Sunday Words of Encouragement September 20, 2020

Although my hubby’s first church online was interrupted by the internet, our service had no interruptions today. Our Pastor wasn’t feeling well so we had a guest preacher, a man previously from our congregation who has worked for years with the local district office.

The question MJ asked this morning was: What Spirit do you have?
There are many types of spirits: beautiful, kind, generous, faithful; also rebellious, mean, selfish, haughty, and religious spirits. In the Bible we learn there is “another spirit” (KJV) or a “different spirit” (NIV). Numbers 14:24.

MJ shared from Numbers 13:17-20, 25-33. Moses assigned a team of men to investigate the land of Canaan. They returned after forty days and reported back that the land was rich ‘flowing with milk and honey’ and filled with fruit (giant grapes). Caleb said ‘Let us go possess it’ but others said ‘No, we can’t attack them. The men are too strong; the land devours and we are but grasshoppers in our own eyes.’

Ten of the men gave a bad report but Caleb tried to argue that God promised to provide the land as gift. Most of the people believed the negative report instead of holding firm to God's promise. The congregation wanted to turn back, rejecting God's promise. They even wanted to stone Joshua and Caleb. God was angry and said, ‘Fine, I'll just wipe them out if they don’t want to follow my way.’ But Moses argued with God and made Him change his mind. Numbers 14:1-25.

We are in days when we have to decide which report we are going to believe and who we will follow. What Spirit will we have?

God gave the Israelites another chance. But those with the whining, contemptuous spirit were displeasing to God and he decreed that they would not enter the land of promise. Numbers 14:23-24. God noted that Caleb (and Joshua) had “a different Spirit”; one that is wholly following God.

All 12 men went on the same assignment, but they responded differently. Ten magnified their inadequacy and the strength of the enemy. Those men left God out of the equation. Two saw God's promise and trusted Him. They were full of their relationship with God.

Today is a time when many show no shame. People are flaunting their wrong spirit. There are those who follow God fully or those who follow partially. What Spirit will you have? We are in a day of decision. You get to choose your Spirit.

The common spirit is a spirit of fear. They follow God when it is easy, convenient, popular, or when it suits them.
Or the ‘different Spirit’ is one who follows God even when it is difficult, when it is not so popular.

Abraham trusted by faith. Hebrews 11:8; God directed Abraham to move from a land full of idols to a land of promise. Abraham agreed to follow to an unknown land. Genesis 12:1-4. God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Genesis 12:22. Abraham exhibited a different Spirit willing to trust God.

When you follow God fully, He will take to unknown places! The Church is being led to unknown places. Don't miss what God has for us by refusing to follow Him. We lose control in the unknown. By faith we follow. We may be tested. We don't know what God is doing but do we trust Him and follow Him fully?

When you follow God, He will lead you with uncomfortable practices. God might ask you to sacrifice anything that takes precedence over Him. He may ask you to lay what you have on the altar. To be All in. Do we do what God wants us to do? Do we embrace what He wants?

When you follow God, He will give you uncommon provisions. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Literally Jehovah Jireh is interpreted to mean ‘God will see’ or ‘God shall be seen’. God provides even when it is unexpected. He feeds thousands with a few fish and a few loaves. He makes miracles; He makes a way.

In these days, the Church can reflect a place of peace in a world of chaos.
What Spirit do you have? What Spirit do you want?

I love how I start with a song or thought in mind but God leads me to others. I have to let Him tell me which He wants to add to the message. Today it is this song: The God Who Moves the Mountains.

Verses for Today:

Numbers 14:23-24 NIV
23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. 24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.

God, help me to keep this message in mind each day. Help me to put you first. Help me to read Your Word to start my day rather than checking my stock positions or place in my books.
And please, my Sovereign Lord, open eyes and hearts and bring peace to our land.

Sharing Beyond Books #404 Comment Giveaway September 19, 2020

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB
Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
How has Covid impacted our reading? Four are reading less, four are reading more; three saw no change; two read more at first but then got back to normal; one read more at first and later less; and one is reading the same amount but more re-reading.

