Sunday Words of Encouragement February 3, 2013

Our Pastor is out of town at the death of his earthly father. A sad time of loss but a joyous time as we know he is in Heaven with his beloved Savior and Lord.

Our Associate Pastor did a nice sermon today entitled The Fear of the Lord. He noted that most often we, as children of the New Testament Grace think of "fear" in terms of awe and reverence. However, we should recognize terror too. Hell is fearful and therefore judgment is fearful. Our God has that power. Throughout the Bible He shows us that our fear should lead us to obey and follow Him. Our fear should change us and change our decisions so that we do the right things.

Pastor D gave the example set out in Exodus 9 verses 18-22. Moses was warning Pharaoh and his court of the seventh plague of hailstones. There were those in the court who, having seen the prior plagues, believed and sent to have their servants and flocks protected from the storm. Others, like Pharaoh, hardened their hearts. Those who will not hear and do not follow are ultimately given over to a depraved mind and hardened heart.

There are blessings for those who fear God. In Exodus chapter 1 verse 15, the king ordered the midwives to kill the male Hebrew babies. But the midwives feared God and would not kill the babies and God blessed them. Verses 17-21.

Pastor D noted that our priorities say a lot about our attitude towards God. He even noted that God is like the "Alpha dog" of the wolf pack to whom the other dogs submit. 

I don't often think in terms of obeying in fear but obeying through love. Yet, as a child fears the parent who has to discipline out of love, there is some of that respectful fear too.  I do recognize God as Creator, destroyer, Judge and executioner. I am in awe and I respond.

Lord let me be in AWE of you and worship at the knowledge of your Majesty.

Verses for Today:
Proverbs 9:10-12 (NIV)
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

My prayer today - Lord help me bring, and keep, every area of my life under Your direction.

Updated "Love" Titles for Future Giveaways

PLEASE NOTE - THIS IS NOT A GIVEAWAY POST!

2/18/17 Updated Picture Christmas and "Love" books.

Updated 2-22-14.
THESE ARE BOOKS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AND LINKED FOR GIVEAWAYS  including Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaways.   ALL Comments are greatly appreciated and feel free to comment here that you like the choices (I hope you like) but there will not be a drawing from these comments. :-)

These are mostly titles with "love" in them and a few left with "heart", "cupid" or "Valentine."  I will link this to the applicable Giveaways so you will know when you can pick from these books. 

1. Cupid the Amorous Arrow by J. M. Jeffries
2. Come Home To Love (Harlequin Signature Select) by Joan Hohl - SBB Dec 2014
3. Hearts of Gold Anthology with Kay Hooper and others (this is a 1994 book; the top of spine is ragged and the pages are yellowed by age.)
4. Another Time, Another Love (Romance Ser.) by Anne Beaumont
5. The Lost Valentine by James Michael Pratt -- SBB March 2015
6. Valentine Babies Anthology  Gone I think
7. Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon - March SBB 2014
8. Can't Stop Loving You by Janelle Taylor - SBB Dec 2014
9. To Love a Scoundrel by Kristina Cook - SBB Dec 2014
10. Love and the Single Heiress by Jacquie D'Alessandro -SBB
11. For the Love of Zach by Cheryl Wolverton SBB Feb 2015

Sharing Beyond Books #85 Comment Giveaway February 2, 2013

Hello, Welcome to SBB and Welcome to 2013!
Hi! I am so glad to be feeling better. I hope everyone is staying healthy!:-)
Thank you to all who shared last week.

Well, five brave souls do have tattoos: Brooke has 7 and Jolene has 4, nrlymrtl and her man have ring tattoos (sweet), Tore has Pegasus on her back and Linda K has permanent eyebrows. Two others are interested in getting tattoos but the majority of us said "no."

