Sunday Words of Encouragement February 24, 2013

[Again I apologize this is posting later than I like but time spent with family came after church today. :-)]
I have two wonderful lessons from this morning - Sunday School and Sermon. I'll share the sermon today and save the other.

Our Pastor is planning to return this week, bringing his mother to live here. This morning one of our members who is a regional Secretary and a pastor shared a very good message he called When God Isn't Enough.

The Bible passages were Numbers 11:1-23 and Psalm 78:12-22.  These passages address the complaining of the people during their journey to the promised land. God arranged to bring them out of slavery, out of Egypt and lead them to a land of 'milk and honey'; a land of fat and plenty.  God was leading them and providing mana for their journey. Yet some became distracted and stopped trusting God. Those on the edges (away from the Ark that represented God's presence) began to complain. First they tried to make the mana more palatable to suit them, next they wanted meat. The problem was not God's failure to provide but it was their greedy appetites. God had provided mercy and mana but they wanted meat - their own desires.

The people had protection, provision and promise yet some allowed their greed and lusts to blind them. We need to be careful that we do not let the world of today distract us into wanting our own desires and failing to acknowledge God's daily provisions. We do not need to keep up with the changes of the world; we do not need to have things more palatable to suit us. What we need is to stand steadfast in obedience to God's plans. He has the best plan for us if we only keep trusting Him with every step in our lives. We do not serve a microwave sort of God but rather a crock-pot sort. We are all on a journey and the only way we are assured to get there safely is to Trust GOD! God is Always Enough - if we allow Him to be.

This is an older praise song that says it:
Jehovah Jireh, You are More than Enough.For Me

A Verse for Today:
Numbers 11:11 (NIV)
The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

Thank you Lord for not only supplying all I need but blessing me beyond what I deserve. I pray today Lord that, if (when) I ever start to grumble or complain, You will help me refocus to recognize ALL that you have provided and remind me that You are more than enough when I trust You.

Sharing Beyond Books #88 Comment Giveaway February 23, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB.
I hope everyone is staying reasonably warm and dry with this capricious, winter weather. I had a sort of disruptive week as my daughter wanted my help several days clearing our basement and sorting things for a yard sale. So I lost a couple of days but had nice family time. :-)
Thank you to all who shared last week.

There were several good series suggested for Movies or perhaps TV. The one with the multiple votes was the Mercy Thompson series.

Quite a few of you do not sing at all but there are singers. Three admitted singing in the shower and three sing with the TV but more like to sing along with the radio. Jolene sings to annoy her husband but the most interesting is Linda who sings with a 'gym choir' while exercising.

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The Winner from SBB #87 comments is: #11 Mary.  Mary will get a GC choice. Please let me know your choice if ready by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #88 Questions

Q1. Miki asks: Do you enjoy merchandising, goodies from your favorite books (for example a reproduction of the pendant of one character etc)? do you buy them sometimes??

A: No - I don't pick up goodies connected to books.

I liked this Harry Potter bracelet I found at Fashionably Geek.

Q2. My Question this week: Do you collect other things, like Beenie Babies, Dolls, candles or something else??

A: I have saved the Beenie Babies I collected for and with my children when they were young. But I don't really collect anything but books anymore - and of course I collect plenty of them! :-)

We sure don't have this many!
Image found at Collectors Quest

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 book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! We can always use fresh questions.
February questions were provided by: Lissette, Margaret, Abby and Miki. The winner of a book choice or GC is #3 - Abby.

Your turn to share:

1.Miki asks: Do you enjoy merchandising, goodies from your favorite books (for example a reproduction of the pendant of one character etc)? do you buy them sometimes??

2. My Question this week: Do you collect other things, like Beenie Babies, Dolls, candles or something else?? 

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the new Valentine and "Love" books  or the new Christmas Giveaway Books. Also I have added the Updated ARC/Review List 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,  March 1, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Wait Until Dark by M.L. Buchman

This is an author I can trust to deliver entertaining action and romance.
Wait Until Dark
by M.L. Buchman

• File Size: 554 KB
• Print Length: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (February 5, 2013)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B009RXJ2HS

Genre: Military Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Release date: February 5, 2013 | Series: The Night Stalkers
Praise for I Own the Dawn:
"A rousing mix of romance and military action thrills...Buchman blends tender feelings with military politics to keep readers riveted."—Publishers Weekly
"I can't wait for the next book."—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
"Filled with action, adventure, and danger."—Booklist Starred Review
Name: Big John Wallace
Rank: Staff Sergeant, Chief Mechanic and Gunner
Mission: To serve and protect his crew and country.
Name: Connie Davis
Rank: Sergeant, Flight Engineer, Mechanical Wizard
Mission: To be the best...and survive.
Two Crack Mechanics, One Impossible Mission
Being in The Night Stalkers is Connie Davis's way of facing her demons head-on, but mountain-strong John Wallace is a threat on all fronts. Their passion is explosive, but their conflicts are insurmountable. When duty calls them to a mission no one else could survive, they'll fly into the night together—ready or not.

