Julie Arduini's Blog, page 141

Thankful: A Choice We Make by Martha Rogers

Being thankful is a choice we make. Rather than complaining about what we don’t have, we chose to be thankful for what we do have. Paul said it best in Philippians 4:13: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” NIV

I am thankful for life. Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After a radical mastectomy and treatment, I was declared in remission. Exactly five years later the cancer returned. After a second surgery and treatment, the oncologist ran tests and declared me to be not only in remission, but also cancer free.

In that fifteen years so much has happened for which I thank the Lord. He healed my body and made it possible for me to enjoy these years. We had two more wonderful grandchildren, participated in the wedding of our oldest granddaughter, sat by the bedside of  a grandson after a liver transplant, signed my first contract for a full length novel, enjoyed the births of three great-grandchildren, and wrote 13 novels now in stores.

To say that God has blessed our family would be an understatement. He gave me new life in which I began a journey that is ongoing. Our Lord is faithful, and only He is worthy of all the honor, glory and thanksgiving for a life fully entrusted to His hands.

 

Martha Rogers is a free-lance writer and was named Writer of the Year at the Texas Christian Writers Conference in 2009 and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston where they enjoy spending time with their grandchildren.  A former English and Home Economics teacher, Martha loves to cook and experimenting with recipes and loves scrapbooking when she has time. She has written two series, Winds Across the Prairie and Seasons of the Heart as well as several novellas. Love Stays True and Love Finds Faith, the first two books in her new series, The Homeward Journey, are available now with book number three being released in the fall of 2014.

Tags:  author, cancer survivor, faithful, God, Julie Arduini, Martha Rogers, thankful, Thanksgiving




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 The Lessons I'm Learning from Whitney Houston's Life and Death  Saturday Confession: I'm in Love, I'm in Love and I Don't Care Who Knows It!  Character Confession: Good News  Book Review: Susan May Warren's The Shadow of Your Smile  COTT: Clash in the New Year with these New ReleasesCopyright © Julie Arduini [Thankful: A Choice We Make by Martha Rogers], All Right Reserved. 2014.

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Thankful: Sifting Gold by Holly Hrywnak

It’s be one of those years.

 

Ya’ll know what I mean by that. A season marked with tears, struggle, heartache, frustration and bills. Lots and lots of bills without the lots and lots of money to go with it.

 

One year ago, I found myself in the hospital for a 6-day stay without insurance. I kept telling Jesus a funeral would have been cheaper and He laughed at the snarkiness.

 

I celebrated my 30th birthday, which was a difficult milestone to embrace with joy. By this time in my life, I had so many other plans. Plans involving a husband and some children, but the only bed companion I have are the four pillows I surround myself with.

 

My car decided it was hungry and drained my savings account, which I had painstakingly filled by working side jobs for extra cash. All of the money gone and my check engine light still on.

 

It seemed like I’d get over one mountain and start thinking things were getting better to find myself at the foot of another mountain. At times, I’d laugh out of sheer tiredness. “Really, God?! You’ve got to be kidding me.”

 

I’d like to say I was the perfect daughter through the trials. Smiling and waving like some beauty pageant winner, but that’s far from the truth. There were times I acted like a tired, hungry toddler throwing a tantrum– flailing limbs and everything. Or I’d give the eye rolls, the heavy sighs and the passive aggressive silence. Woven between were moments of resigned trust.

 

“Fine, God. I’m trusting you. You’ve brought me through before– I believe you can do it again.”

 

It’s hard to look back at this season and not cringe let alone be thankful for it, but I am. Not in the everything is rainbows and butterflies type way, but in the I’m going to cross this finish line even if I’m bloodied and broken.

 

Here I am in the midst of all this struggle and Jesus brings me to Luke 22:31-32 which reads, “And the Lord said,’Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’” This certainly does feel like I’m being sifted.

 

And then God reminded me of something. When people pan for gold they scoop up some sediment and shake their pans back and forth as a way to separate the gold from the other rocks. There’s a sifting that needs to take place in order to find the gold. God’s ok with the sifting because where the enemy may be sifting in order to point out all our crap, God is looking for the gold.

 

A gold He plans on refining through the fire. God will always, if we let Him, take our circumstances to make us more beautiful. That’s what I want. For these moments to produce a strength in me and to separate out anything that needs to go. Where the enemy wants to point out my shortcomings, I want God’s glory to be highlighted.

