A Week of Trauma and God at Work

God Works in Mysterious Ways – even, or especially, through a week of trauma.

Last weekend my husband (DH for dear hubby) and I were helping a man who started coming to our church about four weeks ago. DH felt God directed him/us to help this man by employing him to do work around the house as DH has been feeling poorly. The man was helpful last Friday at the men's lunch program to a local elderly apartment. DH let him drive him home after checking his license. He wanted to be assured the man was a safe driver as DH was planning to let him borrow his car. The man worked hard with DH on Saturday.

After church on Sunday DH drove the man to another of our properties to review some work needed there. Also DH was thinking he might offer to let the man and his family stay there for a week or so as the man said his wife and kids were coming to see him in the next couple of weeks. DH let him borrow the car so he wouldn’t have to pick him up at 6:30am on Monday morning to begin more work before the heat of the day.

Sunday night the fellow returned to our home, explaining that he had been kicked out of the place where he was staying which was a commercial warehouse and not a dwelling place. DH decided it would be okay for him to stay the night in our spare room and then he would get the utilities turned on at the other property.

Monday morning the man did good, manual work with DH. It seemed like God had supplied a man who could help with all the chores DH can no longer handle. DH had to spend the afternoon at the doctor’s office getting testing done. After dinner the man borrowed DH's car to pick up pay from another church member with whom he had worked. I waited up until midnight but the man didn't return that night. DH goes to men’s prayer at church early Tuesday morning. He was out and I heard the man in the guest room, and briefly saw him pass through the hall, but he came and left before DH returned from church.

When DH got home he discovered two of our grandchildren's savings jars were missing. Apparently DH learned from one of the other church men that the stories of this man’s family coming were false and the man was a thief. DH had to go to Alabama to his heart doctor that afternoon. He locked the house up and came to the office to give me the keys and tell me what was going on. He had contacted the police to report the situation and learned there was a warrant out from another county in Florida.

The man still had DH's car and our neighbors were watching our house. They called late Tuesday to advise the car was at our house. We arrived shortly after the police but the car was gone. We discovered he had broken in through the doggy door in the back. The man left his clothes in the bedroom and in the washing machine but stole two more jars of money and two of my tablets. (One had recently broken and I had brought the other home form the office and it was on the charger.) Another deputy came to take the report and at that point we reported the car as stolen also.

Wednesday evening the car was located at the McDonald’s near our church. When we went to pick it up the battery was dead. The Deputy was able to jump the engine so we got it home. We were relieved to find the car keys, the garage opener (DH had unplugged the garage door) and another bundle of keys (to the other house and more) in the car. Thursday DH discovered the problem was not a bad battery but a bad connection. He attributes this to God’s hand so the man would abandon the vehicle.

Thursday morning DH was about to call one of the Deputies to say thank you for their help when he received a text from the man. DH had texted him to say that he owed him for the work he had done. The man texted saying he 'had messed up; was sorry and could DH send the money by Western Union'. DH told the Deputy on the phone that the man was probably near a Western Union office in town. Within the hour they arrested the man at a store/station that had a Western Union desk.

The total missing cash was probably $120.00 and the tablets can be replaced. There is damage to our door but all in all the betrayal was certainly more painful.

You don’t realize the trauma of such an event unless you go through it. We lived under lock and key for two days. DH spent all of Wednesday in our motor coach watching over the house in case the man came back. I have started taking my purse to the bedroom and hiding it when I used to just set it on the dining room side board. I also have been removing my car keys which I didn’t used to. The sense of safety in our home is still rocky as I worry who this man might have spoken to and told about us and our home. I tense even when someone comes to the door as I can’t see well through the peep hole.

DH and two other men noted how God has a plan we don't always see. The other church men have met with the thief to express their concern for his welfare (mostly his soul). The man is apparently a son of a pastor and he knows the Bible very well. He had been arrested for burglary in 2002 and was given four years on probation. He served one year and then split. That was the outstanding warrant. He told our church men that he has been living with a similar pattern of deception and addictions (cocaine and alcohol) for thirteen years! DH is convinced that God wanted us to be obedient and through the circumstances this man was brought into custody. Whether he will be broken and submitted to God will be his own decision to make. We do forgive him… although that doesn’t mean I will be fully comfortable of my house safety for some time. Please pray for this man to get help and resolve his life so he can be reconciled – to his family and, most importantly, to his Heavenly Father.

