Sunday Words of Encouragement July 14, 2013

We had a nice communion service this morning and some of the young girls shared their fun experience at church camp a week or so ago. It’s always wonderful to see the joy of the Lord radiate from the kids.

Pastor’s sermon was entitled: “Battle for the Mind”. The primary passage was Philippians 4:8 which encourages us to 'think on good things'. Much of our society focuses on negative-- in the news and unfairness of circumstances-- instead of looking for all the good, joy and blessings we have. Pastor explained that he was feeling a bit unsettled and then, as he was resting his hip, he came upon the Hallmark channel. Hallmark has been sharing sweet stories of “Christmas in July.” Pastor realized that his attitude brightened just by thinking of the wonderful family sharing times we experience during the Christmas season.

Pastor pointed out that this cheerful viewing is in contrast to other less than positive offerings on TV - some of which he termed “crummy.” He said there is a new program about a child, (title withheld), where the audience is encouraged to buy 'sniff and scratch' cards so they can share in malodorous odors! Ugh. He also questioned a commercial for some zesty salad dressing that was touted by a man with no shirt. “What does a shirtless man have to do with salad dressing?” he asked. It is a clear attempt to lure people with the lusts of the flesh. (I am so glad we don’t watch much TV and we use the program that allows us to skip over commercials.)

As mentioned a few weeks ago, we are righteous through Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21, and we are inheritors, therefore royalty.  So the question is: How do you choose to live? As royalty focusing on good things, joy and blessings? Or as paupers in the slums, gloomy and sad, and grumbling about life's difficulties?

I have had internet (or computer) problems today

and was unable to play the videos choices without locking up. 

This song finally played so my DH said it must be the one to use.

I was looking for a joyful song so Joy in the Holy Ghost works. :-)

A verse for today:
Philippians 4:8  (NIV)
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I pray that the Lord will always help me to live like royalty and to look for the good and positive each day!

Winner of Paper Roses

CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNER:

Giveaway Ended July 12 2013

Giveaway: Paper Roses (Texas Dreams Book #1)

by Amanda Cabot

US Only. 

WINNER: Booklady

Sharing Beyond Books #108 Comment Giveaway July 13, 2013

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to SBB, Sharing Beyond Books.

This was a busy week for me with some work stress as a result of several closings getting shifted at the last minute. Last night we were away to Santa Rosa, FL so we could attend our Grandson's baseball game today. The game was delayed by rain so we only saw part of it. But they won and move on to the next match tomorrow. Yeah!

Thank you to all who shared last week.

Most of us do not take any special books on vacation and several people said they don't have time to read on vacation. How shocking! Several of us do like our readers as it makes it easier to travel with more reading material. :-)
 
Most all of us do plan vacations although four of us also do some spur of the moment vacations.
Really, I suppose even spur of the moment trips require some planning to pack. I for one wouldn't want to forget my electronics (computer, Kindle and mp3) and their cords!

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #107 comments is: #16 Anubha who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the ARC/Review titles, Christmas titles or Love titles - all linked near the end of the post.  Please let me know your choice by completing the (new) WINNER FORM.

WEEK #108 Questions

Q1. Margaret asks: Cowboy or Highlander??

A: Ok - I am assuming the question means which would you prefer to read. Although it could be asking which you might like to date! I like both for reading--sometimes I feel like a good Highlander tale and other times I want to read about a warm cowboy.  [Since I'm married 27+ years I don't think about dating either type. :-)] 

I couldn't resist when I saw this image!
Image found at Wikipedia.

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Have you ever gone geocaching??

A: I didn't even know what geocaching was ("a free outdoor treasure hunt") until our California trip in November 2010. Our son and my stepson introduced us to the fun event and we raced around Monterey looking for caches! It was a fun part of that vacation. I am sharing several pictures: three of us looking, the very small container and how it was camouflaged! [I have linked the primary site to the word geocaching in case anyone wants to learn more about it.]

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. I do have a group of questions from the same submitters so if you have a question don't be afraid to ask!