The Winner from SBB #403 comments is #8 MARY P who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post. -- [11/16/19 I plan to add some review books this week and maybe some new Christmas and Love titles as soon as I locate the box I put them in. 10/5/19 I have pulled some new books and will be adding them to the list in the next week or so.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #404

(One Question.)

Natalija asks: Do you unhaul books? What do you do with your unhauled books??

I had to look up what it means to "unhaul" books. I gather it means to get rid of your 'excess' books. If that is right, I unhaul regularly by giving books away on the Friday Pick and this giveaway. (Which reminds me I need to get more books up for SBB). I also send a box or two to the library every now and then. I think they recently put up a Little Free Library in town and I need to drop off some books there too!

Image found at Indie Book Maven

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month, I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a 1/2 book choice or $2.50 towards GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify them.
September Comments were supplied by Miki and Natalija so they get $2.50 credit each.

Your turn to share. Natalija asks: Do you unhaul books? What do you do with your unhauled books??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday, October 3, 2020, at 5 PM central.

Audio Book Review: Dead Rising (The Templar Book 1) by Debra Dunbar

This is a knight story with vampires, necromancy and a twist.

Dead Rising
The Templar, Volume 1
By: Debra Dunbar
Narrated by: Elizabeth Phillips

Format: Digital Audiobook
Run Time: 8h 50min Release
Date: August 22, 2016
Publisher: Debra Dunbar
Genre: Necromancy, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Solaria Ainsworth was born a Templar, destined to take up the mantle of responsibility and duty as her family's Order had done for hundreds of years. Except she refuses to take her Oath of Knighthood.
Barely making ends meet in Baltimore, Aria finds it difficult to obtain gainful employment with no work experience and skills in jousting and swordsmanship. Just before she's served an eviction notice, the Mistress of the local vampire family offers her a job - to research a magical symbol. It's an easy task for a woman who has spent every moment of her life either in armor, or with her nose in ancient manuscripts. The money's good, and the seven day deadlines should be no problem. But when her research reveals a sordid connection between the vampires and a mass murder, Aria needs to decide who is in the right and worthy of her protection. Modern Templars believe only God should judge, but Aria must do exactly that, or watch the Baltimore streets run red with blood.
©2016 Debra Dunbar (P)2016 Debra Dunbar

Review:
Solaria, known as Aria, is a daughter of the Templars who are trained to protect others. But Aria has resisted her parent’s expectations to take the Oath of Knighthood and begin her duties. Her jousting and swordsmanship skills don’t help in finding work so Aria struggles to make ends meet as a waitress. She is surprised but pleased when the Mistress of the local vampire family offers her a specialized job researching a magical symbol. Aria doesn’t realize that when she accepts the assignment it comes with an ‘escort’, handsome vampire Dario, and the threat of death if she fails.

The assignment turns out to be not so simple, especially when the research reveals a connection between a vengeful necromancer and the vampires over a mass murder many years before. Templars are taught that only God should judge, and the Templars protect those who need protection. But Aria has to decide who needs the protection as dead spirits brutally attack the vampires.

Aria is a 26 year old woman still trying to find her place in life. I wasn’t particularly pulled in by her character who often acted like a self-absorbed teen. I liked Dario’s loyalty to his family and enjoyed his bantering friendship with Aria which is a cautious relationship as there is a taboo between the vampires and Templars. In addition to Aria finding herself, the plot involves an interesting mystery, danger and action. I may not be rushing out to get the full series (although I’d snag them on sale), but I enjoyed the overall story. I recommend this to fans of urban fantasy, vampires, knights and mysteries.

Audio Notes: Elizabeth Phillips does a good job with the narration. She brings distinct voices and good energy. I enjoyed the audio presentation of the story.

Source: 7/28/2019 Chirp Deal $.99. (Hard to resist an audiobook for $.99.) This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goal.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway September 18, 2020

Happy Friday! 

I will be looking to gather another box of books  - maybe this week. :-)

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK.

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.

INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the September 11, 2020 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was no title blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from September 11, 2020 Pick:
CAROL L gets Seductive Secrets
and
Life's Simple Pleasures gets a GC.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Are you ready for Fall?
Image found at PopSugar Family

New Book Group #90 June 19, 2020
Quite a few mysteries in this box. 

