Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 102

The Heart of a Dreamer

In chapter three, Holley Gerth turns her attention to the heart or characteristics of a dreamer. She identifies the following traits:

God-sized dreamers are faithful where they are.


God-sized dreamers keep their hearts open to others.
 ”In the face of difficulties, you have managed to guard what matters most and to press ahead with a resilience that makes you a force to be reckoned with for the kingdom.” I don’t know about you, but I want to be a force to be reckoned with for the kingdom. I want to move and be used for His purposes.


God-sized dreamers encourage others. Here she talked about how God-sized dreamers see others and encourage the dreams they have. Sometimes I’m really good at this. Other times, I become so me-focused I have a hard time seeing anyone else. This is an area I’d love to grow in.


God-sized dreamers are positive people. As she puts it, we don’t let the embers of our dreams die, but fan them to flame again and again. This certainly happened for me with the dream of writing. Periodically, it would flare to life and I’d explore it again. Maybe I’d read a book about how to write. I’d pray. And I’d ask God if this was His timing.


God-sized dreamers don’t do it all. I struggle here. Anyone who knows me well knows that I am oh-so-slowly learning not to do it all. One of her comments really challenged me to keep growing in this area: Not doing it all means we can give our all to the One who matters most. Ouch!


God-sized dreamers feed hungry hearts.


God-sized dreamers pursue a different kind of ambition. We have learned we are enough because of Christ. Ouch! I struggle because I hear the voice that says I’m not enough. As I write this, I’ve had a day where it was screamed at me again. Something small happened, and I hear all over again that it did because I’m not enough. Such a lie, but so easy to believe. The reality is I am not enough, but Christ is.


God-sized dreamers trust His love. We can risk because we are safe in His love.


God-sized dreamers embrace enough. See above. I don’t have to prove my worth, because Christ is my worth.

So let’s talk. Does any of this resonate with you? Where does God have you right now? How can you be faithful today so you’re ready for where He wants to take you tomorrow?

Are you reading the book and participating in the bookclub? Be sure to let me know here, so I can keep you informed and send you a signed bookplate from the author.

Snow On the Tulips Review and Giveaway information

Liz Tolsma’s Snow on the Tulips is a haunting WWII story set in the Netherlands that reminded me of Bodie Thoene’s early books. A young woman is pushed outside of what she knows she should do in order to do the right thing. In the process she pulls those she loves deeper into the web of deception and danger as the Germans actively look for the resistance member she is protecting. And just as tulips peep through the snow, so hope peeps through the pages of this book.

A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything. The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she’s endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s doorstep, their  lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.

Purchase a copy here.

Learn more at Liz’s website.

Liz Tolsma is celebrating the release of her novel, Snow on the Tulips, by giving away an Amazon Reading Pack to one lucky winner. Find out what readers are saying about the book here.

One winner will receive:

A $50 Amazon gift card
Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 18th at Liz’s blog.

 

Don’t miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz’s blog on the 18th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox! Just enter your email address on the left sidebar of her blog.)

Vision Boards — What’s Yours look like?

At the end of Chapter One, Holley challenges us to create a vision board. My amazing friend Beth Vogt is already on hers. Mine is still in my mind. This weekend I’m headed to Wal-Mart or anywhere to get my poster board and start creating.

However, I already know some of the themes that will go on it. I dream of traveling. Seeing more of the world than I already have. God has already answered some of that dream by allowing my family to leave in Germany for eight weeks the summer of 2012. But as so often happens, that just whetted my appetite for more!

I’m living a dream by teaching at a Big Ten University. As I’ve been exploring this topic, God reminded me that my dream as a sophomore in college was to get my Ph.D. and teach international relations at a university. Instead I got my J.D. and teach in the business law area, but I’m still teaching and I LOVE it.

The dream of writing was birthed in my at about 13 or 14. While the dream had to lie dormant for a season, when God said run, He meant it!

I dream of helping women find the courage and vision to chase the dreams God either shouts or whispers. But I also want fresh vision. What’s God dream for me right now? Is there something new He wants me to explore? How will He use this MBA He has me getting?

Dreaming is a process. Where are you in the journey? Have you finished your vision board? Started it? Email it to me at cara at caraputman dot come and I’d love to share it with others. I’m also creating a Pinterest board where we can share these.

Are you reading the book and participating in the bookclub? Be sure to let me know here, so I can keep you informed and send you a signed bookplate from the author.