Your turn to share:

Q1. Margaret asks: Cowboy or Highlander??

Q2. My non-bookish Question this week: Have you ever gone geocaching??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books , the Christmas Giveaway Books, or the June 2012 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

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, July 19, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Saturday Snapshot July 13, 2013 - Campground, Freeport Beach

I am late posting Saturday Snapshot today because we are out of town. Our Grandson is playing in District Baseball playoffs so we brought the motorcoach down for the family to have a mini vacation at Freeport Beach, FL.I didn't arrive until after 7pm last evening so my DH already had the motorcoach all set up.

Here is the Coach ready for nighttime.

This is the field that the coach faces.

There are just a couple of the 20+ horses off to the right.

Here are those couple of horse zoomed in.

Here is a sliver of crescent moon (the little white spot in upper midsection of photo)

and a bit of the storm clouds we have been experiencing.

We will be watching Grandson's first game this afternoon and then DH and I will return home.
Three kids and four adults is a bit much in such a small space.
Hopefully the kids will have fun -
maybe on the horses or for sure visiting the beach which is half a mile away.
I'll take photos of the recreational park -- which looks pretty awesome -- this afternoon.
We might come back in the next few days if they are winning.

I hope everyone is having a great time. Sorry I didn't get to visit at all this past week. Hopefully I will a bit later today or tomorrow.
Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce at Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility. 

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 being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. 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.

Book Review: Silent Warrior by Lindsey Piper

This is book is edgy and exciting.
Silent Warrior
by Lindsey Piper

• File Size: 777 KB
• Print Length: 112 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (April 22, 2013)
• Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
• ASIN: B009K54S6I

Genre: Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 22, 2013
An exciting, emotionally charged prequel to the Dragon Kings trilogy featuring warriors fighting for their lives in violent cage matches to guarantee their clans’ survival—available exclusively as an eBook!

A silent woman ashamed of her criminal background becomes a Cage warrior to seek redemption. An unrepentant fortune hunter will do anything to escape his mounting debts. Although rivals on the streets of Hong Kong, they find common ground when seeking their clan’s stolen idol, but for vastly different reasons. Neither one suspects that love will begin when he becomes the first man in five years to hear her speak.

Review:

Hark is fighting in a warrior match to earn money to pay off debts. His opponent is a beautiful, expressionless and silent woman. She won’t even give a groan in injury. Hark on the other hand is a chatterer and he is fascinated and intent to break through the silence of this fierce warrior. Hark and the woman are both of the Sath Clan, who are able to borrow the abilities of Dragon Kings. However she wears a collar indicating she is in bondage to one of the Cartels and unable to use the powers of others. He finally establishes a slight advantage and, although the woman would not surrender, her ‘handler’ instructs her to stop.

The woman collects $4,000.00 for the fight and tucks it into her bodice. Hark plans to collect his half of the payment but before the two can exit the bar they are confronted with another powerful Dragon King, and his henchmen, who plan to steal the money. Hark and the woman quickly move together to take on the new threat. Soon they leave the opposition in the dust and head off down the dark ally ways to a place to be alone together to slack the other passions that have risen with the adrenaline of battle. Hark finally learns the woman is called–fittingly–Silence.

They are surprised by the extent of their passions and Hark becomes intent on learning Silence’s true name and getting her to reveal more emotion. Soon they are on the run from a new attack as  debt collectors come after Hark. Silence leads him to a horrible, crowded, dilapidated tenement building where she has stashed another Dragon King as a prisoner. Once again they must fight together and share power to prevail.

Silence is on a mission to recover a stolen idol and regain her honor. Hark recognizes her strength and proposes to join her as a mate, even if it means he goes into bondage for a time to pay off his debts.

The story is full of intense action and passion. I liked both strong characters.  The stoic, determined Silence and the bantering, impulsive Hark make a great team. The language is a little rough but it didn’t overwhelm the storyline.  This novella is very entertaining and left me wanting to read more of their adventures.  

This is prequel I picked up at NetGalley to see if I might like the series.