Sunday Words of Encouragement October 12, 2014

Pastor’s Sermon this morning was entitled “Righteousness”. He used the scripture stories regarding the woman with an issue of blood (found in Luke 8:43-48 and Mark 5:25-35). These accounts tell of a woman who suffered for twelve years during which she was in misery and ceremonially unclean. The bridging point is that our sins, like filthy rags, make us unclean in the sight of God.

We cannot earn righteousness; no one deserves it. It is a gift. Isaiah 64:6 declares: “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Man has a need for morality and justice. We cannot fulfill this need ourselves, but God, by grace and goodness, allows us to receive what we can not earn.
     Romans 3:22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
     2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Righteousness is an unmerited favor we can only receive from God.

***
My scripture study following up the sermon makes me say that Isaiah 64:6 should not be read to say that man should not strive to do good works. God is pleased with good deeds and when we help one another. As noted in Isaiah 64:5: “You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?”

What is the answer to that question? The response is 'we are saved through faith' as noted in the New Testament passages above and more, such as Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Christ’s blood covers our sin and yet we continue to sin. We cannot perform enough good works to outweigh our sins. As believers who have accepted Christ to rule in our hearts and lives, we hold onto the promise that our filthy robes will be replaced by His pure covering through His sacrifice. As our Sunday School teacher noted at the conclusion of our lesson this morning: “We continue to struggle with sin because our salvation will not be complete until His [Christ’s] return.”

(All scripture references are NIV.)

I think this song fits this message perfectly.

Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher

Verse for Today:
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV
8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 
9not by works, so that no one can boast. 
10For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Christ, I believe and accept You as Lord of my life. I thank you for giving me the unmerited gifts of salvation and righteousness. Although I am saved by faith, let me be mindful to do good works, as directed by You, to show Your Love and glory in this life.

Sharing Beyond Books #172 Comment Giveaway October 11, 2014

Hello again on Saturday night and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!
I didn't get too much computer time today. The internet wasn't working on my computer first thing this morning. Then I spend a good deal of the day packing things in the motor-coach for our upcoming trip. I did use the time to listen to an audiobook. :-)
Note- Next week's SBB may have to be posted late (or early) depending on where we are on our journey and whether we have WIFI.

Thanks to everyone who commented last week.
Only four people recalled books that scared them enough to close them, although only Mary threw the book away. Of the other thirteen comments about half of them avoid reading scary stories. Stephen King was mentioned as an author who writes very scary books.

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #171 comments is: #8 SueF 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 #172 (One Question.)

Q1. This is another October question. Elizabeth asks: 1. Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from previous years??

A: I checked the list and although we have had similar questions we have not had this precise question.  The favorite costumes I recall are two my mother made us when we were young. My sister and I were a pair of dice and my brother was an upside down man. I like the lego box in the image below! 

Image found at U-Pack.
While looking for images for my old favs I found this which I thought was very good!

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 still have a supply of questions but from the same people so hopefully others will send more in -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify to use.


Your turn to share:

Q1. Elizabeth asks: Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from previous years??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books, the Christmas Giveaway Books (this is the new link), or the June 2013 Newly Updated ARC/Review List.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on either of the two 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 through Saturday October 18, 2014 at 5 PM  central.

Book Review and Print Giveaway: Seattle Cinderella: (Romancing America) by Gail Sattler

This is a collection of four light, happily-ever-after sweet romances.

Seattle Cinderella: (Romancing America)

by Gail Sattler

• Series: Romancing America
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc. (March 1, 2012)
• ISBN-13: 978-1616266417
• Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sweet

My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 1, 2012
Cinderella lives—except her name is Cindy and she resides in Seattle! Cindy is forced to run her late father’s muffler shop. Will her step-sisters’ shenanigans and Luke Princeton’s charms only make her life even more unbearable? Cindy’s step-sister Annie has reformed her ways. But how will she prove it to the man she loves? Step-sister Zella is writing her own love story. But is she using a poison pen? Cindy’s godmother, Farrah, has caught the attentions of a younger man. Does she have the courage to love again? How far will God go to give these women a happy-ever-after?

Review:
This is a sweet collection of four HEA stories - one for Cindy and her two step sisters and one for her helpful Godmother.

