Cathy Bryant's Blog: CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog, page 67
January 8, 2013
10 Christian Kindle Freebies for January 8, 2013
While I may not be able to post free books everyday since
it's a time-consuming process, I will post as often as I can. All the books listed
here were free at the time of posting, but these free ebooks change to
pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. I
am also a part of the Amazon Associates program, which allows me to
earn a small advertising fee from Amazon for advertising these books by
linking directly to them. Happy reading!
Too Close To Home
by Lynette Eason
Published April 2010
Young Adult Mystery: Samantha Cash is the FBI's secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and
she never stops until the case is closed. When missing teens begin
turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help
local chief Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with
that. There's her faith--in God and herself. And then there's the fact
that she looks exactly like his late wife. As they get close to an
answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an
interest in Connor's 16-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting
way too protective. Can't a girl just have some fun?
4 stars with 133 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Widow of Larkspur Inn
by Lawana Blackwell
Published June 2007
Historical: When Life Seemed Its Worst, Gresham Awaited Julia Hollis' opulent life
in Victorian London crashes to pieces when her husband passes away.
Worse, she is told by his bankers that he gambled away their fortune.
Now, the family's hope rests on The Larkspur, an old abandoned coaching
inn in the quaint village of Gresham. Driven by dread and her desire to
provide for her children, Julia decides to turn the dilapidated inn into
a lodging house. But can she--who was accustomed to servants attending
to every need--do what needs to be done and cope when boarders begin
arriving? And then an eligible new vicar moves into town....
4.4 stars with 368 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Deadly Aim
by Patrician H. Rushford
Published February 2004
Mystery/Police Procedural: When a police shootout results in the death of a 12-year-old boy,
Officer Angel Delaney is blamed, convicted, and condemned by the media
and the Sunset Cove community before the case even goes to trial. Angel
will have her day in court, but before she has the chance to defend
herself, the situation spirals out of control. Key evidence is missing,
evidence that could have verified her claim of firing only one shot in
self-defense. In short order, the body count rises, and suddenly Angel
is a suspect in more than one murder investigation. Heartsick about the
young boy's death, and questioning her judgment as a police officer,
Angel joins forces with Detective Callen Riley to fight the mounting
charges against her.
4.1 stars with 139 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Invisible
by Lorena McCourtney
Published August 2004
Suspense: She's not your average crime fighter! Ivy Malone has a
curiosity that sometimes gets her into trouble, and it's only aggravated
by her discovery that she can easily escape the public eye. So when
vandals romp through the local cemetery, she takes advantage of her
newfound anonymity and its unforeseen advantages as she launches her own
unofficial investigation. Despite her oddball humor and
unconventional snooping, Ivy soon becomes discouraged by her failure to
turn up any solid clues. And after Ivy witnesses something ominous and
unexplained, she can't resist putting her investigative powers to work
again. Even the authorities' attempts to keep Ivy out of danger and her
nosy neighbor's match-making schemes can't slow her down. But will the
determination that fuels this persistent, quirky sleuth threaten her
very safety?
4 stars with 622 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Cry For The Moon
by William Woodall
Published February 2009
Young Adult fiction:
Sometimes choices are hard. Born into a family of
werewolves, Zach Trewick finds himself faced with the question of
whether he should accept this evil life for himself, or take the
desperate and risky gamble of running away from home. To make things
worse, he's got only three days left to make up his mind. Scrambling
to find a way to stay human, Zach quickly makes a bold plan to find his
uncle Justin nearly a thousand miles away in Texas, the only person he
can think of who might take him in. Stowing away in a septic tank,
sleeping in a library, and living in a dog house on a vacant lot are
among the adventures he encounters along the way. But the
werewolves have no intention of letting him escape so easily. For
although he doesn't know it yet, Zach is the Curse-Breaker, the
long-foretold boy who can crush the wolf curse forever, and his family
will stop at nothing to prevent that.
4.4 stars with 44 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Lion Vrie
by Christopher Hopper
Published February 2012
Science Fiction/Fantasy: The only way to survive is to kill the ones you love. Having
barely escaped the siege of Adriel with his life, Luik is carried north
to the realm of Tontha in an effort to weather Morgui’s all-out assault
on Dionia. Here he sorts through the trauma of the recent past and
attempts to piece together the whereabouts of his scattered Dibor, as
well as his friends Fane, Hadrian, and Princess Anorra. When
work begins on fortifying Mt. Dakka, Luik returns to the wreckage of
Adriel and uncovers far more than he had anticipated. Events unfold
quickly, and his path is plagued by mysterious encounters with the
taken, and haunted by the increasing effects of evil upon Creation. However
the growing darkness also gives rise to the forces of good, including
rumors of the mythical Knights of the Lion. Summoned by the suffering of
his countrymen, Luik risks everything in search of the fabled City of
Ot, and his men embark on perilous missions to rescue the far corners of
Dionia. But on the battlefield each faction of Luik’s devout
Dibor comes face to face with the greatest opposition of all. Evil, now
matured into its most perverted form, pits mankind against itself:
father against son, brother against brother. To hesitate means death; to
strike means killing those they’ve sworn to protect.
4.6 stars with 27 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Light of Eidon
by Karen Hancock
Published July 2003
Science Fiction/Fantasy: Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm
Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self--a search that
will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a
legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and
cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and
ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and
how He uses suffering to mold His children into something greater than
was ever thought possible.
4.1 stars with 204 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Warrior
by Joyce Swann
Published May 2012
Contemporary fiction: Early one morning, Elizabeth Anderson awakens from a vivid nightmare in
which she sees a young man of about twenty years old dying after a
terrible motorcycle accident. “Don’t die if you don’t know Jesus,” she
calls out to him just before she awakens. As Elizabeth ponders
her dream, she becomes convinced that the young man in her dream is a
real person. Naming him “Timothy” she begins a 10 year prayer vigil for a
man she has never met. As the years go by, those prayers change not
only his life, but the lives of her own family members as well. The
Warrior is a moving, powerful testimony to the power of prayer and
God’s desire to redeem every life. “The effective prayer of a righteous
person accomplishes much.”
4.8 stars with 15 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Witness
by E.G. Lewis
Published November 2009
Historical/Biblical Fiction: The events Rivkah witnessed changed history. As a young shepherd girl,
she accompanied her father to a Bethlehem stable where she held the baby
Jesus. She watched Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt, met the strange
visitors from the East who’d followed a star to Bethlehem, and saw
Herod’s soldiers kill the children of her village. You can experience
life in Roman Judea as the Jewish people struggle under the burden of
Caesar's armies and Herod's cruelty. Watch false Messiahs rise and fall
and see the fatal retribution that followed. Feel the pain of the
innocent bystanders left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Meet
Shemu’el, the young man Rivkah believed God destined for her. But Rome
tore them apart. Divided by fate, united by love, these two young people
grow to separate adulthood, each with their dreams and desires
unfulfilled, while the world of Rome and conquest moves inexorably on.
Then,
many years later, Rivkah finds herself in Jerusalem during the
Passover. Trapped in a crowd, she is forced to watch three men being led
to their execution. Her stomach drops when she realizes one of the men
is Yeshua, the babe she held so many years before. Witness it all through the eyes of one who lived it.
4.7 stars with 23 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The 4th Floor Lounge
by Amanda Hamm
Published September 2012
Romance: Where does an extreme introvert draw the line between being lonely and
being left alone? One quirky college student is looking for the answer
in the 4th floor lounge. Her goals are simple: make one or two
good friends and avoid talking to everyone else. Achieving those goals
will not be easy for this gorgeous yet socially awkward heroine. She’s
constantly approached by guys who are not interested in friendship. And
when she finally forms some solid bonds it’s her own romantic feelings
that get in the way.
4.5 stars with 6 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
it's a time-consuming process, I will post as often as I can. All the books listed
here were free at the time of posting, but these free ebooks change to
pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. I
am also a part of the Amazon Associates program, which allows me to
earn a small advertising fee from Amazon for advertising these books by
linking directly to them. Happy reading!
Too Close To Home
by Lynette Eason
Published April 2010
Young Adult Mystery: Samantha Cash is the FBI's secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and
she never stops until the case is closed. When missing teens begin
turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help
local chief Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with
that. There's her faith--in God and herself. And then there's the fact
that she looks exactly like his late wife. As they get close to an
answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an
interest in Connor's 16-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting
way too protective. Can't a girl just have some fun?
4 stars with 133 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Widow of Larkspur Inn
by Lawana Blackwell
Published June 2007
Historical: When Life Seemed Its Worst, Gresham Awaited Julia Hollis' opulent life
in Victorian London crashes to pieces when her husband passes away.
Worse, she is told by his bankers that he gambled away their fortune.
Now, the family's hope rests on The Larkspur, an old abandoned coaching
inn in the quaint village of Gresham. Driven by dread and her desire to
provide for her children, Julia decides to turn the dilapidated inn into
a lodging house. But can she--who was accustomed to servants attending
to every need--do what needs to be done and cope when boarders begin
arriving? And then an eligible new vicar moves into town....
4.4 stars with 368 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Deadly Aim
by Patrician H. Rushford
Published February 2004
Mystery/Police Procedural: When a police shootout results in the death of a 12-year-old boy,
Officer Angel Delaney is blamed, convicted, and condemned by the media
and the Sunset Cove community before the case even goes to trial. Angel
will have her day in court, but before she has the chance to defend
herself, the situation spirals out of control. Key evidence is missing,
evidence that could have verified her claim of firing only one shot in
self-defense. In short order, the body count rises, and suddenly Angel
is a suspect in more than one murder investigation. Heartsick about the
young boy's death, and questioning her judgment as a police officer,
Angel joins forces with Detective Callen Riley to fight the mounting
charges against her.
4.1 stars with 139 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Invisible
by Lorena McCourtney
Published August 2004
Suspense: She's not your average crime fighter! Ivy Malone has a
curiosity that sometimes gets her into trouble, and it's only aggravated
by her discovery that she can easily escape the public eye. So when
vandals romp through the local cemetery, she takes advantage of her
newfound anonymity and its unforeseen advantages as she launches her own
unofficial investigation. Despite her oddball humor and
unconventional snooping, Ivy soon becomes discouraged by her failure to
turn up any solid clues. And after Ivy witnesses something ominous and
unexplained, she can't resist putting her investigative powers to work
again. Even the authorities' attempts to keep Ivy out of danger and her
nosy neighbor's match-making schemes can't slow her down. But will the
determination that fuels this persistent, quirky sleuth threaten her
very safety?
4 stars with 622 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Cry For The Moon
by William Woodall
Published February 2009
Young Adult fiction:
Sometimes choices are hard. Born into a family of
werewolves, Zach Trewick finds himself faced with the question of
whether he should accept this evil life for himself, or take the
desperate and risky gamble of running away from home. To make things
worse, he's got only three days left to make up his mind. Scrambling
to find a way to stay human, Zach quickly makes a bold plan to find his
uncle Justin nearly a thousand miles away in Texas, the only person he
can think of who might take him in. Stowing away in a septic tank,
sleeping in a library, and living in a dog house on a vacant lot are
among the adventures he encounters along the way. But the
werewolves have no intention of letting him escape so easily. For
although he doesn't know it yet, Zach is the Curse-Breaker, the
long-foretold boy who can crush the wolf curse forever, and his family
will stop at nothing to prevent that.
