Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 41

Pilgrimage of Promise Nominated for the Grace Award

Thanks to everyone who nominated Pilgrimage of Promise (a Miller’s Creek Novel) for the 2013 Grace Award. I’m very appreciative of the time and effort it took for you to do so. You can find out more about the Grace Award HERE.

I wrote Pilgrimage of Promise at a time in my life that would have been very scary had it not been for God’s constant presence and His unfailing promises. For that reason, the book is very special to me. Of all the Miller’s Creek novels, this book was by far the easiest to write and has become my personal favorite.

The heroine of the story is Mona Beth Adams. Though Pilgrimage of Promise is the fourth book in the Miller’s Creek Novels, we first meet Mona Beth (or Mama Beth) in the first book, Texas Roads. Readers let me know early on that they wanted more of her story.

 

“Pilgrimage of Promise” Book Description:

Broken promises, enduring love…

A dusty stack of unopened love letters forces Bo and Mona Beth Miller to revisit a part of their past they’d rather leave buried –especially in the face of death . Only as they retrace history will they learn the truth about the shattered promise that threatens to come between them. But can their relationship endure the deception and sabotage they unearth, or will the experience compel them to trust more fully in the promises that never fail?

What Readers Are Saying About “Pilgrimage of Promise”

“…Karen Kingsbury meets Nicholas Sparks.” ~Amazon reviewer

”This was one of those books that was at times, hard to read, yet impossible to put down.” Faye| 14 Amazon reviewers made a similar statement

“Even when life is scary and uncertain, God is unchanging and faithful. He always keeps His Promises!”  Love 2 Read Novels| 9 Amazon reviewers made a similar statement

“This structure added depth to the characters and story.  ” Sara Ella| 8 Amazon reviewers made a similar statement

Click HERE to purchase Pilgrimage of Promise at Amazon.com.

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A Bridge Unbroken Update (and Book Trailer)

A Bridge Unbroken Update: Edits

Just wanted to give you A Bridge Unbroken update. I’m almost through with the first round of edits and rewrites. Once that’s over, I’ll send the book out to my beta readers and an editor. After all the necessary changes have been made and the book polished to a fine shine, it will be formatted for print and digital copies, and then made available for purchase! Hopefully that will happen sometime in April! Yay!

A Bridge Unbroken Update: Book Trailer

Here’s the new book trailer for A Bridge Unbroken. If you don’t mind, would you share the video on your social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to help spread the word of the book’s coming release? All you have to do is copy and paste this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dYAuEe4erI If you’re a blogger, I would truly appreciate it if you shared the video on your blog. You can pick up the embed code at the YouTube link above. Hope you all enjoy the trailer!

A Bridge Unbroken Update: Book Description

Letting go to build a bridge…

A frightened runaway wants her painful past to disappear. A plan to start afresh is derailed when she co-inherits her late grandfather’s farm with the man responsible for the scars on her heart. But he isn’t the only ghost from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Will Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore the old farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at forgiveness?

(Book 5 in the Miller’s Creek Novels)

A BRIDGE UNBROKEN UPDATE: First Chapter Sneak Peak

Want to be one of the first to read a snippet from the new Miller’s Creek Novel? CLICK HERE.

Thanks for clicking the following to Tweet about the book’s upcoming release: Coming Spring 2014: A BRIDGE UNBROKEN – A #MillersCreekNovel by @Cathy_Bryant http://ctt.ec/3A5b5+ Please RT! #ChristianFiction

 

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A Bridge Unbroken – Update and Book Trailer

A Bridge Unbroken Update:

Just wanted to give you a quick update about A Bridge Unbroken (the next Miller’s Creek Novel). I’m almost through with the first round of edits and rewrites. Once that’s over, I’ll send the book out to my beta readers and an editor. After all the necessary changes have been made and the book polished to a fine shine, it will be formatted for print and digital copies, and then made available for purchase! Hopefully that will happen sometime in April! Yay!