Topping the week off DH hat a heart catheterization done Friday and learned that he has a severe blockage. He will see the surgeon on Tuesday to schedule open heart surgery for a bypass. Please keep us in prayer for these times.

Things could have been much worse and I am mindful of the many tragedies throughout the states this past week. Our country, and world, need much prayer!

Sunday Words of Encouragement June 19, 2016 - Happy Father's Day

This morning both our Sunday School teacher (SST) and our Pastor spoke on Father’s Day issues. SST, focused on God’s nature as “love”. He came home earlier in the week to find his young dog, Bodie, hiding under the table. He realized that the dog might have had an accident with his ‘business’ and, sure enough, the owner got to do the ‘paper work’. After completing the clean-up, Bodie looked at him with sad, remorseful eyes. SST called Bodie over to give him pet hugs and assurance of forgiveness. Just then SST heard God say to him: “That’s the way I am.” He has contemplated the message all week. We, in our fleshly world, mess up all the time, but our Heavenly Father loves us so much -- each one of us -- that He sent His own son to clean up our messes and, even more than that, to take our punishment. Each time we mess up He is ready to forgive us and show His never ending love to us. God’s great love is beyond our understanding. 1 John 3:1.

Our Pastor preached on the importance of a Father’s love and presence. He noted statistics about the fatherless which show that they are:

• the majority of murders
•  ½ of the state prison population
•  abuse drugs 
•  tend to be school drop outs
•  commit rapes
•  tend toward violent behavior and 
•  have a high incidence of suicide

The proper role of fathers is to model the love and acceptance of our Heavenly Father. Sons grow up looking for identity. If they do not have a father figure at home, they often seek a “tribe” or gang.

Gary Smalley and John Trent share parenting insights in their book The Blessing. They presented four ingredients needed to make children secure and able to grow into normal, functioning adults.
1. Meaningful touch;
2. Spoken message of affection and love;
3. Assurance of their value; and
4. Vision of a wonderful future.

Parents who train up their children with these elements, encouraging the strengths and skills of the individual child, raise up responsible adults and leaders. Our Heavenly Father gives us undeserved love through His amazing grace. This is what men (and women) should be and pass on to their children: a Godly example.

This is an older hymn that I have long loved. 

The Love of God by F. M. Lehman,
incorporating the poem written by a Jewish poet in 1050 as the third verse.

A Verse for Today:
1 John 3:1 NIV
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

I thank God for faithful fathers everywhere, and especially for those who strive to show God’s awesome example of unconditional love to His children.

Sharing Beyond Books #257 Comment Giveaway June 18, 2016

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week and "Welcome" to another new visitor.

Becky and I are the only ones who like to read seasonally, at least sometimes. Five commenters do not read seasonally at all (two do not have seasons); eight others do not read seasonally EXCEPT they like to read Christmas books at Christmas time. SueF does like to read "holiday" titles at the time of holidays, but not otherwise seasonally.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #255 comments is:#9 bn100 and The Winner from SBB #256 comments is: #1 Mystica who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated ARC/Review titles or (not yet updated) Love titles - all linked near the end of the post. [I'm hoping to update the book choices - maybe the beginning of next year, lol.] Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #257

(One Question.)

Rubynreba asks: Have you passed on your love of books to your children and grandchildren??

If there was a book gene I would pass it on! I have certainly encouraged my children and grandchildren to read. My husband was/is not a reader (he's the "I'll wait for the movie" guy) but he recognized the importance and has also encouraged the kids. He just doesn't encourage them to read as much as I do and for the most part they don't -- except our three and one half year old SweetPea. She doesn't get just one book to read but at least three. Five is even better. She is already an active library patron.

Our oldest grandchild, 12 year old Z, gets books through Scholastic book drives at school (thanks often to contributions from grandmom). He reads a variety of books including adventure, sports and series like 39 Clues and Harry Potter.

This is our Sweetpea's Montessori School picture. See? A chip off the grandma block!