To Know You: Gripping Women’s Fiction

This book was something of an unknown to me when it arrived. I knew that Shannon Etheridge had written some nonfiction books related to sexual issues and women. And I knew that Kathryn Mackel is a talented novelist. Thus I was willing to give this novel a try. What I didn’t expect was to be sucked in by the lyrical writing and the intense struggles for identity each of the three women represents. The challenges and questions they face are real — something many women can relate to. It is both a cautionary tale and a story of hope and redemption. It’s women fiction that did something most stories like this can’t do — it pulled me in from the first page and wouldn’t let me go until “the end.” I highly recommend this story!

Julia Whittaker’s rocky past yielded two daughters, both given up for adoption as infants. Now she must find them to try to save her son. Julia and Matt Whittaker’s son has beaten the odds for thirteen years only to have the odds—and his liver—crash precipitously. The only hope for his survival is a “living liver” transplant, but the transplant list is long and Dillon’s time is short. His two older half-sisters, born eighteen months apart to two different fathers, offer his only hope for survival.

But can Julia ask a young woman—someone she surrendered to strangers long ago and has never spoken with—to make such a sacrifice to save a brother she’s never known? Can she muster the courage to journey back into a shame-filled season of her life, face her choices and their consequences, and find any hope of healing?

And what if she discovers in her own daughters’ lives that a history of foolish choices threatens to repeat itself? Julia knows she’s probably embarking on a fool’s errand—searching for the daughters she abandoned only now that she needs something from them. But love compels Julia to take this journey. Can grace and forgiveness compel her daughters to join her?

In To Know You, Shannon Ethridge and Kathryn Mackel explore how the past creates the present . . . and how even the most shattered lives can be redeemed.

Purchase a copy here.

Learn more at Shannon’s website.

 

Shannon Ethridge is celebrating the release of  To Know You (co-written by Kathryn Mackel), by giving away a $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs and a personal coaching session, as well as throwing a Facebook Author Chat Party!

One winner will receive:

A $100 gift certificate to Lisa Leonard Designs
To Know You by Shannon Ethridge

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 19th. Winner will be announced at the “To Know You” Facebook Author Chat Party on the 19th. Connect with Shannon and friends for an encouraging evening of fun chat, book club discussion, giveaways, and a chance to win a PERSONAL COACHING SESSION WITH SHANNON!

 
So grab your copy of To Know You  and join Shannon on the evening of November 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 by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word — tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER or Pinterest and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on 11/19!

God-Sized Dreamer Prayer: Guest Post from Holley Gerth

As we prepare to start our journey into Dreaming God-Sized Dreams, I had asked Holley Gerth if she wanted to say anything as we got started. This is such a wait to get started. Thanks for stopping by, Holley! (and if you haven’t yet, be sure to grab her book, You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream and join us on this journey. You can buy it here at CBD or Amazon. Your local bookstores should have it, too.)

photo by crschmidt

God, your thoughts are not my thoughts (Isa. 55:8).

What you have planned for me is beyond all I can ask  or imagine (Eph. 3:19–20).

Yet you have also promised to reveal it to me through your Spirit (1 Cor. 2:8–10).

So I open my heart, mind, and life to more of you—to whatever you have for me.

Where there is ongoing fear in my life, please replace it with faith.

Where there is a desire to hold back, give me the strength to move forward.

Where there is a desert, lead me into the Promised Land you have prepared for me.

I embrace that my part is to pray, plan, and most of all seek you.

And yours is to get me where you want me to go (Prov. 16:9 and 19:21).

Wherever that is, that’s where I want to be too. Because there’s no better place in this world or the next than with you (Ps. 84:10).

Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth (especially my little corner of it) as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10).

In Your name, amen.

- From Opening the Door to Your God-sized Dream

How do we DREAM God-Sized Dreams?

Periodically people have asked me if we could do an online bookclub to discuss a book that challenges us to go deeper and further with God. I finally decided my life will never get simpler where I have a free month on the calendar to explore. So we’re diving in. Together.

I’m so excited about exploring the idea of dreaming and living God-sized dreams in community. If you’re here, you know we’re going to spend this month discussing You’re Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth. I’m excited about this book. As I’ve read it I’ve found myself nodding along to so much of what she says.

Even if you haven’t bought the book, I hope you’ll go to Holley’s website and work with us through the Go Deeper Guide. I’ve bought a great plaque, Holley’s pitching in an autographed book, and I’ll have signed bookplates, too. Stay tuned for details.

So to kick this off right: from Chapter 1:

Which lie do you find it easy to believe?



 Dreaming is Selfish.



 I don’t have what it takes.



 It’s too late.



 I don’t deserve to dream.



 I don’t have time.



 Other.


  


pollcode.com free polls 

What would you add to this list? I think one I’ve battled and really see in a lot of women is the idea that dreaming is selfish. If God created us for a specific purpose, why do we think we don’t get to chase that vision.

