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Win Autographed Print Copy of THE WAY OF GRACE

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Time for another  giveaway in the 2016 Home For The Holiday Book Extravaganza! This time you can enter for a chance to win an autographed print copy of THE WAY OF GRACE (the third stand-along Miller’s Creek novel and Christian romantic suspense).

Remember: Entry into each of these giveaways also enters you in the giveaway for a first-edition, autographed, hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A BAXTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS!

Here are a few other opportunities you may want to take advantage of:

The PIECES ON EARTH (Christian Christmas novella) free ebook status ends today (Nov. 10, 2016). Grab your free copy before this steal is gone:  http://amzn.to/2fLYsdp
It’s also the last day for the TEXAS ROADS autographed print copy giveaway. Enter here:  http://www.catbryant.com/how-to-win-a-free-autographed-print-copy-here/
There’s still time to enter the giveaway for an autographed print copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED too. You can do so here: http://www.catbryant.com/win-autograp...
For a limited time, I’m offering readers the opportunity to get both TEXAS ROADS and A PATH LESS TRAVELED (+ 2 Bonus Books) Free in PDF format for joining our readers group newsletter. Find out more here:  http://www.catbryant.com/free-books/
While supplies last, purchase autographed print copies of my fiction books for an unbeatable price. Gift wrap and shipping are free. Secure check-out through PayPal. To ensure Christmas delivery, please purchase by December 5, 2016 at the purchase page on this website:  http://www.catbryant.com/autographed-novels-free-shipping/
The calendar for the 2016 Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza (which will grow longer as more deals and steals unfold and are added) is at this link:  http://www.catbryant.com/2016-home-for-the-holidays-book-extravaganza/

#Win autographed print copy #giveaway A PATH LESS TRAVELED Christian fiction by @Cathy_Bryant here:
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Win Autographed Print Copy of “The Way of Grace”
In pursuit of justice, in need of grace…

From this bestselling small town series comes a dramatic romance suspense and inspirational women’s fiction novel about treachery, betrayal, and justice redeemed by grace.

A justice-seeking attorney dreams of a perfect life. So Gracie is far from happy when her former far-from-perfect boyfriend shows up unannounced. Quickly disillusioned by life as a defense lawyer, she jumps at the chance to work for the prosecution. But things are not as they appear. Unsure of who to trust, she launches her own covert investigation to uncover dangerous secrets. But she falls prey to the schemes of a master manipulator and is unwittingly caught in the cross-fire of a personal vendetta. In a heartbeat, her perfect dreams disintegrate in a heap of ashes.

A free-spirited musician returns to Miller’s Creek to see if the only woman he’s ever loved will want him now that she’s out of law school. Though Gracie made it perfectly clear how she felt about him when they were high school sweethearts, Matt prays for a second chance summer for both of them. But he can’t compete with Gracie’s ideal of the perfect man in the form of her new colleague and hits the road on a concert tour instead.

Can Matt get back to Miller’s Creek in time to protect Gracie when her pursuit of justice lands her in danger? Will Gracie become the fall girl for those bent on her destruction? And can she bestow sacrificial grace on even her enemies?

“A second chance summer romance meets courtroom drama in this dramatic romance you definitely don’t want to miss.”

Written with the feel of Mitford and Mayberry, readers have fallen in love with Miller’s Creek. Will you? Grab your copy of this heart-pounding attorney romance thriller now.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING…
While supplies last. Free shipping & gift wrap. Secure check-out through PayPal. Must order by Dec. 5, 2016 to ensure Christmas delivery.

“This is the first Cathy Bryant book I’ve read, and I was caught up in it from start to finish. With vivid and interesting characters, some strange twists and turns, and blessings behind difficulties, The Way of Grace was a great read. I was caught up with Gracie and her story, and the end of the book came too soon for me.”

“It had me hanging on afraid of the outcome to the mess. There were times, I could not put the book down as it had me hanging onto my seat.”

“A mark of great Christian fiction is to not just tell a story, but to get across some truth or encouragement, and this book did just that in a great way. Grace is in the title of the book and is a major theme of the book. Woven throughout the book amid dialogue and interactions, the message of grace came through loud and clear, and in a non-preachy way.”

“This may be the best book of this series so far – I absolutely could not put it down!”

“Thank you Cathy for allowing God to use you this way by writing this book. You have helped me see a little more clearly and prayerfully, I will choose to live my life full of grace and mercy and extend that to others.”

“What a wonderful story with a strong Christian love story that shows the way God can use unusual life experiences to honor Himself . I also found the idea of Grace and justice something to consider in a new way.”

“This story is heartrendingly amazing. I laughed and cried throughout the whole story.”

PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle | Autographed Gift Copy |
ADD “THE WAY OF GRACE” TO YOUR GOODREADS SHELF

 

Get books 4, 5, & 6 in the Miller’s Creek novels for 33% off the regular price when you buy the boxed set of MILLER’S CREEK COLLECTION 2.
Enter to Win This Giveaway of “The Way of Grace”

No purchase necessary to win. This giveaway is for the chance to win an autographed print copy of THE WAY OF GRACE (ARV: $20) via the Rafflecopter widget below. Must be 18 or older to enter; open to US residents only. Winners will be drawn randomly through Rafflecopter, announced on this website and my Facebook author page, and contacted via email.

The winner may request gift wrapping and shipment to another person as a Christmas gift. All entries in this giveaway will also count in the Grand Prize giveaway of a first-edition autographed hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A Baxter Family Christmas.

NEXT GIVEAWAY is slated for Monday, November 14, 2016: an autographed print copy of PILGRIMAGE OF PROMISE!

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Win Autographed Print Copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED

To share this photo on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, hover your cursor over the picture until the share buttons appear. Click the button of your choice and share away!