SINGLES:
Siren's Song by Trish Albright (personally autographed)
Alias by Smy J. Fetzer
Angel Face by Suzanne Forster
Stalking the Puzzle Landy by Parnell Hall
Hot Sex by Janet Evanovich (Audio cassettes)
The Warrior by Frances Richey (poetry - hardcover)


New Book Group #89 March 6, 2020

Singles:
My Surrender by Connie Brockway
How to Tame a Modern Rogue by Diana Holoquist
Phoenix by A.J. Scudiere
New Book Group #88 November 8, 2019

PAIRS:
Stella Cameron: Body of Evidence and Fascination
Singles:
A Lady Never Tells by Candace Camp
Dawn of Redemption by Starla Childs


New Book Group #87 August 23, 2019

SINGLES:
Captain's Paradise by Kay Hooper
Open Season by Linda Howard AUDIO CASSETTES


New Book Group #86 June 7, 2019
Another group of variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze
Show No Fear by Marliss Melton
A Question of God's Balance (Vol 1) by Joseph Thek
King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls


New Book Group #85 March 22, 2019
A variety from my shelves.

SINGLES:
Summer Skies by Judith Christenberry
Windfall (two stories) by JoAnn Ross
Daddy's Little Cowgirl (two stories) by Judith Bowen and Kimberly Raye
The Forever Year, Cold Pursuit, Lover's Lane and Temporary Sanity (Reader's Condensed)
ToxiCity by Libby Fischer Hillmann

New Book Group #84 December 15, 2018
Here are some Christmas titles to pick from.

SINGLES:
A Family for Thanksgiving
On this Holy Night
Christmas Haven
King Harold's Snow Job


New Book Group #83 November 30, 2018

(Starting bottom left and continuing up then down)
SINGLE
Seductive Secrets by Lynne Connolly
Seven Up by Janet Evanovich - Audio Cassettes
A Good Walk Spoiled by John Feinstein Audio Cassettes
Three Reader's Digest Condensed Books - each hardback:

Cold Harbour and The Courtship of Peggy McCoy
The Things We Do for Love, Three Weeks With My Brother, The Murder Artist and Night Train to Lisbon
Follow the Stars Home, Hunting Badger, The Quiet Game and Second Wind

New Book Group #82 November 9, 2018

Stella Cameron: Key West
SINGLES:
Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews
Killing Time by Linda Howard
The Wedding Night by Barbara Dawson Smith

New Book Group #81 August 17, 2018

SINGLES
Best Laid Plans by Allison Brennan
Darkness Tell Us by Richard Laymon
Cooking Most Deadly by Joanne Pence


New Book Group #80 August 17, 2018

Note: The Final Judgment and
The Book of Fate are Audio Cassettes
SINGLES:
Summer’s Moon by Lacey Baker
The Final Judgment by Richard North PattersonAudio Cassettes
Firebird by Janice Graham
No Getting Over a Cowboy by Delores Fossen
The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #79 July 13, 2018
I found this box of books buried under some other boxes.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lenox by Maggie O’Farrell
P.S. by Helen Schulman
Her Sexiest Surprise by Dawn Atkins (personally autographed)
Dakota Child by Linda Ford
Calling the Shots by Ellen Hartman
Promises, Promises by Amber Miller
This Time for Keeps by Jenna Mills
A Daughter’s Legacy by Virginia Smith
Another Man’s Baby by Kay Stockham


New Book Group #78 April 27, 2018

SINGLES
Blackberry Bush
Breaking Point
A Tangled Affair
Too Wicked to Love
Roses are Red Audio Cassettes


New Book Group #77 February 16, 2018- All gone

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017
13 books remain of the original 37:

I finally Have them Listed!
Boots & Booties by Kristine Rolofson
Saucer the Conquest by Stephen Coonts
The Scorpion Seducer by Bonnie Vanak
Hell On Earth by David L. Porter
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey
The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton
Crisscross by Harmon Henkin
Maelstrom by Anne McCaffrey
Inhuman Condition by Clive Barker
101 Commonsense Rules for the Office by John R. Brinkerhoff


