Janet Sketchley's Blog: Tenacity, page 107
October 9, 2013
Glory, Not Shame
Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.
Ezekiel 36:22, NLT*
Israel’s ungodly behaviour caused the Babylonian exile in the first place. Set apart to be a holy people, living in fellowship with God as a light to the people around them, they copied their neighbours instead. They abandoned the Living...
October 7, 2013
Review: The Church Builder, by A. L. Shields
The Church Builder, by A. L. Shields (Zondervan, 2013)
One day, Bethany Barclay’s biggest worry is keeping her small-town law practice afloat. The next, there’s a dead body in her home and she’s on the run from the FBI. Who framed her, and why? Is it connected to the recent hit and run death of her best friend, Annabelle?
Following clues, barely keeping ahead of the FBI, Bethany realizes that somebody wants her to finish what Annabelle started. But what is that? And for whom?
Bethany is a pawn i...
October 4, 2013
Heaven’s Prey: the woman in peril
Today I welcome a very special guest to my blog. Ruth Warner has lived in my head for almost 20 years now, and I’m excited to introduce her to the world.
Ruth is the heroine in my novel, Heaven’s Prey—that’s her picture on the cover. She and her husband, Tony, are in their mid-forties. We’re chatting with Ruth today just before the novel begins, because (whispering so she won’t hear) she’s about to be abducted by an escaped convict.
Ruth (rolling eyes): How many times have you rewritten or edit...
Interview: Ruth Warner from Heaven’s Prey
Today I welcome a very special guest to my blog. Ruth Warner has lived in my head for almost 20 years now, and I’m excited to introduce her to the world.
Ruth is the heroine in my novel, Heaven’s Prey—that’s her picture on the cover. She and her husband, Tony, are in their mid-forties. We’re chatting with Ruth today just before the novel begins, because (whispering so she won’t hear) she’s about to be abducted by an escaped convict.
Ruth (rolling eyes): How many times have you rewritten or edit...
October 2, 2013
A Willing Spirit
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:12, NIV*
“I don’t really want to do that.” It’s easy to look at our responsibilities or opportunities that way.
Who really wants to drag their tired body out of bed too early to face the day? Or pick up toddlers’ toys one more time. Make that difficult phone call. Go to the dentist.
There are things we choose not to do, but there are plenty that we need to go ahead with.
The “I don’t want to” attitude ca...
September 30, 2013
Review: Dirty Deeds, by Christy Barritt
Dirty Deeds, by Christy Barritt (Princeton Halls Press, 2013)
Dirty Deeds finds Gabby St. Claire on a week’s holiday with her fiancé, Riley Thomas, at an exclusive resort. Riley’s there for a conference, and to reconnect with some lawyer buddies that he hasn’t seen since college. Gabby … well, the opulent setting and posh lawyers make her nervous.
Riley has a low-paying practice that’s more about helping others than getting rich, and Gabby is used to struggling for every cent. Still, relationsh...
September 27, 2013
Interview: Author Catherine Castle
Catherine Castle
Catherine Castle has been writing all her life. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit under her real name, Catherine Hershberger, in the Christian and secular market. Besides writing, Catherine loves traveling with her husband, singing, and attending theatre. In the winter she loves to quilt and has a lot of UFOs (unfinished objects) in her sewing case. In the summer h...
September 25, 2013
What Idols Obsess Us?
Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt, for I am the Lord your God.’
Ezekiel 20:7, NLT*
Context: the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. God displayed His power through plagues and miraculous signs. He proved His existence—and His supremacy.
Yet He accuses the people of being obsessed with idols.
The NLT footnote for the word “idol” in this verse says “The Hebrew term (literallyround things) probably al...
September 23, 2013
Review: All In, by Mark Batterson
All In, by Mark Batterson (Zondervan, 2013)
The subtitle of this book is “You are one decision away from a totally different life.” The decision? To go “all in” with God, holding nothing back. Author Mark Batterson breaks this down to not just “all in” but going “all out” for our “all in all” in an “all or nothing” way.
Brief anecdotes (personal, friends, historical and biblical) illustrate the book’s central theme that God is calling Christians to more than we may realize. Many of us have sett...
September 20, 2013
5 Links for Peace of Mind
Worried? Tired? Overwhelmed? Sometimes life is just too much. Here are some posts that blessed me this week, and I hope they’ll encourage you.
He leads us by quiet waters (Psalm 23)
Margaret Feinberg writes: “When you’re at the end of your rope, wherever that may be, will you remember these powerful truths?” (Read 10 Things to Remember When You’re Having a Dirty Dog Bad Day — complete with photos and quotes.)
Carolyn Watts reassures us about the one thing we need to hold onto. (Read When You Wor...