4.4 stars with 44 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Lion Vrie
by Christopher Hopper
Published February 2012
Science Fiction/Fantasy: The only way to survive is to kill the ones you love. Having
barely escaped the siege of Adriel with his life, Luik is carried north
to the realm of Tontha in an effort to weather Morgui’s all-out assault
on Dionia. Here he sorts through the trauma of the recent past and
attempts to piece together the whereabouts of his scattered Dibor, as
well as his friends Fane, Hadrian, and Princess Anorra. When
work begins on fortifying Mt. Dakka, Luik returns to the wreckage of
Adriel and uncovers far more than he had anticipated. Events unfold
quickly, and his path is plagued by mysterious encounters with the
taken, and haunted by the increasing effects of evil upon Creation. However
the growing darkness also gives rise to the forces of good, including
rumors of the mythical Knights of the Lion. Summoned by the suffering of
his countrymen, Luik risks everything in search of the fabled City of
Ot, and his men embark on perilous missions to rescue the far corners of
Dionia. But on the battlefield each faction of Luik’s devout
Dibor comes face to face with the greatest opposition of all. Evil, now
matured into its most perverted form, pits mankind against itself:
father against son, brother against brother. To hesitate means death; to
strike means killing those they’ve sworn to protect.
4.6 stars with 27 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Light of Eidon
by Karen Hancock
Published July 2003
Science Fiction/Fantasy: Book 1 of Legends of the Guardian King which follows the life of Abramm
Kalladorne in his turbulent search for truth and self--a search that
will transform him from a sickly, head-in-the-clouds youth to a
legendary hero of strength and courage. Set in a world of swords and
cloaks, of glittering palaces and mystical temples, of galley ships and
ancient, mist-bound cities, his journey illustrates how God pursues and
how He uses suffering to mold His children into something greater than
was ever thought possible.
4.1 stars with 204 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Warrior
by Joyce Swann
Published May 2012
Contemporary fiction: Early one morning, Elizabeth Anderson awakens from a vivid nightmare in
which she sees a young man of about twenty years old dying after a
terrible motorcycle accident. “Don’t die if you don’t know Jesus,” she
calls out to him just before she awakens. As Elizabeth ponders
her dream, she becomes convinced that the young man in her dream is a
real person. Naming him “Timothy” she begins a 10 year prayer vigil for a
man she has never met. As the years go by, those prayers change not
only his life, but the lives of her own family members as well. The
Warrior is a moving, powerful testimony to the power of prayer and
God’s desire to redeem every life. “The effective prayer of a righteous
person accomplishes much.”
4.8 stars with 15 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Witness
by E.G. Lewis
Published November 2009
Historical/Biblical Fiction: The events Rivkah witnessed changed history. As a young shepherd girl,
she accompanied her father to a Bethlehem stable where she held the baby
Jesus. She watched Mary and Joseph flee to Egypt, met the strange
visitors from the East who’d followed a star to Bethlehem, and saw
Herod’s soldiers kill the children of her village. You can experience
life in Roman Judea as the Jewish people struggle under the burden of
Caesar's armies and Herod's cruelty. Watch false Messiahs rise and fall
and see the fatal retribution that followed. Feel the pain of the
innocent bystanders left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Meet
Shemu’el, the young man Rivkah believed God destined for her. But Rome
tore them apart. Divided by fate, united by love, these two young people
grow to separate adulthood, each with their dreams and desires
unfulfilled, while the world of Rome and conquest moves inexorably on.
Then,
many years later, Rivkah finds herself in Jerusalem during the
Passover. Trapped in a crowd, she is forced to watch three men being led
to their execution. Her stomach drops when she realizes one of the men
is Yeshua, the babe she held so many years before. Witness it all through the eyes of one who lived it.
4.7 stars with 23 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The 4th Floor Lounge
by Amanda Hamm
Published September 2012
Romance: Where does an extreme introvert draw the line between being lonely and
being left alone? One quirky college student is looking for the answer
in the 4th floor lounge. Her goals are simple: make one or two
good friends and avoid talking to everyone else. Achieving those goals
will not be easy for this gorgeous yet socially awkward heroine. She’s
constantly approached by guys who are not interested in friendship. And
when she finally forms some solid bonds it’s her own romantic feelings
that get in the way.
4.5 stars with 6 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
January 7, 2013
Help An Author: Share Books
An online friend who won copies of Texas Roads and A Path Less Traveled at the book launch party for the third book in the Miller's Creek series (The Way of Grace) * blessed my heart recently by choosing to share her thoughts on the books at Amazon. Several friends and relatives have passed their books on to others, or recommended the books to friends.
Please don't misunderstand. I'm not in this line of work for compliments, praise, or a pat on the back, but I can think of no better way to help Christian writers than to share your opinions and thoughts of their books with others.
One of the hardest parts of my job as a writer is to get the word out about my books. (Goes to show that writing a book is only one part of being an author!) Just because books have online 'homes' where they can be purchased, or can be ordered at brick-and-mortar bookstores, doesn't automatically ensure that readers can find them.
That's where you, the reader, come into play. When you read a book you enjoy, please take time to review it in places like Amazon, Goodreads, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Shelfari, LibraryThing, etc. (You simply find the book's page to leave a review at an online bookstore such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords. Goodreads, Shelfari, and LibraryThing are basically book-related social media sites which will require you to have an account. Also, please note that I am not advocating that you lie in your review. Be 100% honest!!!) If you have a blog, Facebook account, Twitter account, Pinterest account, etc., please share books there as well. If you're a member of a book club or have friends that you share books with, please pass on your honest opinion of the book with them, too.
Honestly, this process helps everyone. It helps potential online readers determine if the book is one they might enjoy, and of course it helps writers because it helps spread their work. It also gives you, the reader, an opportunity to interact with others about a mutual love and appreciation of good books.
So in conclusion, for those of you who have shared your favorite good books with others in some shape or fashion, this author wants to say a hearty "THANK YOU!" =)
Happy Reading!
P.S. To show my appreciation to readers who share the books I've written with others, I've decided to give away free books from the Miller's Creek novels. You can find out more at my website, by clicking on the "Book Share" tab.
10 Free Christian Kindle eBooks for January 7, 2013
While I may not be able to post free books everyday since
it's a time-consuming process, I will post as often as I can. All the books listed
here were free at the time of posting, but these free ebooks change to
pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. I
am also a part of the Amazon Associates program, which allows me to
earn a small advertising fee from Amazon for advertising these books by
linking directly to them. Happy reading!
Toward a New Beginning
by r. William Rogers
published March 2012 (2003 Christy Award winner)
Historical: Unable to stand it any longer, he convinces his wife, Judith, to pull up
stakes, pack up their three-year-old son, Tom, and accompany him on a
journey that turns out to be much more than either of them could have
imagined. The trek quickly develops into one of extreme hardship
and survival that is further complicated by: dangerous weather, raging
river crossings, unique personalities in the wagons, hostile Indian
attacks, hunger, water shortage vengeance, courage, romance, and
biblical principles. The determined traveler's abilitiy to
effectively defend themselves is pushed to the very limits as One Eye's
maurading warriors harrass and attack them repeatedly, with devastating
results. With four of the train's beloved children having been taken
captive, the inner strength of the beleagured pioneers is sorely tested
and a handful of the men set out to recover the children. After
valiant attempts to rescue their children fail miserably, they are
forced to return empty-handed. Against all that is held sacred, the
members of the wagon train are forced to leave them behind while they do
their best to evade the heathens and continue their struggle for
survival with barely enough water left to keep the animals going. With
all hope of ever seeing their children again now gone, it is the valor
and ingenuity of the beautiful Comanche woman, Birsdong, that is yet to
be heard from.
4.2 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Cicada Song
by Bradford Combs
Published April 2012
Romance: Cicadas appear every seventeen years in such quantity that they fill the
skies and harmlessly pelt anything that moves. The town of Anderson
celebrates the coming of these insects with a festival that they call
Cicada Song. In 1987 a young boy named Jacob Ramsey fell for a
girl named Sara, whose family was visiting for Cicada Song. Little did
they realize, however, that their young love would end ten years later
during the most shocking moment of Anderson’s history. Time
passes and the next Cicada Song begins. Self-published author Ellis
Barnes is invited to Anderson as an attraction and there he meets the
quick-witted but guarded Sara, now fully grown and quite lovely. He
quickly falls for her but something from Sara's past prevents her from
getting too close. Facing resistance from Jacob Ramsey’s best friend,
Stan, and the town drunk, Phil, Ellis is determined to uncover exactly
what Sara’s mysterious past is. What he finds will force Ellis to
confront a faith-shattering tragedy from his own past, a tragedy that
diminished his faith in the Christian church, but also one which might
hold the key to overcoming Sara’s private barriers. And what secret does
Phil, the town drunk, hold regarding the moment that shattered Sara’s
life forever?
4.2 stars with 48 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Betrayed
by Jeanette Windle
Published February 2008
Suspense: This action-packed international thriller brings readers to Guatemala,
where anthropologist Vicki Andrews discovers that her sister has been
murdered. Guatemalan authorities dismiss her death as another of the
country's frequent muggings or a kidnap-for-ransom, but Vicki refuses to
accept their verdict. Vicki launches her own investigation and uncovers
corruption buried so deep that crossing international lines may cost
Vicki her life.
4.5 stars with 13 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Ultimate Prescription
by Dr. James L. Marcum, MD
Published December 2011
Nonfiction: Would you like to discover the powerful ways God is part of the healing
process? Do you think the media, the government, or your doctor is
telling you the whole truth when it comes to health care? Are you tired
of taking medications that really don't fix the problem? In The Ultimate Prescription,
Dr. James Marcum, a board-certified cardiologist, in-demand speaker,
and radio host, discusses these questions and many more from a biblical
point of view. He encourages you to find the real answers about your
health—and the health of your loved ones. Dr. Marcum explains what he
believes is wrong with our current health care system, how to get back
on track, and how the spiritual dimension of our health is often being
ignored. Discover today the true path to healthy living in The Ultimate Prescription.
4.3 stars with 28 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Paper Roses
by Amanda Cabot
Published January 2009
Historical Romance: Her future stretched out like the clear blue Texas sky. But a storm is
coming. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah
Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has
never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from
afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot
go back East. As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is
drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to
shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his
brother's killer. And then there's Sarah. Something is blooming out in
the vast Texas landscape that neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit,
and the promise of redemption blows like a gentle breeze through the
prairie grasses. Book 1 of the Texas Dreams series, Paper Roses will
sweep you away with a tale of love, loss, and tantalizing possibilities.
Amanda Cabot is an accomplished author under various pen names. She is a
charter member of Romance Writers of America, the co-founder of its New
Jersey chapter, and an avid traveler.
4.2 stars with 158 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Ready or Not
by Chautona Havig
Published March 2010
Contemporary Fiction: Fresh out of college, Aggie Milliken thinks she's prepared for anything life can throw her way. Think again, Aggie! After
the abrupt loss of her sister and brother-in-law, Aggie is stunned to
find herself the sole guardian of their eight lively children. If
learning basic parenting skills wasn't complicated enough, she must also
battle the children's half-crazed grandmother, survive a massive
remodeling project, and navigate the waters of new friendships-alone. She
has little experience with children and none with housekeeping, and it
shows. What she has going for her is grit, a double dose of
determination, and the confidence that this is exactly where the Lord
wants her to be. With an unlimited P-mail account and enough hymns to
keep her spirits bolstered, she tackles one catastrophe after another. It seems like nothing Aggie does is right, but ready or not, here she comes!
