Kaylea Hutson's Blog, page 12

Lent Photo Day 39: Restore

Lent Photo Day 39: Restore. Communion At IHOP to close out spring break mission trip. #rethinkchurch #40days #catchingup

I wanted the mission trip to end with communion.

Due to a lot of factors, we didn't have it at the closing worship on Friday night.

But rather than not have communion, we decided to share two meals on Saturday morning at IHOP - one physical, the other spiritual.

A unique setting for communion - but it seemed fitting that our last meal together as a group not only fill up our bodies, but also our spirit.

God is good. Here's to a non-traditional way to share in the Last Supper.
(And no, we didn't use pancakes and coffee ..... yes, people asked!)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lent Photo Day 38: Alone

Lent Photo Day 38: Alone. Sometimes life can seem like an empty box. #rethinkchurch #40days #catchingup

I took this photo on the mission trip. The kids had completely emptied a box that was almost as tall as me, at the start of the project.

This photo represented the theme: Alone.

It's empty.

Solitary.

Lonely.

Sometimes life is like this.

But rather than stay empty, we just need to find a way to fill up our "box" with good things - friends, family and more.

What are you filling your box up with today?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Lent Photo Day 34: Rise

Lent Photo Day 34: Rise. #rethinkchurch #40days Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1416359
I think today's theme simply reminds me that Easter is coming in less than 13 days. The darkness of Lent will soon be put aside, when the resurrection arrives.

Short, simple and sweet. That's today's theme.

Arise! Shine! Your light has come; the Lord’s glory has shone upon you. (Isaiah 60:1 CEB)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lent Photo Day 33: New

Lent Photo Day 33: New. Tasting a new to me worship service.#40days #rethinkchurch

I've found myself with an opportunity to sample a variety of worship service.
Some things are "different", other things, well, just make me laugh (in a good way).

Ultimately, it simply gives me a chance to see worship in a new way. Which is an unexpected gift in this season of life.

Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. (Psalms 100:2 NLT)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lent Photo Day 32: Surround

Lent Day 32: Surround. Surrounded by Mission Trip supplies. #rethinkchurch #40days

Getting ready for the mission trip.

Organizing supplies, picking out stuff for the Happies, and just doing some "behind the scenes" to make it awesome for the kids who will come this week to Little Rock.

I feel a bit "surrounded" by stuff - in a good way.

I can't wait to see what the kids do with the stuff!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lent Photo Day 31: Temper

Lent Photo Day 31: Temper. #rethinkchurch #40days Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1179314

Today's theme simply reminds me of the passage in the Bible that talks about Jesus being angry - and casting out the money changers from the temple.

It makes me wonder what he would be angry about in today's world.

My guess bullying and hate would top his list today, since that seems, in my opinion, to be what hurts people the most.

I guess I base it on this passage:

"Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT)

Maybe if we all treated each other with love, rather than hate, life would simply be better.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

A Sunday Prayer

Words of Wisdom for St. Patrick's Day,
from Gary Mueller, Arkansas UMC Conference Bishop.


A Sunday prayer
God,
I try my best, I really do.
But when I’m honest with myself, I see the truth.
It’s not pretty.
In fact, it’s painful.
I hurt you deeply. I hurt others deeply. I hurt myself deeply.
Forgive me, Lord, please forgive me.
But more than that, Lord, transform me.
From the top of my head to the tips of my toes
From the inside out.
Every part of me.
Not because I do it on my own.
But because I am filled by the gift of your love.
Love that accepts me just the way I am.
Love that will never let go of me.
Love that is not content to leave me the way I am.
So today, Lord, let me experience the depth and breadth of your love.
The power of your forgiveness.
And the joy of your new life.
I’m ready, Lord.
I’m so ready.
Amen.

Follow Him on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/gary.mueller.125

Blog Tour: Firefly Island (Review)

A whirlwind romance and the prospect of her husband-to-be's new job has congressional staffer Mallory Hale leaving behind the hustle and bustle of D.C., for a remote Texas ranch.

In Lisa Wingate's newest novel, Firefly Island, romance is in the air - or at least floating around the halls of the Capital when Mallory Hale meets the guy - Daniel - a scientist/engineer/researcher - type guy, who sweeps her off her feet (almost literally when she trips).

Firefly Island is filled with a variety of mishaps and humor as Mallory navigates her new role as step-mom, unexpected blogger "the frontier woman," and even a community activist.

Not only does she uncover a variety of things about herself - and her values - but she ultimately discovers a scandal that threatens her new found home.

This novel wasn't exactly what I expected. It was different, which honestly, makes it quite unique. It's not just a "romance."