Cindy and the Prince
Cindy is a mechanic extroadinaire having learned as a child from her beloved father. She rarely dresses in anything other than overalls in spite of non-stop criticism from her stepmother, Melissa. Of course it wouldn’t matter what she wore as Melissa would still find fault. Cindy doesn’t understand why her father left his auto shop and house in equal shares to Melissa and Cindy. This leaves Cindy stuck living at home with her unpleasant stepmother and not-so-nice stepsisters, Annie and Zella. Until the battles over the Will are resolved Cindy has to operate the shop, employ her stepsisters and hope she can save enough money to buy out her stepmother’s interest.

Luke Princeton operates a limousine rental shop across the way from Cindy’s shop. He sees her every day but can’t get her to agree to even a coffee date. He is the guardian of his teenage niece and when he realizes that Kat is interested in becoming active in the youth group at Cindy’s church, Luke grabs the opportunity to get closer to Cindy. Even though Cindy is willing to step in to help with orphaned Kat, can Luke get her to risk loving him too?

Love by the Books
Annie has worked half-heartedly as a receptionist and bookkeeper for Cindy while attending college. She has recently seen how unfair Melissa is to Cindy. Annie has decided to work more diligently and she is happy to help sort the books at Like a Prince Car Rentals by Luke and his co-owner, Brent, when their long time bookkeeper is unavailable. Annie finds some strange entries as she sorts through the data.

Luke had given Cindy a sporty convertible mustang which Annie admires. The mustang disappears one morning and is later found.by Brent.buried in Annie’s garage. With a past reputation that isn’t the best, how can Annie get anyone to believe she didn’t take the car and that she may be in danger herself?

Till Death Do Us Part
Zella is anxious to get away from her mother, Melissa, who wants to plan a big wedding for her remaining daughter. Of course Zella needs a boyfriend first. Zella decides to join a book club that meets on Friday nights so she won’t be available for the dates her mother keeps pushing her to.

Zella is surprised to learn the club is not a reading club but a writing club where the members help critique each other's works. She begins a relationship with one of the young men not knowing that he is in fact her new favorite mystery writer. How will Zella get beyond the hurt when she learns of TJ’s deception?

Never Too Late
Farrah is an attractive and energetic fifty year old teacher. She has accepted her single life-style after the death of her husband and hasn’t made any real effort to seek out a male companion.

Matt is a thirty-eight year old veterinarian who has avoided romantic relationships for many years because he knows he cannot have a normal family life. Matt had prayed and waited a long time for the right, special woman. He finds his friendship with Farrah enjoyable and his feelings growing. He is less interested in their age difference than in the fact that she fits an important criteria for a partner as she is beyond child-bearing age. Can Farrah see beyond her age to accept Matt’s suit?

Each of the stories have a connection to church and some references to faith but is not “loud” or preachy. These are not quite “fluff” but they are simply easy, light reading with a happily-ever-after ending. The ladies of bookclub enjoyed the book especially because it was light and they liked the short stories that could be read at separate sittings, which sometimes fits a busy life. We agreed this is a nice book for those who are in the mood for sweet, easy, quick-reading romance.

This was our book for Ladies Book Club.

Giveaway:

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for my gently read print copy

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review, OR
visit THE AUTHOR'S Website and tell me something you like/learned there.

* This contest is open US Only for Print Book.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) October 18, 2014.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after October 18, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Audible Book Review: Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3 by Veronica Roth

I found this to be a satisfactory conclusion to this trilogy. 
Allegiant: Divergent Trilogy, Book 3
Written by: Veronica Roth
Narrated by: Emma Galvin, Aaron Stanford

• Length: 11 hrs and 55 mins 
• • Series: Divergent, Book 3
• Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-22-13



Publisher: Harper Audio

Genre: Dystopian
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
What if your whole world was a lie?
What if a single revelation - like a single choice - changed everything?
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times best-selling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of listeners in Divergent and Insurgent.
©2013 Veronica Roth (P)2013 HarperCollins Publishers

Review:
This is the concluding book in the Divergent trilogy. Tris, Four and some of their Dauntless friends have survived the civil war that erupted during book two, Insurgent. Tris had managed to release a secret video tape that revealed some mysteries about the cities past and a directive that the Divergents were to help those outside of the city walls.

Now in book three, the Factionless, led by Four’s mother. face a new battle with the Allegiant, a group comprised from the old factions who want to restore the previous order of the factions. Four rescues Tris’ brother Caleb, even though he had betrayed her and they flee beyond the walls to escape the Factionless and Allegiant pursurers,

Outside they find a government compound, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare. Here they learn that Purity Wars destroyed much of the past civilization and genetic manipulation is being used to try to rebuild a sound society. Divergents are prized as pure bloods and all others are genetically impure and expendable. Although Tris is safe as a true Divergent, Four, or Tobias, is at risk. He soon aligns with others who are plotting against the government powers who not only control the genetically rascist compound but also exercise control over the affairs of the “experimental” cities like Chicago.