4.3 stars with 84 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Land of My Heart
by Tracie Peterson
Published February 2004
Historical: Adventurers, families, outlaws...all driven west in the 1860s by a
longing for endless blue sky along with wild and wide-open spaces.
Tracie Peterson, from her own Montana home, paints an unforgettable
portrait of this rich, rugged landscape, populated by strong and
spirited characters. When Dianne Chadwick urges her family to move west
to her uncle's ranch in the Montana Territory, she has no idea that her
new life in the rugged frontier--and even within her uncle's home--will
not be the idyllic adventure she expects. But first she has to survive
the arduous wagon journey with the help of guide Cole Selby, whose heart
seems to be as hard as the mountains he loves.
4.3 stars with 22 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Luke's Legacy
by Elaine Littau
Published August 2012
Historical Romance: Pursuit of adventure caused Luke and Bonnie to join the wagon train
west. Thirst for love drove Ruby away from her loving home and caused
her to grow up faster than her thirteen years could fathom. Catastrophe
caught Luke in its clutches and made him choose the legacy he would
leave behind. In Luke’s Legacy, Book III of the Nan’s Heritage Series,
author Elaine Littau depicts characters that must live with the
decisions they make. Full of passion, heartbreak, deception, romance,
and resolve, Luke’s Legacy promises to hold you captive from the first
pages.
5 stars with 8 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Jenna's Cowboy
by Sharon Gillenwater
Published January 2010
Contemporary Western Romance: Jenna Callahan has a young son and rewarding work on her father's ranch.
She's content. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in
town--the first guy she noticed, the one her father sent away all those
years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as
strong as ever.
Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do,
though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With the help of
good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the
horrors of the past behind him--and become the man Jenna deserves.
4.1 stars with 210 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Second Chances
by Alison Stanley
Published January 2012
Short Story Romance: Even as a child, Rachel had her whole life mapped out – study teaching,
marry the perfect guy, have some kids and be a stay at home mum. With
two different guys after her attention, Rachel must make a choice – will
she choose rebellious single dad Nate or sensible youth leader Steven? Meanwhile,
Hannah is on top of the world, engaged to be married to the love of her
life, until a chance encounter with someone from her past threatens to
take away her happiness. Will her relationship survive when the secret
she has been keeping for so many years is uncovered? As these
best friends lean on God and each other through different trials, they
both experience God’s forgiveness and his provision of ‘second chances’.
4.1 stars with 64 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
it's a time-consuming process, I will post as often as I can. All the books listed
here were free at the time of posting, but these free ebooks change to
pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are indeed
free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the
most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5
stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all
these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. I
am also a part of the Amazon Associates program, which allows me to
earn a small advertising fee from Amazon for advertising these books by
linking directly to them. Happy reading!
Toward a New Beginning
by r. William Rogers
published March 2012 (2003 Christy Award winner)
Historical: Unable to stand it any longer, he convinces his wife, Judith, to pull up
stakes, pack up their three-year-old son, Tom, and accompany him on a
journey that turns out to be much more than either of them could have
imagined. The trek quickly develops into one of extreme hardship
and survival that is further complicated by: dangerous weather, raging
river crossings, unique personalities in the wagons, hostile Indian
attacks, hunger, water shortage vengeance, courage, romance, and
biblical principles. The determined traveler's abilitiy to
effectively defend themselves is pushed to the very limits as One Eye's
maurading warriors harrass and attack them repeatedly, with devastating
results. With four of the train's beloved children having been taken
captive, the inner strength of the beleagured pioneers is sorely tested
and a handful of the men set out to recover the children. After
valiant attempts to rescue their children fail miserably, they are
forced to return empty-handed. Against all that is held sacred, the
members of the wagon train are forced to leave them behind while they do
their best to evade the heathens and continue their struggle for
survival with barely enough water left to keep the animals going. With
all hope of ever seeing their children again now gone, it is the valor
and ingenuity of the beautiful Comanche woman, Birsdong, that is yet to
be heard from.
4.2 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Cicada Song
by Bradford Combs
Published April 2012
Romance: Cicadas appear every seventeen years in such quantity that they fill the
skies and harmlessly pelt anything that moves. The town of Anderson
celebrates the coming of these insects with a festival that they call
Cicada Song. In 1987 a young boy named Jacob Ramsey fell for a
girl named Sara, whose family was visiting for Cicada Song. Little did
they realize, however, that their young love would end ten years later
during the most shocking moment of Anderson’s history. Time
passes and the next Cicada Song begins. Self-published author Ellis
Barnes is invited to Anderson as an attraction and there he meets the
quick-witted but guarded Sara, now fully grown and quite lovely. He
quickly falls for her but something from Sara's past prevents her from
getting too close. Facing resistance from Jacob Ramsey’s best friend,
Stan, and the town drunk, Phil, Ellis is determined to uncover exactly
what Sara’s mysterious past is. What he finds will force Ellis to
confront a faith-shattering tragedy from his own past, a tragedy that
diminished his faith in the Christian church, but also one which might
hold the key to overcoming Sara’s private barriers. And what secret does
Phil, the town drunk, hold regarding the moment that shattered Sara’s
life forever?
4.2 stars with 48 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Betrayed
by Jeanette Windle
Published February 2008
Suspense: This action-packed international thriller brings readers to Guatemala,
where anthropologist Vicki Andrews discovers that her sister has been
murdered. Guatemalan authorities dismiss her death as another of the
country's frequent muggings or a kidnap-for-ransom, but Vicki refuses to
accept their verdict. Vicki launches her own investigation and uncovers
corruption buried so deep that crossing international lines may cost
Vicki her life.
4.5 stars with 13 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Ultimate Prescription
by Dr. James L. Marcum, MD
Published December 2011
Nonfiction: Would you like to discover the powerful ways God is part of the healing
process? Do you think the media, the government, or your doctor is
telling you the whole truth when it comes to health care? Are you tired
of taking medications that really don't fix the problem? In The Ultimate Prescription,
Dr. James Marcum, a board-certified cardiologist, in-demand speaker,
and radio host, discusses these questions and many more from a biblical
point of view. He encourages you to find the real answers about your
health—and the health of your loved ones. Dr. Marcum explains what he
believes is wrong with our current health care system, how to get back
on track, and how the spiritual dimension of our health is often being
ignored. Discover today the true path to healthy living in The Ultimate Prescription.
4.3 stars with 28 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Paper Roses
by Amanda Cabot
Published January 2009
Historical Romance: Her future stretched out like the clear blue Texas sky. But a storm is
coming. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah
Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has
never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from
afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot
go back East. As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is
drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to
shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his
brother's killer. And then there's Sarah. Something is blooming out in
the vast Texas landscape that neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit,
and the promise of redemption blows like a gentle breeze through the
prairie grasses. Book 1 of the Texas Dreams series, Paper Roses will
sweep you away with a tale of love, loss, and tantalizing possibilities.
Amanda Cabot is an accomplished author under various pen names. She is a
charter member of Romance Writers of America, the co-founder of its New
Jersey chapter, and an avid traveler.
4.2 stars with 158 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Ready or Not
by Chautona Havig
Published March 2010
Contemporary Fiction: Fresh out of college, Aggie Milliken thinks she's prepared for anything life can throw her way. Think again, Aggie! After
the abrupt loss of her sister and brother-in-law, Aggie is stunned to
find herself the sole guardian of their eight lively children. If
learning basic parenting skills wasn't complicated enough, she must also
battle the children's half-crazed grandmother, survive a massive
remodeling project, and navigate the waters of new friendships-alone. She
has little experience with children and none with housekeeping, and it
shows. What she has going for her is grit, a double dose of
determination, and the confidence that this is exactly where the Lord
wants her to be. With an unlimited P-mail account and enough hymns to
keep her spirits bolstered, she tackles one catastrophe after another. It seems like nothing Aggie does is right, but ready or not, here she comes!
4.3 stars with 84 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Land of My Heart
by Tracie Peterson
Published February 2004
Historical: Adventurers, families, outlaws...all driven west in the 1860s by a
longing for endless blue sky along with wild and wide-open spaces.
Tracie Peterson, from her own Montana home, paints an unforgettable
portrait of this rich, rugged landscape, populated by strong and
spirited characters. When Dianne Chadwick urges her family to move west
to her uncle's ranch in the Montana Territory, she has no idea that her
new life in the rugged frontier--and even within her uncle's home--will
not be the idyllic adventure she expects. But first she has to survive
the arduous wagon journey with the help of guide Cole Selby, whose heart
seems to be as hard as the mountains he loves.
4.3 stars with 22 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Luke's Legacy
by Elaine Littau
Published August 2012
Historical Romance: Pursuit of adventure caused Luke and Bonnie to join the wagon train
west. Thirst for love drove Ruby away from her loving home and caused
her to grow up faster than her thirteen years could fathom. Catastrophe
caught Luke in its clutches and made him choose the legacy he would
leave behind. In Luke’s Legacy, Book III of the Nan’s Heritage Series,
author Elaine Littau depicts characters that must live with the
decisions they make. Full of passion, heartbreak, deception, romance,
and resolve, Luke’s Legacy promises to hold you captive from the first
pages.
5 stars with 8 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Jenna's Cowboy
by Sharon Gillenwater
Published January 2010
Contemporary Western Romance: Jenna Callahan has a young son and rewarding work on her father's ranch.
She's content. But she never expected to see Nate Langley back in
town--the first guy she noticed, the one her father sent away all those
years ago. And she never thought the attraction they felt would be as
strong as ever.
Jenna's cowboy has some healing of his own to do,
though, after two tours of duty in the armed forces. With the help of
good friends, strong faith, and a loving family, he hopes to put the
horrors of the past behind him--and become the man Jenna deserves.
4.1 stars with 210 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Second Chances
by Alison Stanley
Published January 2012
Short Story Romance: Even as a child, Rachel had her whole life mapped out – study teaching,
marry the perfect guy, have some kids and be a stay at home mum. With
two different guys after her attention, Rachel must make a choice – will
she choose rebellious single dad Nate or sensible youth leader Steven? Meanwhile,
Hannah is on top of the world, engaged to be married to the love of her
life, until a chance encounter with someone from her past threatens to
take away her happiness. Will her relationship survive when the secret
she has been keeping for so many years is uncovered? As these
best friends lean on God and each other through different trials, they
both experience God’s forgiveness and his provision of ‘second chances’.
4.1 stars with 64 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
January 6, 2013
If the Lord wills . . .
In light of the New Year's Day post I wrote about setting goals, I prayerfully set about to write down what I hope to accomplish in 2013. I'm sharing these so that I'll have this post to return to throughout the year to check my progress and to see if I still feel the Lord leading in that direction.