Book Trailer for A Bridge Unbroken

Here’s the new book trailer for A Bridge Unbroken. If you don’t mind, would you share the video on your social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to help spread the word of the book’s coming release? All you have to do is copy and paste this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dYAuEe4erI If you’re a blogger, I would truly appreciate it if you shared the video on your blog. You can pick up the embed code at the YouTube link above. Hope you all enjoy the trailer!

A Bridge Unbroken – Book Description:

Letting go to build a bridge…

A frightened runaway wants her painful past to disappear. A plan to start afresh is derailed when she co-inherits her late grandfather’s farm with the man responsible for the scars on her heart. But he isn’t the only ghost from the past. Someone else is out to get her and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Will Chance and Dakota lay aside their grudges to restore the old farmhouse and bridge, or will evil forces sabotage their attempt at forgiveness?

(Book 5 in the Miller’s Creek Novels)

Thanks for Clicking the following to Tweet about the book’s upcoming release: Coming Spring 2014: A BRIDGE UNBROKEN – A #MillersCreekNovel by @Cathy_Bryant http://ctt.ec/3A5b5+ Please RT! #ChristianFiction

 

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Serving God: What’s That In Your Hand?

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Hands–our hands–all filled with different tools for serving God.

Some of us have stethoscopes, others computers, others a shovel or a broom. Here’s the thing–it doesn’t really matter so much what is in our hands as how we use it in serving God.

Let’s remember the following points:

Serving God: He put it there.

Aren’t you glad we’re all created uniquely with different skills and abilities? In Exodus 35:35, God put special skill in the hands of his people for the building of a movable tabernacle. Earlier in the book (Exodus 4:2), as He gives a special call to an unwilling and excuse-making Moses, God asks him: What’s that in your hand?

I believe He asks us the same thing today. He wants us to recognize that our skills and abilities come from Him.

Serving God: He makes us willing.

As the new nation of Israel prepared to build this mobile temple, not only did God give people special abilities, he also made His people willing to share what they had for building materials. In fact, they gave so much that Moses had to send out a memo that they didn’t need anymore (Exodus 36:6-7)!

Sometimes it’s easy to tightly grip what God has given us, fearful we’ll lose it or accidentally misuse it (Matthew 25:25). But the Lord gives us our abilities to benefit others and give Him glory. When we struggle with this temptation to hoard our gifts and abilities, turn it all over to Jesus. He alone can and will bring victory in this area of our lives.

Serving God: He will use what He gave us for His purposes.

Moses had a rod. It may have only been the staff of a common shepherd, but the LORD used it to perform many signs and wonders for the purpose of delivering His people from slavery (Exodus 4:2-5). A little boy who lived in Jesus’ time on this earth only had a few fish and loaves of bread, but Jesus used it to feed thousands (Matthew 14:13-21).

You can rest in the knowledge that God is able to use the gifts and abilities He’s bestowed upon us for His perfect plan and purposes. Those things He has placed in our hands are there for the purpose of serving God.

Oh, Lord, may we be mindful of what we have in our hands, knowing that You put it there for us to willingly give back to You. Use what’s in our hands for Your perfect plans and purposes. Amen.

VIDEO: Performance of Ken Medema’s Moses

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Following – Not Just WWJD?, But HWJDI?

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If you’ve been a Christian for any length of time, you’re familiar with the WWJD? campaign. For a while WWJD? seemed to be emblazoned on bumper stickers, t-shirts, jewelry, and even billboards.

As followers of Christ, we should certainly ask and answer the question “What would Jesus do?” But perhaps we should also ask ourselves “How would Jesus do it?” or “How would Jesus have us do it?”

Just Who Are We Following?

All of us are far too tuned-in to the world and to each other. We see one church have success with a particular program and we automatically think it’s a format and formula to be copied. The problem with that type of thinking is that we put our focus on the format and formula instead of on following. Following involves doing what Christ would do in the way He would do it.