Now let’s look at it from the other side. How would you counter one of these? One thing I’d say about #2 is that God won’t call us into an area that He won’t fully equip us for the battle and dream.

Holley challenges us to create a vision board. Now I know some of us can whip out a vision board in about two minutes. Others of us will take a couple weeks. I encourage you to begin praying over what should be on your vision board. I’m going to create a pinterest board where we can post these to encourage each other. You can also post them on Facebook. Just be sure to tag me so I can see it!

So what did you think of the first chapter?

Schedule:

This week Chapters 1 & 2

November 8-14 chapters 3 & 4

November 15-21 chapters 5 & 6

November 22 – 29 chapters 7 & 8

November 30 – December 5 chapters 9-11

Glittering Promises Review: Great conclusion to the series

I have thoroughly enjoyed Lisa T Bergren’s Grand Tour through Europe and the restoration of a family. The first two books in the series set up the challenge of Cora Kensington learning she’s not who she thinks she is and navigating relationships and a world she didn’t know could be hers. 

In Glittering Promises, the story picks up almost exactly where the prior book ends — making it a book that really should be read in the series to be fully enjoyed. While Cora explores Italy, she finds herself one of the wealthiest women in America. She struggles to learn the business and find a firm foundation with the man she loves. The money could be a blessing, or it could destroy the new life she’s creating. The characters are real, the locations so alive that I want to hop the next plane to Italy and explore them for myself. And through it all you see God’s hand as Cora tries above all things to become the woman He wants her to be.

{MORE ABOUT GLITTERING PROMISES}

Lisa T. Bergren’s popular Grand Tour series concludes as Cora Kensington journeys farther into Italy, wrestles with a terrible ultimatum from her father, and comes to terms with the Father who will never fail her.

America’s newest heiress must decide if her potential fortune is rationale enough to give up her freedom and all that God is leading her toward. And when her newly-discovered siblings are threatened with ruin, her quandary deepens. Then as Cora nears Rome, more journalists are tracking the news story of the decade—“Copper Cora,” the rags-to-riches girl—and want to know more about her family and the men vying for her attention. Meanwhile, a charming Italian countess decides that if Cora isn’t going to claim Will’s heart, she might just try…

Purchase a copy here.

Find out more at Lisa’s website.

{MORE ABOUT LISA TAWN BERGREN}

Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs.

Find out more about Lisa Tawn athttp://lisatawnbergren.com/.

3 Ways to Live Beyond Ourselves

This week a friend of my husband’s from college lost a valiant battle with breast cancer. She fought the disease as hard as anyone could. As I’ve read people’s tributes to her, I’ve been reminded of a couple ways she impacted me and in turn has challenged me to live a life more focused on those God has placed in my circle of influence.

1) Stephanie reminded me of the importance of listening to the Holy Spirit. There was a time many years ago when she contacted Eric to ask if everything was all right. He said it was, and she told him God had awoken her to pray for us. As we discussed it later, we realized that at that time a battle was on behind the scenes that could have dramatically changed our lives. I’ll never know for sure this side of eternity whether her prayers were pivotal in the battle, but I believe they were and I’m grateful for them. It also creates a desire in me to be sensitive to those times that the Holy Spirit asks me to drop what I’m doing and focus on prayer.

2) About 18 months ago, in the midst of one of her health battles, I received a small package in the mail from Stephanie. She had noticed this pin (see photo) on one of my pinterest boards and gone on Etsy to find something similar for me. She saw me. She saw a desire I had for something that seemed kind of silly. But every time I wear that necklace, I am reminded to see people. To ask if there’s a way I can bless them and let them know they are seen.

3) This woman fought the battle for years and was very intentional about making memories with her children. They went on several last vacations. Those times will be the ones that her husband and kids can laugh and cry over in the hard days to come. She didn’t just fade into the background, she intentionally sought ways to flood her children with precious memories. I can do the same. Am I willing to give up some of my agenda and focus to breath life into my children and their dreams? To  bless them with memories that will encourage and build them up?

When the day comes and I graduate to heaven, I, too, want to leave a legacy of kindness, faith and family.

Classic Movies Review: Book and Movie giveaway

Today it’s my pleasure to introduce you to my friend Melissa Tagg and her debut novel Made to Last. I had the pleasure of reading and endorsing this fun book. Melissa’s here today to talk about some of her classic movies, some of my favorites! Here’s Melissa:

I might like classic movies a little more than the average person.

And by “like” I mean looooove and by “a little” I mean gobs.

Sidenote: as soon as I typed “gobs” I had an instant craving for Gobstoppers. I just paused to go search my cupboards. Turns out I’ve got two bags of candy corn and a 54-ounce bag of Skittles (both my dentist and I wish I was joking), but no Gobstoppers. Shoot.