I know that most of the "experts" suggest making goals as specific as possible, but I think that's exactly why so many of us give up on our New Year resolutions. Instead I chose to make my main goals very generalized, and then break them up into more specific goals. Even my more specific goals are fairly broad. At least that way I can reach the end of the year and look back to see that I made at least some progress. (I also limit my small goals to seven or less per category. Too many would make these more overwhelming than they already are. I didn't list all of the small steps in order to shorten this post, but I'll probably add to this list throughout the year for my own benefit.)
Based on a couple of time management book written by Stephen Covey, First Things First and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , I decided to further break down my goals by various compartments/roles in my life. It was very interesting to see how these roles and compartments overlapped each other in such a way that some goals fulfilled more than I expected. For example, physical exercise is also great for your brain and emotional health!
Since it's so easy to forget about some goals without a daily reminder, I tried to think of "triggers" that are common to my life which would remind me to actually do the small steps of each goal. I only added a few of these to give you the idea. And as always I tried to make sure that all my goals aligned with my life mission statement. (I would highly encourage all of you to prayerfully think about your God-given purpose and life mission. It brought a lot of clarity to me on how to best spend each minute of my time.)
SPIRITUAL: Know Him more and better.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Continue daily quiet time/Bible study and prayer.
~ Improve the quality of my prayer life:
keep a prayer journal with dates, specific requests (both my petitions and intercession for others), and answers (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed);
focus on the attributes of God during the praise portion of my prayers;
develop gratitude by prayerfully writing down at least 3 blessings I'm grateful for each day (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed);
intercede for others immediately (as soon as I learn of their requests);
and especially submit my will and my schedule to Him daily.
~ Find more means of personal face-to-face outreach and ministry. (I feel a strong burden for women and children, so this is where I'll begin my search. I also consider my writing as part of this "life" work.)
~ Spend more time meditating on and memorizing the Word. (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed)
~ Fellowship regularly with members of my heavenly family, attempting to encourage them.
PHYSICAL: Improve/maintain my physical health.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Walk daily. (Trigger [time specific] - right after breakfast, when possible; [location specific] - when writing/doing computer work/reading/paper work)
~ Drink water daily. (Trigger - keep water bottle with me at all times; hunger pangs)
~ Eat healthier. (Trigger - grocery shopping [only buy healthy foods])
~ More fresh air. (Trigger [weather specific] - work outside on pretty days)
~ Strength training/Toning. (Trigger [time specific] - when I get through walking or after sitting at computer for lengthy time; or during tv watching)
~ Stretches to relieve pain and improve flexibility. (Trigger [location specific] - when I'm watching television)
~ Lose weight. (See the weight counter in the right side margin of my blog to see one way I keep myself motivated and accountable. Hopefully the other steps above will make this a reality!)
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL: Improve/maintain my mental and emotional health.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Challenge my brain each day by:
reading (future blog post on WordVessel Reading Challenge 2013);
doing puzzles and mind games (my favorite online games are Sudoku and Concentration; wish I could afford Lumosity.com because they seem to have very helpful and well-researched brain teasers);
writing. (Nothing like it for tying my brain in knots!)
~ Relax and find enjoyable activities to do each day by: (This continues to be my most difficult challenge because I'm a can't-be-idle kinda gal, BUT I do thoroughly enjoy my work! =)
using the end of the day for a warm shower, reading, journaling, etc.;
rewarding difficult tasks with enjoyable tasks.
~ Manage my time efficiently by:
daily and monthly planning;
staying organized.
HOME IMPROVEMENT: Improve our personal space. (I won't list all these here, since most of it's more like a project list I keep of things I hope to accomplish both inside and outside our home. I'm a big believer in making your surroundings work for you, even if it means being creative in order to save money!)
~ Stay/get organized! (Trigger [time specific] - clear desk/pick up house at the end of every day)
~ Get rid of unused stuff with CraigsList, eBay, garage sale, or through charitable donations.
WORK: To do my best for God's glory.
~ Keeper of the home.
~ Helpmate for my awesome hubby.
~ Write novels.
~ Write non-fiction books.
~ Blogging.
In addition to these I also have overall goals relating to our family finances and my personal relationships, but I opted to leave them out for obvious reasons. Hope you all find my humble attempts at goal-setting (for the purpose of living this God-give life intentionally) useful to you. And I'd love to hear some of your goals and plans for 2013 in the comments below!
I know that most of the "experts" suggest making goals as specific as possible, but I think that's exactly why so many of us give up on our New Year resolutions. Instead I chose to make my main goals very generalized, and then break them up into more specific goals. Even my more specific goals are fairly broad. At least that way I can reach the end of the year and look back to see that I made at least some progress. (I also limit my small goals to seven or less per category. Too many would make these more overwhelming than they already are. I didn't list all of the small steps in order to shorten this post, but I'll probably add to this list throughout the year for my own benefit.)
Based on a couple of time management book written by Stephen Covey, First Things First and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , I decided to further break down my goals by various compartments/roles in my life. It was very interesting to see how these roles and compartments overlapped each other in such a way that some goals fulfilled more than I expected. For example, physical exercise is also great for your brain and emotional health!
Since it's so easy to forget about some goals without a daily reminder, I tried to think of "triggers" that are common to my life which would remind me to actually do the small steps of each goal. I only added a few of these to give you the idea. And as always I tried to make sure that all my goals aligned with my life mission statement. (I would highly encourage all of you to prayerfully think about your God-given purpose and life mission. It brought a lot of clarity to me on how to best spend each minute of my time.)
SPIRITUAL: Know Him more and better.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Continue daily quiet time/Bible study and prayer.
~ Improve the quality of my prayer life:
keep a prayer journal with dates, specific requests (both my petitions and intercession for others), and answers (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed);
focus on the attributes of God during the praise portion of my prayers;
develop gratitude by prayerfully writing down at least 3 blessings I'm grateful for each day (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed);
intercede for others immediately (as soon as I learn of their requests);
and especially submit my will and my schedule to Him daily.
~ Find more means of personal face-to-face outreach and ministry. (I feel a strong burden for women and children, so this is where I'll begin my search. I also consider my writing as part of this "life" work.)
~ Spend more time meditating on and memorizing the Word. (Trigger [time specific] - right before bed)
~ Fellowship regularly with members of my heavenly family, attempting to encourage them.
PHYSICAL: Improve/maintain my physical health.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Walk daily. (Trigger [time specific] - right after breakfast, when possible; [location specific] - when writing/doing computer work/reading/paper work)
~ Drink water daily. (Trigger - keep water bottle with me at all times; hunger pangs)
~ Eat healthier. (Trigger - grocery shopping [only buy healthy foods])
~ More fresh air. (Trigger [weather specific] - work outside on pretty days)
~ Strength training/Toning. (Trigger [time specific] - when I get through walking or after sitting at computer for lengthy time; or during tv watching)
~ Stretches to relieve pain and improve flexibility. (Trigger [location specific] - when I'm watching television)
~ Lose weight. (See the weight counter in the right side margin of my blog to see one way I keep myself motivated and accountable. Hopefully the other steps above will make this a reality!)
MENTAL/EMOTIONAL: Improve/maintain my mental and emotional health.
SMALL STEPS:
~ Challenge my brain each day by:
reading (future blog post on WordVessel Reading Challenge 2013);
doing puzzles and mind games (my favorite online games are Sudoku and Concentration; wish I could afford Lumosity.com because they seem to have very helpful and well-researched brain teasers);
writing. (Nothing like it for tying my brain in knots!)
~ Relax and find enjoyable activities to do each day by: (This continues to be my most difficult challenge because I'm a can't-be-idle kinda gal, BUT I do thoroughly enjoy my work! =)
using the end of the day for a warm shower, reading, journaling, etc.;
rewarding difficult tasks with enjoyable tasks.
~ Manage my time efficiently by:
daily and monthly planning;
staying organized.
HOME IMPROVEMENT: Improve our personal space. (I won't list all these here, since most of it's more like a project list I keep of things I hope to accomplish both inside and outside our home. I'm a big believer in making your surroundings work for you, even if it means being creative in order to save money!)
~ Stay/get organized! (Trigger [time specific] - clear desk/pick up house at the end of every day)
~ Get rid of unused stuff with CraigsList, eBay, garage sale, or through charitable donations.
WORK: To do my best for God's glory.
~ Keeper of the home.
~ Helpmate for my awesome hubby.
~ Write novels.
~ Write non-fiction books.
~ Blogging.
In addition to these I also have overall goals relating to our family finances and my personal relationships, but I opted to leave them out for obvious reasons. Hope you all find my humble attempts at goal-setting (for the purpose of living this God-give life intentionally) useful to you. And I'd love to hear some of your goals and plans for 2013 in the comments below!
January 5, 2013
A Message to the Church #2: Are You Fearlessly Faithful?
(In case you missed the first post in this series asking the question "Have you left your first love?" you can find it HERE.)
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ ~ Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB)
Symbolism
Just like with the first church mentioned, this letter to the church in Smyrna was veiled in symbolism to protect those mentioned in case the letter was intercepted by Roman authorities. Obviously, the One described as "the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life" is Jesus, our resurrected Lord who defeated death. So it is He who is dictating the letter to the apostle John.
The synagogue of Satan mentioned is a reference to those who claimed to be Jews (the people of God), but were actually serving Satan instead. Historically, the Jewish community in Smyrna were antagonistic toward early Christians.
The number ten in the Bible usually signifies completion (as in the Ten Commandments), so I assume it means the same here. However, so scholars think it might refer to ten distinct periods of persecution from Nero to Diocletian. The main point remains that the church in Smyrna would suffer persecution.
What They're Doing Right
Plain and simple, they are spiritually rich, in spite of their afflictions and poverty. Throughout history, the persecuted church has been spiritually rich because of their utter dependence on the Lord and fellow Christians.
What He Has Against Them
Nothing is mentioned. That fact, in and of itself, is a great commendation.
What They Need To Do
Be Fearless - Following Christ does not mean that we will never suffer. In fact, Jesus told His disciples that they would experience suffering because of Him. Though none of us welcome suffering, we should remember that God can and does use it for our good and His purposes. Because of His power and His promises, we can be fearless.
Be Faithful - The test of all Christians is their ability to be faithful in the face of opposition. Christ left us a perfect example of how to do this in the story of His life. Notice that the faithfulness mentioned is "to death."
The Warning
This warning was unlike the warning to the church in Ephesus, whose warning dealt with possible judgment unless they changed their ways. Here the warning is about what they would soon suffer:
imprisonments
tests
tribulation (not necessarily ten actual days, but possibly until the time was completed)
The Reward
Again, God's Spirit is mentioned as the source of the message. The reward is two-fold:
a crown of life (v. 10) - A crown of life is the reward for those who are faithful under trial or unto death. (See James 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:14.)
not hurt by the second death (v. 11) - The first death is the end of our human life; the second death comes at the judgment when those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
Application
It's worth noting again in this second post of the series, that the church is a community of believers rather than a building. As the church, we need to heed the message the Spirit says. There may come a day when we suffer persecution, possible imprisonments, tests, and tribulation because of our faith in Christ as Lord. We should stay spiritually ready so that we're not caught off guard during opposition and so we can be fearless and faithful--to death if need be.
Heavenly Lord, Thank You for being our resurrected Lord! Because of Your power over death, we can be fearless and faithful in the face of persecution. We confess that the persecution we face today is miniscule compared to what the Smyrna Christians face. We are oftentimes spiritual weaklings, quick to back down during confrontation. Oh, Lord, give us holy boldness to follow the example of Christ, who bore suffering for Your purpose and plan. May we be found fearlessly faithful for You and Your Kingdom's work! Amen.
