tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8220073358635663002024-03-13T12:27:14.408-04:00His Princess Warriora site dedicated to all daughters of the King who are enlisted in His service!HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-36452191753331925582018-10-27T10:10:00.000-04:002018-10-27T10:17:31.231-04:00Lo, How a Rose Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_eOrv2VisHGT31pkZpgogeSulcuSyMv-w-vdXP0Qi4M5r0p0dFEpjtsIST84jaleF7NNZ4gnsKRLN75cVSGb9Rluk1dIYccJaneOBblqAL706kQXwrzq9rWlpQIsKFprKQRObH2V26Uu/s1600/Lo%252C+How+a+Rose+Blog+Tour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="560" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_eOrv2VisHGT31pkZpgogeSulcuSyMv-w-vdXP0Qi4M5r0p0dFEpjtsIST84jaleF7NNZ4gnsKRLN75cVSGb9Rluk1dIYccJaneOBblqAL706kQXwrzq9rWlpQIsKFprKQRObH2V26Uu/s400/Lo%252C+How+a+Rose+Blog+Tour.png" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">About the Book</span></h1>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everything is against them<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-5R5XsPOmGGr-UzFq9L7dhzQnFq9fnp1d-2v8tHotRacSfNXrE3W6pXAiccpQRDrnvDGyWryjdQO-9i5illOCUpaf0j42ckGlbFvYo7oWvwfK2kKiGuUzCAbYWmr5ebIfxi3mgQPEyV8/s1600/Lo%252C+How+a+Rose_Ebook_Final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-5R5XsPOmGGr-UzFq9L7dhzQnFq9fnp1d-2v8tHotRacSfNXrE3W6pXAiccpQRDrnvDGyWryjdQO-9i5illOCUpaf0j42ckGlbFvYo7oWvwfK2kKiGuUzCAbYWmr5ebIfxi3mgQPEyV8/s200/Lo%252C+How+a+Rose_Ebook_Final.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Born into slavery, Rapha is
a Philistine who is almost twice as big as his Israelite masters. They find any
excuse they can to beat him. When he is accused of murder, he runs off into the
desert, planning to never return and hate all Israelites forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nava’s mother died when she
was born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since then she has been
raised mostly by her father, but her grandmother and grandfather have also
helped. Her passion is to help those who need it most, whether it is watching
the healer’s young daughter, Rina, or bringing fresh tunics for the Philistine
slave who receives far too many whippings. When Rapha runs off into the desert
with no water, Nava begs her father to go after him and bring him back safely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will Nava’s father find
Rapha? Can Rapha learn that not all Israelites are untrustworthy? Will Nava
trust her abba and Rapha to Yahweh’s care or take matters into her own hands? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A B</span><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">eauty and the Beast reimagining set during the time of King David.</span></span></i></div>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i><br /></span>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal;"><a href="http://books2read.com/lohowarose" style="background-color: #ead1dc;">http://books2read.com/lohowarose </a></span></span></span></i></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #17365d; font-family: "georgia" , serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><b style="font-family: Georgia, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal;">My thoughts: </b><i style="font-family: Georgia, serif, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.6667px;">Lo, How a Rose </i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal;">was a super cute, short-and-sweet read, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but set in Bible times. I loved Nava's personality, and I remember thinking halfway through how, if I was a mom, I'd want a physical copy for my daughter. Faith is really good at weaving in historical Biblical fact, which I love! Super cute retelling, especially for a B&B re-telling junkie :) </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif , serif , "emojifont"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal;"> </span></span></span></i></div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;">About the Author</span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc4MMn_ftxGrzKr9snEk0HIYPAR7XBR8qhDL5mcf37ktAArzujdyH5rDKtogFjfi6HQfNJiHphjjgbceBlFrecVD5YBTS6IhoqgEts41zzzVgoZpNt4UmeD5PeCO8_WJQV-4jtGsmbJ9W/s1600/FaithBlum_EmmaCatherinePhotography03+%2528Large%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFc4MMn_ftxGrzKr9snEk0HIYPAR7XBR8qhDL5mcf37ktAArzujdyH5rDKtogFjfi6HQfNJiHphjjgbceBlFrecVD5YBTS6IhoqgEts41zzzVgoZpNt4UmeD5PeCO8_WJQV-4jtGsmbJ9W/s200/FaithBlum_EmmaCatherinePhotography03+%2528Large%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Faith Blum is a small-town Wisconsin girl. She’s lived in,
or outside of, small towns her whole life. The thought of living in a city with
more than 60,000 people in it scares her, especially after some interesting
adventures driving through big cities like Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Faith currently resides in the middle of the state of
Wisconsin with her husband and their cat, Smokey. She is blessed to be able to
have writing as her full-time career with household work and cooking to do on
the side. She loves to paint walls as long as she doesn’t have to do hallways
or ceilings.<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">When not writing, you can find her cooking food from scratch
due to food allergies (fun), doing dishes (meh), knitting, crocheting, sewing,
reading, or spending time with her husband (yay!). She is also a Community
Assistant for the <a href="http://theyoungwriter.com/">Young Writers Workshop</a> and loves her work there. She
loves to hear from her readers, so feel free to contact her on her <a href="http://faithblum.com/">website</a>.
</span></div>
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<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Giveaway</span></h1>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhTbFGkgNBVbomi-aq1Y5GQa0g4Vcgu0yylI6hjfAgEOOmQbCxtPhHjTqeYfsTwGfchU4eAgmaE4wHOu45eTlfyM7FlEaBsmalr3diJiek5Hjpgz3z7wKN4L3kFm9DioAOHwwSCiCE3tp/s1600/Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhTbFGkgNBVbomi-aq1Y5GQa0g4Vcgu0yylI6hjfAgEOOmQbCxtPhHjTqeYfsTwGfchU4eAgmaE4wHOu45eTlfyM7FlEaBsmalr3diJiek5Hjpgz3z7wKN4L3kFm9DioAOHwwSCiCE3tp/s320/Giveaway.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As mentioned earlier, this book was released on the author’s
28<sup>th</sup> birthday! So she’s doing a super fun giveaway by sharing 28 fun
facts about herself. To enter the giveaway, you need to collect all 28 fun
facts and copy them onto this <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/8xAr5reBwJtBEwT92">Google form</a> with your
email address and name. You will be entered to win the following:<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Trust and Obey</i>
paperback</div>
<div class="ListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><i>Lo, How a Rose</i>
paperback</div>
<div class="ListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Handmade rose from my wedding</div>
<div class="ListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A <i>Trust and Obey</i>
mouse pad</div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">This
giveaway is only open to those in the US. For those who are <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">not in the US, you
can fill out <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/FCKJxqds4ZPaZxy73">this form</a> to receive
eBooks of <i>Trust and Obey</i> and <i>Lo, How a Rose</i></span></span><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 11pt;">.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span>
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<div>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">Fun facts:</span><br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="border: none 0in; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11.0pt; padding: 0in;">family gets together most consistently</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; border: 0in none; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">I recently started doing Young Living as a second business </span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">I now run 4 small businesses from my home: Blog Tour Orchestrations,
writing teaching, writing, and Young Living Essential Oils</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-weight: normal;">Here are the other participating Bloggers so you can gather all the fun facts for the giveaway!</span></h1>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><b><u>October 26</u></b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://bookishorchestrations.blogspot.com/">Bookish Orchestrations</a> –
Introductory Post</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://litaflame.blog/">Lit Aflame</a> – Book Review</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><b><u>October 27</u></b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://faithblum.wordpress.com/">Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections</a>
– Special post from the author</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</a> –
Book Review </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://hisprincesswarrior.blogspot.com/">His Princess Warrior</a> –
Book Review</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><b><u>October 29</u></b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://www.franceshoelsema.com/blog">Frances Hoelsema's Blog</a> –
Book Spotlight</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://sgwilloughby.com/">sgwilloughby</a> – Book Review </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><a href="http://thetreasurewithinblog.wordpress.com/">The Treasure Within</a> –
Author Interview </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><b><u>October 30</u></b><span style="font-family: "courier new";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://bookishorchestrations.blogspot.com/">Bookish Orchestrations</a> – Giveaway Winner</span></div>
</div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-55739736774712788392018-07-31T17:18:00.002-04:002018-07-31T17:18:57.711-04:00Finding Christmas Joy Blog-Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4qAiBzsuQusJn_dkvr0OkMqAT5X9N7ECbPlKGfpzCnquphDD7guAw8ekKuz78uBwLpM5g_sBO7U5NIdKGsdv1S6FUKt668HKcd4-H5YHIaZ75S2NIHqXdFdthg2aEivCWwBsSdWTuMFU/s1600/Finding+Christmas+Joy+-+tour+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4qAiBzsuQusJn_dkvr0OkMqAT5X9N7ECbPlKGfpzCnquphDD7guAw8ekKuz78uBwLpM5g_sBO7U5NIdKGsdv1S6FUKt668HKcd4-H5YHIaZ75S2NIHqXdFdthg2aEivCWwBsSdWTuMFU/s320/Finding+Christmas+Joy+-+tour+banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Excited to share this sweet, uplifting, short-story by none other than Amanda Tero! I LOVED this story (basically a Christmas movie done RIGHT!) and am excited to share it with all of you! I struggle with getting giveaway links to work, so be sure to visit other blogs listed below for a chance to enter! </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>About the Book</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Melonie Brown just wants to get away from all of the pain and heartache that this year has brought upon her, and Starlight Lodge seems like the perfect place to do so. With no plans beyond a Christmas escape, she drives out to the lodge. Can she bottle up the peace and joy that she finds in this special place to help her face the challenges she may have in the upcoming year? </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Available on Amazon (paperback and Kindle): <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGKSWS5">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DGKSWS5 </a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add to your Goodreads shelf: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40309103-finding-christmas-joy">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40309103-finding-christmas-joy</a> </div>
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<b>Author’s Note</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CdlQl1EGGPC23ZOHOl8WvQY4iDrS1Fmoogp7MuK2NCmTys_T32py36pR4iQSrb61w5mJz0Lu_en16dtc1N3zqtkzIYzFIDN6hOCFqxrDV7DPB0AsaaLG1feieLS_G69uymLkYXMIKaSZ/s1600/Finding+Christmas+Joy+5x8+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CdlQl1EGGPC23ZOHOl8WvQY4iDrS1Fmoogp7MuK2NCmTys_T32py36pR4iQSrb61w5mJz0Lu_en16dtc1N3zqtkzIYzFIDN6hOCFqxrDV7DPB0AsaaLG1feieLS_G69uymLkYXMIKaSZ/s320/Finding+Christmas+Joy+5x8+cover.jpg" width="200" /></a> "July heat causes many of us to yearn for the chill of Christmas—at least, if you’re like me and prefer coolness over heat (and if you live in the South, where humidity and heat combat for the highest number). Sure, Christmas may be far from our minds, but it will be here before we know it! And when Christmas season comes around, there is just that “feeling in the air.”Christmas music plays in all of the stores, Christmas movies take center stage, and everything is decked in red and green. So often though, what does not take center stage is Jesus Christ—the One for Whom we even celebrate Christmas. It was Christmas 2017 and I had watched a few Christmas movies. They all just missed the mark. It was the “joy of the season” and the “magic of the holiday” that provided the solution to their problems. As I was thinking about it, the idea for “Finding Christmas Joy” popped into my head. I wrote the entire rough draft in one sitting, not 100% sure where all God was going to lead this idea. Melonie’s struggle was influenced by some events from people in my life. It is definitely something different than I’ve ever written before, involving a girl who is in a relationship (or was). Though not everyone is going through a break-up during the Christmas season, and though the solution to your struggle may not be salvation (if you’re already saved), I pray that the reminder that the true foundation of joy in Jesus is as much a blessing to you as it was to me." ~~ Amanda Tero</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Blog Tour<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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July 28, 2018</div>
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<a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/">With a Joyful Noise</a></div>
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<a href="http://englishmysteriesblog.blogspot.com/?m=1"><span style="background: white;">Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.readanotherpage.com/blog"><span style="background: white;">Read
Another Page</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.honeyrockhills.com/"><span style="background: white;">Honey Rock
Hills</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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July 30, 2018</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/">With a Joyful Noise</a></div>
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<a href="http://faithblum.wordpress.com/"><span style="background: white;">Writings,
Ramblings and Reflections</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://chosenbythepotter.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white;">Chosen
Vessels</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://litaflame.weebly.com/"><span style="background: white;">Lit Aflame</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://maidensformodesty.com/"><span style="background: white;">Maidens for
Modesty</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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July 31, 2018</div>
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<a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/">With a Joyful Noise</a></div>
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<a href="http://literaryreflectionsbookblog.webs.com/apps/blog/"><span style="background: white;">Literary Reflections Book Blog</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white;">Blossoms
and Blessings</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://authoringarrowheads.wordpress.com/"><span style="background: white;">Authoring
Arrowheads</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://theworldofthewriter.wordpress.com/"><span style="background: white;">The
World of the Writer</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.lifeofheritage.com/blog"><span style="background: white;">Life
of Heritage Corner</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/"><span style="background: white;">Kaylee's
Kind Of Writes</span></a><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://amheathblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="background: white;">Christian
Fiction Author A.M. Heath</span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://hisprincesswarrior.blogspot.com/">His
Princess Warrior</a></span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-6754494696056536972017-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:002017-11-07T09:00:00.193-05:00Vintage Jane Austen Blog Tour! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWb_xmJenSP-pR_pPEyGcF9EccQQtURj6GYQCY7DmQaQlNhm08dDOTecJHugooWg8TUyrOYrjJLN9f1aDMqLmxkHnsXZc-52lnSbL7dZm6JPAec-fZji2QORlkHdzI9JkPL0GRhZhs_XV/s1600/VJABlogEventBanner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="784" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWb_xmJenSP-pR_pPEyGcF9EccQQtURj6GYQCY7DmQaQlNhm08dDOTecJHugooWg8TUyrOYrjJLN9f1aDMqLmxkHnsXZc-52lnSbL7dZm6JPAec-fZji2QORlkHdzI9JkPL0GRhZhs_XV/s640/VJABlogEventBanner.png" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hey guys! Very excited to share a little bit about this new series today!!! Some of you may remember my review of <a href="https://hisprincesswarrior.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-emmeline.html">Emmeline </a>a while back! (If you missed it, take a minute to check it out! Maybe it will whet your appetite for the rest of this exciting series!)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">About the Series: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What would it be like to see Elizabeth Bennet in 1930’s clothes? What if Emma Woodhouse was the daughter of a car dealership owner? What if Marianne Dashwood was seeking to become a movie star in the golden age of film?</span><a href="http://www.vintagejaneausten.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Vintage Jane Austen series</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">explores the world of Jane Austen, set in 1930’s America. Five authors took on Jane Austen’s five most popular novels and retold them set in the depression era, remaining faithful to the original plots. As an extra bonus to the series, there is a collection of short stories that were inspired by Jane Austen. Which of these books do you most want to read?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-1VvSvYFjqdlcnkBD1YMfmNhO3PHyF_NUtFGNa8NUQqgXhfSjdjv3Ryl18pNQMKtc6vqrZjz5FXMDXeoDmPxmNEV_0YPVL4FJWfnFy02OLu6-xh9Uedg6x0ZfTNeiCeSO2c9P59Z-lss/s1600/EmmelineVJAtour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv-1VvSvYFjqdlcnkBD1YMfmNhO3PHyF_NUtFGNa8NUQqgXhfSjdjv3Ryl18pNQMKtc6vqrZjz5FXMDXeoDmPxmNEV_0YPVL4FJWfnFy02OLu6-xh9Uedg6x0ZfTNeiCeSO2c9P59Z-lss/s320/EmmelineVJAtour.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emmeline-Vintage-Austen-Sarah-Holman-ebook/dp/B06W9F72MP/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emmeline</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by </span><a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Holman</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Emma):</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The talk of stock market crashes and depression isn’t going to keep Emmeline Wellington down. Born to wealth and privilege, Emmeline wants nothing more than to help her new friend, Catarina, find a husband. Emmeline sets her sights on one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, but nothing seems to go right. Even her friend and neighbor Fredrick Knight seems to question her at every turn.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_347e8PMuFeUZ9ujYdkF1zUIfAzz7nWbFRX09PhIfpqbBz-fBJzrByEE-GkGzQv1MtlqUPscc9xczI8jXly6fqWPTUcaiU8YBof6-K7xoC1HNmZ8I0kdyGHnbyQmIMwa9hWzbj854iaq/s1600/SuitSuitabilityVJAtour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_347e8PMuFeUZ9ujYdkF1zUIfAzz7nWbFRX09PhIfpqbBz-fBJzrByEE-GkGzQv1MtlqUPscc9xczI8jXly6fqWPTUcaiU8YBof6-K7xoC1HNmZ8I0kdyGHnbyQmIMwa9hWzbj854iaq/s320/SuitSuitabilityVJAtour.