Tobias’ participation in a failed raid results in a life-threatening injury to Uriah. Tobias feels responsible and guilty while Tris is angry because she thinks he acted rashly and he went against her warnings. There is estrangment and tension among the friends as they try to sort out how to cope with their new surroundings and then discover they have to find a way to protect their old city home from the destructive plans of the Bureau.

I enjoyed how the story is told in alternating views by Tris and Tobias. This dual voice gives a broader scope portraying events from two different viewpoints and emotions. There is danger, angst, conspiracy, a little romance and a bit more tragedy. I liked the conflicts and the dilemmas posed in this book. The author seems to be making a statement about the devastating consequences of pitting different races and/or different classes against each other instead of accepting each others strengths and working and growing together.

I enjoyed this book significantly more than book two which seemed full of disjointedness. There were flaws in this book too as there seemed to be a section of “telling” of back history which can bog down the reading. What bothered me more though was the implausibility that Tris and her friends were a) given free roam in the compound without being assigned particular tasks and b) could plot so “openly” with existing dissenters. This made the story a bit of an “eye-roller” at times. It is not a big secret that one of the main characters dies which is a difficult, sad feature but actually added an acceptable bit of reality.

I am not sure the title Allegiant is appropriate to where this final book goes but it fits with the prior titles and there could be a case made that it has a dual meaning. Perhaps my expectations were not as high as many who were disappointed by this book. Although I didn’t like everything about this conclusion it wrapped things up satisfactorily for me as an adult reader.

AUDIO NOTES: Emma Galvin and Aaron Stanford did a very fine job of portraying the characters of Tris and Tobias. The alternating voices (as well as the alternating views) added to my enjoyment of the story which may have dragged more without that feature to break the flow and add interest. I would recommend listening to this title on audio.

This title is from my own Audible Library.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway October 10, 2014

[** If you are new to Friday Pick Giveaway - Welcome!  Scroll down a bit (below book group #19) for instructions on how to enter.]

So sorry for the very late posting today. I was going to be late and planned an announcement but my computer or internet would not let me save in blogger last evening. I had court this morning and once I hit my desk I tend to be focused on work items. :-)
I had to take a picture of the box of books that was here at the office to include today.

[UPDATED NOTE - US entrants I prefer, please, that you pick a book as that is the first purpose of this giveaway - to find new homes for books. The GCs are for the international entrants because postage has jumped up.]

Thank you to all who entered the October 3 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. (Automatic winners are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.) There were no titles blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from October 3 Pick:
Mystica gets a GC

Carol NW gets Painted House 

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.}

Admittedly this image doesn't have books in it 

but it comes from a library post about October book picks. :-)

Image found at The Indianapolis Public Library.

New Book Group #52 October 10, 2014
(Links to be added.)

PAIRS:
Richard Paul Evans, The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Mary Higgins Clark, A Cry In the Night and You Belong to Me
SINGLES
Duo Book: Yesterday's Memories by Tara Taylor Quinn and Amanda Stevens
Range of Motion by Elizabeth Berg
Destiny's Daughter by Rebecca Brandewyne
At The Stroke of Madness by Alex Kava
She's Got the Look by Leslie Kelly
Reliquary by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Behind a Mask by May Alcott
Here on Earth by Alice Hoffman

New Book Group #51 September 12, 2014
10/10 - I just realized I never posted the image for this group.

PAIRS:
Elysa Hendricks, Star Crash (personally autographed copy) and The Sword and the Pen
Anne Stuart, Hidden Honor and The Devil’s Waltz
SINGLES:

Intrepid Encounter by Rebecca Ashley

The Reckoning by Jeanette Baker

Out of This Furnace: A Novel of Immigrant Labor in America by Thomas Bell Reprint Edition

Taylor's Temptation by Suzanne Brockmann

A Painted House A Novel by John Grisham 

Scandalous Virtue Mass by Brenda Hiatt 

Viking Heat by Sandra Hill 

Darkness, Take My Hand (Kenzie and Gennaro Book 2) by Dennis Lehane

Missing Susan by Sharyn Mccrumb

Pandora's Clock by John J. Nance - AUDIO CASSETTES

A Stranger's Wife by Maggie Osborne

The Short Forever (Stone Barrington Novels Book 8) by Stuart Woods - AUDIO CASSETTES