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ ~ Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB)
Symbolism
Just like with the first church mentioned, this letter to the church in Smyrna was veiled in symbolism to protect those mentioned in case the letter was intercepted by Roman authorities. Obviously, the One described as "the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life" is Jesus, our resurrected Lord who defeated death. So it is He who is dictating the letter to the apostle John.
The synagogue of Satan mentioned is a reference to those who claimed to be Jews (the people of God), but were actually serving Satan instead. Historically, the Jewish community in Smyrna were antagonistic toward early Christians.
The number ten in the Bible usually signifies completion (as in the Ten Commandments), so I assume it means the same here. However, so scholars think it might refer to ten distinct periods of persecution from Nero to Diocletian. The main point remains that the church in Smyrna would suffer persecution.
What They're Doing Right
Plain and simple, they are spiritually rich, in spite of their afflictions and poverty. Throughout history, the persecuted church has been spiritually rich because of their utter dependence on the Lord and fellow Christians.
What He Has Against Them
Nothing is mentioned. That fact, in and of itself, is a great commendation.
What They Need To Do
Be Fearless - Following Christ does not mean that we will never suffer. In fact, Jesus told His disciples that they would experience suffering because of Him. Though none of us welcome suffering, we should remember that God can and does use it for our good and His purposes. Because of His power and His promises, we can be fearless.
Be Faithful - The test of all Christians is their ability to be faithful in the face of opposition. Christ left us a perfect example of how to do this in the story of His life. Notice that the faithfulness mentioned is "to death."
The Warning
This warning was unlike the warning to the church in Ephesus, whose warning dealt with possible judgment unless they changed their ways. Here the warning is about what they would soon suffer:
imprisonments
tests
tribulation (not necessarily ten actual days, but possibly until the time was completed)
The Reward
Again, God's Spirit is mentioned as the source of the message. The reward is two-fold:
a crown of life (v. 10) - A crown of life is the reward for those who are faithful under trial or unto death. (See James 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:14.)
not hurt by the second death (v. 11) - The first death is the end of our human life; the second death comes at the judgment when those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life are cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
Application
It's worth noting again in this second post of the series, that the church is a community of believers rather than a building. As the church, we need to heed the message the Spirit says. There may come a day when we suffer persecution, possible imprisonments, tests, and tribulation because of our faith in Christ as Lord. We should stay spiritually ready so that we're not caught off guard during opposition and so we can be fearless and faithful--to death if need be.
Heavenly Lord, Thank You for being our resurrected Lord! Because of Your power over death, we can be fearless and faithful in the face of persecution. We confess that the persecution we face today is miniscule compared to what the Smyrna Christians face. We are oftentimes spiritual weaklings, quick to back down during confrontation. Oh, Lord, give us holy boldness to follow the example of Christ, who bore suffering for Your purpose and plan. May we be found fearlessly faithful for You and Your Kingdom's work! Amen.
January 4, 2013
My Mission Statement
(If you've never taken the time to prayerfully consider your life's purpose and write it down in the form of a mission statement, I would highly encourage you to do so. I know it might seem like a pointless exercise, but many of our life purposes are in God's Word, and in addition, He gifts us all uniquely so we can fulfill His purposes through us. This process has brought a lot of clarity to my days on this planet, and was a way of me to further commit my life to the Lord. What is written below has been my mission statement for several years, with minor adjustments from time to time.)
Dear Lord, help me to ~
~ enthusiastically seize this day and its opportunities, for tomorrow may be too late...
~ gratefully accept and celebrate this day (and all it brings) as a gift and adventure from Your hand, and to intentionally live it with discipline, courage, integrity, confidence, balance and determination...
~ live in the here and now with contentment, peace and joy, because the past is behind me, You are here, and the future is in Your hands...
~ treasure my family and friends with the realization that they bring so much joy to my life...
~ be salt and light to all who cross my path, by passing on to them the gift of grace You have lavished on me...
~ make my home a haven for all who pass this way...
~ keep my mind, body, and spirit strong, so I can better serve You...
~ faithfully use and humbly teach others the treasures, abilities, and gifts You have entrusted to me...
~ make a positive impact before this pilgrimage leads me home...
~ live simply, but profoundly...
~ practice Your presence continually...
~ guard my heart...
~ listen for, hear, and obey only Your voice.
~ And most importantly, to know You and make You known.
Dear Lord, help me to ~
~ enthusiastically seize this day and its opportunities, for tomorrow may be too late...
~ gratefully accept and celebrate this day (and all it brings) as a gift and adventure from Your hand, and to intentionally live it with discipline, courage, integrity, confidence, balance and determination...
~ live in the here and now with contentment, peace and joy, because the past is behind me, You are here, and the future is in Your hands...
~ treasure my family and friends with the realization that they bring so much joy to my life...
~ be salt and light to all who cross my path, by passing on to them the gift of grace You have lavished on me...
~ make my home a haven for all who pass this way...
~ keep my mind, body, and spirit strong, so I can better serve You...
~ faithfully use and humbly teach others the treasures, abilities, and gifts You have entrusted to me...
~ make a positive impact before this pilgrimage leads me home...
~ live simply, but profoundly...
~ practice Your presence continually...
~ guard my heart...
~ listen for, hear, and obey only Your voice.
~ And most importantly, to know You and make You known.
January 3, 2013
Frugal Friday: 5 Steps to a Fresh Face for Plain Doors
Photo #1 - Door in our former home
The house that hubby and I owned before our current home was a century-old charmer that needed a LOT of updating when we bought the house in 2004. It had sadly lost a lot of its original detail, and the doors in the house were the flat hollow-core kind.
Since we were on a strict budget and needed to spend our renovation dollars in other places, we opted to just trim out our hollow-core doors with molding and a little paint. We were more than pleased with the results (see Photo #1 to the left).
Here's how we did it:
1. Measure your door and draw a to-scale diagram of the door so you
can keep the panels to equal measurements. (Note in the picture that the
top margin is the same as the side and in-between margins. The bottom
margin is a little greater. The door knob is located between the third
and fourth panels from the top down.)
2. With pencil, mark the corner locations of your trim. (You may want to trace the design on the door so you can step back and view it to check for accuracy. But do so lightly so that you can erase if necessary.)
3. Purchase flat-backed trim at a local home supply store. Add at least 10% more than you think you'll need, for practice and oopsies. ;) (Ours was probably 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide, which is fairly inexpensive.)
Photo #2 - Close-up of door
4. Miter your trim into the appropriate measurements at a 90-degree angle. You can do this by hand with a miter saw or hack saw unless you're lucky enough to know someone with a compound miter saw. Note that the outer side measurement of each piece is the longest, so that the corners of each panel fit together snugly. (You may want to practice with a few shorter cuts with the extra trim you purchased to get the hang of it and make sure your angle is correct before beginning.)
5. Run a bead of wood glue down the back of each piece and stick into place. You will need to attach these with small finish nails/hammer or a brad nailer. Wipe off access glue.
6. Once the glue has dried and the pieces are immovable, paint the door the desired color. (All our trim was painted with Country White, Walmart store brand, semi-gloss.)
We made-over all the doors in our house. It truly made them look like much more expensive paneled doors which would have cost us a fortune. (See photo #2 at right.) Stay tuned for a later Frugal Friday post about how to inexpensively change the color of your door knobs!)
Happy Home Decorating,
January 2, 2013
A Message to the Church #1: Have You Left Your First Love?
As I finished up my reading and study of Revelation at the end of 2012, I was particularly impacted by the letters to the churches that Jesus dictated and John was commanded to write down. Maybe it was because my husband and I had recently been through the process of finding a new church home and had visited several churches to observe and be a part of things.
Just a quick side note before I get to the meat of this post: A very wise Sunday School teacher of mine once said, "Don't go looking for the perfect church, because you'll mess it up when you join." Though the words were spoken somewhat tongue-in-cheek, they also hold truth. In reality there are no perfect churches because they're made of imperfect people...including us!
So that said, these letters in Revelation have been studied by theologians for years, and there are several views on how the letters are to be interpreted. Although these were actual churches in John's day, some think the letters also refer to different historical ages of the church or different types of churches. But in my study, I saw bits and pieces of lots of different churches. I think it's possible for a church to exhibit several of the negative AND positive behaviors of these churches. In that light, I think it would be wise for the body of Christ--which is the church--to read these verses with a contrite heart, absorbing the words of commendation, warning, and possible reward spoken by our Lord.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ ~Revelation 2:1-7 (NASB)
Symbolism
In studying the Bible, I find it's always a good idea to remember the time in which a book was written and the context in which it's written. In this case, the book of Revelation was given by God to the apostle John--in exile on the isle of Patmos--for the purpose of revealing Christ and showing His servants what would "soon take place." (Revelation 1:1)
Most theologians believe the book to be written during the Roman empire, possibly under the rule of Nero or Domitian--both of whom persecuted Christians for their beliefs, often to the point of death. Because of that, much of the book is written in symbols to speak only to those who were followers of Christ and confuse the world powers who might intercept the letters.
When the first verse of chapter two mentions the One who held seven stars and walked among seven lampstands, it refers to Christ (Revelation 1:12-16). The seven stars are the angels of these particular churches, and they are in Christ's right hand, which indicates a position of power (Revelation 1:20). The lampstands are the seven churches. This makes sense, because earlier in the New Testament, Christ calls us the light of the world and tells us not to hide our light.
What They're Doing Right
Deeds
Hard work
Perseverance
Not tolerating wicked men
Testing and exposing false messengers
Enduring hardships for the name (character and essence) of Christ
Not growing weary
They hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ also hated (Based on my study, this seems to be a group much like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They were "leaders" in the church who lorded it over the church rather than being the example, and did so for dishonest gain and power. See 1 Peter 5:1-3.)
All of the things mentioned are commendable qualities. At many other places in the Bible, the necessity and goodness of these same qualities are expounded. But in and of themselves they are not enough, and that is what Christ addresses next.
What He Has Against Them
Plain and simple, they've left their first love.
The word "first" implies importance and priority. God (including Jesus and the Spirit) is to be
our first love. When Jesus asked a man to tell Him the most important
commandment, he answered correctly: "To love the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, mind, and strength"--in other words, with all that we
are.
We also need to possess a good Biblical
grip on what true love is. The best explanation of God's type of love is
found in 1 Corinthians 13, where qualities of patience, kindness,
humility, right actions, forgiveness, self-denial, endurance, and hope
are mentioned. These are attributes of God, and this perfect love of His
was demonstrated by sending His only Son to die on the cross in our
place.
If our deeds are not motivated by this same kind of
self-sacrificing love of Christ, then we are like a clanging noise, a
nothing, and our deeds are unprofitable.When a church leaves its first love of Christ as the motivation for
all it does and is, they've basically lost their significance. So it
comes as no surprise when we next hear what Jesus' warning is.
What They Need To Do
Remember - It's always important when we find ourselves on the wrong track to look back and see where we went wrong. In this case, the church at Ephesus needed to remember the height of love from which they'd fallen.