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Suit-Suitability-Vintage-Jane-Austen-ebook/dp/B071DWQXRT/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suit and Suitability</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by </span><a href="https://kelseybryantauthor.weebly.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelsey Bryant</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Sense and Sensibility): </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PyrsuYaTH3WUYooMXPoqPSQaeddDg_fQ_yNuol9Ihpfyg9Aowi7v7gEsxnkjEuDO0pLbFJFYhCIzKydnynrAerUYV6uzhp57-m-50VwSvDV-tmWLiDcz_QEXhGl7jqI7a79OMQZJkVD5/s1600/BellevereHouseVJAtour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_PyrsuYaTH3WUYooMXPoqPSQaeddDg_fQ_yNuol9Ihpfyg9Aowi7v7gEsxnkjEuDO0pLbFJFYhCIzKydnynrAerUYV6uzhp57-m-50VwSvDV-tmWLiDcz_QEXhGl7jqI7a79OMQZJkVD5/s320/BellevereHouseVJAtour.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bellevere-House-Vintage-Jane-Austen-ebook/dp/B071G94XCZ/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bellevere House</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by </span><a href="https://sarahscheeleblog.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sarah Scheele</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Mansfield Park): </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's March, 1937 and Faye Powell couldn't be happier. After moving to live with her uncle, a wealthy banker, she's fallen into the swing of life with his exuberant children--including Ed. The one she'll never admit she's in love with. But she hadn't reckoned on the swanky Carters getting mixed up in that vow. Ed seems to be falling for charming, sweet Helene Carter. And when Faye's cousin BeBe trusts her with a secret about Horace Carter, Faye is in over her head. Will she betray the confidence BeBe's given her? Will she lose Ed to Helene? The days at Bellevere House are crowded with surprises and only time will tell how God plans to unravel Faye and Ed's hearts.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoQDHoTYSD08j_4qOSBndC08RSKyufSFfP-HWwmtA9RM5_jsQ1f20Me7XHzwG4Ssf_rQzNRMQkU42t_8CRGv_aHZ86FXjwBgaVcmFFZ1n3H49D3u2oZFagR0dSHPdeLCpqOjlc9QPrHU3/s1600/PerceptionVJAtour.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoQDHoTYSD08j_4qOSBndC08RSKyufSFfP-HWwmtA9RM5_jsQ1f20Me7XHzwG4Ssf_rQzNRMQkU42t_8CRGv_aHZ86FXjwBgaVcmFFZ1n3H49D3u2oZFagR0dSHPdeLCpqOjlc9QPrHU3/s320/PerceptionVJAtour.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Perception-Vintage-Jane-Austen-Book-ebook/dp/B07488QGJY/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perception</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> by </span><a href="https://emilyannbenedict.net/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Emily Benedict</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Persuasion):</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Upstate New York, 1930. Thirteen years ago, Abbey Evans was persuaded to break off her engagement to a penniless soldier headed to the front lines of the Great War. A daughter of one of America’s wealthiest families could never be allowed to marry so far beneath herself. But Black Tuesday changed everything. With her family's prominence now little more than a facade, Abbey faces the loss of her childhood home. As if that weren’t enough, the only man she ever loved has returned after making his fortune – and he wants nothing to do with the young woman he courted before the war. With the past forever out of reach, the time has come for Abbey decide her own fate, before it is too late…</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Presumption and Partiality by </span><a href="http://rebekahsquill.com/blog/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebekah Jones </span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Pride and Prejudice</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">): Coming soon…A retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice… set in 1930s Arizona.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Second-Impressions-Collection-Fiction-Inspired-ebook/dp/B071NK11H4/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Second Impressions</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: Jane Austen's stories have inspired writers for generations...in this collection they inspire fiction across the genres!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">From the English Regency to the American 1950s, in Houston or a space freighter, fairytale land or a retirement center...Austen's timeless characters come to life again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit these blogs during this week to find interviews, book reviews, and much more!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 5</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Emmeline -</span><a href="https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once Upon the Ordinary</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Bellevere House - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight -</span><a href="http://arealwriterslife.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Real Writer’s Life</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Kelsey Bryant -</span><a href="https://writtenrest.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resting</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Life</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight - </span><a href="http://kelseysnotebookblog.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelsey’s Notebook</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 6</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Sarah Holman -</span><a href="http://www.jgracepennington.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J. Grace Pennington</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Emmeline - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mini-Reviews and interview with Sarah Scheele -</span><a href="https://deborahocarroll.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deborah O’Carroll</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Rebekah Jones -</span><a href="https://www.livylynnblog.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Livy Lynn Blog</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review Suit and Suitability -</span><a href="https://writtenrest.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resting Life</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 7</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Kelsey Bryant -</span><a href="http://www.jgracepennington.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J. Grace Pennington</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Perception - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review and Interview of Perception -</span><a href="https://purelybyfaithreviews.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Purely by Faith Reviews</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Second Impressions -</span><a href="https://thepagedreamer.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Page Dreamer</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Series Spotlight - </span><a href="https://ashleewillisauthor.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finding the True Fairytale</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 8</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview and Review Suit and Suitability -</span><a href="https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once Upon the Ordinary</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Suit and Suitability - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Perception -</span><a href="http://www.aliciagruggieri.com/category/abrighterdestiny" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A Brighter Destiny</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 9</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight -</span><a href="http://www.godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God’s Peculiar Treasure</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Second Impressions and Suit and Suitability - </span><a href="http://www.ordinarygirlextraordinaryfather.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary Father</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Rebekah Jones - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight –</span><a href="https://christianbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Christian Bookshelf Reviews</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 10</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Suit and Suitability -</span><a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With a Joyful Noise</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight -</span><a href="http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Liv K. Fisher</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Second Impressions- </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Perception -</span><a href="https://sheheartsfiction.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She Hearts Fiction</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Sarah Holman – </span><a href="http://www.rebekahashleigh.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rebekah Ashleigh</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 11</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Series Spotlight -</span><a href="https://reveriesreviews.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reveries Reviews</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Suit and Suitability -</span><a href="http://faithblum.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Faith Blum</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Sarah Holman - </span><a href="https://kayleeskindofwrites.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kaylee's Kind Of Writes</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Hannah Scheele - </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.peculiaronpurpose.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">Peculiar on Pu</a></span><a href="http://www.peculiaronpurpose.blogspot.com/" style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">rpose</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Review of Bellevere House - </span><a href="https://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Seasons of Humility</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of this special blogging event, we are giving away a $25 Amazon gift Card! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Click <a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7203fcc1112/?">HERE </a>to enter GiveAway!!! </span><br />
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-21862669298526914292017-07-31T20:16:00.001-04:002017-08-01T14:13:13.124-04:00Book Reivew(s): Distorted Glass & Quest for a Beast<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Got the last two short story reviews for y'all today!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pfo_68NUZltZvLktav72o_NS6ov3PRp7KBkKe7btMNvF-l96wmsDjaQ8NRf_-KuyDLfkGJgNizSiyY6iHNlmgYDeHPZCjfn4PZ7OLq4fJi3OdYll7-g3OLzQs_osngjXs2S107HpcCzH/s1600/51JHEze6fAL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pfo_68NUZltZvLktav72o_NS6ov3PRp7KBkKe7btMNvF-l96wmsDjaQ8NRf_-KuyDLfkGJgNizSiyY6iHNlmgYDeHPZCjfn4PZ7OLq4fJi3OdYll7-g3OLzQs_osngjXs2S107HpcCzH/s320/51JHEze6fAL.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Distorted-Glass-Snow-Queen-Story-ebook/dp/B018OP5BTW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1501546367&sr=1-1&keywords=distorted+glass+sarah+holman">Distorted Glass</a></b></u>, I felt, was a well-crafted story that dealt honestly with some heavier subject matter. I was very impressed with the way Sarah crafted Jared's character (his personality and character development as a whole). He was written as a young man who genuinely wanted to please God and help his sister-- but he wasn't perfect-- the way he diligently sought God</span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">'s will was done so fervently, but realistically, with it's hiccups along the way. Never once did I feel his character was too perfect-- that a sixteen year old guy wouldn't behave that way. I </span><i style="color: #20124d; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">did</i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, however, finding myself wishing there was a way I could get my younger brother (more that age range) to read this story. </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the subject matter!! <3 I thought Sarah did a great job with Jared's sister who has an eating disorder. it was treated/discussed honestly yet wholesomely. I also <i style="font-weight: bold;">loved</i> the way the subject of modesty was discussed in this book!! (claps hands enthusiastically) This was another reason I wanted my brother to read this! The feelings expressed by Amber about the church's focus when teaching modesty is something I have heard from young ladies close to me, and while it is <i>not an excuse</i> to sin, SHE IS NOT WRONG, and I <i style="font-weight: bold;">LOVED </i>that Sarah addressed that!!! </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I was very impressed with this story as a whole, and enjoyed it very much! </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>Q<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Quest-Beast-Beauty-Story-ebook/dp/B0189Q2CLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501546187&sr=8-1&keywords=quest+for+a+beast+sarah+holman">uest for a Beast</a>,</b></u> while cute, I felt didn't reach it's full potential. Parts of the plot felt a little contrived, stretched, to me; I also felt that the main characters displayed behaviors/did things that were not quite consistent with their ages (ie, a college-aged girl allowing herself to be swept up in fairy tales; bounty hunting of sorts). </span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I did find awesome were (again!) the lessons Sarah incorperates into her writing. a few lines in particular really stood out to me as I finished up this story today:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“What keeps it from being that simple for you? Following
Christ is not easy, but it is a very simple message.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“…we have both come face to face with an ugly part of
ourselves. We both have to have the courage to allow Christ to transform us. If
not, we will remain in our prisons.”</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Still a good story, but I felt it could have been better. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thus conclude my 10 week reading challenge with <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/">Sarah Holman!</a> Again, if you haven't yet, you should really check her books out-- <i style="font-weight: bold;">especially </i><i>Emmaline</i> and the <i>Tales of Taelis</i> series!!! (oh! And <i>Kate's</i> <i>Innocence </i>is pretty fantastic, too!!)</span>HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-59206461421841738632017-07-17T14:37:00.001-04:002017-07-17T14:39:55.406-04:00That WE Can See<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; text-indent: 0.5in;">So last year in November, God blessed me with an amazing small group— it was a </span><i style="color: #351c75; text-indent: 0.5in;">total</i><span style="color: #351c75; text-indent: 0.5in;"> God thing how it came about. The group of young people in it have been </span><i style="color: #351c75; text-indent: 0.5in;">the most incredible blessing to me</i><span style="color: #351c75; text-indent: 0.5in;"> and God has used it greatly in my life these past few months to show me more about Himself and to strengthen my walk with Him!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Right now, we are studying through the book <i>Mere Christianity </i>by C. S. Lewis (and if you have never read it, <i>DO IT! </i>Go out right now and grab this book! I’ve grown up in a Christian home <i>and</i> good solid Bible churches that preach heavy doctrine and <i>STILL, </i>with every sentence my <i>MIND. IS. BLOWN!</i>). I am having a hard time getting caught up to where I should be in my readings because everything is so deep I get too excited about it lol.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I was reading it yesterday, it got me thinking a few things, and I just wanted to share a little bit with you all today!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I am (finally rofl) in ‘book 2, part 2, The Invasion’, and Lewis writes,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“<i>Besides being complicated, reality, in my experience, is usually odd. It is NOT NEAT, NOT OBVIOUS, NOT WHAT YOU EXPECT</i>…” (all-caps clearly mine ;) ). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He is speaking in relation to Christianity more complex than we might expect it to be, but I had just had a conversation the other night with a dear friend along these same lines, just in a “life” context.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I first read these words, my mental Katie-response was, “yeah NO JOKE!” L. But Lewis wasn’t finished. He goes on to say, “…<i>for instance, when you have grasped what the earth and the other planets all go round the sun, you would naturally expect that all the planest were made to match—all at equal distances from each other, say, or distances that regularly increased, or all the same size, or else getting bigger or smaller as you go further from the sun.” </i>And <b><i>then</i></b>, THEN he lays the big one on us. “<b><i>In fact, you find no rhyme or reason (THAT WE CAN SEE)</i></b>…”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">*stops * whooooaaaa</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">So let’s take this out of a theological discussion mindset, and apply these statements to every day life. My friend and I were just discussing last night how our lives have turned out to be </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">nothing </i><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">like we always expected they would be like when we were little; how life has taken Michigan lefts on us; we are not doing what we thought we would be doing at our age, not who we thought we would be, not possessing or doing what we have dreamt of for oh-so-long. In a way (and even though we know better), we feel jaded. And I feel like a lot of us feel this way. What Lewis says is </span><i style="text-indent: 0.5in;">so so true.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pcI-cX5qxW2zh4nWoTmZ_CEaUi1iLqMD3Hp2twvNXu62Y316nKNBrkwH6PQbJU0tx0bNJneAHaWjAL50zld1e7gH7CgmlJpgXFraP4AqsEX3C8O2xRpfQIMXs2Ano4fU1HbGYqMVhHmo/s1600/20046333_1995117590774791_8553004315187312605_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pcI-cX5qxW2zh4nWoTmZ_CEaUi1iLqMD3Hp2twvNXu62Y316nKNBrkwH6PQbJU0tx0bNJneAHaWjAL50zld1e7gH7CgmlJpgXFraP4AqsEX3C8O2xRpfQIMXs2Ano4fU1HbGYqMVhHmo/s320/20046333_1995117590774791_8553004315187312605_n.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">LIFE is complicated. Life is odd. It is not neat, not obvious, and for so many of us, it is <i>definitely</i> not what we always expected it would be. We can find no rhyme or reason. There is no rhyme or reason for why we have not gotten what we have prayed for for so long. There is no rhyme or reason for us not being where we thought we would, for not accomplishing what we thought we would be; no reason.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That <b><i>we</i></b> can see.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I read that little parenthetical statement, so close after my salty inner response to the earlier quote, it hit me hard.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is no rhyme or reason <b><i>that we can see</i></b> (now); but God <b><i>DOES SEE</i></b>, and He knows <i>exactly</i> what He is doing.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I know we know this. And I know it annoys us. Because the way we see it, Him knowing the big picture doesn’t help us here and now :P</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But it should.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let us let it encourage us today, sweet sisters</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(brothers too, if any are reading !!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We don’t see any rhyme or reason for what we are walking through (or <b><i>what we’re not</i></b>) but God does. And it is a <i>beautiful </i>harmony to Him, a <i>complex satisfying plot</i>, and it is far more amazing and meaningful that anything we could ever hope for or imagine (Eph 3:20). Just imagine for a moment the people God is using you to reach, the lives He is touching and impacting through you right now <b><i>because</i></b> you are not where you thought you’d be, but because you are where He has you. Imagine the glory, the intricate, half-step-details, He is working out for us in the background right now as we serve Him in this messy, muddy, unexpected place.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">God knows why you are here and why you are waiting.</span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">And He is doing something amazing with it!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So trust the process sweet sister! He is already there, at the end of this time, with the solution, waiting for you to arrive but simply relying on and obeying Him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I will leave you with this thought: He walked this earth, as yes, wholly God, but also wholly man; the Bible tells there is nothing we experience that He did not as He walked this earth. So these feelings of heartache, anger, frustration, of being cheated? He is not just ‘oh whatever, deal with it’. <i>He intimately understands those feelings</i>. <b style="font-style: italic;">You’re struggle is not lost on or insignificant to Him </b>(Heb 4:15). It is important to your story, and He is infinitely proud of you for sticking with it. Rest in Him today, sweet sis (or bro!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Life is not neat, not obvious, not what you expected it to be. There is no rhyme or reason to what you are experiencing or have not experienced yet—<b>that <i>you </i>can see.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today rest in and thank God that <b><i>HE </i>can see</b> and that He is working out an even bigger and more beautiful rhyme and reason than we could ever imagine.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love you all!</span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-20267507579234080692017-07-09T13:00:00.000-04:002017-07-10T12:12:33.436-04:00Book Review &Tour: Dreams and Devotion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey everyone! I have been looking forward to this blogpost for a couple weeks! I really enjoyed this book and I hope I can accurately convey my excitement as to why for all of you today!!! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cyZbqAq5CpRE7ze3BxOle1rpbxjZTv34O9cs6N8AE8QWQ3IPqeP16RlQtCR4unf0hVX7Op92QZbJfk4vAmj_bmfFPRk0M9AekjMye0HnymjOY8WB5uZG-dL8IVGLLpZwNhvnE_BdyKW0/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1100" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cyZbqAq5CpRE7ze3BxOle1rpbxjZTv34O9cs6N8AE8QWQ3IPqeP16RlQtCR4unf0hVX7Op92QZbJfk4vAmj_bmfFPRk0M9AekjMye0HnymjOY8WB5uZG-dL8IVGLLpZwNhvnE_BdyKW0/s200/Cover.jpg" width="137" /></span></a><i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Some
