Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 110

When the Storms Blow…

I am resurrecting this post that first ran in June 2011. As we watch the devastation in Moore, it reminds us too much of what happened in Joplin. Let’s remember the best place to turn in storms!

Today a truck loaded with diapers, food, baby food, toiletries, and kids clothing is headed to Joplin, Missouri. The picture doesn’t begin to convey how many boxes are layered in there. I really didn’t think it would all fit…but it did!

Yesterday a pastor at the church we are working with spoke at our church. He and his wife shared stories that would break your heart — yet gave such hope at the same time. God is on the move.

In storms like this, I think we see who we really are. How strong we really are. What our core values are. What we are fundamentally made of at the core of our existence.

Some people experience a massive tornado — possibly the most destructive in United States history. But for most of us, the storms are other things. In the last few days a friend had a husband tell her he never loved her and their life together has been a lie. F-5 on the scale of storms. Another friend learned that her cancer returned, this time in her bones. Another F-5 shock. Yet another friend went in for an ultrasound and learned her baby had no heartbeat. An F-5. Another friend learned that she was being asked not to continue on a public project. A F-5.

I’m sure you’ve had something similar happen. So what do we do?

Do we lean into Jesus and His promises? Or do we rail against Him and shake our fists at heaven? Do we sink into His loving embrace like my six-month-old curls into mine? Or do we go rigid and turn away?

Praying that whatever the storm in your life, that Jesus would be bigger, present, and still it.

In the face of disaster, what can we do?

Here is a post I wrote in the face of Joplin. As we pray about Moore and how we can help another community that is devastated, this post from May 2011, seemed more than appropriate to share again. Let’s determine to be intentional about helping those confronted with disaster.

I’ve been burdened by the tornadoes and their horrific paths of destruction. I first asked God what I could do when I saw the horrific images of Alabama. Then the weekend storms hit Joplin. A third of the town…gone.It’s almost too much to fathom.But the burden wouldn’t leave. So I kept praying. A donation didn’t seem like enough, though I did that, too. I wanted to do something tangible. Something the kids could participate in like giving of clothes and books to those who have lost everything.I mentioned an idea to my pastor’s wife, and literally, in twenty-four hours God exploded it into something so much bigger. I love how He does that! Our church is a collection point for material goods to go to a church in Joplin where my pastor’s brother serves as a worship pastor. I sent out a facebook message to 41 friends (don’t you love social networking) and now three local churches are partnering with us. I worried about how we would transport the goods, and one of those churches has a box truck we can use. A friend has a trailer we can borrow. God saw all of this and has it planned!

So what can we do?

Pray. I absolutely believe prayer is key. I’m praying that God will lead the searchers to those awaiting rescue. I’m praying for peace and comfort to those who lost so much. And I’m praying for the storms to calm.
Give. There are excellent organizations like Convoy of Hope and Samaritan’s Purse that are on the ground making a difference. For Samaritan’s Purse, the link takes you to the donation page and enter an amount at the US line. For Convoy of Hope, you can also go to KLOVE‘s page for easy donating. These organizations are on the ground with critical food and water and the love of God. Samaritan’s Purse is organizing volunteers, too.
If you want to help with physical items, there are many churches that will serve as collection points. If you’re near West Lafayette, Indiana, bring them to my home church Bethel Christian Life Center. We will get them to Joplin Family Worship Center, for distribution
Desperately needed items:

Baby food
formula
diapers
kids’ clothes from infant on up
toys and books are welcome too, but think small since we’ll have to transport everything.
tarps in all shapes and sizes.
hygiene products — everything from hotel sample sized to full sized
I’m also hearing that things like cell phones and chargers are critically needed, too.

If you would like more information on how to help, contact one of the organizations listed above or email me if you’re close to Lafayette.

I refuse to stand paralyzed in the face of disaster. Instead, I choose to do something and be the hands and feet of Christ to those in desperate need.

He can Still the Storms

Psalm 107:29-30

There are days when life seems too hard. Yesterday, when the news of the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, hit, my heart broke. I know I’m not the only one. I gathered my family in the backyard last night and we prayed.

