Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 106

BOOK REVIEW: "The Homecoming" by Dan Walsh (& Book Giveaway!)

I very much enjoyed The Unfinished Gift by Dan Walsh, so when Revell contacted me about reviewing Dan's second book, The Homecoming, I was quick to say "Yes!" 





Set again during World War II, Shawn Collins returns home (after a harrowing ordeal and narrow escape) to the aftermath of his wife's death. Though grieving and trying to be both mother and father to his young son Patrick, he is asked to serve his country by speaking all over the country in war bond rallies with the upper echelon...

MEDITATION MONDAY: Be Still

The second hand on the clock beside my desk marches forward like a soldier on a mission, while my task list swells faster than a batch of leavened dough.



  And I'm not alone. We all face the time crunch.



  If you're like me, you often find yourself worrying about how you'll ever get it all done. Should you forget the urgent in favor of the more important? And with what consequences?



  The soothing voice of the Maker of time whispers to our souls:



  "Be." Don't do, just...be...



  "Be...

OOPS! I Forgot! & Winners & Summer Splash Weekly Winner!

I TOTALLY forgot about the Creative Liar blog award (& my promise to give the winner an autographed copy of TEXAS ROADS) (NO LIE!!!) Anyway...



Now I remember, so I'll make it right.  Several of you guessed correctly that I taught myself to play piano. And while I'd love for you to think I'm not capable of burning off baby chicken toes, I did have to burn off baby turkey toes for a summer job. Thankfully, I only kept that job one day. (I'll never get that stench outta my nose! EEWWWW!)



Since...

The Blessing of Grandmothers

(This post was written as a guest blog for NanaHood blog.)



Once upon a time there was a homely little girl with crooked teeth and a face full of freckles. She loved the story of The Ugly Duckling, not only because she knew how it felt to be an outcast, but because she longed to grow into a beautiful and graceful swan.



Even though the girl felt ugly and unattractive, she also knew what it was to be loved. She had grandmothers.



The kids at school made fun of the little girl's freckles. She ...

BOOK REVIEW: "Life in Defiance" by Mary DeMuth (& Book Giveaway!)

I've been waiting for Book Three in the Defiance Texas Trilogy by Mary E. Demuth. After reading Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn (books one and two in the series), I could not wait to see who murdered young Daisy Chance. This book is a satisfying conclusion to the whole story, and I was delighted to it told from the perspective of Ouisie Pepper.



Ouisie has lost herself as the wife of a physically abusive pastor and as an alcoholic. She grasps at a last tenuous thread of hope, a book about womanho...

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "White Roses" by Shannon Taylor Vannatter (& Book Giveaway!)

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.



For years, florist Adrea Welch has been...

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "White Roses" by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

ABOUT THE BOOK: 

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.



For years, florist Adrea Welch has been...

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: "Chasing Lilacs" by Carla Stewart (& Book Giveaway!)

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Please help me welcome Carla Stewart to WordVessel! Here's her bio:



A two-time ACFW Genesis winner, Carla Stewart is a Guideposts Writers Workshop alumna and has been published in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and several regional magazines and anthologies. Her debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, releases in June 2010 with FaithWords. Carla enjoys a good cup of coffee, weekend getaways with her husband, and the antics of their six grandchildren.



Thanks, Cathy, for having me on Word Vessel and tel...

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Deborah Vogts (& Book Giveaway!)

I'm thrilled to welcome author Deborah Vogts to WordVessel. Here's her bio:



Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God's g...

Hearing God's Voice (Part 2)

Last week, we started a two-part series on hearing God's voice for the purpose of being able to better identify how we can live a life that pleases Him. We learned about hearing his voice through His Spirit and Word, and the danger of faulty hearing. Today we'll discuss the benefits of hearing His voice.



Hearing God Brings Fellowship and Intimacy

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice & opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me."...