dreams will be dashed, and their devotion will be tested.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dara's
life is full of farm work and worries, especially now that her older brother is
a priest in a far off city. Yet she still has time to dream of the life she
hopes will someday be. She dreams of marrying her dear friend and the worries
of her family ending. Now, the selfishness of one person threatens her very way
of life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dresden's
initial excitement about living a life devoted to the service of God quickly is
dashed on the rocks of reality. The life of a priest is nothing like what he
imagined. To make matters worse, he finds out his family back in his home
village is on the brink of disaster. Torn between his vows and his love for his
family, what will he choose?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Buy
the book for the special preorder price, </b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Devotion-Tales-Taelis-Book-ebook/dp/B071X9X6TT/"><b>here</b></a><b>.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Review</b>: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Dreams & Devotions</i> was actually <i>my </i>intro into Taelis-- I read it before I read books 1,2, & 3; so as I went back and read them in order (along with the short stories) little details included in this work made total sense. They can each <i>totally </i>be read alone; however, when you read it in correct sequence, you 'get' and appreciate the cameos and 'history' references so much more lol ;) </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I Liked:</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOOf9ai64W8X6cte7i1VlNpbCI4OqJTXl3NF3f1WuhAVlYOGBRurS8cgLYRQ60pKUXX3mOKrQk8WEdCiwDVfzVVZlaBFQ_4nm5yhMg3WzkvMp2m_JOt_NaUQ_JzNBLAuICCdigKBdcLNs/s1600/Sadness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOOf9ai64W8X6cte7i1VlNpbCI4OqJTXl3NF3f1WuhAVlYOGBRurS8cgLYRQ60pKUXX3mOKrQk8WEdCiwDVfzVVZlaBFQ_4nm5yhMg3WzkvMp2m_JOt_NaUQ_JzNBLAuICCdigKBdcLNs/s320/Sadness.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This book was just ..... super realistic. It is as though Sarah took realistic struggles we deal with today, crafted them, and plopped them into the middle ages. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One character makes a selfish decision that leaves the rest of his family to wonder, stress, and pick up the pieces. REAL. Another character begins the book with an incredibly real and passionate walk with God-- and then experiences incredible discouragement while trying to serve Jesus and make a difference. SO, SO REAL!! Yet another suffers romantic disappointment-- and doesn't get her stereotypical 'happy ending'. STANDING OVATION, HAND-CLAPPING REAL REAL REAL!!!!!!! I am passionate about this story <i>for </i>these reasons! I could identify with each character and their characters (some to small degrees, and others 110% because I am literally walking through them!!!) and I can think of friends and family members who are also going through similar circumstances. I found myself saying "YES!" and being able to empathize and then being convicted and encouraged and inspired. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These characters experience and deal with major disappointments in a very satisfying way . The story lines are so realistic, <i>but so were the outcomes;</i> and <i><b>THAT </b></i>is why I love this book. The problems the characters face that cause their character development were 'resolved' in realistic, 'this actually is what happens' ways-- not the way you 'know' or expect it to happen in a fictional story. You empathize with these characters SO much because you relate to their pain. You <i>want </i>them to experience their happy ending; however, they experience their "God-grace" endings. God meeting them where they are, providing the daily strength they need to survive and be a blessing to others.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This story was an incredible blessing in that way because wow. You can tell Sarah prayed over and really put heart and love into this story. It shows. You do not walk away from a neatly package bow ending thinking "yeah well that was just a story, but this is real life". You walk away thinking, "wow, that was legit!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2pD5cBSypUGaBRik252Eucb8UT_Ep8rR4O4iGSK08HFiTpqHgnDzaQQIK4fgMULd658OIYI2ouRI72lAFie2PQyQ6dOIF7C2o3M5AAWKHVBefSRZLcpntvf1K3T1Y3Fc8zsmr5i5k9Nz/s1600/Love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn2pD5cBSypUGaBRik252Eucb8UT_Ep8rR4O4iGSK08HFiTpqHgnDzaQQIK4fgMULd658OIYI2ouRI72lAFie2PQyQ6dOIF7C2o3M5AAWKHVBefSRZLcpntvf1K3T1Y3Fc8zsmr5i5k9Nz/s200/Love.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I Didn't Like:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The only thing in this story that I had a hang up about was Dresden's struggle. He goes from very spiritually mature, to having what I felt was a very immature faith problem. <i><b>However</b></i>! I may have struggled with this plot-line because.... well... Have I mentioned this book was <b><i>real</i></b>? I can't quite hate on it too much because I have done the SAME THING in my walk with God, so...... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a sharp contrast that happens very fast- and I think <i>that </i>is what I struggled with. I know in my life it was a slower dissent into where he then finds opportunity for character development. But this may just be my reaction to it and don't think everyone will have this reaction. ;) As so many of my 'dislikes' are, it may just be because the author is <i>talented </i>in her craft and I was feeling the desired emotion!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I loved each of these books in the Taelis series for different reasons; this story's characters and the way God meets with each of them, m<i>et me where I am at</i>. It was a very timely read and was a great encouragement to me, and I believe it will be to others also!!! Sarah worked hard on this and it shines through in her writing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Time for another GIVEAWAY!! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(This is an <i>AWESOME </i>opportunity, btw!!! I have been living in Taelis for the past six weeks, and to be able to get the entire series free is <b><i>AMAZING</i></b>!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: georgia, times new roman, serif;"><b><u><a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7203fcc1103/?">ENTER HERE!!!</a></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the Sarah</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sarah Holman is a not so typical
mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings, and
author of many published books and short stories. If there is anything adventuresome
about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than
anything she could have imagined.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Find her at <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/">www.thedestinyofone.com</a></span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-86992960538476409132017-07-08T16:57:00.000-04:002017-07-08T16:58:23.896-04:00Book Review(s) : Waltz into the Waves & Father Forgive Them<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey all! I am back today with two more reviews, but these are for short stories that <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/" target="_blank">author Sarah Holman</a> has written! They were short and sweet, so their reviews will be as well ;) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZrFrQQeStYzREwcZy0akGjBF8Cs4iC82AQncN6PNOe5wFePw8Jax31V6vOLZJnjP37mPBSbgadncc-6Du1HzZWSaxDhYayvQdy99lfceZDE6DUIqa8h5LKHFveXstI2UkPwPsAPv7IqA/s1600/41q9nNpZqVL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="388" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZrFrQQeStYzREwcZy0akGjBF8Cs4iC82AQncN6PNOe5wFePw8Jax31V6vOLZJnjP37mPBSbgadncc-6Du1HzZWSaxDhYayvQdy99lfceZDE6DUIqa8h5LKHFveXstI2UkPwPsAPv7IqA/s200/41q9nNpZqVL.jpg" width="155" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Up first, we have <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Waltz-into-Waves-Cinderella-Story-ebook/dp/B00RDKRD5A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499544262&sr=8-1&keywords=waltz+into+the+waves+sarah+holman" target="_blank">Waltz into the Waves</a>. This is a sweet re-rendering of the classic Cinderella story <3 It follows the basic storyline we all love and are familiar with, but Sarah sprinkled the right amount of new twists and details in there that help keep it fresh. As it is a short story, you can easily blow through it in one sitting, and it was a precious, angst-filled story with just the right amount of laughter and <i>pure</i>, low-key, romance! If you are a fairy tale-retell junkie, this is a super cute read!! (link in the title ;) )</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_yPRqL_n6iDvDgoJYDbqQRFfmnjtp6I3xcbAqn1N58A7GxdajS3r1MxivP-P8qKeN9VQ-vEiaS6ie3hXBldH4LRo-qBrYlHCJojZkkFpPAiB2jEJN2XuNgiPNk6no3snnZh7iQZsH6P4/s1600/41Ye5MQa9GL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_yPRqL_n6iDvDgoJYDbqQRFfmnjtp6I3xcbAqn1N58A7GxdajS3r1MxivP-P8qKeN9VQ-vEiaS6ie3hXBldH4LRo-qBrYlHCJojZkkFpPAiB2jEJN2XuNgiPNk6no3snnZh7iQZsH6P4/s200/41Ye5MQa9GL.jpg" width="133" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Next we have <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Father-Forgive-them-Resurrection-Story-ebook/dp/B06ZZ6B46R/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank">Father Forgive Them: A Resurrection Story</a>. Guys. I just finished this story, and I finished it with happy tears. It is <i>extremely </i>short (only three chapters) but WHOA was it <i><b>BEAUTIFUL</b></i>!!! I wish I had read it around Good Friday/Easter, when she published it. Father Forgive Them gives us a heartfelt look at what the crucifixion might have been like from a Jew's perspective, who at first was eager to see "justice" served but then undergoes a personal struggle as he realizes, "wait.... what if that Man was who He claimed to be!?" </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The description of Jonathan's internal struggle was phenomenal! Small excerpt: <i>"It was the feeling of darkness without starlight, the feeling of a lighting storm without rain, the feeling of hopelessness and fear...But even after the earth stopped shaking, his heart still felt heavy with fear, the fear of something he could not identify. He had been afraid before, but never had it penetrated this deep. His very soul was deeply disturbed....longer. He turned and ran toward the city, running from that feeling and fear, but he couldn’t get away from it..."</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(As someone who struggles with depression/anxiety, I found this to be a beautiful and accurate word picture <3)</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was just completely beautiful and moving<3</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I hope you all are having a great and Godly day! Don't forget to come back tomorrow for a first look at Sarah's new book </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dreams-Devotion-Tales-Taelis-Book-ebook/dp/B071X9X6TT/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499547201&sr=8-1&keywords=Dreams+and+Devotion+%28Tales+of+Taelis+Book+4%29" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Dreams and Devotion</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, coming out July 15th!!! (Also! I am still open to any blog-post ideas you all have!!! <3 )</span></div>
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<br />HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-22833217728234943552017-06-28T12:17:00.000-04:002017-06-28T12:17:14.727-04:00Book Review: Tales of Taelis (books 2 & 3) <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hey all! I have got a double book review for you today! I am
taking part of a challenge with author <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/" target="_blank">Sara Holman</a>, which has meant reading one
of her published works a week and doing reviews on them (and her unfinished
upcoming work, which is <b><i>gooooo</i></b></span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>d</i></b>. I am excited to share with you
about it in the coming weeks!!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have gotten behind the past few books so I decided to do a
review of the 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> Tales of Taelis books together :D</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbeEhVVQE6ImUrFa6_qH6q2O7fIJ_HqCUvzSuCObydYS72Opjh9iqVmCRIUOnqIKsVsB9O6zqWpTNXVMcdSsb-YWFbprpi7WiWkEpQrJnAaUNjtQT9gdrotvubL5rhn1eLNV5QiYoeQWd/s1600/51HFydtojBL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="308" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbeEhVVQE6ImUrFa6_qH6q2O7fIJ_HqCUvzSuCObydYS72Opjh9iqVmCRIUOnqIKsVsB9O6zqWpTNXVMcdSsb-YWFbprpi7WiWkEpQrJnAaUNjtQT9gdrotvubL5rhn1eLNV5QiYoeQWd/s200/51HFydtojBL.jpg" width="123" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Brothers & Betrayal</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Amazon Description</b> {part of it}: "<span style="font-size: 14px;">A boy, running for his life...</span><span style="font-size: 14px;">A princess, trying to save her people... </span><span style="font-size: 14px;">And an archer who seeks to defend the defenseless..." {<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U7P2ZJ2/ref=series_rw_dp_sw" target="_blank">link here!</a>} </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coming after <i>Adventures & Adversities</i>, we have <i>Brothers
& Betrayal</i>. This was an adventurous Robin Hood sort of story and I
enjoyed the more lighthearted spirit of this one, while it still taught deep,
tough lessons. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I liked</b>: the Archer. Oh my soul the Archer.
Enough said lol. Well, no, not enough ;) I the way his character was
written—courageous, Godly, intelligent, <b><i>noble</i></b>—with just the right
amount of sass ;) I also really enjoyed Brianna’s story line, and her
respectful working to right her father’s wrongs instead of brazen rebellion
(the all-to-familiar stereotype of female MCs). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was also a scene near the beginning that literally
made my jaw drop. I did <b><i>not</i></b> see ‘that’ coming. If a book can make
me involuntarily, physically react? That author has my respect. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I didn’t like</b>: I really enjoyed this
Robin-Hoodesque story, but this was also the book during which I realized I was
becoming attached to the characters. When you message an author half-way
through reading a book and say, “You can’t make that happen to this character!!
Why?!!??!” followed by several broken heart and bawling emojis….. Yeah. I have
been living in Taelis too long ;) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Po-sPJXPnhsYnNrVmcAiMUEaK4ZfgoHaC84274oMQ_Kv-Jzs-NUdhg26x4lrj_FIokSVerHF0eB6WJB9RM7Ib_dIw_ZcTClcRPazYUHLnXuN8vgB57kGyYpQgihQZ-svpMc3LxAXJmCw/s1600/51wYJPw2H9L._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="244" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Po-sPJXPnhsYnNrVmcAiMUEaK4ZfgoHaC84274oMQ_Kv-Jzs-NUdhg26x4lrj_FIokSVerHF0eB6WJB9RM7Ib_dIw_ZcTClcRPazYUHLnXuN8vgB57kGyYpQgihQZ-svpMc3LxAXJmCw/s200/51wYJPw2H9L._SY346_.jpg" width="140" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Courage & Corruption</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="color: #351c75;">Amazon Description</b><span style="color: #351c75;">: <span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Catherine is going with her mother and younger siblings to the mountains to hide from the coming war. While she fears what might happen she is looking forward to some time away from her twin brother, with whom she often fights. One foolish act changes all their plans, and one story caused not only confusion, but more fighting.</span><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Christopher does not believe his father’s story that they are descended from royalty... However, he is forced to go to the mountain castle of Coraway along with his mother and siblings. Will his father ever see him as a man? Will he and his twin ever be able to stop fighting?</span><br style="font-size: 14px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px;">Little do Catherine and Christopher realize that they hold the key to Taelis’ future in their hands. While they discover the truth before it is too late? {<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Courage-Corruption-Tales-Taelis-Book-ebook/dp/B01N63LRF9/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498665107&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=sara+holman+courage" target="_blank">Link here!</a>} </span></span><div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I Liked</b>: Oh where to begin with this story lol
There was a little angst in this, guys. I love my angst. So I enjoyed that
aspect. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This story hit a little closer to home, in while that I am
not experiencing the conflicts of the MCs, per se, I am personally struggling
with the lesson they learned—and kept learning (which is also something I enjoyed—but
I digress). This story dealt a lot with (that big, ugly word) <b><i>surrender</i></b>.