This shelf of 35 books are what is left from Groups #1 (11/27/09) through Group #75 September 29, 2017

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 14 titles.)
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing
Named of the Dragon
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen

(Title list reads left at bottom to right at top - 21 titles.)
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown
(*Three One more very old books from my Gothics box.)
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell
*Four One books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I found.
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost NINE years I have posted 88 groups of 16 plus an additional 21 totaling 1,429 books to find new homes! (as of November 8, 2019).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,328+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A year or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers 11/2/17 I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors, your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to faraway places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Audible Book Review: Open Season by C. J. Box

I enjoyed the mystery and the endangered species aspects of this story.
Open Season
By: C. J. Box
Narrator: David Chandler

Series: Joe Pickett, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
Release date: 02-14-11
Genre: Ecology, Mystery, Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
Joe Pickett is the new game warden in Twelve Sleep, Wyoming, a town where nearly everyone hunts and the game warden—especially one like Joe who won't take bribes or look the other way—is far from popular. When he finds a local hunting outfitter dead, splayed out on the woodpile behind his state-owned home, he takes it personally. There had to be a reason that the outfitter, with whom he's had run-ins before, chose his backyard, his woodpile to die in. Even after the "outfitter murders," as they have been dubbed by the local press after the discovery of the two more bodies, are solved, Joe continues to investigate, uneasy with the easy explanation offered by the local police.
As Joe digs deeper into the murders, he soon discovers that the outfitter brought more than death to his backdoor: he brought Joe an endangered species, thought to be extinct, which is now living in his woodpile. But if word of the existence of this endangered species gets out, it will destroy any chance of InterWest, a multi-national natural gas company, building an oil pipeline that would bring the company billions of dollars across Wyoming, through the mountains and forests of Twelve Sleep. The closer Joe comes to the truth behind the outfitter murders, the endangered species and InterWest, the closer he comes to losing everything he holds dear.
©2001 C.J. Box (P)2010 Recorded Books, LLC

Review:
Joe Pickett decided as a young boy that he wanted to be a game warden. It isn’t a glamorous or well paying job, but he gets to be outdoors, protecting the ecosystem. He is a new game warden struggling to make ends meet with his pregnant wife and two young daughters. Joe’s trying to do his job the right way without corruption or bribes.

Joe is surprised when his seven-year-old daughter tells him there is a man behind the woodpile. When Joe investigates, he discovers a dead local outfitter. A neighboring game warden, a local deputy and Joe go into the mountain to find the camp of the dead man’s friends. They discover more dead hunters and a survivor gets shot at the site. The local sheriff’s office is quick to declare the severely wounded survivor as the murderer and to close the case. Joe suspects there is a reason this hunter, with whom he had a prior run-in, chose his home to run to. He continues to push into the background, unknowingly stirring up trouble.

Joe doesn’t realize initially that the outfitter left something else in the woodpile as his daughter discovers the creatures and keeps them as secret pets. But someone else knows and is willing to lie, threaten and even kill to keep the secret. As Joe begins to suspect there is an endangered, maybe even thought extinct, species involved in the murders. Can Joe gather the facts he needs to show the truth before his career is ruined and his family suffers physical harm?

Joe is portrayed as a ‘regular Joe’ who sometimes feels inadequate. He plods along determined to uncover the truth. The story slowly, but steadily builds the suspense and danger to Joe and his family to the point where I was catching my breath. I enjoyed the scenes with Joe’s daughters and the critters. I appreciated the facts regarding the job of a game warden and the regulation details regarding endangered and extinct species. The author also explains the negative impact that the community will experience once an extinct species is disclosed. The dilemma between nature and man is an interesting element of the story. Meanwhile, the villains are disgusting and the corruption disturbing. There is foul language which is too bad. The writing is clearly written from a male viewpoint and it flows easily. I enjoyed the mystery and recommend this to crime suspense fans.

Source: August 23, 2017, Audible Daily Deal $2.95. This qualifies for 2020TBR and 2020Audiobook goals.