I know that God is sovereign. I know that He is in control. On days like yesterday, I have to believe that He can shelter and comfort those in need. That He can perform miracles and turn horrible events into something beautiful. I cling to that in times of crisis where all I can do is pray.

I stopped by my facebook profile and found a verse I had preloaded days earlier that was what I needed to remember. He can still the storm. He can provid a haven in a place that is devasted. He can hush the seas and He can restore joy.

And He knew we would need that reminder. Rest in His care. And pray for Moore.

Jennifer’s story is here!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Jennifer: An O’Malley Love StorybyDee HendersonWhen I discovered the O’Malley series, I realized Christian fiction might have grown into the type of books that I love. This electic group of “siblings” had me from the first page, and I loved the way the series was interconnected…one of the key connections was Jennifer’s story. Yet Jennifer never had her own book until now. While this is a novella (so shorter than a regular novel) it provides satisfaction for fans who have longed to get to know Jennifer and Tom’s story. At the same time, if you haven’t discovered the O’Malleys, it will provide a great segue to this romantic suspense series. This book has no traditional suspense. Instead, it is a straight romance. It is a story that compelled me to read it in one setting, and one I will return to … just as I have the rest of the O’Malley series. Two thumbs up!

ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s a summer of change for Jennifer O’Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She’s sorting out how to introduce him to her family–she’s the youngest of seven–and thinking about marriage.

She’s falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn’t expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O’MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.

 

Jennifer’s story is here!

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Jennifer: An O’Malley Love StorybyDee HendersonWhen I discovered the O’Malley series, I realized Christian fiction might have grown into the type of books that I love. This electic group of “siblings” had me from the first page, and I loved the way the series was interconnected…one of the key connections was Jennifer’s story. Yet Jennifer never had her own book until now. While this is a novella (so shorter than a regular novel) it provides satisfaction for fans who have longed to get to know Jennifer and Tom’s story. At the same time, if you haven’t discovered the O’Malleys, it will provide a great segue to this romantic suspense series. This book has no traditional suspense. Instead, it is a straight romance. It is a story that compelled me to read it in one setting, and one I will return to … just as I have the rest of the O’Malley series. Two thumbs up!

ABOUT THE BOOK

It’s a summer of change for Jennifer O’Malley. The busy physician has a pediatrics practice in Dallas, and meeting Tom Peterson, and falling in love, is adding a rich layer to her life. She’s sorting out how to introduce him to her family–she’s the youngest of seven–and thinking about marriage.

She’s falling in love with Jesus too, and knows God is good. But that faith is about to be tested in a way she didn’t expect, and the results will soon transform her entire family.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jennifer: An O’Malley Love Story, go to HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dee Henderson is the bestselling, award-winning author of 15 previous novels, including the acclaimed O’MALLEY series and UNCOMMON HEROES series. These days, most authors are out there energetically promoting their books in print and broadcast and via social media—wherever they can get attention. But Dee Henderson keeps a low profile. She avoids telephone interviews because of hearing problems, declined to provide a current photo, and will say only that she lives in Illinois.

 

It’s a New Webpage Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who stopped by yesterday to participate in the Deeanne Gish giveaway. Loved the conversation. Today I want to celebrate my redesigned website! I hope you’ve noticed the new look. Tekeme Studios designed it for me and I LOVE it.

Because I love to celebrate good news with giveaways, I thought this would be a great chance to do just that. Play along by using the rafflecopter form below. I’ll be giving out some great reads just in time for summer vacation including:

Swept Away by Mary Connealy
Mystery of the Heart by Jillian Kent
A Wedding Transpires on Mackinac Island by me
And more.

To participate, all you have to do is join the fun through the form below. Help me spread the word and you’ll get more entries.

If you like what you see, and are interested in Tekeme designing a website or other service for you, check out their website and be sure to give them this code:  CPUTMAN13. When you use it, you’ll get 25% off the service you select.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It Happened at the Fair: Historical fiction at its best & Giveaway

Deeanne Gist is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her books combine a great sense of historical time and place with a strong spiritual thread that simmers beneath the surface, right past the strong attraction between the hero and heroine. Add in some spunk and sass, and you’ll know why her books fly to the top of my reading pile.

