s) do you possess? What interests you that can also be beneficial to others. Learn more about it. Study. Practice. Grow. Develop. Learn.

Happy New Year!!!

First Line Friday #16

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First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. Then check out the books other readers have featured in the comments on this blog or on the Hoarding Books link at the end of the post. You might find a book you would like to read simply by reading the first line.

The book I’m featuring today is A Cowboy Unmatched by Karen Witemeyer. This book is part of a wonderful series by this gifted author.

Texas Panhandle

Summer 1893

Neill Archer sighed and slouched a bit in his saddle when he caught his first glimpse of Dry Gulch.

Now it’s your turn. Place your first line in the comments and then check out other bloggers who participate in First Line Friday. Just click on the link below.

 

The Christmas Challenge

[image error]Are all your Christmas gifts bought, wrapped, and under the tree? What about the stockings? Do you (like me) wrap each stocking stuffer to prolong the gift-opening fun? Have you decided on the menu you will serve your family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Did you finish all your grocery shopping? Have you cleaned your house yet? On top of all of that, do you have a party planned at your house for friends? Have you attended your work party yet and do you know what you’ll wear? What about all the unexpected things that creep in? Doctor appointments because someone isn’t feeling well? Last-minute gifts you need to purchase? Rush to the store for an ingredient you didn’t realize you needed?

In the middle of all of these things and more, you’re told to keep in mind what the Christmas season is really all about. You feel guilty because you haven’t had time to think about Jesus all day, yet you know He’s the reason you celebrate. Well, you’re not alone in feeling this way. This is the Christmas challenge for so many of us, perhaps even all of us.

Unfortunately, too often Jesus’ birth is not in the forefront of our minds. We get bogged down with all our responsibilities of making Christmas special for everyone else that it’s easy to forget the manger, and we find ourselves responding to Jesus as the Innkeeper had done long ago in Bethlehem. “Sorry, no room.”

Just typing these words makes me want to weep. Jesus is most important, after all! He’s what it’s all about! As He carried the cross to Golgotha, He thought of me. How can I possibly be too busy for Him? But how can I keep Jesus in my thoughts in the midst of all the hustle and bustle around me?

Here are some things I have found to be helpful:

Don’t neglect going to church no matter how busy you are. It helps you stay focused.
Start each day (and/or end it) with time spent reading your Bible and prayer. I know you’re busy, but certainly you can read one chapter of the Bible and pray over what you’ve read. You can even pray while driving to work or running an errand.
Listen to Christmas music that honors Him. I’m not saying you can’t listen to Jingle Bells, but don’t let secular Christmas music be the only music you listen to.
When with your Christian friends, talk to each other about your faith and about Jesus. The mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). If your heart is full of God, surely you will want to talk about Him with others. In the process, you will build each other up in your most holy faith (Jude 1:20).
Display a Nativity scene in a prominent place in your home. Looking at it is a great reminder and it provides an opportunity to explain to the children in your family what you believe.
When reading greeting cards where a Bible verse is included, take a moment to meditate on the verse.
Remember to pray throughout the day. When someone gives you a gift or when you open a card, whisper a prayer for them. When wrapping gifts for your family, pray for the recipient. When cleaning your house, pray for your family and friends who will be entering your home. Try your best to maintain an attitude of prayer.

If we look for ways to include Jesus into every part of our day, stress is reduced and our hearts begin to fill with joy. I want to challenge you to purpose in your heart to be like the shepherds who looked up from their work and responsibilities, and heard the angels singing. They left everything to find Jesus. Let’s be like the wisemen, who saw the star from a distance. They turned their back on the distractions around them and kept their eyes on the star until they found Jesus.

It’s so easy to lose sight of what Christmas is really all about — the birth of our Savior! Let’s decide right now that today will be a day dedicated in thanks to Him. He came because He loved us enough to do so. It was the only way we could ever be saved. He willing left the splendor and safety of heaven, making himself vulnerable in a sinful world that would reject Him — and He did it for our sake! Today, let’s show Him our love by giving Him priority in our day.

Merry Christmas!!! May your home be filled with family, friends, food, fun, and cheer. But mostly, may the presence of God’s Spirit fill your homes and your hearts. May you truly experience Immanuel, God with us.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

 

First Line Friday #15

First Line Friday is something every reader can participate in. Pick up a book near you. Type the first line in the comments, along with the title of the book and the author. Then check out the books other readers have featured in the comments on this blog. You might find a book you would like to read simply by reading the first line.

The book I’m featuring today is A Match Of Sorts by Lucette Nell.

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Cedar Grove, Texas

December, 1875

“She changed her mind.” 

Now it’s your turn. Place your first line in the comments and then check out some more bloggers who participate in First Line Friday. Just click on the link below.