Many of us do like book scavenger hunts particularly if they are smaller and not too difficult to find. We agree that time is an issue of concern. A couple of us do not enjoy them..

~~~~

The Winner from SBB #84 comments is: #14 Di. There are still 4 'love' books to pick from and new Christmas choices. Di please choose a book (or GC if international) from the fifteen Love Books List for Giveaway, the new Christmas Giveaway Book list, OR pick from the Updated ARC/Review List and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks by completing the WINNER FORM. [I am uploading a new set of Valentine titles shortly! :-)]

WEEK #85 Questions

Q1. Lissette asks: What's the craziest thing you have ever done just to get a book you really want??

A:  It wasn't too crazy but in November 2008 I carried a picture of AJAX from Red Fire by Deirdre Knight around on our Spain Cruise. I took pictures to submit for a contest and won $25.00 GC and a copy of the book.

Ajax in front of the model of the Rotterdam.

Q2. My Question this week: Do you like snow??

A: I do like snow - for short visits. I am glad I don't live where is snows though.  And I wouldn't want my books to get in the snow. :-)

Image found at burninlab deviantart

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! I STILL HAVE A GROUP OF QUESTIONS AVAILABLE BUT THEY ARE FROM ABOUT FOUR PEOPLE SO SOME OF YOU MAY WANT TO ADD A QUESTION OR TWO! We can always use fresh questions.

Your turn to share:

1. Lissette asks: What's the craziest thing you have ever done just to get a book you really want??

2. My non Book Question this week: Do you like snow??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the remaining Valentine and "Love" books (new list of fifteen) 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,  February 8, 2013 at 10 PM central.

Winner of Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love

CONGRATULATIONS

to Winner of

Giveaway: Every Perfect Gift by Dorothy Love US - Print Only;

Shannon B

Shannon Please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me at mesreads AT gmail.com to confirm the win and send your address so I can notify the Publisher. Please reply within 72 hours!
Thank you to all who entered these giveaways. 

Audio Book Review: The Lost Flower Children by Janet Taylor Lisle

This is a short, sweet story dealing with loss.
The Lost Flower Children
by Janet Taylor Lisle (Author),
Caitlin Davies (Narrator)

• Audible Audio Edition
• Listening Length: 2 hours and 23 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: AudioGO
• Audible.com Release Date: November 1, 2012

Genre: Fantasy, Middle Reader
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Motherless Olivia and Nellie go to live with their elderly Great-Aunt Minty, who knows little about children, but a lot about her overgrown garden. Then one day, Olivia finds an old teacup in a flowerbed--and, later, an old story about eight children transformed into flowers. Only the person who finds their teacups can bring them back. Now the two sisters know what they must do.

Review:
Nine year old Olivia and five year old Nellie are struggling with the death of their mother.  Olivia feels lonely and misses her while Nellie creates a set of strange rules to cope with her loss. When their father has to find a new job, they are sent to live with their elderly Great-Aunt Minty. Aunt Minty lives in a cottage with a lovely but overgrown garden. Aunt Minty must learn volatile Nellie’s rules if she wants to avoid rants and tantrums.

Olivia takes advantage of the situation by reading from the large library of books she finds in the house. Among the books she finds a story about lost children who disappeared during a tea party in the garden. The story says that some evil garden sprites put a curse on the children turning them into flowers. They missed the youngest child who had slipped into the house so they made her mute so she couldn’t tell what she had seen. The curse could only be broken when all of the teacups and teapot were found and reassembled.

Having found one tea cup the girls set out to dig through the garden. Aunt Minty thinks it is harmless and they are all a bit surprised as they begin to find one cup after another as they clean out weeds and clean up the garden. The relationship between the girls and Aunt Minty grows gently. The ending brings surprises, changes and leaves a little mystery.  I think middle readers would enjoy this bit of sweet fancy and its gentle message.

Audio Notes: Caitlin Davies does a beautiful job of keeping the tone light and mysterious. She captures the protectiveness of Olivia, the whiny pitch of Nellie and the gentle soothings of Aunt Minty. Well done!

I received this for review from AudioGO through AudioBook Jukebox.