Time for the second giveaway in the 2016 Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza! Today’s giveaway is for an autographed print copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED (the second stand-alone Christian romance book in the Miller’s Creek novels).

Remember, entry into each of these giveaways also enters you in the giveaway for a first-edition, autographed, hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A BAXTER FAMILY CHRISTMAS! (Gorgeous book cover, isn’t it?)

Before we get started, here are a few other bookish things you might want to know about.

PIECES ON EARTH (Christian Christmas novella) is FREE November 6-10, 2016 for Amazon Kindle. Here’s the shortened link:  http://amzn.to/2fLYsdp
If you somehow missed our first giveaway for an autographed print copy of TEXAS ROADS (the first stand-alone Christian romance book in the Miller’s Creek novels), there’s still time to enter! Giveaway ends November 10, 2016. Here’s the link:  http://www.catbryant.com/how-to-win-a-free-autographed-print-copy-here/
For a limited time, I’m offering readers the opportunity to get both TEXAS ROADS and A PATH LESS TRAVELED (+ 2 Bonus Books) Free in PDF format for joining our readers group newsletter. You can find out more here:  http://www.catbryant.com/free-books/
While supplies last, you can purchase autographed print copies of any of my fiction books for an unbeatable price from my website. Gift wrap and shipping are free. Secure check-out through PayPal. To ensure delivery by Christmas, books must be purchased by December 5, 2016. Here’s the purchase page on this website:  http://www.catbryant.com/autographed-novels-free-shipping/
The calendar for the 2016 Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza (which will grow longer as more deals and steals unfold and are added) is at this link:  http://www.catbryant.com/2016-home-for-the-holidays-book-extravaganza/

#Win autographed print copy #giveaway A PATH LESS TRAVELED by @Cathy_Bryant #HFTHBE
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Win an Autographed Print Copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED

From this bestselling small town series comes a heart-tugging love story about a single mom, her traumatized little boy, and the new attorney in town who longs to rescue and protect them.

A recently-widowed single mom is tired of being rescued. Though surrounded by friends and family, Trish is determined to blaze a path for herself and her daddy-starved little boy without outside help. Unfortunately, her attempts to run a small town bride business just doesn’t pay the piles of bills. Though the new attorney in town seems interested in both her and little Bo, the timing is all wrong. Will her current life circumstances mean leaving the hometown she loves?

When a world-weary attorney starts a new law practice in Miller’s Creek, he’s prepared for business challenges, but not for falling in love–especially with a woman and her son whose tragic life circumstances are heartbreaking. Can the new attorney romance Trish and get through the wall of stubborn hurt encasing her heart? Will Trish be forced to leave Miller’s Creek? And will they both learn to trust the Lord to take a path less traveled?

Written with the feel of Mitford and Mayberry, readers have fallen in love with Miller’s Creek. Will you? If you love Christian western dramatic romance and inspirational women’s fiction with a touch of love-inspired suspense, you MUST read this feel-good novel. Grab your copy of this book about hope, faith, and a second chance at love.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING…
While supplies last. Free shipping & gift wrap. Secure check-out through PayPal. Must order by Dec. 5, 2016 to ensure delivery by Christmas.

“Although it is fiction, I know this one will stay with me for a long time.”

“Another entertaining story about family and friends in Miller’s Creek. I love the atmosphere of the little town that Bryant conveys so well in her novels. I want to live there!”

“If you enjoy a good story with a wonderful message then stop by Miller’s Creek. Don’t forget to bring your appetite, cause Mama Beth is the best cook around!”

“This author has won my heart and soul with her writing style.”

“Cathy Bryant’s delightful writing style will grab your attention and have you hoping the story never ends. You will find yourself laughing one minute and shedding silent tears the next.”

“I really enjoyed this well-written Christian romance. Good conflict, good character development. Has humor, warmth, small-town feel.”

“This was a fulfilling story that had me binge read!”

PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle | Nook | Autographed Gift Copy |
Add A Path Less Traveled to Goodreads
Get books 4, 5, & 6 in the Miller’s Creek novels for 33% off the regular price when you buy the boxed set of MILLER’S CREEK COLLECTION 2.
Enter to Win This Giveaway of A Path Less Traveled

No purchase necessary to win. This giveaway is for the chance to win an autographed print copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED (ARV: $20) via the Rafflecopter widget below. Must be 18 or older to enter; open to US residents only. Winners will be drawn randomly through Rafflecopter, announced on this website and my Facebook author page, and contacted via email.

The winner may request gift wrapping and shipment to another person as a Christmas gift. All entries in this giveaway will also count in the Grand Prize giveaway of a first-edition autographed hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A Baxter Family Christmas.

NEXT GIVEAWAY is slated for Thursday, November 10, 2016: an autographed print copy of THE WAY OF GRACE! 

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How To Win a Free Autographed Print Copy Here

So excited for the very first giveaway of the 2016 Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza: an autographed print copy of TEXAS ROADS.

Before we get to the details of this particular giveaway, you might want to check out the overview page for our Book Extravaganza. I’ll be adding to this page as more and more events are added to the calendar. You can check it out HERE.

Also, if you missed the post where I revealed what all I have planned to help readers save money during the upcoming holidays, you can find it HERE.

Here’s an important point to keep in mind for the giveaways: For each of these giveaways you enter, you’ll also gain extra entries into our Grand Prize Giveaway, an autographed, first edition, hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A Baxter Family Christmas. (The minute I laid eyes on this beautiful book, I knew I wanted to buy a copy to give to one of you!)

Don’t forget that in addition to these giveaways, there will also be special sales and freebie days for most of the books! :)

Okay, without further ado, let’s move on to today’s giveaway, beginning with a little info about my first book baby, TEXAS ROADS.

