Sunday Words of Encouragement April 1, 2012

This is Palm Sunday of Holy Week for those of us who follow the Lord Christ Jesus. Our Pastor preached on how Jesus must have felt as he entered the City that day. He wept with the thought… ‘if you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace…’ Luke 19:41-42.

Jesus knew His own destiny even as a child and before.  He came to earth choosing to be an ambassador and knowing He would die.  Although he wept for the city, we can imagine that he was at peace as He had already accepted that He would be obedient ‘even to death, death on the cross.’  Philippians 2:5-8.  He may have suffered in sorrow and loss but He knew the joy and peace of the promise He and His father made to all men.  He did it all because He loves us with an unconditional love.  As an act of Grace: Jesus chose the nails. He could count it as joy for the result that His sacrifice would bring.  We too can have joy and peace because God is with us. All we need is belief that He is faithful to keep His promise.

After the message Pastor had us come forward to take a nail and put it in a cross.  Although we sorrow for the pain our sin caused, we can act with praise and thankfulness as our sins our covered by His love and sacrifice.

I was not familiar with this worship song that we sang this morning but it is wonderful.

This version has some marvelous Bible verses to share too!

We will worship the Lamb of glory
We will worship the King of kings
We will worship the Lamb of glory
We will worship the King

And with our hands lifted high
We will worship and sing
And with our hands lifted high
We come before You rejoicing
With our hands lifted high to the sky
As the world wonders why
We'll just tell them we're loving our King...Oh
We'll just tell them we're loving our King

A Verse for Today:

Hebrews 12:2 New International Version (NIV)

² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I give praise and thanks that I am who I am by His design and that I accept with complete conviction and faith that He is my Creator, my Redeemer, my Comforter and so much more.

Sharing Beyond Books #42 Comment Giveaway March 31, 2012

Welcome to SBB! How is everyone at the end of first quarter 2012? I had another busy week with my assistant out one day. I accomplished some good work but not everything I'd want to. Ah well. I keep on plugging away.  How about you?

Thank you to all those who commented last week.
I was really surprised by how few of you listen to audio books! Really only three out of 19 love audiobooks though several others do listen to certain authors; six have never tried audio and four are 'not into audio.'  I think I need to get more of you excited about audios.  

There was a nice variety of hobbies mentioned ... although I'm not sure I would count eating and sleeping as hobbies (bn100 and Abby). LOL  There are several people into needle hobbies like knitting, embroidering, cross stitching and quilting. Also there are a couple of travel buffs, photographers, writers and even exercise enthusiasts. 

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #41 comments is: #8 Natasha. There are still 8 'love' books to pick from and 2 Christmas choices. Natasha please let me know if you want a GC (if you are international) or choose a book from the remaining Love Books List for Giveaway, remaining Christmas Giveaway Books, OR pick from the ARC box and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #42 Questions

Q1. This week mamabunny13 asks: Do you have a bucket list?
What is the craziest/wildest thing on your bucket list??

A:  No - I don't really have a bucket list. I have been blessed to do many things in my life. 

Image found at MidLife Road Trip

Q2. My question this week: Were you ever lost or left behind as a child??

A:  This question came to mind because of a book I read this week (Love to Water My Soul) where the little girl is left behind by the wagon train. But I did get left behind by my siblings while riding bikes in Atlantic City.  I was the youngest at six years old and they rode off leaving me in an unfamiliar neighborhood. The good thing was that nice people helped me get to the police and they gave me ice cream before delivering me home.

Image found at Zoodles

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 will draw from the suggestions I used the month before and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions but some of you others might want to get in a question or two as we have a few people submitting most of the questions so far.  Either way - it works for me. :-)  The question list is being replenished!  Thanks for sending in questions!

This month the questions were shared by: Marjorie, Abby, heavensent1, Margaret and mammabunny13. The winner to pick a book for sharing questions is #3 heavensent1.

Your turn to share:

1. This week mamabunny13 asks: Do you have a bucket list?
What is the craziest/wildest thing on your bucket list??

2. My question is: Were you ever lost or left behind as a child??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining  Valentine and "Love" books or the remaining Christmas Giveaway Books - there are still about 10 books available to choose from. Also I have added the Review and ARC Box now.

SBB Rules: a) Must be a follower; 
b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the two/three questions 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 by Friday, April 6, 2012 at 10 PM central.

Winners of True Highland Spirit, The Snow Child and Assassins in Love

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS:

Giveaways Ended May 30

True Highland Spirit

Julie

The Snow Child

bn100

Assassins In Love

Carol L

Julie, bn100 and Carol L please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form to confirm the win and I'll send out the books and/or notify the publisher/author.  Please reply within 72 hours! 
Thank you to all who entered.