Following: A Disciple’s Lesson

Even Peter struggled with the tendency to tune-in to others instead of Jesus. Remember when Jesus appeared after the resurrection and gave the thrice-denying disciple a three-time chance to proclaim his love? “Peter, do you love Me? Peter, do you love Me? Peter, do you love Me?” (John 21:15-22)

After a triple profession of his love for Jesus, Peter still didn’t get it. Jesus told him how his life would play out, but he looked back at John and asked: “What about him?”

Jesus’ response seems pretty harsh: “What is that to you? You follow ME!”

Following: Our Responsibility

Harsh or not, I think Jesus would say the same to us. Our job isn’t to model ourselves or our ministries or our church programs after someone else.

Our job is simply to follow Christ.

Jesus, our hearts’ desire is to be effective in our work for Your Kingdom. But in our humanity, we struggle with how to do the work and often end up following others instead of You. Forgive us. Help us to stay so in step with Your Spirit that we know not only what You would do, but how You want us to do it. In Your precious Name we pray, Amen.

A Path Less Traveled ~ A story of regaining faith in the midst of personal tragedy.

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Prayer: A Comfortable Silence

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My husband and I can travel for miles without saying a word, but put me in a one-on-one situation with a stranger and I feel compelled to fill every second with chit-chat (or ask enough questions to make the other person talk).

Prayer is Intimate

 

Silence between us and people we don’t know can be awkward and uncomfortable. Why? Because we don’t know that other person. We haven’t spent time with them. The opposite is also true. Since my husband and I know each other really well, silence between us is comfy, like wearing a favorite pair of shoes that don’t pinch, bind, or rub.

Our prayer life needs that same kind of intimacy we have with those we know well. God is our Father. He desires a personal and intimate relationship with each of us.

Prayer Is More Than a Monologue

Sadly, my prayer life is sometimes like being in a room with a stranger. I blurt out my requests, anxious to fill the silence and get on with my day, forgetting the fact that prayer is communication between two people, not just a monologue. Oh, that my prayers would instead be a time of waiting on God, searching and seeking for His face more than I search and seek for His hand.

Prayer Is Listening

And because God is with me all the time, because of His great love and tender mercies, I should feel comfortable in the silence–should relish it–should wait quietly for God’s still, small voice.

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. ~John 10:27

Lord, forgive my often feeble attempts at communicating with You. You know what I need before I even start to pray. You know everything about me–every thought, every worry, every sin. Help me recognize Your constant presence, and let it bring a comfortable peace and calm to my ever-hectic days. Help me to listen instead of speak, to wait instead of rush, to be comfortable in the silence while I wait on You. Amen.

Recommended Reading: The Complete Collection of E.M. Bounds on Prayer

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Millers Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest

Hi friends! Gearing up for an awesome three-phase Millers Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest! (Try saying THAT three times fast…)

I’ve been studying up on the best and most fun ways to have a contest and finally decided on this route for the purpose of spreading the word about the Miller’s Creek Novels and to build some buzz for the release of the next book (coming soon), A Bridge Unbroken. (So not only do you get to have fun and have a chance at winning prizes, you get to help me out by spreading the word about the Miller’s Creek Novels: “Christian Fiction in the HEART of Texas!”) Here’s the scoop on the photo contest:

Millers Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest: Phase 1 – “Share the Contest” Contest

Phase 1 instructions: Pin/share the Millers Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest photo (on the left) about the contest and then paste link in comments under the contest details photo on my Facebook Author page at https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author. The more you share the more chances you have to win, but you only get credit for sharing one time per day per site. (Example: You get three chances to win on day one if you share on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook, but you must leave a separate link in a separate comment for each place. The links are so entries can be verified.) Winners will be contacted via Facebook, so you must like my Author page at Facebook so I can contact you if you’re the winner. DISCLAIMER: By entering, you acknowledge that neither Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest can or will be held liable/responsible for the outcome of this contest. You also acknowledge that the promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.