#Giveaway Autographed Print Copy of TEXAS ROADS by @Cathy_Bryant #HFTHBE
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Win a Free Autographed Print Copy of TEXAS ROADS

From this best-selling small town series of stand-alone novels comes a heart-stirring and dramatic romance of one woman’s search for home and the cowboy who teaches her what home really means.

A disillusioned heiress wants nothing more than a place to call home. With lovable-but-quirky town folks, quaint country charm, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek seems like the perfect place to start over. But Dani’s dreams of finding home are crushed when malicious rumors and a devastating secret propel her down a road she never expected to travel.

Though a Texas cowboy-turned-politician questions the arrival of this city gal in the small hometown he’s sworn to serve and protect, he can’t help but admit she’s intriguing. But when a mysterious donor funds a renovation to downtown Miller’s Creek, Dani’s suspicious behavior brings Steve’s built-in lie detector to alarm-clanging alert.

Can Steve and Dani call a truce for a higher cause? Will romance blossom in Miller’s Creek? And will Dani ever find true home?

Written with the feel of Mitford and Mayberry, readers have fallen in love with Miller’s Creek. Will you? If you love Christian contemporary westerns and inspirational women’s fiction, don’t miss this small town romance with heart.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING…
WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. FREE SHIPPING. MUST ORDER NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 5, 2016 TO GUARANTEE CHRISTMAS DELIVERY.

“Page Turner! I absolutely loved this book!”

” I loved the bantering between Steve and Dani and the romance they shared. They made the perfect couple. Both stubborn and bullheaded and the humor between them was really magical.”

“I too fell in love with Miller’s Creek…”

“What an excellent inspirational romance book with some mystery and a topic of finding home.”

“This book was non-stop ‘just a little further’ until suddenly I was at the end!”

“The author did a remarkable job of developing her characters in the book’s story line….I am anxious to read the next Miller’s Creek book and highly recommend Texas Roads for Christian fiction readers.”

“This is a heartfelt and sometimes heart-rending story; well-written, gripping,thoroughly enjoyable, and spellbinding.”

PURCHASE: | Print | Kindle | Nook |
ADD TEXAS ROADS TO GOODREADS
ADD THE MILLER’S CREEK NOVELS TO AMAZON WISH LIST

For a limited time, I’m offering readers the opportunity to receive the first 2 Amazon best-selling Miller’s Creek novels FREE (PDF format) along with 2 bonus books. You can find out more information on the free books page.

GIVEAWAY – Autographed Print Copy of TEXAS ROADS

This giveaway is for an autographed Print Copy of TEXAS ROADS. The giveaway will run November 3-9, 2016 and is only open to US residents. The winner will be contacted via email and announced on this website and my Facebook author page.

The winner may request gift wrapping and shipment to another person as a Christmas gift. Please enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter below. All entries in this giveaway will also count in the Grand Prize giveaway of a first-edition autographed hard-cover copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A Baxter Family Christmas.

NEXT GIVEAWAY is slated for Monday, November 7, 2016: an autographed print copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED! 

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7 Ways to Save Money This Christmas

As Christmas draws closer, most of us scurry to get the gift shopping done for the most reasonable cost possible.

With that in mind, I’m doing all I can over the next several weeks to pass on as many cost savings as I can for readers, including giveaways of autographed print books, Amazon free days, discount pricing, and more! I’m calling this multi-month event “Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza.”

I did something similar last year with our “12 Days of Christmas” giveaways, but this year’s event promises to be at least ten times more exciting. Rather than only covering twelve days like we did last year, this year we start now–on November 1, 2016–and the fun doesn’t end until January 2, 2017 (my birthday)! 

So scroll down to check out the many ways the 2016 Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza can save you money this Christmas. (Not to mention what you gain in fun!) :)

Check out @Cathy_Bryant’s 2016 Home For The Holiday Book Extravaganza! #giveaway #Free #Books…
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7 Ways To Save Money This Christmas

I’ve joined the Amazon KDP Matchbook program for all the Miller’s Creek novels, Pieces On Earth Christmas novella, and LifeSword Bible studies and devotional books. That means you can buy a print version of any of these books as either a gift for yourself or someone else and receive a digital copy of the same book for free. This special offer will only be good through the end of the year. (Download a free PDF list of the books HERE.)
I’ll be giving away autographed print copies of all the Miller’s Creek novels and Pieces On Earth. To top it off, every time you enter one of these smaller giveaways, it also enters you in our Grand Prize giveaway for a gorgeous first-edition autographed hardback copy of Karen Kingsbury’s A Baxter Family Christmas.
I’ll be giving away print (not autographed) and/or eBook copies of LifeSword Bible studies and devotionals.
For the first time ever (and for an unbelievable price), I’ll be offering autographed copies of the Miller’s Creek novels and Pieces on Earth for sale from my website, complete with gift wrap and free shipping. This special offer will only be good while supplies last and is only available to US residents. Click HERE to learn more.
I’ll be running Goodreads and Amazon book giveaways during this time as well. Extra chances to win free books!
I’ll be running free promotions and Kindle countdown deals for many of the eBooks during this event which adds up to even more savings for you. :)
Throughout the Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza, I’ll be posting coupon codes for dollars off the print copies of the books when you purchase them through CreateSpace, the book printing and distribution arm of Amazon.

I hope these seven ways to save money this Christmas prove helpful and beneficial to you!

You may want to bookmark Journey blog on this website and return often to check for the next layer of book fun. (Or better yet, sign up for blog post email updates so you won’t miss anything! You can always unsubscribe if you so choose after our Home For The Holidays Book Extravaganza ends.)

For a limited time, I’m offering readers the opportunity to receive the first 2 Amazon best-selling Miller’s Creek novels FREE (PDF format) along with 2 bonus books. You can find out more information on the free books page.

May I Ask A Favor in Return?