Repent - If ever a word in the Bible has gotten a bad rap, it's this one (maybe because so many preachers use it like they're the Holy Spirit and a person's conviction is their job). Repentance, though difficult because of our pride, is actually a good thing. It simply involves us stopping in our tracks and making a u-turn--away from our sin, rebellion, and running--and back toward God.
Return - They needed to return to the deeds they did at first. Notice that the church were commended for their deeds in verse two. They weren't without deeds in their fallen state. The problem was the lack of a proper motivation and catalyst behind their deeds . . . which is God's love and our undivided love for Him.
The Warning
The warning for the church, should they decide not to repent, is the removal of their lampstand. I've already mentioned above that the lampstand represented the church's light-bearing capacity. If we stop to give this careful consideration, the warning is more than understandable. Without that first love, we don't have light. He is the light of the world and the church is to reflect that light. Christ would rather us have no testimony to the world than a fake light built on our prideful deeds instead of His all-consuming and all-gracious love. In other words, He won't tolerate cheap substitutes.
The Reward
I personally love the fact that another person in the trinity is revealed at work in this passage. Though He was certainly enough, Jesus wasn't the only One speaking. The Spirit of God, who convicts us of sin, often through God's Word, was also there. The church would do well to remember that God's Holy Spirit is speaking this message to them. We also need to remember that the word "hear" as used in the Bible, always indicates not only listening and hearing, but also obeying.
If the church hears and obeys, the reward is the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Genesis 3:22-24 talks about this tree of life in the Garden of Eden. Many people might see God expelling Adam and Eve from the garden as punishment, and perhaps it was. But it was also a gracious act. He didn't want man to live eternally in a fallen and cursed state.
This reward is the promise of eternal life in God's paradise.
Application
Lest we all--me included--get high and mighty and start listing churches we know that have this problem, it's important to remember what "church" is. It is NOT a building. Instead it is made up of God's people. So this message is to us individually as well as corporately.
The question for us to ponder and pray over is this:
Have we left our first love?
Father God, thank You for Your Word, which is Christ, and for Your Holy Spirit, which indwells us as Your followers. Enable us to repent from losing our first love--our true motivation for everything that we do for You. Motivate us as individuals and as the bride of Christ to turn back to that first all-consuming, all-passionate love for You and for Your mission in this world. Thank You that You haven't left us to wander about on our own, wondering if we're on the right track. Instead, the Bible is Your message to us--the revelation of who You are--and how we are to live our lives in light of You. Thank You that it's not too late for us as Your church to return to what You want us to be. If we submit to You in obedience to Your Word, You will accomplish Your mission to bring light to the world through us. Thank You for the promise of eternal life in the paradise You created from the beginning of time. Amen.
Just a quick side note before I get to the meat of this post: A very wise Sunday School teacher of mine once said, "Don't go looking for the perfect church, because you'll mess it up when you join." Though the words were spoken somewhat tongue-in-cheek, they also hold truth. In reality there are no perfect churches because they're made of imperfect people...including us!
So that said, these letters in Revelation have been studied by theologians for years, and there are several views on how the letters are to be interpreted. Although these were actual churches in John's day, some think the letters also refer to different historical ages of the church or different types of churches. But in my study, I saw bits and pieces of lots of different churches. I think it's possible for a church to exhibit several of the negative AND positive behaviors of these churches. In that light, I think it would be wise for the body of Christ--which is the church--to read these verses with a contrite heart, absorbing the words of commendation, warning, and possible reward spoken by our Lord.
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’ ~Revelation 2:1-7 (NASB)
Symbolism
In studying the Bible, I find it's always a good idea to remember the time in which a book was written and the context in which it's written. In this case, the book of Revelation was given by God to the apostle John--in exile on the isle of Patmos--for the purpose of revealing Christ and showing His servants what would "soon take place." (Revelation 1:1)
Most theologians believe the book to be written during the Roman empire, possibly under the rule of Nero or Domitian--both of whom persecuted Christians for their beliefs, often to the point of death. Because of that, much of the book is written in symbols to speak only to those who were followers of Christ and confuse the world powers who might intercept the letters.
When the first verse of chapter two mentions the One who held seven stars and walked among seven lampstands, it refers to Christ (Revelation 1:12-16). The seven stars are the angels of these particular churches, and they are in Christ's right hand, which indicates a position of power (Revelation 1:20). The lampstands are the seven churches. This makes sense, because earlier in the New Testament, Christ calls us the light of the world and tells us not to hide our light.
What They're Doing Right
Deeds
Hard work
Perseverance
Not tolerating wicked men
Testing and exposing false messengers
Enduring hardships for the name (character and essence) of Christ
Not growing weary
They hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Christ also hated (Based on my study, this seems to be a group much like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. They were "leaders" in the church who lorded it over the church rather than being the example, and did so for dishonest gain and power. See 1 Peter 5:1-3.)
All of the things mentioned are commendable qualities. At many other places in the Bible, the necessity and goodness of these same qualities are expounded. But in and of themselves they are not enough, and that is what Christ addresses next.
What He Has Against Them
Plain and simple, they've left their first love.
The word "first" implies importance and priority. God (including Jesus and the Spirit) is to be
our first love. When Jesus asked a man to tell Him the most important
commandment, he answered correctly: "To love the Lord your God with all
your heart, soul, mind, and strength"--in other words, with all that we
are.
We also need to possess a good Biblical
grip on what true love is. The best explanation of God's type of love is
found in 1 Corinthians 13, where qualities of patience, kindness,
humility, right actions, forgiveness, self-denial, endurance, and hope
are mentioned. These are attributes of God, and this perfect love of His
was demonstrated by sending His only Son to die on the cross in our
place.
If our deeds are not motivated by this same kind of
self-sacrificing love of Christ, then we are like a clanging noise, a
nothing, and our deeds are unprofitable.When a church leaves its first love of Christ as the motivation for
all it does and is, they've basically lost their significance. So it
comes as no surprise when we next hear what Jesus' warning is.
What They Need To Do
Remember - It's always important when we find ourselves on the wrong track to look back and see where we went wrong. In this case, the church at Ephesus needed to remember the height of love from which they'd fallen.
Repent - If ever a word in the Bible has gotten a bad rap, it's this one (maybe because so many preachers use it like they're the Holy Spirit and a person's conviction is their job). Repentance, though difficult because of our pride, is actually a good thing. It simply involves us stopping in our tracks and making a u-turn--away from our sin, rebellion, and running--and back toward God.
Return - They needed to return to the deeds they did at first. Notice that the church were commended for their deeds in verse two. They weren't without deeds in their fallen state. The problem was the lack of a proper motivation and catalyst behind their deeds . . . which is God's love and our undivided love for Him.
The Warning
The warning for the church, should they decide not to repent, is the removal of their lampstand. I've already mentioned above that the lampstand represented the church's light-bearing capacity. If we stop to give this careful consideration, the warning is more than understandable. Without that first love, we don't have light. He is the light of the world and the church is to reflect that light. Christ would rather us have no testimony to the world than a fake light built on our prideful deeds instead of His all-consuming and all-gracious love. In other words, He won't tolerate cheap substitutes.
The Reward
I personally love the fact that another person in the trinity is revealed at work in this passage. Though He was certainly enough, Jesus wasn't the only One speaking. The Spirit of God, who convicts us of sin, often through God's Word, was also there. The church would do well to remember that God's Holy Spirit is speaking this message to them. We also need to remember that the word "hear" as used in the Bible, always indicates not only listening and hearing, but also obeying.
If the church hears and obeys, the reward is the right to eat from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Genesis 3:22-24 talks about this tree of life in the Garden of Eden. Many people might see God expelling Adam and Eve from the garden as punishment, and perhaps it was. But it was also a gracious act. He didn't want man to live eternally in a fallen and cursed state.
This reward is the promise of eternal life in God's paradise.
Application
Lest we all--me included--get high and mighty and start listing churches we know that have this problem, it's important to remember what "church" is. It is NOT a building. Instead it is made up of God's people. So this message is to us individually as well as corporately.
The question for us to ponder and pray over is this:
Have we left our first love?
Father God, thank You for Your Word, which is Christ, and for Your Holy Spirit, which indwells us as Your followers. Enable us to repent from losing our first love--our true motivation for everything that we do for You. Motivate us as individuals and as the bride of Christ to turn back to that first all-consuming, all-passionate love for You and for Your mission in this world. Thank You that You haven't left us to wander about on our own, wondering if we're on the right track. Instead, the Bible is Your message to us--the revelation of who You are--and how we are to live our lives in light of You. Thank You that it's not too late for us as Your church to return to what You want us to be. If we submit to You in obedience to Your Word, You will accomplish Your mission to bring light to the world through us. Thank You for the promise of eternal life in the paradise You created from the beginning of time. Amen.
10 Free Christian Kindle eBooks for January 2, 2013
I often share free Kindle books that I find on Facebook and Twitter and had so much positive response that I decided to share them here on WordVessel as well. While I may not be able to do this everyday since it's time-consuming, I will post as often as I can. All the books listed here were free at the time of posting, but these free ebooks change to pay status very quickly. Always check to make sure the books are indeed free before you click to buy. Also, I want to offer readers only the most highly rated books, so all books listed are at least 4 out of 5 stars with at least 5 reviews. Just so you know, I have not read all these books, so I can't testify to their content or spiritual accuracy. I am also a part of the Amazon Associates program, which allows me to earn a small advertising fee from Amazon for advertising these books by linking directly to them. Happy reading!
Holy Bible (English Standard Version)
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is an essentially literal
Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy
with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning. The ESV Bible
is equipped with an enhanced navigation feature. Kindle's index feature
can be used to navigate directly to any verse. (This feature is not
supported on the Kindle 1 or any Kindle applications.)
4.5 stars with 257 reviews (NOTE: I have this on my Kindle. It is a little difficult to look up Bible passages quickly, but the message is, of course, timeless.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Daily Devotional Series (Gospel of John)
by Kristi Burchfiel
Published April 2011
Nonfiction: Does a cup of coffee or an energy drink typically start your day? While
that may wake you up physically, what are you doing each day to wake up
spiritually? How do you find time in your busy, hectic schedule to focus
on truth from God's word? The Daily Devotional Series is
designed provide each day with a quick and simple devotional that can be
read in less than 5 minutes. However, it focuses on one truth from the
Bible that a person can take with them, think about, and apply all day
long. Each devotional includes the verse from the Bible, a truth from
that verse, and a response to pray back to God. The Daily
Devotional Series: The Gospel of John gives readers a brief introduction
into using The Daily Devotional Series, a synopsis of the Gospel of
John, and then twenty-one brief devotionals that cover each of the
twenty-one chapters in the Gospel. Enjoy taking one devotional a
day as you work your way through the Gospel of John as part of the
Daily Devotional Series and "wake up" to God's truths from His word.
4.5 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Abortion
by R.C. Sproul
Published May 1990
Nonfiction: In this book, Dr. R.C. Sproul employs his unique perspective as a highly
experienced pastor-theologian and a trained philosopher to provide
well-considered and compassionate answers to the difficult questions
that attend termination of pregnancy. Dr. Sproul strives for a factual,
well-reasoned approach informed by careful biblical scholarship. He
considers both sides of this issue in terms of biblical teaching, civil
law, and natural law. This edition includes a new foreword by Dr. George
Grant and has been updated to reflect developments in the issue of
abortion. Appendixes provide further background on the issue of when
life begins and list sources for pro-life resources.