Phase 1 Prizes: Grand prize: a $50 Visa card (winner chosen via random.org). Two other winners will receive a digital copy of any Miller’s Creek Novel of their choice.

Phase 1 Dates: March 4-10, 2014 (Winner announced on my Facebook page March 10, 2014.)

Millers Creek Novel Facebook Photo Contest: Phase 2 – Favorite Reading Spot Photos

I am sooooo excited about this part of the contest. I cannot wait to see photos of everyone’s favorite reading spots. Here are a few ideas courtesy of some of the fine folks on the Miller’s Creek Main Street Team to get the ideas flowing:

Here’s the scoop for phase two of the Miller’s Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest:

Phase 2 instructions: Post a photo of your favorite reading spot OR a spot where you’d like to read on Cathy Bryant’s Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author. You will have to like the page in order to post. All acceptable photos posted between March 10-17 will be entered in the drawing. Three photos will be chosen by a panel of judges (The Miller’s Creek Main Street Team – http://www.catbryant.com/2014/02/05/millers-creek-main-street-team/). Those three photos will be the winners of phase 2 and will each receive a digital copy of the Miller’s Creek Novel of their choice and be entered in Phase 3 of the contest for a $50 Visa card. (NOTE: All posted photos must be your own or you must have written permission to use because of copyright laws. Any posted photo not belonging to you or that you do not have written permission to use will be deleted and you will not be entered in the drawing.)

Phase 2 Dates: March 10-17, 2014

Millers Creek Novels Facebook Photo Contest: Phase 3 – Voting on the Top Three Photos

Here’s the scoop for Phase 3:

Phase 3 instructions:  Once Phase 2 ends, a team of judges (the Miller’s Creek Main Street Team – http://www.catbryant.com/2014/02/05/millers-creek-main-street-team/) will choose the top three photos. These photos can be voted on at Cathy’s Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/Cathy.Bryant.Author from March 21-31, 2014 through a contest app. Those who vote will have to like the page in order to have access to the vote. The contest app will tally the votes, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, April 1st, and will receive a $50 Visa card.

Whew! I know that’s a lot to absorb, but will make it easier by taking it one phase at a time. Hope everyone has oodles of fun with this contest!

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Unchanging God: We Can Depend on Him

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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

If there’s one truth about living in this old world, it’s that nothing stays the same. Life is always in a state of flux and change. From my personal viewpoint, that is one of the things that makes this earthly life so difficult. Just about the time you get to a place where you feel like things are relatively stable, something changes.

Unchanging – Comfort For Believers

That’s why I take such great comfort in the above verse. God NEVER changes. He is the one constant in the world. A compass, a true north we can depend on. People change, circumstances change, leaders change, but our Heavenly Father doesn’t change one whit. Like the lines from the hymns say: “There is no shadow of changing in Thee” and “As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.”

Unchanging – Hope for Unbelievers

Even those who don’t belong to Him should take comfort in His unchanging nature. Why? Because they still have a chance to place their trust in Him.

The LORD is gracious and compassionate,

   slow to anger and rich in love.

The LORD is good to all;

   He has compassion on all He has made. ~Psalm 145:8-9 (NIV)

Unchanging – More Verses

We should all find assurance in who He is and the fact that He is unchanging. Here are some other verses on our unchanging God.

I am God—yes, I Am. I haven’t changed. And because I haven’t changed, you, the descendants of Jacob, haven’t been destroyed. ~Malachi 3:6 (MSG)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~James 1:17 (NIV)

Thank You, God, for being the one constant in our ever-changing world.

A Path Less Traveled ~ A story of trusting in the face of personal tragedy.

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The Ticket: Our Faith, His Grace

Our grandson adores trains, and being the doting Nana that I am, I like to indulge his passion.

Tickets are required for passage from one place to another and often come in two parts. One section is given to the person responsible for insuring that all passengers have a ticket. The other piece is our receipt, a guarantee of a reserved spot just for us.