Review:
Connie Davis is a tough SOAR mechanic and technician. Her brain is nearly photographic and she can spin out facts and details as well as think quickly on her feet. She never knew her mother who died when she was three. She grew up as a military ‘brat’ moving from base to base with her father teaching herto work on the big Huey helicopters as a young girl. Then one day when she was 14 her father didn’t return from a mission.  These losses, on top of her ‘geeky’ smarts, created demons that keep her apart from others.  As a SOAR crew member she has earned respect even if she still doesn’t always feel like she fits in. Most importantly, she recognizes that she might not be returning from the next mission so there is no room in her life for romance and commitment.

Big John Wallace has never worked with a mechanic as sharp as Connie. He may not have realized it at first but he soon sees that she has an awesome ability to function, especially under pressure. Then he suddenly sees her as a woman - sexy, brilliant and competent. A combination that is hard to resist as a gentle friendship begins to grow.

The team is being prepared for a secret mission. First they are sent for downtime and John and others are thrilled with the prospect of maybe getting to visit home through Christmas. John asks Connie to join him when he realizes she has no where to go. Connie reluctantly agrees and she finds a whole family of warmth at John’s home farm. In addition to Mom and Paps, there is quiet, comfortable Grumps who lets her tear into his 1938 John Deere tractor. Noreen, John’s sister, isn’t thrilled at first but soon is sharing secrets with Connie.

John and Connie give in to their blazing passion but Connie is still holding back. He has plenty of friends and history; she has none. The warmth of family and a crisis overwhelm her and send her running back to base leaving John to face grief on his own. John is furious but doesn’t have time to try to resolve his anger before they are assembled for their mission.

John and Connie have to work past their emotions to carry out their crucial tasks for the safety of the team.  They have to face a nuclear threat as well as their own emotional turmoil.

I really enjoy the intensity that M.L. Buchman brings to his stories. Although this book in the series seems a bit more focused on the relationship and emotions of the characters, there is still plenty of action and technical details woven in to keep a high pace and interest. I enjoyed the interaction of characters from prior books as they watched the relationship develop, falter and carry through the mission. If you haven’t tried this series yet, I highly recommend it for romance action fans.

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Connie has trouble with feeling emotions:

There was no one left alive to care about her feelings, so why did John?
Without feelings, the requirements of performance were much easier.  Page 149.

John is surprised by the impact Connie has on him:

He knew her kiss blew his knees into butter, and her smile blew his brain into next week. Page 166.

I received this books from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

Partially set in Oklahoma for my 2013 Where in the World Are you Reading Challenge.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY FOR ARC COPY.

ENTRY FORM HERE

For 3 Extra Bonus entries Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is open US and Canada Only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 1, 2013.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on March 2, 2013.
Winners are asked to respond by email or the linked winners form within 72 hours of the announcement.

Audio Book Review: Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After by Mia Jasper

This is definitely a quick, sweet and enjoyable listen.

Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After

by Mia Jasper (Author, Narrator)

[Unabridged] [Audible Audio Edition]

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 26 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Ann Tucker
• Audible.com Release Date: December 5, 2012
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00AJD3NNE

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Most romance stories usually end when the couple says "I do". What really happens after happily ever after?

    Can love survive real life year after year?
    What happens when budgets, job responsibilities, and habits take center stage?
    Can love survive the misunderstandings and stress of real life?

This feel-good story will restore your faith in "Happily Ever After". If you believe that love really can conquer all - even real life - then Love in a Garden: What Happens After Happily Ever After is for you!

This is a quick story you can listen to at lunchtime.

Review:
Cathy seems very real in her frustration with her job and long hours. She and Tim are almost passing ships as she gets home late, spends a few minutes relaxing by looking at gardens and flowers on the computer and then dragging off to bed.  Tim realizes it’s been rough on Cathy and he comes up with a great surprise for her birthday which is coming up soon. It takes patience for Tim to not respond negatively after Cathy comes home and takes her extra anger out on him. His gift is heartwarming and shows the care of a love-mate willing to push beyond the stresses of everyday life struggles.

I was pulled into the story right away. It is a sweet and fast listen that left me satisfied but wanting to look for more from this author.

Audio Notes: The author does a nice job of narrating her own story. She does the inflections well and conveys the frustrations and concerned emotions of the characters.  This is an easy and light story to listen too in a short break.  I am often very pleasantly surprised when I choose a small indie pub audio to review and I am glad I tried this one.

I received this audio, for an honest review, from Ann Tucker through Audiobook Jukebox.

Saturday Snapshot (February 23, 2013) December Visit

Here are some family pictures during our December visit with our son and daughter-in-law in Hawaii.

Our first evening the "kids" are ready to go out.

A week later the kids are bringing home the newest kid! :-)

 

My DH in the kitchen where he loves to be -
fixing meatloaf for dinner. :-)

Back in the kitchen the next morning.

 Cinnamon rolls ready to eat - Yum!

Thanks to all the nice people who have commented on my Saturday pictures. I am so sorry I have not had much chance to return the visits. I seem to get to visit a week behind. :-(

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.