New Book Group #50! August 8, 2014

PAIRS:
William J. Coughlin: The Court and The Judgment
Phyllis J. Whitney: The Ebony Swan and Woman Without a Past
SINGLES:
Maybe This Time by Victoria Barrett
The Commander by Kate Bridges
So Hard to Forget by Evelyn Crowe
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
Whirlwind Affair by Jacquie D'Allessandro
Let Darkness Come by Angela Hunt
Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione 
ChiefTain by Nan Ryan
A Place Called Home by Lori Wick
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
True Believer by Nicholas Sparks
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose

New Book Group #49 June 27, 2014

PAIRS:
Sandra Brown:  The Thrill of Victory and Temperatures Rising
Beverly Barton: The Last to Die and Raintree: Sanctuary
SINGLES:
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Down by the Water by Caroline Upcher
Hawkes Harbor by S.E. Hinton
Savage Thunder by Cassie Edwards
Miracle by Deborah Smith
Desperate Alliances by Cory Daniells
Never Walk Alone by Paula Detmer Riggs
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin
Running Blind by Lee Child


New Book Group #48 May 30, 2014

SINGLES:
Dangerous by Debra Dier
First to Fight Anthology

New Book Group #47 April 25, 2014

SINGLES:
Trey's Secret by Lois Faye Dayer
Once Upon a Moon by Julie Kistler
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy

New Book Group #46 March 15, 2014

SINGLES:
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain
The Last Heiress by Bertrice Small (spine creases)

New Book Group #45 January 31, 2014

SINGLES:
Out of Darkness by Lynn Erickson

New Book Group #44 December 14, 2013---(All gone)

New Book Group #43 November 1, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #42 September 27, 2013 ---(All gone)

New Book Group #41 August 2, 2013

Singles:
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way

New Book Group #40 June 28, 2013

Singles:
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)

New Book Group #39 May 31, 2013 - Plenty of "summer" titles!
Singles:
Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford

New Book Group #38 April 20, 2013
Awaken the Senses by Nalini Singh

New Book Group #37 March 22, 2013
Singles:
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.

New Book Group #36 February 15, 2013

The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe

New Book Group #35 January 11, 2013 (All gone)
New Book Group #34 December 7, 2012--- (All gone)
New Book Group #33 October 27, 2012---(All gone)

New Book Group #32 October 5, 2012
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 - A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley

New Book Group #31 August 31, 2012
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)

New Book Group #30 July 27, 2012
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander

New Book Group #29 June 29, 2012
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology

New Book Group #28 May 18, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #27 April 13, 2012--- (All gone)
New book Group #26 March 2, 2012--- (All gone)
New Group #25 January 12, 2012---(All gone)
New Group #24 Pick Books November 25, 2011---(All gone)

New Group #23 Pick Books October 14, 2011
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

New Group #22 Pick Books September 2, 2011---(All gone)
New Group #21 of Pick Books July 29, 2011---(All gone)
May, 2011 New Group of Pick books Group #20---(All gone)
3/25/11 Group #19---(All gone)
2/19/11 Book Group #18- Pairs!---(All gone).

I have finally updated the intro and Entry paragraphs here:

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 four years I have posted 43 groups of 16 (688) books to find new homes! (as of November 2013).

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! I am happy to say that so far about 716+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed.

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 far away places runs between $5.00 $7.00 and $6.00 $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)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.
Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times and I did not note other people asking for that book during those weeks.
WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads@gmail.com. [I will confirm receipt of the addresses- well I realize I haven't always done this. But if you filled out the form and don't get the book within two weeks nudge me with an email please!] If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

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!

1/14/11 New List #17--- (All gone)

12/3/10 Book Set: #16
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 

List #15---(All gone)
List #14---(All gone)
List #13 of Used books! ---(All gone)
Group #12---(All gone)

Group #11
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester

List #1
Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo

Pick #2---(All gone)
Pick #3---(All gone)
Pick #4---(All gone)
Pick #5---(All gone)
Pick #6---(All gone)

Pick #7
Prey by Michael Crichton - Audio Tape

Pick #8
The Jury by Steve Martini - Audio Tapes

Pick #9
On Treacherous Ground by Earl Murray

Pick #10---(All Gone)