3.6 stars with 11 reviews (NOTE: Normally I only post books with at least 4 stars, but I felt the lower rating on this book wasn't because the book was poorly written, but because the topic is controversial and the capital-T Truth is often unpopular with the masses.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Well-Lived Laugh
by Rachel St. John-Gilbert
Published August 2012
Nonfiction: Ladies, a little perspective can change everything—and owning your own perspective (with a good dose of humor) is what The Well-Lived Laugh is all about. Brand-new from humor writer Rachel St. John-Gilbert (author of Wake Up Laughing and Laugh Yourself to Sleep), The Well-Lived Laugh: Designing a Life that Keeps You Smiling
offers a quirky look at life’s crazy-making pressures—body image,
relationships, social networking, the food police—and encouragement to
develop your own unique perspective to help eliminate those pressures.
Through her hilarious observations, St. John-Gilbert will help you
embrace the beauty in life that comes through each experience, whether
planned or not.
4.8 stars with 12 reviews (NOTE: I've actually read this one and recommend it. Review coming soon.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
A Dream Unfolding
by Karen Baney
Published December 2010
Historical: The promise of a new life and a chance to start over... Hannah
Anderson had the life she always wanted, married to the man of her
dreams. When her husband's brother gets in trouble with the law, the
town turns against them, shattering her perfect life. Now they are left
with only one choice--to head west to the Arizona Territory in the hopes
of creating a new life. Will the journey be worth the cost?
Will
Colter, after burying his father, is forced to leave the ranch he has
called home for nearly thirty years. The journey is dangerous,
challenging him and his men. Will he find the new life he was hoping
for?
4.5 stars with 76 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Journey
by Laura Lond
December 2010
Fantasy: His father killed in war before he was three, his mother unexpectedly
dying when he was eight, Jecosan Tarres is young and poor, yet he has
something not many men have: a faithful heart, a strong spirit, and the
knowledge of truth taught to him by his mother and Priest Shaledan.
Alone for a year, but later befriended by Dalian the blacksmith, he has
already beaten the odds of being destitute and forgotten, but clearly
something or someone is at work in his life. With his faithful dog Gart
and his friend Dalian, he sets out on a life defining journey after a
messenger visits him with a commission to go to Kanavar, the ancient
capital of Meoria, where he is to enter the king's service and somehow
prevent the war that is about to break out in his country. There are
powerful forces interested in his journey, both to fail and succeed.
Join young Jecosan as he struggles along, escaping sudden traps, facing
prison and captivity, fighting pain and despair, losing and making
friends.
4.7 stars with 29 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Worlds Unseen
by Rachel Starr Thomson
Published November 2011
Fantasy: Quiet, timid, and still haunted by the murder of her childhood
guardians, Maggie Sheffield wants peace and healing—not an opportunity
to uncover truths so frightening that they threaten to forever unravel
the world she thinks she knows. But when a dying friend gives her an
ancient scroll that purports to contain just such truths, Maggie finds
the lure of understanding too hard to resist: For the power that
killed Maggie’s guardians was not human—and she has reason to believe
the same power is controlling the Seventh World. Leaving her
hopes for peace behind, Maggie sets out to carry the ancient scroll to
the far eastern city of Pravik, seeking the only man in the world who
can read it. Along the way, Maggie falls into the companionship of a
charismatic young wanderer called Nicolas Fisher, who has secrets of his
own that he has long been trying to keep hidden. Together, their
journey plunges them into a strange new world of colourful Gypsies and
ancient legends, of death-hounds and beautiful witches, of wilderness
treks, unexpected love, and political rebellion. But the price of truth
may be too high: for Maggie, Nicolas, and the rebels of Pravik are
tearing at the veil between the seen and the unseen, between good and
evil, between forgotten past and treacherous future—and when that veil
grows thin enough, it’s anyone’s guess what may come through.
Worlds Unseen is Book 1 of the Seventh World Trilogy.
4.8 stars with 21 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The 13th Enumeration
by William Struse
Published July 2012
Suspense: Terrorists strike again at the heart of American
commerce and banking with devastating effect. A twenty-five-hundred-year-old
Persian artifact incites the Muslim world and seriously undermines the
credibility of certain Christian beliefs concerning their Messiah. A new
technology is discovered which changes the balance of power around the globe.
Are these random events or carefully laid plans to change the order of the
world? A
college research paper leads to the rediscovery of a biblical code hidden for
almost two thousand years. Its implications reverberate through four thousand
years of history. Its author and his friends find themselves sucked into a
conspiracy of historic proportions. Will they make sense of events before it's
too late? An epic battle is waged as powerful interests
fight to control the knowledge of the 13th Enumeration.
4.9 stars with 11 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Rescue the Captors
by Russell Stendal
Published April 2011
Nonfiction - True Accounts: American bush pilot Russell Stendal, on routine business, landed
his plane in a remote Colombian village. Gunfire exploded throughout the
town and within minutes Russell's 142 day ordeal had begun. The
Colombian cartel explained that this was a kidnapping for ransom and
that he would be held until payment was made. Held at gunpoint deep in the jungle
and with little else to occupy his time, Russell got ahold of some
paper and began to write. He told the story of his life and kept a
record of his experience in the guerrilla camp. His “book” became a
bridge to the men who held him hostage and now serves as the basis for
this incredible true story of how God’s love penetrated a physical and
ideological jungle.
4.5 stars with 18 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
done.
by Cary Schmidt
Published November 2005
Nonfiction: You are more than a body; you will live forever somewhere; and God is on
a divine rescue mission to make sure your “forever” is safe with Him!
If you enjoy being loved; if you enjoy gifts; if you care about where
you will spend forever; and if you want to know the true message of the
Bible, then you must read this book! Where will you spend forever? You
owe this question some investigation...
4.3 stars with 52 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Holy Bible (English Standard Version)
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible is an essentially literal
Bible translation that combines word-for-word precision and accuracy
with literary excellence, beauty, and depth of meaning. The ESV Bible
is equipped with an enhanced navigation feature. Kindle's index feature
can be used to navigate directly to any verse. (This feature is not
supported on the Kindle 1 or any Kindle applications.)
4.5 stars with 257 reviews (NOTE: I have this on my Kindle. It is a little difficult to look up Bible passages quickly, but the message is, of course, timeless.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Daily Devotional Series (Gospel of John)
by Kristi Burchfiel
Published April 2011
Nonfiction: Does a cup of coffee or an energy drink typically start your day? While
that may wake you up physically, what are you doing each day to wake up
spiritually? How do you find time in your busy, hectic schedule to focus
on truth from God's word? The Daily Devotional Series is
designed provide each day with a quick and simple devotional that can be
read in less than 5 minutes. However, it focuses on one truth from the
Bible that a person can take with them, think about, and apply all day
long. Each devotional includes the verse from the Bible, a truth from
that verse, and a response to pray back to God. The Daily
Devotional Series: The Gospel of John gives readers a brief introduction
into using The Daily Devotional Series, a synopsis of the Gospel of
John, and then twenty-one brief devotionals that cover each of the
twenty-one chapters in the Gospel. Enjoy taking one devotional a
day as you work your way through the Gospel of John as part of the
Daily Devotional Series and "wake up" to God's truths from His word.
4.5 stars with 25 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Abortion
by R.C. Sproul
Published May 1990
Nonfiction: In this book, Dr. R.C. Sproul employs his unique perspective as a highly
experienced pastor-theologian and a trained philosopher to provide
well-considered and compassionate answers to the difficult questions
that attend termination of pregnancy. Dr. Sproul strives for a factual,
well-reasoned approach informed by careful biblical scholarship. He
considers both sides of this issue in terms of biblical teaching, civil
law, and natural law. This edition includes a new foreword by Dr. George
Grant and has been updated to reflect developments in the issue of
abortion. Appendixes provide further background on the issue of when
life begins and list sources for pro-life resources.
3.6 stars with 11 reviews (NOTE: Normally I only post books with at least 4 stars, but I felt the lower rating on this book wasn't because the book was poorly written, but because the topic is controversial and the capital-T Truth is often unpopular with the masses.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Well-Lived Laugh
by Rachel St. John-Gilbert
Published August 2012
Nonfiction: Ladies, a little perspective can change everything—and owning your own perspective (with a good dose of humor) is what The Well-Lived Laugh is all about. Brand-new from humor writer Rachel St. John-Gilbert (author of Wake Up Laughing and Laugh Yourself to Sleep), The Well-Lived Laugh: Designing a Life that Keeps You Smiling
offers a quirky look at life’s crazy-making pressures—body image,
relationships, social networking, the food police—and encouragement to
develop your own unique perspective to help eliminate those pressures.
Through her hilarious observations, St. John-Gilbert will help you
embrace the beauty in life that comes through each experience, whether
planned or not.
4.8 stars with 12 reviews (NOTE: I've actually read this one and recommend it. Review coming soon.)
Free? Click HERE to see.
A Dream Unfolding
by Karen Baney
Published December 2010
Historical: The promise of a new life and a chance to start over... Hannah
Anderson had the life she always wanted, married to the man of her
dreams. When her husband's brother gets in trouble with the law, the
town turns against them, shattering her perfect life. Now they are left
with only one choice--to head west to the Arizona Territory in the hopes
of creating a new life. Will the journey be worth the cost?
Will
Colter, after burying his father, is forced to leave the ranch he has
called home for nearly thirty years. The journey is dangerous,
challenging him and his men. Will he find the new life he was hoping
for?
4.5 stars with 76 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The Journey
by Laura Lond
December 2010
Fantasy: His father killed in war before he was three, his mother unexpectedly
dying when he was eight, Jecosan Tarres is young and poor, yet he has
something not many men have: a faithful heart, a strong spirit, and the
knowledge of truth taught to him by his mother and Priest Shaledan.
Alone for a year, but later befriended by Dalian the blacksmith, he has
already beaten the odds of being destitute and forgotten, but clearly
something or someone is at work in his life. With his faithful dog Gart
and his friend Dalian, he sets out on a life defining journey after a
messenger visits him with a commission to go to Kanavar, the ancient
capital of Meoria, where he is to enter the king's service and somehow
prevent the war that is about to break out in his country. There are
powerful forces interested in his journey, both to fail and succeed.
Join young Jecosan as he struggles along, escaping sudden traps, facing
prison and captivity, fighting pain and despair, losing and making
friends.
4.7 stars with 29 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Worlds Unseen
by Rachel Starr Thomson
Published November 2011
Fantasy: Quiet, timid, and still haunted by the murder of her childhood
guardians, Maggie Sheffield wants peace and healing—not an opportunity
to uncover truths so frightening that they threaten to forever unravel
the world she thinks she knows. But when a dying friend gives her an
ancient scroll that purports to contain just such truths, Maggie finds
the lure of understanding too hard to resist: For the power that
killed Maggie’s guardians was not human—and she has reason to believe
the same power is controlling the Seventh World. Leaving her
hopes for peace behind, Maggie sets out to carry the ancient scroll to
the far eastern city of Pravik, seeking the only man in the world who
can read it. Along the way, Maggie falls into the companionship of a
charismatic young wanderer called Nicolas Fisher, who has secrets of his
own that he has long been trying to keep hidden. Together, their
journey plunges them into a strange new world of colourful Gypsies and
ancient legends, of death-hounds and beautiful witches, of wilderness
treks, unexpected love, and political rebellion. But the price of truth
may be too high: for Maggie, Nicolas, and the rebels of Pravik are
tearing at the veil between the seen and the unseen, between good and
evil, between forgotten past and treacherous future—and when that veil
grows thin enough, it’s anyone’s guess what may come through.