It starts out as a "slice of life" book - tracking Mallory from her life as a D.C. career woman, to the changes she experiences once she and Daniel marry and move to Moses Lake. Ultimately, it's just a contemporary novel where faith is just part of life - and not overtly preached.

On the scale of one to five, I give this novel a three. It's different - and that's what sets it apart from the typical "romance" book. It has an air of suspense, but I wouldn't label it as a mystery. It's just a nice work of fiction.

More About Firefly Island:
Sometimes love takes you on an adventure completely off the map. Mallory Hale's life quickly veers off course when she falls hopelessly in love.

After a whirlwind romance, Mallory finds herself leaving the bustle and action of Capitol Hill for the remote town of Moses Lake, Texas-with husband, stepson, and a U-Haul in tow.

A sweet, mishap-filled journey into marriage, motherhood, and ranch living ensues, and Mallory is filled with both the wonderment of love and the insecurities of change. But what she can't shake is the unease she feels around her husband's new boss, Jack West.

Jack's presence-and his mysterious past-set her on edge, and when hints of a scandal emerge, Mallory finds herself seeking answers . . . and comes to realize that the middle-of-nowhere home she wasn't sure she wanted is the very place she'll risk everything to save.

More About The Author
Lisa Wingate is a popular inspirational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books, including Tending Roses, Talk of the Town, Blue Moon Bay, and Larkspur Cove, which won the 2011 Carol Award for Women's Fiction. Lisa and her family live in central Texas.

Online Resources
Visit www.lisawingate.com

It's A Contest
Lisa Wingate is celebrating the release of Firefly Island with an iPad Mini giveaway and a fun Facebook Author Chat Party (March 19th).


One fortunate winner will receive:

An iPad Mini
The Moses Lake series (Firefly Island, Blue Moon Bay and Larkspur Cove)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 18th. Winner will be announced at the  "Firefly Island Author Chat Party on March 19th . Connect with Lisa, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be many fun giveaways -- gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Firefly Island and join Lisa on the evening of the March 19th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)


Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Litfuse Publicity Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Blog Tour: Love in a Broken Vessel (Review & Interview)

The story of Hosea and Gomer is probably the most unlikely basis for a romantic novel.

But Mesu Andrews tackles it and more, as she weaves together Love in A Broken Vessel, a novel rooted in scripture and Biblical history.

In Love in a Broken Vessel, Andrews has created a novel that will make you take a second - and probably a third - look at how God spoke to his people through Hosea and Gomer.

This is not an "easy" book to read - and it's definitely not "mind-candy/" The layers are deep. The writing is strong. It's a novel you'll want to read slowly, to savor the words and meaning within the story.

It was a hard book for me to read, because I could truly identify with some of the feelings Gomer had - and how she ran from love because of the brokenness of her past. I could also identify with Hosea as he struggled to remain faithful to God and wait for His direction - even when things changed, and he was no longer a prophet.

Ultimately, the love Hosea poured out on Gomer was only a fraction of the love God poured out on his people - who strayed from faith. That love is amazing and life changing.

This is the third Biblical romance novel Andrews has crafted. Each has challenged me to dive into the primary source - the Bible - to re-read a familiar story with new eyes.

On the scale of one to five, I give this book (and the series) a solid four. I truly enjoy reading Andrews books. I can tell how passionate she is to tell a story that is grounded in scripture.

An Interview With The Author
1) Why tackle the story of Hosea? What drew you to the story?
The truth is…I can’t stand to be confused about Scripture. I NEED to at least get a glimpse of understanding, and when I read the Old Testament prophets, I sometimes just scratch my head and go, “Huh?” 

Hosea seemed a good one to tackle because it had a little bit of story in the first three chapters, and I hoped to find some historical data to fill in the questions left unanswered in Scripture. 

Writing a biblical novel always comes in three stages for me—not necessarily sequential, but I always begin by reading the Scriptures first. For Love in a Broken Vessel, I not only read all of Hosea repeatedly, but I spent lots of time in 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Jonah. 

After soaking in the main idea and emotion of the message of each passage, I turned to historical texts and archaeological data. Whatever I couldn’t fill in with those facts, I added good old-fashioned imagination, and…wallah! A novel is born! 

The story of Hosea was fun because I got to know some of the prophets and their relationships with specific kings in Israel and Judah. Giving these people personalities, quirks, love languages—it makes the Scripture come alive for me…as I hope it does for readers!

2) Which character do you identify with the most? Why?
I identify with Gomer. I was never a prostitute, but I was badly broken. By the time I was nineteen, I had turned my back on God. I was an alcoholic and believed my life was over. Were it not for a dear friend, I wouldn’t be here today (as mentioned in the dedication of this book). 