Book Review: Beyond the Misty Shore by Vicki Hinze

I like this author and enjoyed this 'haunting' story. 

Beyond the Misty Shore

by Vicki Hinze

• File Size: 665 KB
• Print Length: 266 pages
• Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (October 17, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005WECDJA

Genre: Paranormal Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description“[A}clever fusion of humor, mystery, and romance.” – Publishers Weekly“Powerful and uplifting.” – Literary TimesWhimsy. Serenity. And a Touch of Magic. The Seascape Inn.Marketing executive Maggie Wright and artist T.J. MacGregor are linked by a mysterious car accident that killed Maggie’s cousin, Carolyn, T.J.’s fiancée. When Maggie arrives on the Maine coast determined to get answers from T.J., she discovers a tortured man who is bound to the Seascape Inn by supernatural forces. Despite the tragedy that stands between them, Maggie and T.J. begin to fall in love, seeking answers and a healing spirit they may never achieve. Vicki Hinze is the award-winning author of 24 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of articles, published in as many as sixty-three countries. She is recognized by Who’s Who in the World as an author and as an educator. Visit her at http://www.vickihinze.com.

 

Review:  This is an engaging “ghost” tale.
Maggie sets out to determine if there was foul play in the death of her cousin, Caroline.  In tracking Caroline and her former fiance, T. J. MacGregor, Maggie sees a remarkable painting that draws her to Seascape Inn in Maine.  She travels to the Inn before continuing her search but unexpectedly finds MacGregor there on the island.  She doesn’t reveal her connection to Caroline as she begins to develop a sparring relationship with this handsome but rude and aloof man.  Something repeatedly causes Maggie to feel empathy for him, encouraging her to try to help him even as he pushes her away.

T.J. MacGregor has been stuck at the Seascape Inn for nine months - literally. He may as well be a prisoner because each time he tries to move beyond the boundaries he passes out. He was originally drawn to the healing powers of the Inn to recover from grief at the loss of his parents. Now he has returned after Caroline’s accidental death but he has not been able to recover the healing peace this time. He has given up on his art because he believes his work caused the death of his parents and Caroline.

Slowly Maggie discovers the stories of the prior owners of the Inn and their great love for one another. There is a second couple too who committed their hearts to each other but were never able to share their lives as one of them died young. Maggie is enchanted by the stories but doesn’t believe in love herself having seen how her parents’ marriage was full of strife before her father walked away. She doesn’t expect any marriage in her future.

T.J. has tried to push Maggie away before he can hurt her too. Yet he doesn’t want to give her up and maybe -- if they can believe -- there could be miracles to change their lives.

Ms. Hinze weaves a tale of love that reaches beyond physical boundaries to pull Maggie and T.J. together.  Can they get past their secrets, lies and fears to share such a great love?

I really liked this author’s wonderful use of senses: smell (warm pie), sound ([chair] scrapped against the floor; the fire ... snapped) and sight (a shower of sparks, visual image, eyes sparkling).  Although there is a build up of sensual haze, the couple comes together in an act of loving, not merely in lust. I enjoyed the reluctant tug between the characters and the ghostly mystery.  Although I preferred some of Ms. Hinze’s wonderful suspense novels more, this is still a satisfactory and engaging read.

Here are some passages to give a feel for the story:
He’d once experienced Seascape’s light, its healing magic–the object. Now, he experienced its dark side, its curse–its shadows.
Location 53.

She wanted him, and she feared wanting him or anyone else because she’d seen what wanting her father had done to her mother.
Location 2069.

Changed forever.  Life-altering....Was that what was supposed to happen here? Change?
Location 2701

Read for the Publisher through NetGalley.

This is set in Sea Haven Village, Maine for my Where Are You Reading Challenge.

TODAY - Scott Nicholson and ebookswag offer some Free Kindle Books and Kindle Fires!

Hi Martha,
we are giving away Kindle Fires as well as lots of Kindle books at http://ebookswag.com this week and next if you care to pass along the word. ....

I'm also making the following Kindle books free March 29-30 if you care to pass any along!
Scott

Free books Friday, March 30

Scott Nicholson Library Vol. 3

http://www.amazon.com/Scott-Nicholson-Library-Boxed-ebook/dp/B0069BFPL8

The Red Church

http://www.amazon.com/The-Red-Church-ebook/dp/B0032FPYD8

Creative Spirit

http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Spirit-ebook/dp/B006HKLNAI

The Harvest

http://www.amazon.com/The-Harvest-ebook/dp/B0041G6LRK/

As I Die Lying

http://www.amazon.com/As-I-Die-Lying-ebook/dp/B0041D88TW/

Vampire Waltz

http://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Waltz-Two-Books-ebook/dp/B00611U47G

Flowers

http://www.amazon.com/Flowers-ebook/dp/B0036TH3IO/