So this story was timely for me in that way. As mentioned previously, I <i>appreciated
</i>that when the main character finally came to grips with “hey I’m wrong, I
need to change”—he did <b><i>not change over night</i></b>. He wasn’t suddenly
perfect—he could still be a jerk and occasionally selfish, but he was now aware and
working on it, so he acted out on it <i>less and less</i>. This is how change
usually happens in real life, so to see it occur I the story was genuine and
encouraging. (Especially to see <i>how</i> he continued to learn and grow in
it.) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I did not Like</b>: This is actually a <i>good </i>thing,
but the two main characters bicker a ton in the beginning and frankly, it drove
me nuts lol! How<i>ever!</i> The bickering is essential to their stories and
character growth and we as readers are not supposed to enjoy it, so it was
actually great writing on Sara’s part. But it drove me bonkers lol. So we get a
good sense of sympathy to those suffering around our MCs because of it lol</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Having finished up these three Tales of Taelis I wanted to
say this: these are <b><i>good stories, yall!</i></b> They were <i>fun</i>, entertaining. I experienced real joy,
sorrow, and shock with these characters, and truly laughed at several points
(the sailors arguing with Lady Laila out at sea will forever be my favorite XD)
, yet, they are soo crammed full of godly truth! I am impressed with how Sara
was able to weave these valuable lessons <i>into</i> such entertaining stories,
without just tacking them on, and making them feel contrived. I stand in awe as
a writer, and am inspired in my <i>own </i>writing in that way, thanks to her!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWvtBYZkYwKI5cEcC_7-tFfKC2y6wG710RsAtIUr5djPzm-Yi4nAZug-I7-C6D4h1v68E6bRHQTvmsCzP3FxDSN8EqMnTeqFTi-XgL8RlYP_9AxG1DslbTlSRx92Xl_EYwhjoe_3eOSV1/s1600/51300XFSJ2L._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="239" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWvtBYZkYwKI5cEcC_7-tFfKC2y6wG710RsAtIUr5djPzm-Yi4nAZug-I7-C6D4h1v68E6bRHQTvmsCzP3FxDSN8EqMnTeqFTi-XgL8RlYP_9AxG1DslbTlSRx92Xl_EYwhjoe_3eOSV1/s200/51300XFSJ2L._SY346_.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That having been said: she has another story coming out
within the next few weeks that was by <i>far</i> the most applicable to where I
am at right now in my life and walk with Jesus (like, beta-reading this story
had me going ‘oh no, <i>this</i> is totally going to happen…. Oh it <i>did</i>…. OH DO
I FEEL FOR THIS CHARACTER BC THIS IS HAPPENING TO ME RIGHT NOW!’) I think it
will encourage a lot of hearts! <i><span style="font-size: large;">So stay tuned!</span></i></span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-52746158643852551032017-06-03T22:15:00.002-04:002017-06-03T22:16:37.908-04:00Quick Update!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey all you lovelies! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I felt the need for an update ;) No,
my blog hasn’t turned from a devotional type blog to a book review blog ;)
However, I have done a LOT of changing since this blogs conception and after
struggling with it for a while, I realize that <i>letting the blog change <b>with </b>me</i>
is OKAY :D <3 After all, it is still my God-scripted story and my desire to share and
encourage others walking <i>their</i> own…. That story just looks and feels a
loooot different than it ever did or I ever expected it to lol ;) But
(shocker!) that’s how God works ;)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I would like to change the theme/design of the blog for <i>sure, </i>to sort of ‘update’ it--to have it be more relevant to these changes (so if
anyone is an expert at or enjoys doing blog art/design—or knows anyone who is—
please feel free to contact me!!! :D ) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I do have certain topics dear to my heart and current
situations I would like to write about…. But A) they are still so raw and fresh
that I don’t have the application or endings/answers yet… and B) are so deeply
personal I wonder if it is “okay” to share, or if anyone will care (which I
realize is <i>not</i> the point at <i>all</i>, but just being honest here ;) So
if anyone has any ideas or topics they’d like to see discussed, feel free to
share those in the comments below as well!! </span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-89704210901134470282017-06-03T21:43:00.001-04:002017-06-03T21:49:53.370-04:00Book Summary: Befriended<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj8JCFLOkcjjj2-_xnom44M3oNnwPx2q0H4CYtwGZzfjedIK3le1gWm9sTAszp93FY205j_OWFlJ2JzpaEwPH3BwUVsqIzbMa1ST5ss3W9x5NcZxckTT9Zgf9dvUJ-th-TSNa1IuFvzHS/s1600/51EzBm8nx5L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtj8JCFLOkcjjj2-_xnom44M3oNnwPx2q0H4CYtwGZzfjedIK3le1gWm9sTAszp93FY205j_OWFlJ2JzpaEwPH3BwUVsqIzbMa1ST5ss3W9x5NcZxckTT9Zgf9dvUJ-th-TSNa1IuFvzHS/s320/51EzBm8nx5L.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Befriended </i>was another short Tales of Taelis
story that helped to tie up loose ends/answer questions left by the larger
novels in the series. It was an adorable, swift read giving us a look at
Eleanor’s life after <i>Adventures and Adversities</i>. The best thing about this story
were Eleanor’s little charges, Nathaniel and John—very accurate portrayal of
little boys LOL. The only thing I regret about this story was that I wish it
had been longer and more fleshed out. I was definitely glad to get what we do
in this short story though! Overall a sweet, short read that helped me feel a
more satisfied with the main novels in the series :D</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Order Link: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Befriended-Tales-Taelis-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B01MF4YG1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496540388&sr=8-1&keywords=befriended+by+sarah+holman" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/Befriended-Tales-Taelis-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B01MF4YG1O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496540388&sr=8-1&keywords=befriended+by+sarah+holman </a></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-35001284726781841022017-05-28T15:38:00.000-04:002017-05-29T19:05:32.391-04:00Book Review: Adventures and Adversities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><u style="color: #351c75; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-weight: bold;">About the Book:</u><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;">"One day Alditha is content living with her family, the next she is taking her friend's place to serve at the king's castle. Her father's final instructions, to keep smiling and to do what is right, will be harder to live out than she ever imagined. She will face a royal nephew who delights in making people miserable, and angry servant girl who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, and noblemen who plot murder. Will she be able to keep the promise she made to her father? will she find the faith she longs for during all her Adventures and Adversities"?</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>What I Liked</u></b>: Adventures was a sweet story to allow myself to be swept away to. Reading it reminded me of watching a Narnia movie, as it is set in the medieval period and contains castle sieges and battles out at sea :D There were so many small-yet-profound lessons to be gleaned from Alditha and William's story- mainly around our perception of God vs how He really is, and also not allowing hardship to harden you, embitter you. I loved the main characters determination to do right, and to always endeavor to see the bright side of things (something I could learn a lesson or two from ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>What I Didn't Like</b></u>: At several parts throughout the story, I found myself, while always ennoying it and not getting bored, wondering exactly what the plot was, or what it was leading up to. I think I kept waiting for this big build up to a climax or big main problem Alditha would have to overcome....when in reality, instead of one big mountian, the obstacles came in little hills and valleys for our characters (yes the last one is a little bigger ;). They do however round off nicely at the end. This book would make a great tv mini-series lol. </span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Favorite Quote</u></b>: There were so many great lines, little nuggets of well-worded wisdom, burried throughout this entire story, that it is hard to pick just one; one that is repeated several times in the book that I enjoyed was, "Whatever you do...wherever you go, trust God, and never stop smiling. Your life will be hard, and bitterness will be the easiest thing for you to feel. Remember that you serve a God who knew that this would happen before you were born." </span></span><br />
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</b></u><span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u><b>Final Thoughts:</b></u> Remember my review last week on Sarah's short story "Admirable"? Admirable was a prequel to Adventures & Adversities, and had me very eager to read it and the rest of the series...... It did <b style="font-style: italic;">NOT</b> disappoint!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Purchase Link: </u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 20.25px;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Adversities-Tales-Taelis-Book-ebook/dp/BooHFFDCEE">https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Adversities-Tales-Taelis-Book-ebook/dp/BooHFFDCEE</a> </span></span><br />
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-72670701116380065122017-05-27T11:30:00.000-04:002017-05-27T18:35:12.968-04:00The Secret Slipper: Book Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have been looking forward to this book release for a looong time!! I was beyond blessed to be a part of the beta team for this and I am excited to finally get to share this incredible story with all of you!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">About the Book</span></u></b></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3zP_Xe-LGO1NukzwiZXMT7dw20tspCzuneXPrjJtBHsqvFBL7OlVrHHcqoxAkET6ibp2k9zsF7CZL3xzqwPLilM4KHMj9fAOJgXe417jj9cM242SQwQ0dft9hg6WLqN-1mRQg6ANqNOb/s1600/The+Secret+Slipper+02+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3zP_Xe-LGO1NukzwiZXMT7dw20tspCzuneXPrjJtBHsqvFBL7OlVrHHcqoxAkET6ibp2k9zsF7CZL3xzqwPLilM4KHMj9fAOJgXe417jj9cM242SQwQ0dft9hg6WLqN-1mRQg6ANqNOb/s320/The+Secret+Slipper+02+small.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Being a cripple is the only the beginning of Lia's troubles. It seems as if Bioti's goal in life is to make Lia as miserable as possible. If Lia's purpose is to be a slave, then why did God make her a cripple? How can He make something beautiful out of her deformity?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Raoul never questioned the death of his daughter until someone reports her whereabouts. If Ellia is still alive, how has she survived these ten years with her deformity? When Raoul doesn't know who to trust, can he trust God to keep Ellia safe when evidence reveals Bioti's dangerous character?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As <span style="text-align: center;">time brings more hindrances, will Raoul find Ellia, or will she forever be lost to the father she doesn't even know is searching for her?</span></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I Liked</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;">Oh my. Where do I begin?! When Amanda messaged me "So.... I may have another story for to beta read.... ;)" I may have very literally jumped up and down in glee lol!!! I unabashedly embraced every aspect of this book (</span><i><b><span style="color: #741b47;">except</span></b></i><span style="color: #351c75;"> perhaps one hard-to-decipher character with whom I have unresolved feelings ;) )and have come to love these characters and their story!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I loved everything about this book, but I appreciate that Amanda wrote Lia in such a way that I could <i>intimately empathize </i>with her. As someone who already knows Christ, I knew the answers to her questions and doubts and "<i>whys?!</i>" all along. As Christians, we often <i>know</i> the right answers in our heads, but when bad things happen-- and then continue to get <i>worse</i> instead of getting better-- we often let feelings of anger, abandonment, bitterness, and fear well up in our hearts and overtake them. We have sooo many legitimate feelings/questions we want to ask of God and church leaders but "know better" than to ask. Throughout the course of the story, we experience these feelings with Lia (all the legitimate unfairness of her situation) and, in response, we receive one of the most exquisite explanations of salvation I have <i style="font-weight: bold;">ever read</i>. But I loved that we were allowed to experience those "forbidden" emotions with Lia-- and given such a beautifully crafted but accurate answer in response. </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I Disliked</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Again? Literally nothing. Well, maybe a few characters-- I completely <i>loathed</i> the 'bad guys' in this story with a black, burning passion-- but because they were so believably sly and evil! As the reader we are supposed to hate them lol So again! It was beautifully well done! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No complaints from this reader! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="color: #351c75;">oh </span><b><span style="color: #741b47;">wait</span></b><span style="color: #351c75;">.... there was that character I am still very much at odds with..... ;) </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The Secret Slipper takes you on a crazy-amazing journey from the first few angst-filled lines (ohmysoul, guys! SO much angst!!) and does not let you <i style="font-weight: bold;">go</i> til the very end!</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Purchas Link</span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R5859Y"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071R5859Y</span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u>Get "Befriending the Beast"</u></b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ</a> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsXIE91EWa9BEDkAx6tZefjqSPAxYsulr1unNq00FYBbZfME6cMKr-aCcbRJLAUchUrKduCBpBdlB-dThztUNATJyG3I3AAk1MOM1_CH6T5RBfj0gNcmsfgxYg_uaKQhYnNY01MS_P7KY/s1600/Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsXIE91EWa9BEDkAx6tZefjqSPAxYsulr1unNq00FYBbZfME6cMKr-aCcbRJLAUchUrKduCBpBdlB-dThztUNATJyG3I3AAk1MOM1_CH6T5RBfj0gNcmsfgxYg_uaKQhYnNY01MS_P7KY/s320/Giveaway.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So I'm attempting something new this book review (because I love this story soooo much!) and am hosting a giveaway! Enter for a chance to win a free set of the Tales of Faith series (paperback for US readers, eBooks for International readers)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #351c75;">U.S.
Giveaway: Enter to win the set of “Befriending the Beast” and “The Secret
Slipper”</span></u></b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab21/?">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab21/?</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #351c75;">International
Giveaway: Enter to win the eBook set of “Befriending the Beast” and “The Secret
Slipper”</span></u></b><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab22/?"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/483ac2ab22/?</span></a></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-44809515045825036982017-05-21T03:13:00.000-04:002017-05-21T03:13:25.749-04:00Book Review: Admirable<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Description</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">William returns home to find his family threatened with attack from a neighboring Earl. Will he be able to protect his sister and the rest of his family from this threat? Will he be able to trust God no matter what?</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">A prequel story for Adventures and Adversities.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">(description according to Amazon)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>What I Liked</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">This story was short and sweet--very simple but with a good message and endearing characters. It was short enough that I was able to enjoyable read all 5 chapters on my lunch break. It was well-written and crafted in such a way, however, that I was drawn I to William and his sister's plight and want them to succeed. This story can certainly stand alone, but having fallen for Will and his sister by learning their backstories, it may be time for me to begin their full-fledged series ;)</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">What I Didn't Like:</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">That it was so short and all I got was a little taste of their story.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">But that is what a short story is by definition.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">I also had to keep reminding myself that the characters were so young, even though they were having to deal with what we would consider adult activities. However, I have not done my medieval research, so it could be 100% accurate and just a matter of me being unfamiliar with the time period.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: #351c75;">Favorite Quote:</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">"Then he did the hardest thing that he had every done in his life, he let go of his sisters hand and let her walk alone."</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Final Thoughts</b>:</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">Short, sweet story that whet my appetite for the full series!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Purchase Here: </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=admirable+by+sarah+holman" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s?k=admirable+by+sarah+holman</a></span><br />
<br />HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-90486443643812963612017-04-10T18:43:00.000-04:002017-05-27T18:36:12.423-04:00Book Review: Emmeline<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the Book</b>: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXpJGH7YLKDNA4lNorzGdLPshOzwYb0Tms3m7RNPo20DwuB9mw4HqYxtbNBg2UHlGBKUx7ddtzkY1yElSYDbLtp6phztN9FB34cKtE2Jt3awVdvVGZnuW7O83UNhY1SsEeVkrEp-FUTBO/s1600/FB_IMG_1491699353025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXpJGH7YLKDNA4lNorzGdLPshOzwYb0Tms3m7RNPo20DwuB9mw4HqYxtbNBg2UHlGBKUx7ddtzkY1yElSYDbLtp6phztN9FB34cKtE2Jt3awVdvVGZnuW7O83UNhY1SsEeVkrEp-FUTBO/s320/FB_IMG_1491699353025.jpg" width="271" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“What if Jane Austen’s Emma lived in America in the year
1930?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The talk of the stock market crashes and depression isn’t
going to keep Emmeline Wellington down. Born to wealth and privilege, Emmeline
wants nothing more than to help her new friend, Catarina, find a husband.
Emmeline sets her sights on one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, but
nothing seems to go right. Even as her friend and neighbor Fredrick Knight
seems to question her at every turn.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Will she help Catarina find the man of her dreams? Why is
her father acting so strangely? Will the downturn affect her life, despite her
best efforts?” </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(from books d</span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">escription on Amazon) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I Liked</b>: There was sooo much I loved and
appreciated about this book—or more specifically, the way the author breathed
life into it—that I don’t know where to begin! Actually, I will start right
there! Sarah did a fantastic job of learning her depression-era details and of <i>knowing</i>
Jane Austen’s <i>Emma</i>. The setting felt very authentic, not as though we
were inserted into a time period for just yet another JA spin-off. Detials were
explained well without feeling as though they were. I loved the way the
Ford/Chevrolet bit was brought into play and how dancing and the flapper era
was touched on but not exploited. I loved Emma’s heart and her relationship
with her father also <3. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The thing I <b><i>reeeaaaalllyy loved and appreciated </i></b>about
this adaptation though was this: Sarah apparently knows her JA, and was able to
craft a completely flawed but still loveable Emma. As I read through this
story, I was amazed, time and time again, at how perfectly irrationally
meddlesome, unintentionally thoughtless, genuinely friendly, and fiercely loyal
Sarah crafted Emma to be. I often went from completely agreeing with the Mr.