The older (ahem…I mean, more mature) I get, the more I realize human beings are an odd lot. We tend to vacillate to extremes. This is true for both the physical world and the spiritual. In the case of our two-part ticket, the extremes are either a free ride or excessive work. But it doesn’t have to be excessive or extreme, and it’s anything but free.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

Ticket Section 1: Our Faith

All that is required on our part to enter heaven is faith in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. Now at first faith may seem like a free ride, but it’s really not. It’s more than just saying you believe in something or someone. It requires you putting your life on the line to prove your faith. Faith is more than a one-time belief, but a daily practice of depending on God.

I know I’ve used the analogy of a chair before, but bear with me just in case someone out there is hearing this for the first time. I can say that I trust a chair to hold up my weight, but my faith isn’t proved or practiced until I actually sit in the chair.

Faith requires that we depend on God to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. That’s where the other part of the ticket comes in to play.

Ticket Section 2: His Grace

 

Grace is God’s unmerited favor. There is absolutely nothing we can do to earn grace, or it wouldn’t be unmerited. We’re puny and weak, genetically sinful. We can’t be righteous enough, religious enough, or rich enough to make it to heaven and God’s Presence on our own. I love the way Mark Twain puts it: “Heaven goes by favor; if it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”

In sharp contrast, God is perfect and holy. Because of this disparity between His holiness and our sinfulness, we’re in a hopeless state and disqualified. But praise God, He made a way for us in spite of our sinfulness. Through Jesus’ death on the cross our sin debt was paid.  Once we place our faith in Him, His grace covers us so that when God looks at us, He sees Jesus, His One and Only Son and the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Through the sacrifice of His only Son, God gifted us with His Spirit–our guarantee that we have a spot in heaven reserved for us. That’s why this journey to our Promised Land is anything but a free ride. You see, the grace end of our ticket cost Jesus His lifeblood.

The Way of Grace ~ A story about bestowing on others the grace God has lavished on us.

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Home – How to Find Your Way Back

Did you ever do this as a kid? You’re with your friends and family at home, enjoying time together, then suddenly you’re surrounded by the unfamiliar with no idea how you got there?

It happens to all of us at some point. But what we choose to do next is crucial.

So what do we do to locate and reconnect with the ones we love? The ones who love us no matter what? How do we find our way home?

1.Retrace Your Steps

Go back to the place where you last experienced their company, last felt the comfort of their presence. It’s the same with God. Where were you when you last knew He was with you? Return to that place–not physically, but in your heart. Just like with Adam in the garden, our Father lovingly asks us the same question: “Where are you?”

2. Call Out

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:13

God is not One to cross His arms and turn His back. When we cry out to Him and earnestly seek Him, He’s there. The story of the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance in a far country is proof. The Father was waiting, looking, longing for the day His wandering child would come home. When He saw Him in the distance, the Father didn’t stand there in disapproval and disgust. No! He ran to his child and embraced him, threw a big party, and gifted him with new clothes and a ring that proved his sonship.

3. Go To A Trusted Authority

God created us and everything we see. We can’t look in any direction and not see evidence of Him. He is definitely the highest authority, and He can be trusted. His plan is for our good and our welfare. Even His scorching anger is but the backside of His relentless love for us. Go to Him. He’ll help us if we’ll lose our stubborn pride and turn to Him.

4. Stay at Home With Him

Once we’re reunited, we see the foolishness of ever getting separated from Him in the first place. But caution is advised! The wiles of our enemy, our genetic propensity toward sin, and our sheep-like tendency to wander off can land us back in the exact same situation. Stay with HIM!

Father, thank You for loving us so much that You wait and long for us to return. You won’t force Yourself on us, but at the same time, Your love for is too great to ever let us go. When we find ourselves on the road without You, give us the wisdom to retrace our steps, cry out to You, humble ourselves under Your authority, and stick close to Your side. In the precious name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Texas Roads – a story about finding your one true Home.

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