 

It won’t be easy or even painless, but it’ll be worth it. It’s always worth it. So, I just began to thank Him. I thanked Him that even though this season has shaken me up it has also produced a deeper more beautiful faith. One that continues to be tested, but that clings to a lovely Savior who won’t allow me to be consumed.

Holly Hrywnak is a 30-year-old writer who strives to share honestly and transparently in hopes that it will encourage others to be open about their own struggles and lessons learned. She’s been accused of being sassy, which she finds to be an admirable attribute. Her favorite things include: making people laugh, chocolate, sweatshirt weather and authentic conversations over coffee. One day she hopes to find herself a bearded lumberjack to call her own. You can find more of her writing at www.thecommonqueen.com 

Tags:  Holly Hrywnak, Julie Arduini, panning gold, refining, sifting, thankful, trusting God




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 WFW: White as Snow  Book Review: Be the Blessing by Paula Mowery  COTT's Jennifer Slattery: No More Cardboard Heroines  Book Review: Goodbye to Yesterday by Wanda E. Brunstetter  12 Pearls of Christmas | Day 1 - God with Us . . . And Us with Him by Susan May WarrenCopyright © Julie Arduini [Thankful: Sifting Gold by Holly Hrywnak], All Right Reserved. 2014.

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Thankful: Our Kind Father by Fay Lamb

I have to admit that when it comes to thankfulness, I am not the poster child God would use. I often fail to rest in thanksgiving for all that He has bestowed. Oh, my. Every breath I take comes from Him.

As I look over the last year, I find that I am most thankful for His long suffering. You see, I’m like the child that does whatever she wants and then comes crying when things don’t work out the way that I want. I sit at my Father’s feet with tears running down my face, and I ask Him, “Lord, why?”

I imagine Him smiling at me, not a weary smile, but a knowing one. “Daughter,” He wipes my tears, “If you had only sat here with me and asked for direction, I would have guided you. Instead, we have taken a longer and more painful journey, have we not?”

Then I realize that not only is my Father longsuffering, kind, and loving, He is steadfast. Though I took a long, painful journey, He had sojourned with me. Though my endurance may have been tried by my own ignorance, He never left my side. He lovingly gazes down at me and asks, “So, what have you learned from this journey?”

That thought makes me realize I have so much more to be thankful for. My Father is not only longsuffering, kind, loving, and steadfast. He is a patient teacher, willing to allow me to learn the hard way when my stubborn nature gets in the way of my relationship with Him.

I imagine my Father’s hand against my cheek as I reflect on the journey we took. He might even wink when He says, “Don’t worry, Daughter. Nothing you did took Me by surprise, but I do look forward to spending time with you, and I hope that you will come back to Me. Why, I would love it if you’d spend all of your time communing with Me. I love you, and You will never lose My love.”

Even now, I feel the tears gathering in my eyes as I realize that not only is my father longsuffering, kind, loving, steadfast, and a patient teacher, He is also merciful to me, a sinner, and He desires to spend time with me. With me! His wayward daughter.

And I recall all of the times when I have forgotten to be thankful, and I praise Him for one more kindness He provides to me daily. His forgiveness.

BIO

Fay Lamb is an author, editor, and writing coach.

Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Fay has contracted three series. Stalking Willow and Better than Revenge, Books 1 and 2 in the Amazing Grace romantic suspense series are currently available for purchase. Charisse and Libby the first two novels in her The Ties That Bind contemporary romance series have been released. Fay has also collaborated on three romance novellas: The Christmas Three Treasure Hunt, A Ruby Christmas, and the newest A Dozen Apologies. Her adventurous spirit has taken her into the realm of non-fiction with The Art of Characterization: How to Use the Elements of Storytelling to Connect Readers to an Unforgettable Cast.

Future releases from Fay are: Everybody’s Broken and Frozen Notes, Books 3 and 4 of Amazing Grace and Hope and Delilah, Books 3 and 4 from The Ties that Bind. Also, look for Book 1 in Fay’s Serenity Key series entitled Storms in Serenity.