It Happened at the Fair transported me to the Chicago World’s Fair. The historical research is impeccable. All you have to do is read the author’s note at the end to know the level of dedication the author has to get the history right — or strong reasons for playing with the details. The hero is someone I’d want my daughters to meet. And he has a problem only the heroine can help him overcome. So starts a wonderful read that will pull you into a fascinating time and place with characters that sweep you through the story. I enjoyed this book so much, I’m giving a copy away! Just slip down to the form below to see how you can participate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the Fair’s Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

Purchase a copy here.

Read an excerpt.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mother’s Day: Pain or Joy?

In the shadow of Mother’s Day, I’m reminded of how painful Mother’s Day can be. It’s a holiday laced with immense pain for many… those who struggle to have children… those who had a bad relationship with their mother.

Then there are those who have lost a child. Those who wait with longing for a child they’ve been matched with but have yet to adopt.

My heart hurts for those who long to be mothers but aren’t. Infertility is so very painful. Before children and before my miscarriages and secondary infertility, I hated Mother’s Day. I knew I wanted to be a mother, just had to wait on the timing. Then my first two children came without thought or effort. But there’s a 4 1/2 year gap between our second and third children. A gap were two years were filled with the pain of longing for a child but not becoming pregnant. Beginning doctor’s appointments and tests. Then becoming pregnant to be followed by a missed miscarriage that led to a D&C. Circumstances I never imagined myself in. Then a long delay before our third arrived. The pain of each passing month. Of that Mother’s Day.

Maybe you find yourself in another position. You aren’t married or don’t have children yet. You’d like to, but the time hasn’t arrived. Or maybe you know you won’t have children. It was a choice or thrust upon you, but either way, you love your life.

Regardless of where we are in the mothering journey, all of us can mother the children God has placed in our lives. The world is filled with children hungry for an adult to see them, to know their name, and to communicate that they are important. Open your heart, ask God to open your eyes. Be willing to slow down long enough to connect with them at their level.

The smiles you receive make the moment so worthwhile!

Distractions R Us: Three things to do when life distracts

I’m in the middle of line edits for Shadowed by Grace. As often happens, life has thrown a few curveballs my way during this crunch time. Maybe it’s because my husband’s traveled, I’ve had three finals to grade and classes to wrap  up, and homeschooling to fill my days. Maybe it’s bad news that filled my head. What doesn’t change is that this all results in one thing: DISTRACTION.

So how’s a girl to refocus?

For me it involves a few things, and I’d love to hear your strategies, too.

1) Dive back in somewhere. Where doesn’t really matter. What matters is the act of starting…again.

2) Build in cushion in the calendar. If you know something is due May 16, then make sure you plan accordingly. Make sure you exam events that you know will fill time — say, running the mini-marathon — and build in some extra work time before or after to account for the time away.

3) Give yourself permission to be pulled by different things, but then get back to work. Sometimes when bad news hits, we need time to absorb it. Then we have to get moving again.

What’s one of your strategies when life throws distractions your way?

When a Secret Kills Review

When a Secret Kills is the latest release from prolific romantic suspense author Lynette Eason. With each book, I think she can’t craft a better story…until I read the next one. While When a Secret Kills is the last in a series, it stands well on it’s own, but is also a fully satisfying conlusion to a series.

Jillian Carter is willing to confront the secrets of the past, even if it costs her her life. This novel is a high-octane race to the truth. It is also the story of a woman confronting all the secrets buried in her past. This book tugged at my heart as the romance built as the suspense plot sped to a climax. A great read — the author’s best yet!

This is a perfect read for those who like a balanced combination of romance and suspense in their books.

More about the book:

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it’s time to put the past to rest. She’s tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She’s no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do–ferret out the truth and expose it. Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago–and Jillian watched it happen.

Didn’t she?

Not even the enigmatic and attractive Colton Brady, her ex-boyfriend and nephew of the killer, will be able to make her leave this alone. Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to an explosive series.