It’s getting more and more difficult to make a living in this line of work because of more folks entering the book-writing profession. While I work hard to spread the news about special deals, free days, and giveaways, it’s impossible to get the word out on my own.

Anything you can do to help spread the word is so very much appreciated! I feel very blessed to have so many helpers! :) (You can even share this post by using the handy-dandy share buttons on the far left side of this website.)

And–in the midst of your hectic Christmas shopping–if you need to buy a gift for someone who enjoys books, please consider the ones I write. And what better way to send unexpected holiday cheer than gifting an eBook while it’s on sale? All you need is an email address. Amazon takes care of the rest.

Wishing you and yours an especially blessed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year!

 

#Giveaway and Review of “Say & Pray Devotions”

My grandchildren hold a special place in my heart. So I’m always eager to review books that I think would appeal to them and also draw them closer to the One who made them and has a plan and purpose for their lives. I’m excited to share with you a “First Words, Devotions, and Prayers” children’s book in this giveaway and review post of Say & Pray Devotions.

In this post I’ll share a bit about the book, it’s author Diane Stortz, and my review. At the very bottom of the post you can enter the giveaway for a copy of the board book.

Before we get started, would you take a moment to share the review and giveaway with your social media followers? You can do so by using the share buttons to the far left of the screen or by copying and pasting the URL to this post along with something similar to this:

#Giveaway of SAY & PRAY DEVOTIONALS children’s book at: [URL]

#Giveaway of #SayandPray Devotions children’s book via @Cathy_Bryant #FlyBy
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Giveaway and Review of “Say & Pray Devotionals” – About the Book

Your youngsters want to be just like you. How exciting! Help them grow in their faith and learn more about God’s love with Say & Pray Devotions.

Say & Pray Devotions features short devotions and lots of labeled illustrations so your little one can practice identifying objects and words on their own! This book is a great tool to start a devotional time with little ones, as it will help you teach them about God, and the labeled pictures will help start a life of faith.

This brand new title, Say & Pray Devotions, is the perfect beginner devotional for little ones. Parents who already know and love the Say & Pray Bible will love Say & Pray Devotions as it helps their youngsters continue to engage their faith in a personal way. Featuring the same fun style of artwork and the educational elements as Say & Pray Bible, this devotional for little ones will teach the basics of identification and comprehension while sharing biblical principles for life. Each devotion offers a topical message to help little ones learn and follow biblical principles.

About the Author – Diane Stortz

Born in Detroit and raised in Southern California, Diane Stortz has lived in Cincinnati, OH, since graduating from Arizona State University with a BA in journalism. For ten years she led the book group at Standard Publishing as editorial director.

Diane now writes for children and adults at home at Izzy’s Office. Her goal: Making His wonders known to the next generation.

Izzy’s Office is named for Diane’s first house rabbit, Isabella. A petite Dutch rabbit named Pepe ruled the office for six years too. He liked to nudge Diane’s feet for attention when she was at her computer and (he thought) ignoring him.

Diane is married and has two married daughters and four young grandsons. When she’s not writing, Diane enjoys walking, gardening, and planning her next trip to visit her grandkids.

My Review

Even cracking open the front cover of the book, readers are confronted with delightful artwork, a lesson and verse on starting each God-given day with joy, and a prayer of gratitude. In addition, children have the opportunity to identify items in the picture with the matching word nearby.

Topics for each page include: God as Creator, God’s care for the earth, the wonders of His creation, God’s vastness, His provision, the gift of friendship, responsibility, helping others, the importance of praising God, our five senses, gratitude to God for His gifts, God’s continual presence, the Bible as God’s truth, sharing good news, prayer, and God’s protection.

If our children take each of these concepts to heart, they are off to a great start!

I highly recommend Say & Pray Devotions for young children!

Giveaway of “Say & Pray Devotions”

The giveaway for this child’s board book begins October 26, 2016 and ends November 1, 2016.
The giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada, and the winner will be notified via email.
This is a NO STRINGS ATTACHED offer. Though you will be required to give your email address for notification purposes, you WILL NOT be added to my e-mail list. You will however be given that option when I announce the winner via email. If you choose not to opt in to the list within a 24-hour window, I will remove your email address permanently.
Click the button below to enter. You will be directed to another page which is safe and secure. Simply fill out the information on the form to enter the giveaway. Sharing the page to which you’re redirected on social media channels WILL NOT count toward extra entries.
TO GAIN EXTRA ENTRIES: Use the comments to paste the social media channel and URL(s) of your social media shares. You will receive one extra entry for each share. Only one share per social media channel allowed, except for Twitter, where you can share once each day of the giveaway. To share via social media, you may either create your own update with a link to this post or use the share buttons to the far left of the screen.

Limited Time Offer: #FREE Christian Fiction

Hi everyone! Here’s FREE Christian fiction for you and your friends: The Way of Grace. Please share this FREE limited time offer via social media, email, and word-of-mouth. Thank you!!! Click the orange button to get it now or scroll down for more details. :)

OFFER ENDS AT MIDNIGHT ON OCTOBER 21, 2016

#free THE WAY OF GRACE #amreading Would you give your life to save an enemy? #fridayreads
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Click the pic to get them free!

 

FREE Christian Fiction – About “THE WAY OF GRACE”

Would you put your own life in danger to save an enemy?

A justice-seeking perfectionist, fresh out of law school, dreams of a perfect life. So she’s less-than thrilled when an old less-than-perfect boyfriend shows up. At the hands of a master manipulator she’s unwittingly caught in the cross-fire of a personal vendetta, and her perfect dreams disintegrate in a heap of ashes. Can she bestow grace on even her enemies, especially in the face of life-altering circumstances?

This Amazon best-selling romantic suspense novel explores the difference between justice, mercy, and grace and reveals in story form our responsibility to bestow grace on even our enemies.