Fay loves to meet readers, and you can find her on her personal Facebook page, her Facebook Author page, and at The Tactical Editor on Facebook. She’s also active on Twitter. Then there are her blogs: On the Ledge, Inner Source, and the Tactical Editor. And, yes, there’s one more: Goodreads.

 

Blurb for Libby

 

Libby Overstreet can’t see herself as anything but shy and socially awkward. She’s nearing thirty, and she’s never even been on a date. Then she meets the man of her dreams, but Libby knows he would never be interested in a wallflower like her. All she wants to do is to buy that garden nursery on the outskirts of town and settle down with the life she has always dreamed about.

Evan Carter has been watching the sweet woman in the coffee shop for weeks when his friend tells him that the object of his affection plans to buy a garden nursery and needs Evan’s expertise as an architect/contractor.

When they meet, Libby is more enamored of Evan and even more convinced that he would never look at her as anything but a friend.

However, that’s far from the truth. Evan would love to get to know the innocent beauty God has placed in this path. Trouble is, he fears that a lovely flower like Libby will wilt under the sins of his past, and he’ll do everything in his power to keep that from happening.

Tags:  author, Fay Lamb, God, guest blogger, Julie Arduini, s goodness, thankful, thankfulness




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 Thankful for Health by Beth Ann Farley  Two Articles to Start Your Week  Marriage Monday: A Cautionary Tale  Thankful for the Season by Holly Hrywnak  Sabbath Sunday: Blazing LoveCopyright © Julie Arduini [Thankful: Our Kind Father by Fay Lamb], All Right Reserved. 2014.

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COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Fall Read

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Welcome to the September clash!!

Five new books for your bookshelf this month! From suspense to humor, these books are the newest addition to CBA. Which one lands at the top of your to-be-read pile? Based on what you see below, please choose the book that grabs you–the one you’d read first. Cast your vote below and help bring one book to the top of the pile!

Winner announced right here on Thursday, November 6!

A TIME TO DIE by Nadine Brandes

In a world where everyone has a Clock showing their day of death, Parvin Blackwater tries to find meaning in her last year alive by rescuing Radicals from the government’s crooked justice system. When the authorities find out about her illegal activity, they cast her through the Wall — her people’s death sentence.

Purchase A Time to Die

 

 

CHAPEL SPRINGS REVIVAL by Ane Mulligan

Best friends Claire and Patsy embark on a mission of mishaps and miscommunication, determined to restore warmth to Chapel Springs —and their lives. But with a friend like Claire, you need a gurney, a mop, and a guardian angel.

Purchase Chapel Springs Revival

 

 

 

A PROMISE TO PROTECT by Patricia Bradley

Acting Sheriff Ben Logan hasn’t heard from Leigh Somerall in a very long time, but it doesn’t mean he can get her—or their whirlwind romance of ten years ago—out of his head. In a steamy small town riddled with broken promises, one woman’s secret could change everything.

Purchase A Promise to Protect

KEPT by Sally Bradley

Thirty years into life, Miska Tomlinson is left with nothing but pain, loss, and a boyfriend who won’t leave his wife. But when Dillan Foster moves in next door, Miska realizes that she’s on a path of self-destruction and that there are honorable men—like Dillan who, now that he knows her past, wants nothing to do with her.

Purchase Kept

 

SPINSTERED THE NOVEL by Sharyn Kopf

Catie, Jolene and Uli aren’t sure how they ended up over 40 and still single, but when a new GWP (Guy With Potential) enters her life, Catie begins to think there might be hope … until her life falls apart. With their hearts on the line, these three friends search for love and find it in unexpected places.

Purchase Spinstered the Novel

// ]]>

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Tags:  A Promise to Protect, A Time to Die, Ane Mulligan, authors, books, Chapel Springs Revival, Clash of the Titles, COTT, fall reads, Julie Arduini, Kept, Nadine Brandes, Patricia Bradley, Sally Bradley, Sharyn Kopf, Spinstered The Novel




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 SheSpeaks Product Review: Aveda Smooth Infusing Naturally Straight  Clash of the Titles: Vote for Your Favorite Book Cover and Blurb  Book Review: Kris Vallotton's Spirit Wars  That Saturday Revisited  Developing a Heart of Gratitude by Joni TynerCopyright © Julie Arduini [COTT: Vote for Your Favorite Fall Read], All Right Reserved. 2014.

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