Knightly character (who was flawlessly chivalrous, sassy, grounded, and
adorable) to completely siding with Emma in the space of two lines. <i>Sarah
was able to capture a hopelessly-flawed-but-still-lovable Emma in a way second
only to Austen that left me genuinely geeked. </i>The era (language, history,
behavioral) updating and sub-plot revamping was all done so, so well. (I know I
am gushing, but I do so unapologetically. I did so verbally to my sisters on
more than one occasion while still reading the story—you can ask them ;) ). For
a Jane Austen lover, I sincerely appreciated this retelling. It wasn’t thrown
together—it was <i>done. well. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What I Didn’t Like</b>: The only critique I have for this
fabulous retelling is that I wish the ending had been a little longer, given us
as readers a little more time to enjoy what we spent several chapters building
up to. It was still a <i>good ending</i>, but I wanted a little more time to
revel in it ;) </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx84AcGKuzj-pVO5Aroh8HDBs_kXsHwLxJb4ccqbFsK73Wd1WHfAoc8fzkOewgA04f1jAaAGhwl7E-sorsQZd0c3Shl2LG-9ROArx84Qk-9_7c-xlPako-dNVf5xZtGN7oV9IuN60JI5A/s1600/emmeline+quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx84AcGKuzj-pVO5Aroh8HDBs_kXsHwLxJb4ccqbFsK73Wd1WHfAoc8fzkOewgA04f1jAaAGhwl7E-sorsQZd0c3Shl2LG-9ROArx84Qk-9_7c-xlPako-dNVf5xZtGN7oV9IuN60JI5A/s200/emmeline+quote.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Favorite Quote(S</b>):</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“She realized that when
Catarina spoke about something she was passionate about, she looked like
royalty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Well, I agree with her, but
one doesn’t need a man to have love.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“You’ve so much imagination
when it comes to parties and matchmaking. Put that same effort into your books
and you’ll see them for what they were meant to be.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“But I think that while some
things might not turn out the way originally intended, they can still be
admired and enjoyed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“If you read your Bible
perhaps you would have more true friends and realize that you don’t have to put
people down to prove that you’re worth something!” Fredrick shouted…“You have
so much to offer the world, but you are misapplying your wit and your charm.
Instead of using it to build these people up, you are tearing them apart and
making them feel as if they are beneath you. One day, I hope you see the damage
you’re doing and bitterly regret the havoc you have caused in their lives.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Never stop talking to
Him, even when your heart hurts, promise?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Final Thoughts</b>: </span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bottom line? This retelling of Emma was fantastically
done and as a picky Jane-ite I absolutely loved it. I completely recommend it and cannot wait for the rest
of the series!!!! </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Purchase Link: </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emmeline-Vintage-Austen-Sarah-Holman-ebook/dp/B06W9F72MP/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">https://www.amazon.com/Emmeline-Vintage-Austen-Sarah-Holman-ebook/dp/B06W9F72MP/</a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>About the Author: </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sarah Holman is a not so typical mid-twenties girl: A homeschool graduate, sister to six awesome siblings. If there is anything adventuresome about her life, it is because she serves a God with a destiny bigger than anything she could have imagined. You can find out more about her at her website <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/">www.thedestinyofone.com</a> </span></span></span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-88357111888394716472016-10-08T12:48:00.001-04:002017-05-19T17:11:40.498-04:00Book Review: Befriending the Beast <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0tXaMECX3SABDKLjYUey5d-tcqnn88K545jUL3iHmCsJTED4AGr91JICXRrr4N2h6LvCEW7MP2zh-IMcYwpHxdYoZm15fy3YmmGgXwAvpLuhOUD0PYfaI2yuJ0Kc37kjjMXt2VqPoCa/s1600/Quote+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0tXaMECX3SABDKLjYUey5d-tcqnn88K545jUL3iHmCsJTED4AGr91JICXRrr4N2h6LvCEW7MP2zh-IMcYwpHxdYoZm15fy3YmmGgXwAvpLuhOUD0PYfaI2yuJ0Kc37kjjMXt2VqPoCa/s1600/Quote+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><b><u><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">Hey all!</span> Hope you are having a wonderful day! Because this is the third book review post in a row, I just thought I'd let you know that this is still a devotional blog as well :) I have had a post on my heart for months, but God's still teaching me that lesson! :) For now, I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Amanda Tero who has just published another book. A Beauty & the Beast retelling with an intriguing twist: what if the Beast was Belle's <i>father? </i>I had the opportunity to beta-read<i> </i>this story and wanted to share!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0tXaMECX3SABDKLjYUey5d-tcqnn88K545jUL3iHmCsJTED4AGr91JICXRrr4N2h6LvCEW7MP2zh-IMcYwpHxdYoZm15fy3YmmGgXwAvpLuhOUD0PYfaI2yuJ0Kc37kjjMXt2VqPoCa/s1600/Quote+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N0tXaMECX3SABDKLjYUey5d-tcqnn88K545jUL3iHmCsJTED4AGr91JICXRrr4N2h6LvCEW7MP2zh-IMcYwpHxdYoZm15fy3YmmGgXwAvpLuhOUD0PYfaI2yuJ0Kc37kjjMXt2VqPoCa/s320/Quote+06.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
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<b><u><span style="color: #073763;">About
the Book</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"Belle
has returned unannounced to the castle to restore her relationship with the
king, her father. Her hopes are dashed with the devastating message: "The
king refuses to see you." Convinced that God has led her home, she is
unwilling to return to Lord and Lady Kiralyn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Time is running out for the decision that will change her
life. When tragedy strikes, will she and her father be pulled further apart or
knit together? Could she stay at the castle even if she will never see her
father again?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">What I liked:</u> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To be fair, I came at this story completely biased—Beauty
& the Beast is one of my all time favorites, and I am a complete sucker for
a good retelling. However, we all know how a <i>bad</i> retelling can leave behind a
hollow feeling, as though you had hunger pains that were left unmet by what
promised to be a good meal. This retelling? Left you completely stuffed, yet
begging for more!! One of the reasons I <i>am</i> such a sucker for this
tale-as-old-as-time <i>is </i>because of the romance—and this story had none,
so I wasn’t sure how I’d react to it. The suspense completely drew me in!
Romance, classic B&B tale or not—I <i>needed to know how this worked out!
How the story resolved! Whether or not these characters I was beginning to love
ever got their happy ending and were able to stop suffering!</i> And the angst.
Oh. My heart broke over and over again for these characters—even the mean ones!
This story was incredibly well written to where I felt Belle’s pain, her
hesitation, her hope. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Xa-ZxEHssbO-qIgKluJXNGhruTt8HSHqGyBN7CA1u9EipBntz_ok-5s8kpedUHf7iFar8suq5BpITQHON5C2x9tM4oUW5_tljsP5VQdq25Gw7bI2IcLocfNZmD7rfZxtK7O5CEFQDXQ/s1600/Befriending+the+Beast+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0Xa-ZxEHssbO-qIgKluJXNGhruTt8HSHqGyBN7CA1u9EipBntz_ok-5s8kpedUHf7iFar8suq5BpITQHON5C2x9tM4oUW5_tljsP5VQdq25Gw7bI2IcLocfNZmD7rfZxtK7O5CEFQDXQ/s320/Befriending+the+Beast+small.jpg" width="207" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition to being able to experience along with the
characters, Amanda’s brilliant writing was captured in two other ways that I
really liked about this book! The imagery—there were so many nods to the
original story, flawless yet so subtle; I literally got excited when I found
them. I’m not sure whether Amanda included them on purpose or not, but the
references to the roses several times had me geeked out. Lastly, the <i>realistic
yet powerful</i> way Amanda was able to tie in Biblical themes via Belle’s
faith and her struggle to trust God greatly impressed me more than once. It’s
always annoying to get to a place in a story where you feel as though the
author just threw in a Biblical reference, or simply just worked too
hard to get one in there. When discussed in <i>Befriending the Beast</i>, these things felt much more natural. Also, more than
impressing me, God used it to encourage and convict me, and I think that is one
of the greatest things a story/author can do- and this story delivered, and
delivered in the right way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another small, but legit thing I loved about this story was
that Belle was <i>strong</i> in her faith, she had a mature walk with God… but
she makes a totally “did I really just do that? I know better!!” mistake toward
the end (that left me at the edge of my seat) but I appreciated that. Even the
most mature of Christians make dumb mistakes once in a while, and I think we tend to forget
that.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #073763; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What I didn’t like: </span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">……ummm...... <i>nothing</i>? lol No, but for real I <b><i>loved </i></b>this story. The
only thing I wished was different was that I wish the ending was longer and
gave more closure. I spent so much time wondering and stressing with the characters about whether or not things would be resolved that I wished the ending would just go on and on. What I didn't like was <i>that the story had to end!</i> ;) ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #073763;">Purchase
Link</span></u></b><u>
<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ#nav-subnav">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L2IDEUQ#nav-subnav</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">(order
before October 8, 2016, to get it at the discounted price of $.99!)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #0c343d;">About
the Author</span></u></b></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdCTF8ldaAKMZprC9kjCxq56x3NlOmO4KjanWh2UeuwLOOJZlQBibCu5Jx07Y_DBm9anhyphenhyphenNSLwDyB_gqxT3SFWJRpZosxLacbI8fkG7zdwSnuGH3thtcdQVmW5I5uV3vjSYcy_zKSPC0E/s1600/Amanda+bio+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivdCTF8ldaAKMZprC9kjCxq56x3NlOmO4KjanWh2UeuwLOOJZlQBibCu5Jx07Y_DBm9anhyphenhyphenNSLwDyB_gqxT3SFWJRpZosxLacbI8fkG7zdwSnuGH3thtcdQVmW5I5uV3vjSYcy_zKSPC0E/s320/Amanda+bio+pic.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Amanda Tero is a homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again – starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then, she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If something she has written draws an individual into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!</span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfAgJ1VHcuJKlN8aJ62yhCNj790H6k7Dzvj1CJaH7UNptd_WjlX66A5JqXoUSWToLxijGKbEkDlJox3gfI9_iU44_E56wAA99jguhZ3e8NqeaCtDSYkoIMlYmz1Klb6hVDw-mZcWiny7d/s1600/Verse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfAgJ1VHcuJKlN8aJ62yhCNj790H6k7Dzvj1CJaH7UNptd_WjlX66A5JqXoUSWToLxijGKbEkDlJox3gfI9_iU44_E56wAA99jguhZ3e8NqeaCtDSYkoIMlYmz1Klb6hVDw-mZcWiny7d/s200/Verse.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #073763;"></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #073763;"><br /></span></u></b></span></span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><u><span style="color: #073763;">Connect
with Amanda</span></u></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Email: amandaterobooks@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Website:<a href="https://amandatero.com/" target="_blank"> http://amandatero.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks" target="_blank"> www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pinterest:
<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/">https://www.pinterest.com/amandaruthtero/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blog:<a href="http://www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Goodreads: <span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero">https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background: white;">Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero">http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-15655137073920242002016-03-23T22:59:00.000-04:002016-03-23T22:59:07.143-04:00Journey to Love Book Release!<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALvkGCPZSp6p5RUqxO9A-iKtv38VndnFe7JtohLBu6Bls3jkO1kNwKNOjKKsHJAKJNQG-0CkhR_yXa4lB0nJMKLVEtwS2i6dS08ihyIDtV_r74c00YOM8Gv7XhwV4SMVvPfSfnd40grP/s1600/Tour+Banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBALvkGCPZSp6p5RUqxO9A-iKtv38VndnFe7JtohLBu6Bls3jkO1kNwKNOjKKsHJAKJNQG-0CkhR_yXa4lB0nJMKLVEtwS2i6dS08ihyIDtV_r74c00YOM8Gv7XhwV4SMVvPfSfnd40grP/s640/Tour+Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The Orphan
Journeys Series<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Journey to Love (Marie's
Story, 1901)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Amanda Tero</span></span><br />
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(Quick aside from HisPrincessWarrior: I've never been part of a book release blog tour, but I was able to participate as a beta reader for this sweet book and was very encouraged by it! I highly recommend buying your own copy, if this post piques your interest :D I found myself really identifying with Marie's struggle throughout this story!) </div>
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<b><u><span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">About the Book<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now orphaned, Marie is swept miles away from the only life
she knew to be sheltered by unknown guardians. Caught in the challenges of a
new life, she cannot prevent changes from happening, but she can keep the
Bowles and their friends at arm's length. Or can she?</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">While things appear to transition smoothly on
the outside, Marie struggles against the turmoil she faces on the inside. She
sees something in the Bowles and her new friends that she had never experienced
before...but should she trust what the preacher is teaching when it goes
against everything she had accepted as truth? Is God really a God of love? If
He is, then is Marie willing to accept it?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Follow Marie as she begins the journey to love.</span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">About the </span></b><b><u><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Orphan Journeys</span></u></b><b><span style="font-size: 15.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Series<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Imagine yourself
as an orphan, struggling for survival on the filthy New York streets, where
disease and crime run rampant. Journey from these wretched streets to a
temporary lodging in an overcrowded orphanage and then to the train station.
After riding the train for hours, picture yourself lining up with other
children, waiting as adults look you over. Would you be chosen—or would you
have to hold onto the hope that maybe, at the next station, someone would want
to bring you home?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Minister Charles
Loring Brace had a vision for New York orphans that brought them through this
journey from streets to homes. He began his orphan work in 1853, then in 1854,
because of lack of orphanage space, Brace sent the first orphans by train to
Dowagiac, Michigan, where the children could be sheltered by local families.
The "orphan train" continued until 1929, bringing at least 150,000
children to new homes where they were fostered and, occasionally, adopted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brace desired to
place children in good, Protestant homes. Many orphans experienced Brace's
desire, but some orphans had different stories: siblings were separated, and
some couples took orphans to use for cheap labor. Though many orphans ended up
as successful men and women, not all of them turned out to be trustworthy
citizens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Orphan Journeys</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"> is a fictional
novella series based off of the American Orphan Train saga, following orphans
not only as they adjust to a new life, but also as they embark upon a spiritual
journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">About the Author</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVPppDDt49TTawtjYVO_nXAl5ersVv-5y9HdW9kcL04O7B9_FEkzvqy6sSsNdUSqlsC94ZVzNZZUTarBdJroDggQomZ_SZaMgy6uNLmuuFU3Dp4GQUMOLX1kfqmtORxbEnNYyAwW4CljY/s1600/Amanda+bio+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVPppDDt49TTawtjYVO_nXAl5ersVv-5y9HdW9kcL04O7B9_FEkzvqy6sSsNdUSqlsC94ZVzNZZUTarBdJroDggQomZ_SZaMgy6uNLmuuFU3Dp4GQUMOLX1kfqmtORxbEnNYyAwW4CljY/s200/Amanda+bio+pic.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
Amanda Tero is a
homeschool graduate who desires to provide God-honoring, family-friendly
reading material. She has enjoyed writing since before ten years old, but it
has only been since 2013 that she began seriously pursuing writing again –
starting with some short stories that she wrote for her sisters as a gift. Her
mom encouraged her to try selling the stories she published, and since then,
she has begun actively writing short stories, novellas, and novels. If
something she has written draws an individual into a deeper
relationship with Jesus Christ, it is worth it!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
“Trust in the Lord
with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
(Proverbs 3:5)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Connect with Amanda</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Email: <a href="mailto:amandaterobooks@gmail.com">amandaterobooks@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Website: <a href="http://amandatero.com/">http://amandatero.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks">www.facebook.com/amandaterobooks</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/">https://www.instagram.com/amandateroauthor/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/truthpicsart/">https://www.pinterest.com/truthpicsart/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Blog: <a href="http://www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/">www.withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Goodreads: <span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero">https://www.goodreads.com/AmandaTero</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Amazon: </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero">http://www.amazon.com/author/amandatero</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;">Purchase Link</span></u></b><u><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Order on Amazon: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BZ7S3PK"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BZ7S3PK</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-62684434928167171412016-01-11T15:23:00.001-05:002016-01-13T09:37:56.780-05:00Book Review: Kate's Innocence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELaPN8LUdfyjP_O9Nxjozb_1vwAWPWDEXNe19JckItILfdY8DfOR_y1yF7UU1FCC8RFpMJBOiSPKAxGg3mMqtPJishy242SRM3bIKFrMKaWVzXvHSIPNg-0XYaM40Oc5aZCOqF4ipWvHc/s1600/kblog+tour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELaPN8LUdfyjP_O9Nxjozb_1vwAWPWDEXNe19JckItILfdY8DfOR_y1yF7UU1FCC8RFpMJBOiSPKAxGg3mMqtPJishy242SRM3bIKFrMKaWVzXvHSIPNg-0XYaM40Oc5aZCOqF4ipWvHc/s1600/kblog+tour.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When the FBI begins investigating bombings at Kate’s school,
she becomes the main suspect because of her chemical engineering major and
military background—however, Kate maintains she is innocent! As further
evidence mounts against her, Kate must help the FBI clear her name—all while
facing personal demons from her past—or spend the rest of her life behind bars.