In truth, we were God’s enemies when He lavished His amazing grace on us (Romans 5:10).

FREE on Amazon Kindle October 20-21, 2016.

 

What Readers Are Saying:

“This story is heartrendingly amazing. I laughed and cried throughout the whole story.” -Jenny B.

 “I love the understanding with which Cathy explains Grace in this powerful book. All her characters are well written and the story is profound.” -Cat W.

“Grace’s story is one that gripped me and held on to the end…Evil lurks and tension builds as the danger becomes very real. I went back and forth as to who I thought the evil villain was and was kept on the edge of my seat as I read.” -Tina R.

“This may be the best book of this series so far – I absolutely could not put it down! I don’t see how the next one in the series could top this but I will start on it tomorrow expecting great things!” -Jenny E.

READ MORE REVIEWS ON AMAZON

BUY ALL 3 AND SAVE!

 

The Only Way To #MakeAmericaGreatAgain

Most of us long to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain. But the only way to do that is to make God great again in America.

Historically speaking, America hasn’t always been great. Like the young nation of Israel in the book of Judges, we see a cycle of rebellion, judgment, deliverance, and repentance.

I believe America is currently under God’s judgment, and the only way we can make America great again is to give Him His rightful place in our nation and in our lives.

My goal in writing this post isn’t to delineate America’s wrong. Quite frankly, that could take more room than what one post will allow. Instead,  I hope to show God’s plan to be at the center (His rightful place) and how we have delegated Him to the fringes.

The only way to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain is to #MakeGodGreat
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#MakeAmericaGreatAgain – God’s Holiness Revealed

When God miraculously delivered His people from bondage to Egypt and began the process of building them into a nation, one of the main messages He gave them in regard to His character was that He was holy. In addition to teaching them about His holiness, God required that they also be holy as His people.

For I am the LORD that brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. -Leviticus 11:45

Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. -Leviticus 19:2

Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. -Leviticus 20: 7

I like how R.C.Sproul defines God’s holiness.

The Bible says that God is holy, holy, holy. Not that He is merely holy, or even holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. The Bible never says that God is love, love, love, or mercy, mercy, mercy, or wrath, wrath, wrath, or justice, justice, justice. It does say that He is holy, holy, holy, the whole earth is full of His glory. The primary meaning of holy is ‘separate.’ It comes from an ancient word that meant, ‘to cut,’ or ‘to separate.’ Perhaps even more accurate would be the phrase ‘a cut above something.’ When we find a garment or another piece of merchandise that is outstanding, that has a superior excellence, we use the expression that it is ‘a cut above the rest. When the Bible calls God holy it means primarily that God is transcendentally separate. He is so far above and beyond us that He seems almost totally foreign to us. To be holy is to be ‘other,’ to be different in a special way.

When, as a nation, we lose sight of God’s holiness (a cut above, separate, and wholly other), we don’t reverence Him as we should, and we neglect holy living as a people. I think there’s a case to be made that this has become true in America.

In short: because God is holy, He deserves our reverence and we are to pursue holy living.

#MakeAmericaGreatAgain – God’s Perfect Plan For A Nation

Returning once more to the example of the young nation of Israel, we see God lay out very specific instructions for building the tabernacle how they set up camp around the tabernacle.

Why?

That’s what I find particularly striking.  The physical act of laying out their camp revealed a picture of God’s perfect plan for how they were to live.

In Numbers 2, we see God’s plan unfolded as He gave instructions for how the tabernacle was to be in the very center of their camp, surrounded first by the Levitical priesthood and then the rest of the tribes of the nation of Israel. It’s important to realize that the tabernacle represented God’s Presence among them. In fact, He was dwelling among them, pitching His tent with theirs. The reason for the priests to surround the tabernacle was to protect the holiness of God. And even the very names of various parts of the tabernacle (the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) revealed His holiness.

The application for us is this: God expects no less from us as a nation. All over Washington D.C. and around our country are monuments and buildings inscribed with verses from God’s Word. On our money, we have the words “In God We Trust.” In our pledge of allegiance, we say “one nation under God.” If we’re going to tout His name and His Word as our standards, we’d better be prepared to live it. And honestly, if we don’t we are treating Him as unholy.

God doesn’t change. He is STILL holy. He STILL deserves the central location in our country and in our lives.

#MakeAmericaGreatAgain – We Can’t Have It Both Ways

It seems to me that as a nation we’re using God, His Word, and His Name for our purposes as a sort of fire insurance, all while delegating Him to the fringes of our national life.

Public prayer has become taboo. Sharing our faith, even by mentioning His name in conversation, is politically and socially incorrect. A prominent leader, who during his campaign labeled himself as Christian, spouted “America is no longer a Christian nation” once he was in office. And since then, he and others like him have done everything they can to push God further and further away.

God won’t stand for it. He’s made it very clear that He won’t play any other position but front and center. And as God Almighty, our Sovereign King, Lord and Savior, Creator and Sustainer, He shouldn’t be relegated to any lesser place.

Our job is to bring Him the glory He deserves. To make Him great.

Some of the saddest words in the Bible, revealed as judgment against the nation of Israel, are these:

Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple… -Ezekiel 10:18a

The very place that represented both God’s Holiness and His Presence then stood empty of His Holy Presence. We must not fail to make Him great and bring Him glory.

So in a nutshell, if we want to #MakeAmericaGreatAgain we have to:

Make God Great Again In America.
COMMENT CHIT-CHAT:
What steps do you think are necessary to make God great again in America?

Book #Giveaway of VeggieTales “Every Day With God”

If you’ve subscribed to this blog for any length of time, you probably realize that I’m a big VeggieTales fan. Way back in 2014, I reviewed “Celery Night Fever,” and I was hooked!