Anyway I’m back now and what was I talking about?

Oh yes…old movies! They’re my favorite. And if you’ve peeked inside my debut novel, Made to Last, you may have picked up on that fact. Off the top of my head, I can think of at least six movies mentioned in the book. So just for fun, I thought I’d give you the rundown on the movie references.

And at the end, we’ll do a giveaway! One lucky person will win a copy of Made to Last courtesy of Cara. Another lucky commenter will win your choice of one of the following movies:

Christmas in Connecticut

This movie actually inspired Made to Last. It came out in 1945 and stars Barbara Stanwyck as a magazine journalist who has built a fake life for herself—fake home, fake husband, even fake baby. When a returning war vet and her boss decide to spend Christmas with her, she has to produce said pretend life—including a pretend husband. Only problem is, while pretending to be married to one guy, she falls for another. I loved that angle…and borrowed it for Made to Last. I give a nod to Christmas in Connecticut in Chapter 5.

Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday is also mentioned in Chapter 5 when my main character—who normally hangs around in jeans and a tee—is trying on dresses. Okay, if you’ve not seen this movie you need to. It’s just SO sweet. Audrey Hepburn won an Academy Award for her role as a princess. It was her first major American role and ended up being the movie that made her a star. Fun fact: Gregory Peck’s role was actually written with Cary Grant in mind. However, Grant turned down the role—feeling he was too old to play Hepburn’s love interest. But he’d go on to star opposite her years later in Charade. Which is also a must-see.

Sound of Music

Sound of Music is mentioned right away in the first scene of the first chapter in Made to Last. And it’s mentioned several other times throughout the book. Regardless of a person’s feelings on musicals, it’s just not right to go through life without seeing this movie. True story: As a kid I used to watch this over and over, but I’d always stop watching about three-fourths the way in before the Nazis make an appearance. I liked pretending Maria and Captain Von Trapp and all those kids went on living in that amazing house in Salzburg rather than being chased over the mountains by Nazis!

Gone With the Wind

In Chapter 2, my main character says the line, “I’ll think about it tomorrow…at Tara.” This may or may not be the line I mutter to myself whenever I don’t feel like thinking about something. J I think Gone with the Wind is amazing. It’s sweeping and epic and never fails to capture me even as I cringe at Scarlett O’Hara’s often-callous actions.

Swiss Family Robinson

Who didn’t want to live in a treehouse like the one in Disney’s Swiss Family Robinson?? In Made to Last, my main character has built a pretty sweet treehouse for a children’s shelter in Asheville, complete with skylights. (I wasn’t sure this movie counted as a classic, but it is 53 years old…)

The Birds

Here’s the thing with Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds—to me, it’s funnier than it is scary. Although, I do sorta get goosebumps anytime I see a line of birds hanging out on a telephone wire. I couldn’t help mentioning this movie in Chapter 8 when my heroine has an encounter with a kamikaze bird.

Frankly, I’m pretty sure these six movies are only scratching the surface of the classic movie references in Made to Last.  I know I also mention William Holden, John Wayne and Annette Funicello. Sandra Bullock makes an appearance in Chapter 5, I believe. Okay, she’s not a classic movie actress, but I just saw Gravity and whoa, amazing.

Have you seen any or all of the above movies? What’s your favorite classic movie?

(If you don’t have one, we need to talk… J )

 Cara here: I loved all of these movies, though I haven’t seen The Birds. Who didn’t want to live in a treehouse after watching The Swiss Family Robinson. Or wear big skirts like Scarlett in Gone with the Wind.

Leave a comment below for a chance to win one of the two giveaways. One person will win Made to Last; another will win your choice of the above movies.

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Speak Life

My friend Beth Vogt had a great blog post this week on compliments. She starts with a great quote from Mark Twain that I have stolen and redesigned here.

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Who doesn’t love a good compliment?

I sometimes have a hard time receiving compliments because I see all the areas where I fall short. But I’ve started asking people to tell me how they see me, because I’ve learned just how flawed my few of myself can be.

One thing I’ve come to realize is that our words can prophesy life into people. I’ve seen that in my life and in others after I’ve said something.

About a year ago I read something in a book that resonated. Prophecy is really just speaking truth the way God sees it. When I read that definition the first time it really struck me. I want to prophesy life into people. I want them to walk away feeling more who God called them to be. Often that’s just seeing them with His eyes — and sincere compliments are a great tool for that.

Words have immense power. I love this short clip with TobyMac that explains how he got the idea for his song Speak Life (I’m challenged again each time I hear it to watch what I say). So how do you speak life to those around you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!