Worlds Unseen is Book 1 of the Seventh World Trilogy.
4.8 stars with 21 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
The 13th Enumeration
by William Struse
Published July 2012
Suspense: Terrorists strike again at the heart of American
commerce and banking with devastating effect. A twenty-five-hundred-year-old
Persian artifact incites the Muslim world and seriously undermines the
credibility of certain Christian beliefs concerning their Messiah. A new
technology is discovered which changes the balance of power around the globe.
Are these random events or carefully laid plans to change the order of the
world? A
college research paper leads to the rediscovery of a biblical code hidden for
almost two thousand years. Its implications reverberate through four thousand
years of history. Its author and his friends find themselves sucked into a
conspiracy of historic proportions. Will they make sense of events before it's
too late? An epic battle is waged as powerful interests
fight to control the knowledge of the 13th Enumeration.
4.9 stars with 11 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
Rescue the Captors
by Russell Stendal
Published April 2011
Nonfiction - True Accounts: American bush pilot Russell Stendal, on routine business, landed
his plane in a remote Colombian village. Gunfire exploded throughout the
town and within minutes Russell's 142 day ordeal had begun. The
Colombian cartel explained that this was a kidnapping for ransom and
that he would be held until payment was made. Held at gunpoint deep in the jungle
and with little else to occupy his time, Russell got ahold of some
paper and began to write. He told the story of his life and kept a
record of his experience in the guerrilla camp. His “book” became a
bridge to the men who held him hostage and now serves as the basis for
this incredible true story of how God’s love penetrated a physical and
ideological jungle.
4.5 stars with 18 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
done.
by Cary Schmidt
Published November 2005
Nonfiction: You are more than a body; you will live forever somewhere; and God is on
a divine rescue mission to make sure your “forever” is safe with Him!
If you enjoy being loved; if you enjoy gifts; if you care about where
you will spend forever; and if you want to know the true message of the
Bible, then you must read this book! Where will you spend forever? You
owe this question some investigation...
4.3 stars with 52 reviews
Free? Click HERE to see.
January 1, 2013
Facebook Groups That Feature Giveaways and Free Days
Thought I'd create a post much like the one I did on websites that promote Kindle Free Days, but make this post about Facebook groups. Note that some of these are pages, not groups. Unless it says group in the URL, it's a page. You will need to join or "like" these in order to post, and generally speaking, unless it has the word Christian in the name of the group/page it will include secular fiction and nonfiction. I'll include as many specifics about the groups/pages as I can after each link.
The Christian Book Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheChristianBookClub/ (can post giveaways or free days as well as interact with Christian readers and writers)
International Online Book Club of Clean Reads - https://www.facebook.com/groups/422962281053265/ (same as above)
Crazy for books (readers & authors) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/182637088529255/ (same; may only post once during a 24-hour period, but seriously you shouldn't post more than that anyway unless your objective is to annoy people!)
Christian Fiction Gathering - https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianfictiongathering/ (same)
Book Giveaways - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookGiveaways/ (this group is specifically for posting about giveaways and freebie days)
Christian Fiction - https://www.facebook.com/groups/300903439978137/ (can post giveaways/free days as well as interact with Christian readers and writers)
Free Christian Books - https://www.facebook.com/groups/freechristianbooks/ (specifically for posting about free Christian books as the name of the group implies)
Kindle Books We Found Free or a Bargain Price - https://www.facebook.com/groups/170795256355444/ (specifically for posting about free eBooks, including Nook; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Free Ebooks for Kindle, Nook, and More - https://www.facebook.com/groups/341840249197060/ (specifically for listing free eBooks and nothing else; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Christian eBook Downloads - https://www.facebook.com/groups/383479808366629/ (specifically for listing free Christian eBooks; this group has UK members as well, so try to list the UK link if the book is free)
Authors, Bloggers, Writers, Readers and Books - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorsBloggersWritersReadersBooks/ (Just what the name says; can post news about books)
eReader1US - https://www.facebook.com/eReader1.US (can post once a week only; includes secular mainstream fiction; the person running the page posted my giveaway days for me on another page called Christian eReads)
FreeBookFeed - https://www.facebook.com/FreeBookFeed (also has a website for promoting free days)
Christian Fiction For Your Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Fiction-for-Your-Kindle/231968163511982 (Lists bargain and free Christian Kindle eBooks)
Best eBook Collections - https://www.facebook.com/BestEbookCollections?ref=stream (allows authors to promote their books; also has a website by the same name for indie authors that I need to explore further)
I Love Books - https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-Books/100817506670064 (allows authors to promote and share their books and freebie days; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Free eBook Deal - https://www.facebook.com/freeebookdeal (also has a twitter feed @freeebookdeal)
Digital Book Today - https://www.facebook.com/DigitalBookToday (includes secular mainstream fiction, but it appears that authors are welcome to share their freebie days)
Indie Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/IndieKindleWLC (can post once a week only)
eBook Lovers - https://www.facebook.com/weloveebooks (allows posts on their page)
eBook Korner Kafe - https://www.facebook.com/EBookKornerKafe (allows posts)
UK Kindle Book Lovers - https://www.facebook.com/pages/UK-Kindle-Book-Lovers/175617412524192?ref=stream (share the UK link here)
The Digital Ink Spot - https://www.facebook.com/TheDigitalInkSpot (specifically for posting eBooks to connect readers and authors)
Kindle Finds - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kindle-Finds/217115528350246 (also has website by same name that I'll add to our list)
Reading Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/readingkindle (This is also a UK page, so please post a UK link.)
Amazon Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/kindle (This is the official Amazon Kindle page; only one promotional post per week.)
Authors on the Cheap - https://www.facebook.com/AontheC (Gotta love the name!!!) =)
Book Goodies - https://www.facebook.com/BookGoodies
Ebooks FreeFreeFree - https://www.facebook.com/ebooksfreefreefree
GalleyCat - https://www.facebook.com/galleycat (This page also has a place for authors to sign up for book club chats--sounds like fun to me!)
Indie Book Lounge - https://www.facebook.com/IndieBookLounge
Kindle Freebies - https://www.facebook.com/KindleFreebies
The Kindle Obsessed - https://www.facebook.com/TheKindleObsessed
Indie Books List - https://www.facebook.com/indiebookslist
Indie Book IBC - https://www.facebook.com/indiebookibc
Our Awesome Gang - https://www.facebook.com/ourawesomegang
Cents-ible eReads - https://www.facebook.com/centsibleereads
Indie Book of the Day - https://www.facebook.com/IndieBookOfTheDay
The Christian Book Club - https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheChristianBookClub/ (can post giveaways or free days as well as interact with Christian readers and writers)
International Online Book Club of Clean Reads - https://www.facebook.com/groups/422962281053265/ (same as above)
Crazy for books (readers & authors) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/182637088529255/ (same; may only post once during a 24-hour period, but seriously you shouldn't post more than that anyway unless your objective is to annoy people!)
Christian Fiction Gathering - https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianfictiongathering/ (same)
Book Giveaways - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookGiveaways/ (this group is specifically for posting about giveaways and freebie days)
Christian Fiction - https://www.facebook.com/groups/300903439978137/ (can post giveaways/free days as well as interact with Christian readers and writers)
Free Christian Books - https://www.facebook.com/groups/freechristianbooks/ (specifically for posting about free Christian books as the name of the group implies)
Kindle Books We Found Free or a Bargain Price - https://www.facebook.com/groups/170795256355444/ (specifically for posting about free eBooks, including Nook; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Free Ebooks for Kindle, Nook, and More - https://www.facebook.com/groups/341840249197060/ (specifically for listing free eBooks and nothing else; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Christian eBook Downloads - https://www.facebook.com/groups/383479808366629/ (specifically for listing free Christian eBooks; this group has UK members as well, so try to list the UK link if the book is free)
Authors, Bloggers, Writers, Readers and Books - https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorsBloggersWritersReadersBooks/ (Just what the name says; can post news about books)
eReader1US - https://www.facebook.com/eReader1.US (can post once a week only; includes secular mainstream fiction; the person running the page posted my giveaway days for me on another page called Christian eReads)
FreeBookFeed - https://www.facebook.com/FreeBookFeed (also has a website for promoting free days)
Christian Fiction For Your Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christian-Fiction-for-Your-Kindle/231968163511982 (Lists bargain and free Christian Kindle eBooks)
Best eBook Collections - https://www.facebook.com/BestEbookCollections?ref=stream (allows authors to promote their books; also has a website by the same name for indie authors that I need to explore further)
I Love Books - https://www.facebook.com/pages/I-Love-Books/100817506670064 (allows authors to promote and share their books and freebie days; includes secular mainstream fiction)
Free eBook Deal - https://www.facebook.com/freeebookdeal (also has a twitter feed @freeebookdeal)
Digital Book Today - https://www.facebook.com/DigitalBookToday (includes secular mainstream fiction, but it appears that authors are welcome to share their freebie days)
Indie Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/IndieKindleWLC (can post once a week only)
eBook Lovers - https://www.facebook.com/weloveebooks (allows posts on their page)
eBook Korner Kafe - https://www.facebook.com/EBookKornerKafe (allows posts)
UK Kindle Book Lovers - https://www.facebook.com/pages/UK-Kindle-Book-Lovers/175617412524192?ref=stream (share the UK link here)
The Digital Ink Spot - https://www.facebook.com/TheDigitalInkSpot (specifically for posting eBooks to connect readers and authors)
Kindle Finds - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kindle-Finds/217115528350246 (also has website by same name that I'll add to our list)
Reading Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/readingkindle (This is also a UK page, so please post a UK link.)
Amazon Kindle - https://www.facebook.com/kindle (This is the official Amazon Kindle page; only one promotional post per week.)
Authors on the Cheap - https://www.facebook.com/AontheC (Gotta love the name!!!) =)
Book Goodies - https://www.facebook.com/BookGoodies
Ebooks FreeFreeFree - https://www.facebook.com/ebooksfreefreefree
GalleyCat - https://www.facebook.com/galleycat (This page also has a place for authors to sign up for book club chats--sounds like fun to me!)
Indie Book Lounge - https://www.facebook.com/IndieBookLounge
Kindle Freebies - https://www.facebook.com/KindleFreebies
The Kindle Obsessed - https://www.facebook.com/TheKindleObsessed
Indie Books List - https://www.facebook.com/indiebookslist
Indie Book IBC - https://www.facebook.com/indiebookibc
Our Awesome Gang - https://www.facebook.com/ourawesomegang
Cents-ible eReads - https://www.facebook.com/centsibleereads
Indie Book of the Day - https://www.facebook.com/IndieBookOfTheDay
CatBryant.com ~ Journey Blog
FREE digital copy of A PATH LESS TRAVELED (2nd stand-alone book in the Miller's Creek novels and an Amazon Kindle Best-Seller) when you subscribe to Cathy's FROM MY FRONT PORCH newsletter. On my blog
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