So when the opportunity to review “Every Day With God” fell in my lap, I snatched it up as quick as possible.

This post will include information about the book, my review, and a giveaway of the book for one of you lucky readers to win!

#Giveaway of VeggieTales #EveryDayWithGod via #FlyBy Enter here:
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About VeggieTales “Every Day With God”

 

Newly updated VeggieTales art and content refresh these daily devotionals, giving kids a fun and meaningful way to think about God each day

Every Day with God is the latest 365-day devotional from VeggieTales. The updated content and art offer the perfect opportunity for parent and child to share time together each day. Each entry includes a Bible verse, short devotion, Thought of the Day, and prayer. The content will help children learn more about God and develop a daily practice to keep Him close in their lives. The book is perfect for bedtime reading, family devotion time, or as a fresh way to start each day! Ages 4-7.

PURCHASE THE BOY’S EDITION
PURCHASE THE GIRL’S EDITION
My Review of VeggieTales “Every Day With God”

I’m one of those who’s of the opinion that it’s never too soon to start our kids’ spiritual training. And this 365-day devotional is perfect for 4-7 year olds. Featuring images of their favorite VeggieTales character, each devotion is about two paragraphs long.

Each day’s reading also has a thought for the day, scripture, and prayer. I can’t think of a better way to spend a few minutes together with your child each day.

Topics for the devotionals include: You’re So Very Special, Think About Good Things, Go To God, Practice The Truth, and The Light Always Wins. I can’t emphasize enough how relevant and well-done these devotionals are.

There are two versions: one for girls and one for boys. I chose the boy version since I have a grandson in this particular age range. He is going to love it!!!

This would make a great gift for a birthday or Christmas or the start of a new year!

Giveaway of VeggieTales “Every Day With God”

This giveaway of a paperback copy of VeggieTales “Every Day With God” is open to the US and Canada only. It begins Monday, October 3, 2016 and concludes Monday, October 10, 2016. Winners will be notified via email and will have the option of choosing either the boys’ or girls’ edition.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Giveaway of VeggieTales “Every Day With God”

Thought You Might Want To Know…

Hi friends! :) Thought you might want to know about a few special deals going on right now.

Scroll down to see it all!

Thought You Might Want to Know…
…About the 99-cent Sale for MILLER’S CREEK COLLECTION 1
I need your help! Please share this deal via your social media channels, email, and word of mouth.

From now through October 6, 2016, MILLER’S CREEK COLLECTION 1 is on sale for only 99-cents.

That’s 80% off the regular price, and a great deal to get 3 Amazon best-sellers for under a buck!

For those who subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can get the set free!

Most of you have probably already read the first three books in the Miller’s Creek novels. If so, there are a few ways you can help me out (if you don’t mind, of course).

The first way is to “gift” a copy of the book to a friend through Amazon. What better way to let a friend know you’re thinking of them than to send them a gift. And at this price, how can you not? :)

Here’s a screenshot that shows how to give a Kindle book as a gift. All you need is your friend’s email address.

Gift a Kindle book to a friend!

Another way you can help is by spreading the news about the 99-cent sale. You can do this via email, word-of-mouth, or sharing on social media. I’m even making it super easy to share with the following buttons. Just press the button(s) of your choice to share on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.

…About the 99-Cent Sale on All LifeSword Bible Studies & Devotionals

The end of one month is a great time to find a devotional or Bible study for the next month! So I’m delighted to offer readers the opportunity to get all the LifeSword devotionals and Bible studies at this special price. This deal won’t last much longer.

This is also yet another great opportunity to “gift” a Kindle copy of the books to a friend.

If they’re struggling to get over a wrong committed against them, The Fragrance of Crushed Violets would be a great choice.

If they have a family member, friend, or co-worker with questions about God, the Bible, Jesus, and the Christian faith, Believe & Know is perfect for them. It will give them answers.

If they’re facing a new job, upcoming move, or a change in a relationship, New Beginnings is a devotional that helps them celebrate that new beginning in their life.

If they’ve shared that they want their life to have more impact, The Power of Godly Influence will help them kick it up a notch in living a life that truly matters.

And for both the gardeners and non-gardeners in your life, Life Lessons From My Garden takes a devotional look at our lives as the garden of God.

And please help pass on the word about this sale as well! Here are your handy share buttons! ;)

…About the Soon-To-Be Over Giveaway of a Complete Print Collection of Miller’s Creek Novels

Last, but certainly not least, the giveaway for a complete print set of the Miller’s Creek novels ($100 value) ends September 30, 2016!

If you haven’t entered yet, what are you waiting for?

Even if you’ve read them all, it would make a great Christmas, birthday, or just-because gift. So no more dilly-dallying. (Is that a Mama Beth expression, or what?) Head on over to the original post to enter.

>>ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE<<

And I know it’s a LOT to ask, but please share this with your friends as well. Thank you!!! I appreciate your help more than you know! :)

Before & After Pics of Our New Home

Two weeks ago Saturday marked the fourth month of renovation on our little country cottage, and it also happens to be the day we finished our major indoor projects.

Several of you asked to see our before and after pics. So I thought I’d use today’s post to share those with you.

But first let me say how much Hubby and I consider our new home to be a special gift from God. Quite honestly, we had considerable doubts about this house and even came close to walking away from our offer and losing the escrow money we had put down.

As we’ve made the needed improvements, we are glimpsing God’s goodness on a regular basis. In many ways, it’s as if this house is the perfect conglomerate of every home we’ve ever lived in! Just to share one such example, I had a plethora of blue morning glories at a home we had in East Texas. And guess what? The blue morning glories in the opening photo popped up at our new home without me having to plant them! A miracle and blessing from God to be sure! And a vivid reminder that He is indeed a Good, Good Father.