Brokenness never completely heals on this earth. It’s mended—redeemed by the Blood of Jesus—but the cracks are still there, oftentimes put to good use by our gracious God, who displays His light through the flaws...revealing a unique beauty unknown to a pristine vessel. 

But living with those cracks isn’t always easy. Life is messy, and Gomer reveals those hard feelings of the unredeemed. Righteous Hosea is actually messy too. It’s not always easy to be the “nice guy.” Come to think of it, I’m sort of a “messy” writer! ha! But don’t Bible characters reveal that life is seldom simple? I’m thankful for characters like Gomer to relate to.


3) What was the biggest thing you wanted to get across in this story?
No one is too broken for God to mend, love, and use for His good purpose. I was broken by sin before I was a Christ-follower. I’ve been broken by chronic illness since 1997 even though I’m a faithful Christ-follower. 

My faithful Abba adores me regardless, and He has filled up the cracks and found ways to use me—not just in spite of my brokenness, but because of my brokenness.

4) What message do you think a contemporary reader can learn from this novel?
I hope many messages come through, and I believe it’s a book that may speak differently at different times in a life, depending on what folks are experiencing at the moment. 

There are strong themes of forgiveness, trust, waiting on God, honesty, and friendship. But one of the messages that emerged completely unintentionally was that anyone can hear Yahweh speak—if we will learn to listen. Proverbs 8:17 promises that those who seek the Lord will be found by Him, and I believe it’s true!

5) What surprised you with the story? What did you learn from digging into the story?
The first thing I do when beginning to research any new story is to lay out the timeline of the characters, making a spreadsheet of their birth and death dates as well as the dates of their major life events. I’m always surprised to see whose lives overlap, and who is a child when others are old men/women.

It was fascinating to me that the prophet Jonah might have been alive when Hosea began prophesying in Israel. I was amazed that the profession of midwife was so closely engaged with prostitution in ancient days, but the deeper into herbal medicine I researched, the more I realized why it made sense. 

And frankly, I was surprised to discover that the northern kingdom of Israel didn’t completely shun Yahweh. They simply worshiped other gods in addition to Him—as Judah later did—and that was their downfall. 

With each biblical novel I write, the Lord pierces my heart with new truths, new lessons, new principles to implement into my own life. That’s part of the joy…and the discipline.

6) What else would you like the reader to know?
I love to stay connected to readers! Here are a few ways folks can find me on the internet:
Online: Please stop by my website and order free bookmarks, or download group discussion or Bible study questions for all three of Mesu’s books: http://www.mesuandrews.com/
Or visit me on Facebook: Mesu Andrews
Twitter: MesuAndrews
Pinterest: MesuAndrews
Blog posts on Fridays (inside scoop on characters, plots, and new releases!): http://www.mesuandrews.com/blog/

More About The Author
Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song. She is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

Online Resources
My Review of Love Amid The Ashes (Job) Book 1
My Review of Love's Sacred Song (King Solomon) - Book 2.
Find Love In a Broken Vessel on Amazon 
Download a Reading Group Guide for Love In a Broken Vessel
Download a Bible Study Guide for Love In a Broken Vessel
Read an Online Excerpt for Love In a Broken Vessel

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail. 

Blog Tour: Love in a Broken Vessell (Review & Interview)

The story of Hosea and Gomer is probably the most unlikely basis for a romantic novel.

But Mesu Andrews tackles it and more, as she weaves together Love in A Broken Vessel, a novel rooted in scripture and Biblical history.

In Love in a Broken Vessel, Andrews has created a novel that will make you take a second - and probably a third - look at how God spoke to his people through Hosea and Gomer.

This is not an "easy" book to read - and it's definitely not "mind-candy/" The layers are deep. The writing is strong. It's a novel you'll want to read slowly, to savor the words and meaning within the story.

It was a hard book for me to read, because I could truly identify with some of the feelings Gomer had - and how she ran from love because of the brokenness of her past. I could also identify with Hosea as he struggled to remain faithful to God and wait for His direction - even when things changed, and he was no longer a prophet.

Ultimately, the love Hosea poured out on Gomer was only a fraction of the love God poured out on his people - who strayed from faith. That love is amazing and life changing.

This is the third Biblical romance novel Andrews has crafted. Each has challenged me to dive into the primary source - the Bible - to re-read a familiar story with new eyes.

On the scale of one to five, I give this book (and the series) a solid four. I truly enjoy reading Andrews books. I can tell how passionate she is to tell a story that is grounded in scripture.

An Interview With The Author
1) Why tackle the story of Hosea? What drew you to the story?
The truth is…I can’t stand to be confused about Scripture. I NEED to at least get a glimpse of understanding, and when I read the Old Testament prophets, I sometimes just scratch my head and go, “Huh?” 