This was a great story and intriguing read that I was able to really “get into”
and not want to stop reading until everything was resolved!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I liked</b>: I
liked that life wasn’t perfect. Kate’s relationship with her father was
strained, as was her relationship with God. Things like this are real-life, and
while not condoned (for sure!) they were written in very well. Kate’s rocky
relationship with God was something I appreciated because it gave her room to
grow and for readers to be edified through the course of the story. This was done
very well, and is something with which many readers will be able to relate. <br />
I enjoyed the banter among the FBI team throughout the book, and that when
somebody made a mistake or error in judgement, they <i>owned</i> it, and the responsibility that went with it, instead of
pawning it off. In addition, I found the plot of the mystery to be very well
thought out. You can tell that Sarah did her homework. I was skeptical as to
whether or not this would be more of a romance/emotional story with the mystery
tacked on, but was pleasantly surprised with the opposite. The mystery was very
thought out and was the real, main deal, with the subplot woven in <i>very well</i>! <br />
I also enjoyed that while romantic relationships are hinted at and feelings are
felt, they were dealt with in a realistic manner! They were often ignored,
pushed away for another day, dealt with slowly—any relationships or even deeper
friendships were developing slowly throughout this book, leaving <i>so much </i> to yet be resolved and I <i>appreciated this soooo much!</i> :D In real life these
things take time, and they did in <i>Kate’s
Innocence</i>, not occurring and resolving perfectly with a neat little bow in
120 pages! That, my friends, was refreshing! :D <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What I didn’t like</b>:
While I loved certain conversations concerning faith and God in this story and
was truly touched by them, there were a few that felt forced to me, usually
between the lead male character and his best friend. Whether it was the
man-to-man element or the lack of preamble that felt off to me, a few of those
scenes bothered me. <br />
Also, nearly all the FBI agents in the team were Christians; while as a
Christian I would love if that was a reality ;) I did find this to be a little
unrealistic. However, it seemed as though the main character Kate did as well, which
I loved, so perhaps in future installments we will get more closure/information
as to how this came to be. <br />
However, neither one of these things bothered me enough to ruin my enjoyment of
the book!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Favorite quote</b>: ‘“I just… I have neglected God. I don’t think
He is going to give me peace and grace until I change.” <br />
……“God doesn’t work that way, Kate. He is always waiting to be there for us,
even if we haven’t done our part.”’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Final thoughts</b>: I
thoroughly enjoyed this book! I found it a fun, intriguing, but also
encouraging read, and was excited when I saw that Sarah plans on continuing the
series! Check out Sarah's blog: <a href="http://www.thedestinyofone.com/" target="_blank">The Destiny of One </a>.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Find <i>Kate's Innocence</i> on Amazon<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kates-Innocence-Case-Files-Book-ebook/dp/B0181M1U5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452695719&sr=8-1&keywords=kate%27s+innocence" target="_blank"> here.</a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />**picture taken from<a href="http://withajoyfulnoise.blogspot.com/2015/11/kates-innocence-book-review-and-giveaway.html" target="_blank"> Amanda's Review!</a> :) </span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-4642484997212156262015-12-22T15:49:00.001-05:002015-12-22T15:49:16.813-05:00Our Oikos <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had an extremely eventful weekend—boots in the house! cousins
drove out for the day, Christmas program Sunday morning, and work at night. It
was a busy, but extremely exciting! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something we had to do while our cousins were here was go
bowling—it’s almost become a tradition. But while we were on the way there—I cannot
remember how it came up—but my cousin was telling me what she had been studying
in their small-group Bible study at their church. She said they had been
studying the word or the concept of <i>oikos.</i>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Oikos</i> is a Greek
word that, according to Strongs and BibleStudyTools.com, is defined as:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #351c75;">1. A
house</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #351c75;">2. The
inmates of a house, all the persons forming one family, a household </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #351c75;">3. Stock,
family, descendants of one</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My cousin explained it to me as more of number two. She
called it “the people you do life with”. She said they learned it was a group
of usually 8 to 15 people that make up your every day, people you see, talk to,
deal with, on a regular basis, and our big parts of your life (whether they’re “good”
parts or not ;). I found a similarly minded article which I’ll add to the end
of this post :D She went on to say how, yes we are to take the share the Gospel to our Judea
and the “uttermost parts of the world” but also our Jerusalem, and our <i>oikos</i> is our Jerusalem. How we need to
be impacting, loving, and leading/pointing the people in our <i>oikos</i> to Jesus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a very interesting and new concept to me, and I really
enjoyed learning about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I usually work Sunday nights, and this last Sunday night,
after they had our candlelight Christmas service, nearly our entire (yes, it is
small ;) church came out to eat where I work. They filled up the lobby, gave me
a hard time as I took their orders ;) sang a Christmas carol, and honestly
rather made my night :D<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After everyone was sitting down and fellowshipping, I was
back behind the counter, cleaning up a mess, when I just tuned in to the
conversation and laughter behind me. Sure, I hear this type of thing whenever I
work, but this time it was familiar laughter, familiar voices. And I realized
something: <b><u><span style="font-size: large;">they were my <i>oikos</i></span></u></b>. That group of about 40ish
people are literally the people I do life with. The ones I consider my family,
closest friend, people I can trust for Godly counsel or simply encouragement;
the friends I can be completely crazy with, but serious too; the ones I would
miss extremely bad if I were to switch colleges and attend another
out-of-state; the ones who love and accept me (and my family) for who I am. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They are my <i>oikos</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">And I love them and appreciate them very, <i>very</i> much!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What about <b><i>you</i></b>? Who is your <i>oikos</i> at this stage in your life? What do you appreciate about
them? :D How was your weekend? What random, awesome things has God been teaching <i>you</i>?</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas, everyone! </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is the link I referred to earlier: I haven't read it thoroughly, so I'm not saying I agree with/condone everything it says, and it is taken from a specific church's site; just sharing it for interest and the sake of further study :) </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.granitecreek.org/oikos-defined/ </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">http://biblehub.com/greek/3624.htm </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/oikos.html</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-21697689526740969922015-04-07T19:26:00.000-04:002015-04-07T19:26:02.282-04:00HPW Update<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75;">(That looks really funny abbreviated like that, doesn't it? I've never done that before.) :)</span></b></div>
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I wanted to let all of you out there who still check on/visit/find my blog that I really appreciate you. I have been really wanting to do a post lately, but my river is still dry and I'm currently very busy with school. It blesses my heart when I log on and find that one of you have found my blog and subscribed, have commented on an old post, or to see that I have received X amount of views on a certain random day when it's been quite a while since the last post. </span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I just wanted to let you know that, no, I'm not gone, just in a confusing/frustrating place right now, and that I see when you view and receive your sweet comments, </span></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;">and it </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">really </i><span style="font-size: large;">means </span><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">a lot </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">to me!</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: x-large;">Thanks so much!!!! </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">I would love to hear how you are doing, or if you have any ideas for future posts!</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">XoXo </span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">Katie <3</span></b></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-54873905911216374502015-01-03T18:35:00.001-05:002015-01-03T18:37:24.296-05:00Princess Warrior-type Post to Share <span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I just finished reading a very good blog post over on the <a href="http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/" target="_blank">Lies Young Women Believe blog</a> that deals with us going to battle with courage throughout this new year :) It made me think of how I want to be as, yes, a Princess, a <i>daughter </i>of God, but also His <i>warrior,</i> and not cowering in terror with the new fears and hard situations that 2015 might bring! I spent most of 2014 <i>not</i> being a good soldier, and by God's grace, I'd like to do better this year. </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, I'm sharing the link to this post in hopes that it will encourage your Princess Warrior heart as well :) Hope you enjoy it and are as inspired by it as I was. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Link to post:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.liesyoungwomenbelieve.com/2015-going-scare/" target="_blank">2015 Is Going to Scare You</a></span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">By God's Grace, </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Katie </span>HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-18957609617207160382014-12-24T17:35:00.000-05:002014-12-26T03:09:13.704-05:00When God does the Unusual <span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So far, this has been a wonderful Christmas. Yes. Our family had "our Christmas" yesterday ;-), and we will be having it again tomorrow with my mom's side of the family. My brothers, sisters, and I have had lots of fun, eaten <i>great</i> food (thanks mom!), and received wonderful gifts... but perhaps, most wonderful of all, were the little gifts I received from Jesus (also known as special blessings :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://www.testimoniesofheavenandhell.com/Pictures-Of-Jesus/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Mary-And-Baby-Jesus-Picture-With-The-Three-Wise-Men-In-The-Background.jpg" height="443" width="640" /><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;">This past year has been one of anger and frustration for me. <i style="font-weight: bold;">So. many. times.</i> this year, I've cried out to God, through tears of anger, in moments of raw honesty and asked,</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>why?!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Why God have you allowed this into my life, to happen to me? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>All I ever did was what was </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">right! </i>Why am I going through this {pain} when all through {this period of my life} I followed hard after you, loved you, served you, obeyed you, to the best of my ability, <i>are <b>others</b> being blessed, and I am not?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First of all, you must understand, I know this is wrong. And I would tell God that. I would tell Him I knew I was acting as though I was entitled to His blessing and being utterly disrespectful, and I was sorry, but it was how I <i>felt </i>at the time, and He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him, so I was doing it! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My dad always told me when I was little to 'talk to Jesus as though I was talking to my best friend'. I've been blessed with a few special friends. Friends I know I can trust implicitly and be brutally, ugly honest, and they will still love me, unconditionally, for who I am, who I can be through Christ, and will pray me through the bad times. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that's how I am when I talk to God. Brutally honest. He knows my deepest thoughts that even <i style="font-weight: bold;">I</i> don't understand, so He knows how I feel already. ;) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But anyway. :) More than once I went through this. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I felt betrayed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Betrayed by the One who promised to never leave me nor forsake me. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://www.testimoniesofheavenandhell.com/Pictures-Of-Jesus/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Beautiful-Blessed-Mary-Kissing-Baby-Jesus-Picture.jpg" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Funny thing is, my head <i>knew/knows</i> waaaaaaay better. But emotions?? eh... not so much.) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I felt betrayed. Like, since I had lived rightly before God, I should be rewarded for good behavior. But that wasn't what I saw happening. I felt my life falling into weird places I never thought it would, as I watched (over, and over, and agonizingly <i>over</i> again) all my friends lives fall (as <i style="font-weight: bold;">i perceived it</i>) neatly into perfect place. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I felt betrayed. Like I was being punished for having done the right thing. Like Joseph in the Old Testament. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But last Sunday, my Pastor preached a sermon that, in a way, contrasted Jesus' birth and John's birth and the reactions to each. Not only did it help me to see Mary in a different way, but it was an encouragement to me as well. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You see, when John was born? People rejoiced! When Elisabeth became pregnant with him, people celebrated! She and Zacharias were not supposed to be able to have children, and yet they did! There was joy for John. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>But except for a handful of people, there was no joy for Jesus</b>. His parents were not married, and became the object of gossip and ridicule. His parents were poor and had to make the journey to Bethlehem, then flee shortly thereafter to Egypt. When Mary became pregnant with Jesus, people whispered behind her back, they did not rejoice with her. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then pastor made a comment about how "being in the will of God will bring <i>contrast</i> into our lives. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">God may ask us to do things, or allow things to happen to us, that <i style="font-weight: bold;">MAKE. NO. SENSE</i>. Things that very few people will understand. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just like when He had a virgin conceive and bear a son, and how Mary was ridiculed for the rest of her life... for simply <i>bearing the son of God!!!! For being the Godly young woman after His own heart that He CHOSE to have His Son!</i> Mary had done "everything right". <i>So</i> right, that she became the mother of the most high. But at times, when people would scowl at her in the streets, murmur behind her back as she traveled through the village with baby Jesus on her hip, make snide remarks about she and Joseph that were untrue-- untrue because God had done the unusual in her life-- I wonder if she felt betrayed. Lifted her eyes to heaven and whispered, "Why, Lord? All I ever did was serve you!" I am not trying to add anything to the Bible, I just wonder if Mary ever felt betrayed, too. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But she knew. She knew, just like I knew, that even though I feel that way, it isn't/wasn't true. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;">She</i> knew that God had chosen to do something unusual in her life, and she chose to obey that call. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sure that often it made little sense to her, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Just as though it makes no sense to us, when we go through what we see as useless pain. Pain so unbearable at times we cry out to God, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? How could you <i style="font-weight: bold;">possibly</i> intend to use this for your glory!?!?". But that's exactly what He tends to do. Use the unusual, the painful, the unbearable, the things in our lives that <i>we</i> and <i>no one else</i> understands, <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">somehow.</u> for. <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">GOOD.</u> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So today, this Christmas, please dear friend. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't lose hope.</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img src="http://www.testimoniesofheavenandhell.com/Pictures-Of-Jesus/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Modern-Baby-Jesus-Smiling-Picture-With-Mary.jpg" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When God does or allows something not in your plans that seems to wreck your life, realize He's not betraying you. Remember He loves you, and somehow, He's going to work this all together for His good, for His purposes. (Romans 8:28) <i>if we let Him</i>. Mary let Him. I <i style="font-weight: bold;">know</i> this is hard :( Remember how Mary in the New Testament and Joseph in the Old did what was right, and it seemed as though they only got pain in response?? </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But the ending of those two stories?? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">God worked through Joseph to save many nations from starvation. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and God worked, through Mary, to bring the Savior into the world who would redeem the souls of all mankind. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>What could He be doing with your pain today, sweet sister? </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Merry Christmas!!!</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Picture Source: http://www.testimoniesofheavenandhell.com/Pictures-Of-Jesus/</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source of Post Title: was pastor's sermon title ;)</span></div>