Let me also say how much we truly appreciate all the prayers offered up for us as we sold our home in New Mexico, moved across four states, bought, renovated and moved into this house. You’ve been such a blessing, and we’ve felt your prayers through the highs and lows associated with a move.

Our new home is a country cottage built in 1946. I should probably go ahead and give a disclaimer here. Many of you saw the before and after pics of our New Mexico mountain home and mini cabin. For the renovation of our new home we had a much tighter budget, mainly because we had to have all the electrical and plumbing re-done on this house, along with major foundation work and replacing the HVAC system. So our after pics probably won’t seem as dramatic as they were on the mountain home. That being said, this home perfectly suits our laid-back style, and we love its peaceful simplicity and location.

Our New Home – The Front Room/Entryway

This pic of the front door shows some of the dark colors we were confronted with. The door opened up into the dining room and kitchen. That seemed like an odd layout to us, so we opted to change this area into a multi-tasking room: an entryway/piano room/office, as well as a pantry and second bathroom.

The old kitchen (photo on right) smelled as bad as it looked. After yanking out those old cabinets we found out why. I won’t gross you out with the details, but let it be said that this place was beyond unsanitary. In addition, it was not at all functional since putting in a refrigerator closed off a big chunk of the cabinets and made them unusable.

Here are some photos taken during the renovation:

The wallboard is up and taped and bedded in this pic. Hubby and I did this sort of work ourselves in order to save money. The work we hired out included electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and house leveling.

Here’s the new entryway/office. We used blue-gray paint to cover up the dark paneling. This space also serves as a piano room.

We also used the same blue-gray color in the new bathroom. Because it is small in space we put in a pedestal sink, a small shower, and toilet. What the room lacks in size, it makes up for in charm! We love the crisp white juxtaposed against the dark walls.

We still have a few minor things in this area that we’d like to do at some point. We want to add a faux beam to the ceiling to match the one in the kitchen. I also want to frost the front door window with a sign that gives it a cottage-y name and “Est. 1946.” One wall is in pretty rough shape, so I’m considering adding fake ship-lap to cover it up. Thank you, Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper for introducing me to ship-lap! :) And the new walls are waaaay too smooth to match the old walls. At some point, we’ll add texture to them.

Our New Home – Relocating the Kitchen

We’re guessing that this space was the original living area, just one room off of the front door (which opened into the dining room/kitchen).

I don’t know if you can tell by the photo or not, but the paneling was pieced together on one wall, and the lines didn’t match up at all. This area was really dark, and there were places where the paneling appeared faded. We tore out the paneling and the sheet rock on the back wall so we could have plumbing, electrical, and propane lines installed for the new kitchen location.

To match the cottage-y look and feel of the house with the budget in mind, we decided to keep it simple. We used stock unfinished cabinets from Surplus Warehouse and “doctored” them by adding paintable bead-board wallpaper (yes, there is such a thing) and faux “legs.” I really wanted the cabinets to look more like furniture than kitchen cabinets. We intentionally didn’t use upper cabinets in the traditional sense, opting to showcase the large window and outside view instead.

In the places where we used upper cabinets, we used them in non-traditional ways to create more furniture pieces and a stacked pantry. Here are a few pics of the kitchen in progress:

Our kitchen island is three 24-inch base cabinets placed side by side. But since cabinets don’t have a finished back we had to find an economical way to cover them that tied in with the country cottage look we were going for. I stained cedar fence pickets with a gray stain to give it the look of weathered barn wood. We cut these in half, and finished the back side of the island for about $20.

We laid a piece of plywood across the island for a temporary work surface during the renovation. And in case you’re wondering…yes, we lived in the house during this mess!

Here we’re carving out a doorway for the pantry addition (part of the old kitchen space).

And here are the after photos:

A view of the kitchen from the front door.

This is one of the furniture pieces we built from an unfinished cabinet. We added feet, a wooden counter, and the upper shelves to create a rustic coffee bar.

Right beside the coffee bar we added dish shelves. Believe it or not, I actually enjoy the convenience of having the dishes out on open shelves.

This photo shows a close-up of the island on the right and the cabinets on the back wall to the left. The back cabinets and stacked pantry cabinets (shown later in a different photo) are painted white, while the island and “furniture” pieces are painted blue-gray. The cabinet hardware was salvaged from the old kitchen cabinets. If you look closely, you can also see the bead-board wallpaper which we applied to the door panels. You can also see the faux “feet” we added to the cabinets to make them more countrified and furniture-like. We saved a bunch of money by using wooden shelving material for the countertops.

This pic shows the cedar boards and stools. I purchased the three stools at Walmart for under $100. The seats were really reddish in color, so I sanded them down and stained them the same color as the countertops. It made them look several years old, which is exactly the look I hoped to achieve.

Our second piece of cabinet/furniture holds our pots and pans, but above it I framed out a section and painted it with chalkboard paint. I’ve absolutely LOVED having this place to be creative. I’m currently using it to write out memory verses. It has really helped us be more consistent about memorizing scripture.

We stacked three wall cabinets on top of each other to create a cabinet especially for food. The barn door to the left of the pantry has been a long-time dream of mine and was fairly easy to build. While a bit more expensive than a regular door, it wasn’t that much more. I used the same gray stain that I used on the back of the island to make the wood look like it came from an old barn. The door slides open for more pantry space.

Here’s an inside shot of one end of the pantry. At the time this pic was taken, we were actually letting the paint dry before moving stuff onto the shelves.

As a self-confessed word nerd, I am spelling out words throughout the house. The word for the kitchen is “HOME.” This kitchen is the heart of our new home in every sense of the word, but it also reminds me that my true home awaits! I used an old branch for my curtain rod and cut apart a grapevine wreath to allow the vine to wrap around the rod for more of that country cottage feel.