Hosea seemed a good one to tackle because it had a little bit of story in the first three chapters, and I hoped to find some historical data to fill in the questions left unanswered in Scripture. 

Writing a biblical novel always comes in three stages for me—not necessarily sequential, but I always begin by reading the Scriptures first. For Love in a Broken Vessel, I not only read all of Hosea repeatedly, but I spent lots of time in 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Isaiah, Micah, Amos, and Jonah. 

After soaking in the main idea and emotion of the message of each passage, I turned to historical texts and archaeological data. Whatever I couldn’t fill in with those facts, I added good old-fashioned imagination, and…wallah! A novel is born! 

The story of Hosea was fun because I got to know some of the prophets and their relationships with specific kings in Israel and Judah. Giving these people personalities, quirks, love languages—it makes the Scripture come alive for me…as I hope it does for readers!

2) Which character do you identify with the most? Why?
I identify with Gomer. I was never a prostitute, but I was badly broken. By the time I was nineteen, I had turned my back on God. I was an alcoholic and believed my life was over. Were it not for a dear friend, I wouldn’t be here today (as mentioned in the dedication of this book). 

Brokenness never completely heals on this earth. It’s mended—redeemed by the Blood of Jesus—but the cracks are still there, oftentimes put to good use by our gracious God, who displays His light through the flaws...revealing a unique beauty unknown to a pristine vessel. 

But living with those cracks isn’t always easy. Life is messy, and Gomer reveals those hard feelings of the unredeemed. Righteous Hosea is actually messy too. It’s not always easy to be the “nice guy.” Come to think of it, I’m sort of a “messy” writer! ha! But don’t Bible characters reveal that life is seldom simple? I’m thankful for characters like Gomer to relate to.


3) What was the biggest thing you wanted to get across in this story?
No one is too broken for God to mend, love, and use for His good purpose. I was broken by sin before I was a Christ-follower. I’ve been broken by chronic illness since 1997 even though I’m a faithful Christ-follower. 

My faithful Abba adores me regardless, and He has filled up the cracks and found ways to use me—not just in spite of my brokenness, but because of my brokenness.

4) What message do you think a contemporary reader can learn from this novel?
I hope many messages come through, and I believe it’s a book that may speak differently at different times in a life, depending on what folks are experiencing at the moment. 

There are strong themes of forgiveness, trust, waiting on God, honesty, and friendship. But one of the messages that emerged completely unintentionally was that anyone can hear Yahweh speak—if we will learn to listen. Proverbs 8:17 promises that those who seek the Lord will be found by Him, and I believe it’s true!

5) What surprised you with the story? What did you learn from digging into the story?
The first thing I do when beginning to research any new story is to lay out the timeline of the characters, making a spreadsheet of their birth and death dates as well as the dates of their major life events. I’m always surprised to see whose lives overlap, and who is a child when others are old men/women.

It was fascinating to me that the prophet Jonah might have been alive when Hosea began prophesying in Israel. I was amazed that the profession of midwife was so closely engaged with prostitution in ancient days, but the deeper into herbal medicine I researched, the more I realized why it made sense. 

And frankly, I was surprised to discover that the northern kingdom of Israel didn’t completely shun Yahweh. They simply worshiped other gods in addition to Him—as Judah later did—and that was their downfall. 

With each biblical novel I write, the Lord pierces my heart with new truths, new lessons, new principles to implement into my own life. That’s part of the joy…and the discipline.

6) What else would you like the reader to know?
I love to stay connected to readers! Here are a few ways folks can find me on the internet:
Online: Please stop by my website and order free bookmarks, or download group discussion or Bible study questions for all three of Mesu’s books: http://www.mesuandrews.com/
Or visit me on Facebook: Mesu Andrews
Twitter: MesuAndrews
Pinterest: MesuAndrews
Blog posts on Fridays (inside scoop on characters, plots, and new releases!): http://www.mesuandrews.com/blog/

More About The Author
Mesu Andrews is the author of Love Amid the Ashes and Love's Sacred Song. She is an active speaker who has devoted herself to passionate and intense study of Scripture. Harnessing her deep understanding and love for God's Word, Andrews brings the biblical world vividly alive for her readers. She lives in Washington.

Online Resources
My Review of Love Amid The Ashes (Job) Book 1
My Review of Love's Sacred Song (King Solomon) - Book 2.
Find Love In a Broken Vessel on Amazon 
Download a Reading Group Guide for Love In a Broken Vessel
Download a Bible Study Guide for Love In a Broken Vessel
Read an Online Excerpt for Love In a Broken Vessel

Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.