</div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-17599928600749784052014-10-30T02:51:00.002-04:002014-10-30T03:01:23.263-04:00Being Wearied with The Journey<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well." {<u style="font-weight: bold;">John 4:6</u>a}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So....</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We {the ladies of our awesome little church!} had our Ladies Fall Fellowship/Bible study last week. It was <i>such </i>a blessing, and full of laughter, but when my pastor's wife began to bring the devotional, I was totally <i style="font-weight: bold;">not</i> paying attention. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Wanna know why?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LP8Jrr11-XJYtDaJ8B5boZZAcGY9fPYTaGABKg-RyzltnFpXg8Px4hbn_L8wKMAvch4L1CRgEwGj2gSt4S63y-U9lucAdHuY3IEuR52mE84mlHyOBQAW1F-BG_9x8w0ZU-3mfNYVWmGV/s1600/wanna+know+how.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LP8Jrr11-XJYtDaJ8B5boZZAcGY9fPYTaGABKg-RyzltnFpXg8Px4hbn_L8wKMAvch4L1CRgEwGj2gSt4S63y-U9lucAdHuY3IEuR52mE84mlHyOBQAW1F-BG_9x8w0ZU-3mfNYVWmGV/s1600/wanna+know+how.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because after we'd turned to the Scripture from which God had led her to bring our study, God arrested my attention so completely, inspiration hit, and I was scribbling this from-God's-heart-to-mine encouragement in my journal before I <i>lost it!</i> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Don't worry! What God gave me actually had a lot to do with our Bible study anyway :) And my pastor's wife forgave me ;-)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But here are those notes, from my heart to yours. Not sure if they are all doctrinaly sound lol but it was if a light-bulb clicked on and I was seeing this Scripture in a slightly different hue than normal!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">"Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well." {<b><u>John 4:6</u></b>a}</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(seriously. that small, simple sentence was all God needed to use to encourage me and inspire three pages of writing. Isn't He amazing??? <3 )</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"It stuck me as my pastor's wife read this verse aloud that John would include that Jesus-- king of the Universe; wholly mighty in strength-- <i>became</i><b style="font-style: italic;"> weary.</b> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Weary is a word I know well. <i>Too </i>well. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Maybe you as well are far to familiar with that word :( </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe I'm reading too much into it, I thought. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe not.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe, God wanted us to know that it's okay to be tired. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">He knows. He gets it. He <i>KNOWS </i>where we have been and where we are. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was Jesus' <i style="font-weight: bold;">journey</i> that caused Him to become weary. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Could we, perhaps, use this as a parallel to our spiritual lives? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus understands.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Could we also equate this with our daily walk in <i>general</i>??</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus gets it. He got tired. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">So He sat down. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe God put a subtle hint in here that in our life's journey, when we get tired that it's okay to sit down, to take a break... </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">as long as we <b>don't intend to QUIT</b>!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">{{ouch!!}}</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jesus was planning only on taking a break. <i><b>Not on STOPPING</b></i>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also this break Jesus was taking? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It didn't stop Him from <i style="text-decoration: underline;">encouraging</i><i> </i><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>another even when He was tired. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe we can even encourage others <i style="font-weight: bold;">better</i> when we're taking a break. because at that point?? HE GOT IT! He "got it" <i style="font-weight: bold;">well</i>! He was taking a break at the time! So maybe we can encourage others <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">better</u> during or after that break because "we've been there too" and therefore are better <i>equipped</i> to encourage them. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBimqjOnAHZvzw6SUtm6S61XM9tap8N3Xtsd9qvtqkSTGM-RDDeymhIhNC1abJPRHBDSlz8l1ufSeELmz7ErsF_JkWTCiuDUGCD1IiLRgaxEv5vmKA0GJYs0qdtUgXiQBRxLMF8BNDasy/s1600/11_Jesus_Samaritan_Woman_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBimqjOnAHZvzw6SUtm6S61XM9tap8N3Xtsd9qvtqkSTGM-RDDeymhIhNC1abJPRHBDSlz8l1ufSeELmz7ErsF_JkWTCiuDUGCD1IiLRgaxEv5vmKA0GJYs0qdtUgXiQBRxLMF8BNDasy/s1600/11_Jesus_Samaritan_Woman_1024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another thing. We know as believers that because He took this break, a woman's-- a <i style="font-weight: bold;">TOWN's</i>-- spiritual needs were met. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i style="text-decoration: underline;">We</i> know it was a scheduled divine appointment on His part ;-) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Maybe God slows us down-- has slowed YOU down-- allows struggles, sorrows, trouble, depression, discouragement, unfair/overwhelming circumstances because we can reach certainpeople <i style="text-decoration: underline;">during</i> our hard spots, <u style="font-style: italic;">because of</u> our trials, that we <b>may never have been able to reach had everything continued to be hunky-dory,</b> smooth-sailing. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We (<b><i><u>YOU</u></i></b>!!!) can meet the spiritual needs of others <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">because</u> we've had this struggle, <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">because</u> we're going through this problem</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It's okay to be tired.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">It's okay to take a break!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Just take that break intending to <b><i><u>get back up after you are rested</u></i></b>!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Take that break <i>cognizant of the fact</i> <u><i>that others need breaks too</i></u>!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">Take that break <u style="font-weight: bold;">knowing</u> that because you're taking it, God may be able to use you in a way He never could have otherwise!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Knowing that God can use that break to encourage someone else down the road. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE-wxnXISPBv0b7POPOCtfFTlroI8rkJCyJUvFvXZ4oeSihyphenhyphenAyY20GOytPPvfI6z_NX6WBo_05tPu62wk85QTO2KhxWMoeMhH191Aq4NzF45CL8_VWiaPsnRp7mFklL22PHdJVmTl-Eiu/s1600/04_Jesus_Samaritan_Woman_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikE-wxnXISPBv0b7POPOCtfFTlroI8rkJCyJUvFvXZ4oeSihyphenhyphenAyY20GOytPPvfI6z_NX6WBo_05tPu62wk85QTO2KhxWMoeMhH191Aq4NzF45CL8_VWiaPsnRp7mFklL22PHdJVmTl-Eiu/s1600/04_Jesus_Samaritan_Woman_1024.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><u>You can encourage someone from a sitting position! ;-) </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">First picture mine, edited from movie <a href="http://momsnightoutmovie.com/" target="_blank">Mom's Night Out;</a> rest of pictures courtesy<a href="http://www.freebibleimages.org/" target="_blank"> http://www.freebibleimages.org/</a></span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-32680224553132272552014-09-05T10:46:00.000-04:002014-09-05T10:46:05.077-04:00Encouraging Video (One) ~~ When "Wait" is Your Answer<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A few months ago, my sister bought a movie she’d <i>really</i>
wanted to watch. The trailer had piqued our interest, and so had the fact that <i>Fireproof</i>
actress Erin Bethea was in it. When we finally got it, I was excited to watch
it with my sisters. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>But</i></b> I was <i>not prepared</i> for how God
would use it to <b>bless</b> and <b>encourage</b> me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The movie is called <i><a href="http://pureflix.com/portfolio/this-is-our-time/" target="_blank">This is Our Time</a></i>, and I highly recommend it, especially for any young adults out there who are trying to
“decipher God’s will” for them in this crucial and extremely stressful point in
their life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">However, there are a few pivotal scenes that spoke to me more than
others, and over the course of a few blog posts, I would like to share them, and a few others, with
you! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wanted to share these with you a few months ago, when the
inspiration was still fresh in my heart, but I slacked and let it die. But a
recent conversation with one of my cousins reminded me <i>so much</i> of this
film and the encouragement wrought by it, that I've <b><i>finally</i></b>
decided to post these! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With this new school year fully in gear and everyone finally
either back in school or in the swing of homeschooling, I've heard a lot about
the pressure put on seniors (in high school) to suddenly have all these plans
about where they’re going to college, if they’re going to college, what they
want to do, what they think God’s will is for them, and all these pivotal,
intense decisions—suddenly, as soon as you hit 12<sup>th</sup> grade, you’re
supposed to have the answer to all of these! And then, regardless of what your
passions and desires and even God’s <i>will</i> for your life, are the
expectations put upon us as young people: by our friends, church family,
teachers, peers, and even, our parents! You may not be very sure at <i>all</i>
what <b><i>God</i></b> wants you to do, but you certainly know what everyone <b><i>ELSE</i></b>
thinks you should be doing! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that causes stress and no end of pressure. My sister and
her best friend (who are both senior this year) have <i>definitely</i> been
feeling this pressure. But so have I, because of recent developments in my
life, and so is one of my cousins, and we are past the ‘graduation’ phase of
life. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But what if, when searching for God’s voice and will for
this next phase of life, all you hear is <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">“WAIT”?? </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then what? </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You’re not wrong. </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">You’re not a failure or a “less-than”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> If
this is you, <i>what<b>EVER</b></i><b> </b>season of life you’re in and no
matter <b><i>what</i></b> unfair expectations are being placed upon you, while
everyone else seems to have their act together? <b>YOU DO TOO</b>. <u>Just in a
completely different way than they do</u>. Because God’s will is different for
everybody. And He’s using us all in different ways. Even if that means you
don’t <b><i>feel</i></b> used or important, God is still using you! Yes, we must "search" and pray for God's guidance and try to stay close to Him. But just because the answer is "wait" doesn't make you less important or mean you're doing "nothing". :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>God’s will is not limited to a four year college degree</i></b>; </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>and
God’s will/timing is not limited to what everybody else thinks you should be doing.</i> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">God’s will often looks like <b>nothing </b>you would have chosen for yourself or
expected you would do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I cannot word it any better than the professor does in
this clip. I hope this encourages you as it did me <3 </span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwzmi3X7aFeQPsVtVt7bSo6eZsWh_v8vzOx7uzAiLtBj0L8_cRFBNTWFIOHOy_SxyYRfXca6izle7kGxA4hJw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">(I in no way claim any rights to this movie and all credit goes to</span><a href="http://pureflix.com/" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank"> Pure Flix Entertainment</a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"> and Director Lisa Arnold!)</span></div>
HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-822007335863566300.post-68141825397858719772014-05-13T13:46:00.001-04:002014-05-13T13:57:42.465-04:00A Week in Skirts "Wrap-Up" ;-)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img class="" height="440" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui=2&ik=31f42c31a5&view=att&th=145de92433355c27&attid=0.1&disp=emb&realattid=ii_huyst6m20_145de923314a9086&zw&atsh=1" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 13px;" width="440" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #351c75;"> This past week I took part of a blog challenge to wear skirts for an entire week. The challenge was Libby's from <a href="http://anoblecallingblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Noble Calling blog</a>; she contacted some different bloggers and I thought it sounded fun :)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I usually spend 4-5 days of my week in a skirt anyway, so it wasn't much of a change for me :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI4qxOkkrazILHQipcRzRPUvymlRdBctSco2cvk4WLcmGAN_ATbbIEtHkZWhOtn-PpnvDYmGq3CV7aA5Qr7FRmknS71PKZTpw6xgd9GRkWgsvlA4lwtxgFLiaWrEi2AU6E7U8msyEB63Y/s1600/PICT0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI4qxOkkrazILHQipcRzRPUvymlRdBctSco2cvk4WLcmGAN_ATbbIEtHkZWhOtn-PpnvDYmGq3CV7aA5Qr7FRmknS71PKZTpw6xgd9GRkWgsvlA4lwtxgFLiaWrEi2AU6E7U8msyEB63Y/s1600/PICT0911.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u> 1<sup>st</sup> Day of Challenge:</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Navy blue Northern Reflections T-shirt with fall and
country-type decals I acquired from Salvation Army</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My lavender cami underneath (I like to wear camis under most
shirts for comfort and a layered look) was from a garage sale.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Long Khaki Skirt ( Old Navy brand ) I received this from a sweet
Titus 2 mamma at my church</span></div>
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(The shoes I wore throughout the week are brown
Sketchers Go-Walks that my parent’s bought me for my 21<sup>st</sup> birthday :D)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>2<sup>nd</sup> Day of
Challenge:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Navy blue and white
Christopher & Banks shirt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(I’ve had that shirt for a
long time)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">White Stag jean skirt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">(Again from the same Titus 2 Momma at church :D</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViFpfgy2em8xTVSIbJKPMvkA9QfcD1xXPrGIsdf5M74KM1kcqOf3XdkOBL-rzgCPBpHi0oemSyslD5V4giVNJfHSu7O0eXAw9SvmLxv_cDCyCOuRCevpNNgrhfM4Vr0mAaCabCgWyWgTm/s1600/PICT0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhViFpfgy2em8xTVSIbJKPMvkA9QfcD1xXPrGIsdf5M74KM1kcqOf3XdkOBL-rzgCPBpHi0oemSyslD5V4giVNJfHSu7O0eXAw9SvmLxv_cDCyCOuRCevpNNgrhfM4Vr0mAaCabCgWyWgTm/s1600/PICT0917.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wEo_HPeDqv1v7eB5uGcqGiLhpXph-9MnRRXIEg1iN83aW0ld4TqBuP8HHG9S7IZVSHcTB6c0UpuUWH8T1MnJkPqXotiuwOi7l6Bw1JIED2_fpC0y-4jhWxO4ifdCe3YsfK5EqLV_KOUp/s1600/PICT0918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wEo_HPeDqv1v7eB5uGcqGiLhpXph-9MnRRXIEg1iN83aW0ld4TqBuP8HHG9S7IZVSHcTB6c0UpuUWH8T1MnJkPqXotiuwOi7l6Bw1JIED2_fpC0y-4jhWxO4ifdCe3YsfK5EqLV_KOUp/s1600/PICT0918.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<u style="color: #674ea7;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">3<sup>rd</sup> Day of
Challenge:</span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I had to work all day so I
wore something cute but comfy that wasn't a big deal if I got a bit dusty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">PURPLE! Cedar Point
T-shirt <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(Bought there last summer!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lavender cami <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(<i>So </i>brand name, I believe
I received it for Christmas)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jean skirt </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKroIXzQEUaBc1yUFHHpaJCWzfEuDG4uAt5ARwlYEWI6mAAZC-UF6sQUFicPaON2y9zJNhrpRD7GeHskxvWkfVEA7oYroXGboBy7ECHs3ULhSajQSDy_wmXrtyDX9yRZbE5mm5gLM1Ax4W/s1600/PICT0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKroIXzQEUaBc1yUFHHpaJCWzfEuDG4uAt5ARwlYEWI6mAAZC-UF6sQUFicPaON2y9zJNhrpRD7GeHskxvWkfVEA7oYroXGboBy7ECHs3ULhSajQSDy_wmXrtyDX9yRZbE5mm5gLM1Ax4W/s1600/PICT0925.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>4<sup>th</sup> day of
challenge: </u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I was at work all day and I <i>forgot</i>
to take a picture :(</span><span style="font-size: small;"> So I shall describe it the best I can. I wore a
teal T-shirt with a logo of the continents with the caption “Preach the Word,
Reach the World”, given to me by my friend, and Southern Gospel singer,
<a href="http://allenministries.com/" target="_blank">Gabrielle Allen</a> (they sell these </span>T shirts<span style="font-size: small;"> at their concerts to raise money for
the<a href="http://allenministries.com/uganda/" target="_blank"> Compassion International </a>children they sponsor!!) and a dark purple cami.