Our New Home – Living & Dining Area

Believe it or not, this orange-y wood room is what sold me on this house. I could see its potential. Hubby wasn’t so convinced.

This space originally served as a carport for the house, but the minute I saw it I thought “family room.” It’s right next to the new kitchen, and both Hubby and I now consider this area our favorite space in the house.

By the way, that’s a big honkin’ entertainment center you see at the far end. We ripped that out to accommodate a china hutch and farmhouse table. We used the salvaged materials from the demo to build our chicken coop (pictures later).

Here’s another pic of the same space. As you can tell, the room has oodles of windows. Love, love, LOVE the natural light in this room. Below you’ll find the after photos.

Here’s the area we created out of the space that once held the big honkin’ built-in entertainment center. I repainted the legs to the farmhouse table (Hubby built it with a friend’s help) to return them to their original white. We’d still like to find some white ladderback chairs to replace these folding chairs. As you can tell, my word for this room is “Gather.” The story behind the china hutch? My paternal grandmother found this lying in an alley behind a barbershop, drug it home, and cleaned it up. It’s a very unique piece once used to house barber supplies. The blue-and-white Currier & Ives dishes are special too. Both of my grandmothers had these dishes as I was growing up.

Here’s a photo from the other end of the room. We laid the new laminate floor we found at a great price at Sam’s Club over the existing tile (which had some places we couldn’t patch). The little butler’s table at the back left of the picture is a table my daddy built for me out of some wood from a shed we tore down at the very first home we owned. I painted a checkerboard on the top and set it up with checkers. Already my oldest grandson and I have enjoyed many games of checkers. The little chairs by the table are from my maternal grandparents’ home, where I spent many happy years as a child. Some things I’d still like to do in this area? Add some white to the curtains, reupholster the living room furniture, paint the ceiling white, and add some faux trusses/beams to make it look more like a barn. #I’mSoCountry

I know this photo might make you question why I included it, but it comes with such a good story I just have to share it. This was actually the first item we bought for the house. I was perusing the Lowe’s website one day and stumbled across this stove for $35. At first I thought there had to be some mistake. I changed store locations and found the same stove nearby for over $1000. Hubby and I decided to buy the $35 version online just to see what would happen. We shortly received an email to let us know the stove was ready to pick up. We went reluctantly, certain they would see their mistake and send us back home empty-handed. But to our surprise, the guys wheeled it to the counter for us and said it had been sitting in the back of their warehouse for some time and they were cleaning house. So this is our $1000 stove that only cost us $35! #AnotherGodGift

This shot is taken from the dining area. My word for this space is “family,” and I even had help from our oldest grandson in painting the letters above the doorway. The coffee table was originally a wooden box that housed a wood stove we bought in New Mexico for that house. Though I still need to paint it, I love that it’s on casters and has a lid so we can store toys inside.

Our New Home – Sleeping Quarters

All three bedrooms needed LOTS of work, even though you might not be able to tell it from the photos. They were painted a pastel shade of green and all the rooms had missing trim. In addition, all the closets needed major work.

The middle bedroom has awkward storage above the closets and the doors to that were painted purple. All the windows in the house were dark brown and foreboding. One of my first chores was spray painting all the interior window trim white.

The good thing about all three bedrooms is that they have built-in dressers. I’ve since learned that this was common in this area in the 1960s, so I’m guessing that’s when those were added. Even though the bedrooms are on the tiny side, having the built-ins makes them feel less cramped.

Below are the after pics. Every room received a fresh coat of white paint, new trim, and work on the closets. I normally like a little color on the walls, but I opted to go all white in the bedrooms. I just gotta say that I’m loving it!

Since this bedroom with the trundle bed will be for when the grandkids sleep over, I’m doing it in blues and pinks. The current bedding is only temporary. I have a quilt top (in blues and pinks) that my grandmother hand-stitched with her grandmother. I’m going to quilt it for this bed. Though you can’t tell by looking, the artwork in the photo is an old barn with quilts hanging on the fence. One of those quilts is blue and pink! And my word for this room is “Dream.” This room will pull double duty as my craft and sewing room.

Our New Home – Outside

This is what the house looked like when we purchased it. The photo may be too small to tell, but there’s a big gaping hole in the faschia that we have since repaired. We’ve also added guttering, rain barrels, a garden, taken down the green shutters (still need to repaint and rehang), painted the front door and trim white, and sealed up the brick work and repainted it.

Though we still have oodles of work to do outside, you can catch a few after photos below.

I used the shelves from the big honkin’ entertainment center to create an outdoor porch chalkboard that I can change with the seasons or as needed.

Growing flowers in New Mexico was somewhat difficult because of poor soil, a short growing season, and the altitude. I was itching to plant flowers when we moved back!

My Pawpaw was a farmer, and this horseshoe belonged to him. We’ve carried it with us from home to home, and we’re hoping this is its final resting place! :)

Besides planting flowers, I’ve also been itching to get back to tending chickens. (Okay, I’ll ‘fess up. It’s really the fresh eggs I miss.) Anyway, we used part of the big honkin’ entertainment center for the siding, old kitchen cabinet doors for the chicken entrance and the entrance to the nesting boxes, and for the roof a piece of siding that was removed when the house levelers basically rebuilt the underneath side of our home. Our baby chicks arrived over a week ago, so Hubby and I spent recent time finishing up the coop and building a fence around it. All that’s left now is painting.

Wrap-Up
Maggie & Emmie have made themselves at home, too! :)

That’s all I have to show you at this point, but I hope you’ve enjoyed the photos. Let me say thanks again for all the prayers and encouraging words during this crazy and chaotic time in our life. And I’m especially grateful to the Lord for His Presence with us every step of the way!

COMMENT CHIT-CHAT: What projects do you currently have going on or in the planning stages?