Also, I wore a purple Aeropostale hoodie overtop, and I wore a jean skirt again.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>5<sup>th</sup> day of
Challenge:</b></u><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another day at work<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yellow smiley face T-shirt
(Family Christian Bookstore-It says "smile, Jesus loves you" and <b><u>John 3:16</u></b>) over black cami (Salvation army) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jean Skirt</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojbYBfY2KyA_lcYhuOBfThTNYz42jhIJkfZTzKOxI5ICmV-D7FDQR6iIgHYqBiFWfMqbmfuyZoA2Wjc1InqZ1GCD4syPUtRUY0von4XR9i4316VztZxwV_b0fQsagrrp-2W_0ssbclzeb/s1600/PICT0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojbYBfY2KyA_lcYhuOBfThTNYz42jhIJkfZTzKOxI5ICmV-D7FDQR6iIgHYqBiFWfMqbmfuyZoA2Wjc1InqZ1GCD4syPUtRUY0von4XR9i4316VztZxwV_b0fQsagrrp-2W_0ssbclzeb/s1600/PICT0966.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>6<sup>th</sup> Day of
Challenge:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Again, was unable to take photo, so I took a
snapshot of the blouse and skirt yesterday. (the pictures don’t really do it
justice, though :( </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">) The blouse is a deep purple with magenta
strips, and the skirt (white stag brand, again from my Titus 2 mamma</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">) is actually an olive green color. (These two pics <i>really</i> do the outfit an injustice :( lol) </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn8RpJoT4gRWrY183HPddUc02A2ReUCFkXT51LunJOSHsVVsP_IaT07aTTtu_5EdzMFQT-M2AKc2XlVstaBcXZwI5odAz40Zx9HfCsTqsozP45McRWXSQfDQaVudajg_w-__W1ofLVbL9/s1600/PICT0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEn8RpJoT4gRWrY183HPddUc02A2ReUCFkXT51LunJOSHsVVsP_IaT07aTTtu_5EdzMFQT-M2AKc2XlVstaBcXZwI5odAz40Zx9HfCsTqsozP45McRWXSQfDQaVudajg_w-__W1ofLVbL9/s1600/PICT0844.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8PjY-GDYLbhOX2-UPJmn-WECCPaFWu5wYYTjNKnQKXl1EN8_vYuzHI47_llShFA6bM4t8OySet8JsZk60_jXHulBegw1fIvIYZpqdPdKGP_H9fGLtFv51fx69GWUfDReB4eJTUh6PMD0/s1600/PICT0843+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8PjY-GDYLbhOX2-UPJmn-WECCPaFWu5wYYTjNKnQKXl1EN8_vYuzHI47_llShFA6bM4t8OySet8JsZk60_jXHulBegw1fIvIYZpqdPdKGP_H9fGLtFv51fx69GWUfDReB4eJTUh6PMD0/s1600/PICT0843+(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><b>Day 7 of the Challenge </b></u>was
<u><b>Sunday, Mother’s Day</b></u>, so I’m a bit more dressed up<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lavender shirt (Old Navy
brand, purchased at Salvation Army)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lavender/ purple floral
skirt (<b><i>again</i></b> from my Titus 2 mom!!!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I wore white sandals with
small wedge heels and a round decal on top to church, but I had chucked them by
the time I took pictures :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Make-up worn: Cowgirl dirt </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(See those lovely flowers I'm standing by? My thoughtful brother bought those for our mom for Mother's Day!) </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-SDs5LRI1CKFuFKI9RJEYRItpfcOqPzFx53RD1OSILhglTjTiJe0aNhS1WniMgPoWDezw2MCU9qBBdh_8xR1xzmLocM4a2WUTnWcrMWxejjlzMLdtF183JTefySPjVTmwjehcQgxwvCM/s1600/PICT0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-SDs5LRI1CKFuFKI9RJEYRItpfcOqPzFx53RD1OSILhglTjTiJe0aNhS1WniMgPoWDezw2MCU9qBBdh_8xR1xzmLocM4a2WUTnWcrMWxejjlzMLdtF183JTefySPjVTmwjehcQgxwvCM/s1600/PICT0999.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OMAIRYCzfH2anqOTb3z9nFbBdI4GPMRqcJcDnn6Onx1dHRpxWw5pspvvtVuPrkVU1mMiAXVGJgqGBo0kgXGqtAJxDMjdM9rqSjSImMzXu211hZUMUjSQ9qH5_unVPpRmsmq6cWhFpnJF/s1600/PICT0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7OMAIRYCzfH2anqOTb3z9nFbBdI4GPMRqcJcDnn6Onx1dHRpxWw5pspvvtVuPrkVU1mMiAXVGJgqGBo0kgXGqtAJxDMjdM9rqSjSImMzXu211hZUMUjSQ9qH5_unVPpRmsmq6cWhFpnJF/s1600/PICT0996.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6CUGbt4DX_DIjZcoONxNTfRmxkUrm2Jgb8j8L06RFD-ZxCCcb4dRECfNM7WgycaL63qlmOJFctLZa2HXpRigXeIuc1ErvyLzkrLwvfbCpmCMf-inoLPlYxFdNGHAGc2KghlaRFoaBiwU/s1600/PICT1000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6CUGbt4DX_DIjZcoONxNTfRmxkUrm2Jgb8j8L06RFD-ZxCCcb4dRECfNM7WgycaL63qlmOJFctLZa2HXpRigXeIuc1ErvyLzkrLwvfbCpmCMf-inoLPlYxFdNGHAGc2KghlaRFoaBiwU/s1600/PICT1000.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;">This was definitely fun-- probably easier for me than most. </span><i style="color: #674ea7;">However</i><span style="color: #674ea7;">, my sister did save my hide Sunday by reminding me to spend the </span><i style="color: #674ea7;">entire evening</i><span style="color: #674ea7;"> in my skirt! lol After church, I was ready to be outta my skirt and into my lounge pants for the rest of the night; but thanks to her reminder, after my nap (yes, I take naps on Sundays, thank you very much! LOL) instead of donning fuzzy Superman PJ pants for the rest of the night, I slipped into a jean skirt for the rest of the evening. :) </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are the links to the other girls who participated in this challenge! Take a minute to check them out! :) </span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Elyse at <a href="http://elyselauryn.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Elyse Lauryn</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Caroline at <a href="http://lifeascaroline.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Life as Caroline</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Abigail at <a href="http://jubilantjoys.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Jubilant Joys</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Rebekah at <a href="http://livelylaughter.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Lively Laughter</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Sarah at <b><i><a href="http://sarah-plainandaverage.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Sarah Plain and Average</a></i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Libby at <a href="http://anoblecallingblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>A Noble Calling</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Libby and Emmy at <a href="http://thedutchumbrella.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>The Dutch Umbrella</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Julia at <a href="http://sweetasjamphotography.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Sweet as JAM Photography</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Cameron at <a href="http://followerofchristsblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><b><i>Follower of Christ’s Blog</i></b></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Maiya at <b style="color: #1155cc;"><i><a href="http://blessingsblissandbedlam.wordpress.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Blessings, Bliss, and Bedlam</a></i></b></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Lately, I've been longing to do blog-post. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To write</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To encourage </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But often, when the desire hits, </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have nothing to write
abou</span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">t; or I have <i>plenty</i> to write about, </span><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">but I feel unworthy because I've just gotten over a ‘blew it’ moment </span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(yelling at a sibling, slinging a sarcastic
remark at a parent, forgetting a chore, whining or complaining, simply) whether
great or small. Something will impassion, inspire me to write, but satan smites
my heart with, “oh <i>you</i> can’t write about thus-and-so… I mean, look what <i>you</i>
just did! You’re such a horrible person, such a wicked sinner! How <i>dare</i>
you write a blog post or a letter encouraging others to do right or keep their
chin up when <i>you</i> cant even do it!?!?!?!?!”</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELapVAN-FhSD42sczsYl0VhKeXE39yPXEzyyiBhPndS7WLvBDwsqM0GmNbZrqT7xw4KbrfoGelTUAO9Keyf7wlY4yJVE3bZT3TVmkDymz9wl4fy1T11PBk-gf-SbANH_15Dz1PekvDwsF/s1600/woman-reading-bible.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELapVAN-FhSD42sczsYl0VhKeXE39yPXEzyyiBhPndS7WLvBDwsqM0GmNbZrqT7xw4KbrfoGelTUAO9Keyf7wlY4yJVE3bZT3TVmkDymz9wl4fy1T11PBk-gf-SbANH_15Dz1PekvDwsF/s1600/woman-reading-bible.jpeg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, recently I’ll occasionally become discouraged by the
fact that whereas four years ago, I was able to offer advice and encouragement
to my friends, family, and other young ladies, I <i>now</i> am without Biblical
insight to offer them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And that is what they need</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>BIBLE</i> INSIGHT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>BIBLE</i> ENCOURAGEMENT</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Not my opinions. (Although, yes—I can <i>certainly</i> get
up on my soap box from time to time and dish them out!) Because my word on its
own, no matter how heart-felt and presumable Scripturally drawn it may be, is
just that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It could be wrong. (Often is!!!) and I've recently been
impressed with the importance of reading the finely printed ingredients on a
package of “Biblical health-food” to check for sneaky, unwholesome ingredients
before devouring the entire thing. And then finding out later what sounded
Biblical at the time was, even if just <i>slightly</i>, off kilter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But I've had no Godly advice or encouragement, Blog-posts or
emails, letters or Sunday school lessons or special musics to offer lately…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because my well. Is. <i>Dry</i>. :(</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I
cannot give what I do not have to offer. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXy8LfAw0Ob7LqvFkj7Ir1n829Ltobg-VWI60yrwnGpEnP2nCQeMNqVKH8uX_Bc0yYZw7ISrqm11H7-BwTktDgklGGdipsYJjT1kaTnJnKMifbp0sNugOzSXnGo42NmVux03k5Npf4oB6/s1600/emptyhands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXy8LfAw0Ob7LqvFkj7Ir1n829Ltobg-VWI60yrwnGpEnP2nCQeMNqVKH8uX_Bc0yYZw7ISrqm11H7-BwTktDgklGGdipsYJjT1kaTnJnKMifbp0sNugOzSXnGo42NmVux03k5Npf4oB6/s1600/emptyhands.jpg" height="186" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I can only <i>get</i> what I want to give by spending
time with Jesus. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Something, which, through various circumstances, lack of
determination on my part, and what honestly may be just blatant
spiritual-warfare, has become <i>very. hard. </i>for me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And somehow, I got it into my warped head that <i><u>WANTING</u></i>
to blog, to post, to (maybe even write and encourage?) was impossible or wrong.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">… ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">… ... ...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WHY?????</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I’M. NOT. SURE.</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But as I began to finally, by God’s grace, take a step in
the right direction the other night</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It <b><i>hit </i></b>me! there’s really nothing wrong with
having the DESIRE to (blog) post! There’s nothing wrong with WANTING to write! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeNeZ8Regeb4HwfZuqT5zZHYiaTq0OXPNXWF9LKFkm6ngSa0gEsuehB-IRsA_HGkxKTHid6uPjvR1PmX3XR0hel-xGrOGIm8ZMaa2PZKCmrGyVUOgebI-TXgN6bMX1L1UFeseN0Ip8Dxh/s1600/purple-light-bulb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeNeZ8Regeb4HwfZuqT5zZHYiaTq0OXPNXWF9LKFkm6ngSa0gEsuehB-IRsA_HGkxKTHid6uPjvR1PmX3XR0hel-xGrOGIm8ZMaa2PZKCmrGyVUOgebI-TXgN6bMX1L1UFeseN0Ip8Dxh/s1600/purple-light-bulb1.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As <b><i>this</i></b> thought bonked me between the eyes,
another sort of thought meekly stepped in with it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">“Lord, fill me so that I may fill others.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been hurting. <b><i><u>Hurting</u></i></b>. Dealing
with the bitterness that “why God?” trials can bring. And with it, (only by the
AMAZING GRACE of God), I've been given an <i>entirely</i> new perspective for
others—on a number of levels. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And with that new perspective comes a “you’re hurting too!?
O my goodness, you are SO not alone! There is some bigger purpose behind all of
this, but for now just let me <i>hug</i> you and assure you that you’re not
alone!” type of encouragement that I want to impart…</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>…and feel totally unworthy to do so. </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">as though I’m not good enough. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How could God possibly use a young woman like me who doesn't “have it all together” for Him? </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2Fz5PmYUWkPdgqnDILlMkRvb2HqJ4N2Dy6PqiTbG8kl4KS0eKxasjx80FkxV0TvBaDUpdsGYnNV14QH28958f8b6TlPJTPD7-RmAs5Fwr0W2czPoxVzGY6a_Wz43tOAQAzTwT7ZyJlZK/s1600/o-COMFORTING-A-FRIEND-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2Fz5PmYUWkPdgqnDILlMkRvb2HqJ4N2Dy6PqiTbG8kl4KS0eKxasjx80FkxV0TvBaDUpdsGYnNV14QH28958f8b6TlPJTPD7-RmAs5Fwr0W2czPoxVzGY6a_Wz43tOAQAzTwT7ZyJlZK/s1600/o-COMFORTING-A-FRIEND-facebook.jpg" height="160" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who isn't in her Bible like she knows she needs to be? Who
often simply has no motivation for anything! Who so often wants, not
necessarily to die, but to <b><i>just. give. up.</i></b> who is so SICK of this
darkness and confusion and READY for it to be OVER! How could God use that?!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;">WHY WOULD HE WANT TO!?</u><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;"> :( :( :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have told those closest to me, who <i>know</i> my current
inner struggles and unfounded fears, how I hate feeling “<i>forced</i>” to
serve, “<i>forced</i>” to minister, because while those asking me to serve and
minister have no idea of the turmoil inside, I feel as though I have <i>nothing</i>
<i>to give!!</i> :( I’m “running on empty”—I’m <b><i>empty</i></b>, I tell them! I’m <b><i>dry!</i></b>
I have nothing of God to offer because lately… I “have nothing of God” myself :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And yes. I know there are problems with my attitude and
often lack of effort. The darkness is <b><i><u>real and unrelenting</u></i></b>,
but that doesn’t excuse my <i>giving up</i>. I’m not glossing over that. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIEfNUOVl4oxbPCCfJSLoH1dSttMWP8UIA0bqU2MH7EZK6tqhlDoB2JTG8tCRAy9cwe-otTVErDI1W2RQfSYEug_vTKdxnSmKzMgYTKY6d764ssGvbbcjetQZcmqGM0aTUwv5ZCS4G7cQ/s1600/Woman-Reading-Bible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIEfNUOVl4oxbPCCfJSLoH1dSttMWP8UIA0bqU2MH7EZK6tqhlDoB2JTG8tCRAy9cwe-otTVErDI1W2RQfSYEug_vTKdxnSmKzMgYTKY6d764ssGvbbcjetQZcmqGM0aTUwv5ZCS4G7cQ/s1600/Woman-Reading-Bible.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-size: large;">But I
<b><i>do</i></b> want to showcase something <i>bigger</i> than that.</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because when I am in those places. When I feel worthless.
When I feel inadequate, ‘not good enough’, as though I don’t currently measure
up. When I am there, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">God
does something <b>unmerited amazing</b>.</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From an empty cruse, He anoints with oil.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From a parched well, He gives water; quenches someone’s
thirst. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From a tank running on fumes, He squeaks out an “extra
mile”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I’m blown away and humbled that He could—and would <i>want
to</i>—use someone as unworthy as me!!!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But it kind of hit me. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;">What </span><b style="color: #674ea7;"><i><u>is</u></i></b><span style="color: #674ea7;"> so wrong with </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;">asking to be filled up so you
can then be poured out?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What is so wrong with asking God to bless you so you can
bless and encourage others? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">To
FILL YOU so He can then USE YOU?!</span></span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(And no—I’m not saying that God can’t use you unless you’re
“<b><i>worthy</i></b>” because A) NO ONE IS WORTHY (<b><u>Isaiah 64:6b</u></b>)
and B) He deign to use the “unusable” (see above!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, what is wrong with all these things????</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i><u>NOTHING!!!</u></i></b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">However, while there is nothing wrong with this concept,
there <b><i>could</i></b> be…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">…if you were doing it with selfish motives; to receive all
the attention and glory for yourself.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><u>But</u></i>! If to the best of your knowledge, your
motives are pure, and if you genuinely have a desire to minister in a specific
way, but truly know your ineptitude without the amazing grace of Almighty God??
?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">By His grace and with His help— </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><b>GO. FOR.
IT</b>!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2CvWp20u4CnZlWzcujEU_MSQCxNLRRoFqOXEn6g14ahWNnH45jMv7w1LPrNglHkE9tnw_gRP0nZzv8knB7KwM599UgYuEaBCfQiVsPmm6OV5FwRug-aBvWKo00C39lJpRGxImhPUL8L8/s1600/woman_worship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2CvWp20u4CnZlWzcujEU_MSQCxNLRRoFqOXEn6g14ahWNnH45jMv7w1LPrNglHkE9tnw_gRP0nZzv8knB7KwM599UgYuEaBCfQiVsPmm6OV5FwRug-aBvWKo00C39lJpRGxImhPUL8L8/s1600/woman_worship.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I don’t say “ineptitude” to belittle, demean, or offend.
I say it because the more and more aware of my sinful, fleshly state I become
(“for without Me {Jesus} ye can do <b><i>nothing</i></b>” <b><u>John 15:5b</u></b>);
the more aware I become that my attempts at “goodness” (think <i>filthy rags</i>);
at being “good enough” are worth <i>nothing</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">A big, fat <b><i>nothing</i></b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">I am
worthless apart from Christ’s worthiness <i>in me</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The more I realize how BAD</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WORTHLESS</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">CONFUSED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And HOPELESS </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I really (on my own)????</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;">The
more I realize <b>JUST. HOW. GOOD—</b>how <i>amazing</i>—<b>my God is!!!!!</b></span></span><b style="color: #674ea7;">
</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>What about you, sister?</b></span><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> What has God been showing you, <i>even
through darkness</i>? How has He been revealing or reminding you that, even when it doesn't seem so, He.Is.Good? Have you ever asked God to fill you up with the specific
desire to be poured out? </span></div>
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HisPrincessWarriorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01324438439144683167noreply@blogger.com4