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! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.

Your turn to share:
Rubynreba asks: Have you passed on your love of books to your children and grandchildren??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Valentine and "Love" books or the February 2015 Newly Updated ARC/Review List. (My daughter pulled several of the Christmas titles to give with gift bags we made up for the nursing homes. One of these days I will get together a new box of Christmas titles.)

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question 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 June 25, 2016 at 5 PM central.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway June 17, 2016

Happy Friday!
This has been an awkward week for us which I will be explaining in a post later this weekend. Due to some major distractions plus health concerns for my hubby, my week has been disjointed. I did not get to pull together a new set of books and that will have to wait for another day/week. 
Also, for all my foreign friends, I have not forgotten you. I totaled all of the wins last weekend and will be sending out PayPal, Amazon GCs or your "saved" balances info this weekend. Thanks for being patient.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the June 10 Pick. There was no automatic win this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one blocked title.
AUTO: NONE

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from June 10 Pick (two GCs again this week):
Miki gets a GC

Natlaija also gets a GC

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.}

It is lovely that countries around the world can celebrate Reading Days.

Image found at DC Books

New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016

PAIRS:
Jayne Ann Krentz: Gift of Gold and Man with a Past (spine creased) 
Linda Howard: Cover of Night and Strangers Night
SINGLES:
A Dangerous Fancy by Tracy Cozzens
The Bodyguard and the Snitch by Christy Tillery French (autographed)
When Dashing Met Danger by Shana Galen
The Champion by Heather Grothaus
Never Marry a Cowboy by Lorraine Heath
Just The Way You Are by Donna Jordan
The Second Chair by John Lescroart (hardcover)
What a Rogue Desires by Caroline Linden (spine creased)
Violets are Blue by James Patterson
The Bequest by Candice Proctor
A Perilous Attraction by Patricia Francis Rowell (spine creased)
So Wild A Kiss by Nancy Richards-Akers


New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016

SINGLES:
Short Straw (Ed Eagle Novel) by Stuart Woods Hardcover
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
N is for noose by Sue Grafton -Cassettes
Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016

SINGLES:
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015
All Gone

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015
After I noticed the trend I went on a hunt for “bride” titles. I even pulled a couple from some of my long time collections(*). (But they are not getting read on my shelves.)

SINGLES:
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
A Necessary Bride by Debra Mullins
Border Bride by Deborah Hale

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

Shannon Drake –  Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

SINGLES:
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015 -- All Gone
SINGLES:
Servant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone


New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- 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
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
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.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser


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 almost six years I have posted 62 groups of 16 (992) books to find new homes! (as of November 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 967+ 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. 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!

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 $7.00 and $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)

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!

Audible Book Review: Birthright: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Book 4 by E.J. Stevens

I was more engaged with this installment and really enjoyed all the dangers navigated by Ivy and her friends.
Birthright: Ivy Granger, Psychic Detective, Book 4
Written by: E.J. Stevens
Narrated by: Melanie A. Mason, Anthony Bowling

Length: 7 hrs and 4 mins
Series: Ivy Granger, Book 4
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-12-16
Publisher: Sacred Oaks
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranomral, Detective
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Being a faerie princess isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Ivy must go to Faerie, but the gateway to the Wisp Court is through Tech Duinn, the house of Donn - Celtic god of the dead. Just her luck.
Unable to share her secret with Jinx, and with Jenna called away on Hunters' Guild business, Ivy must rely on Ceff and Torn to lead her to Death's door, literally, and back again. As if that wasn't dangerous enough, there's no saying what horrors lay in store within the Faerie realm. Too bad the Wisp Court is the one lead Ivy has in the search for her father - and possible salvation.
Maybe hiding away and dodging sidhe assassins isn't so bad after all.
Birthright is the fourth full-length novel in the award-winning Ivy Granger urban fantasy series by E.J. Stevens. The world of Ivy Granger, including the Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series and Hunters' Guild series, is filled with action, paranormal mystery, magic, dark humor, quirky characters, bloodsucking vampires, flirtatious demons, sarcastic gargoyles, sexy shifters, temperamental witches, psychotic faeries, and snarky, kick-butt heroines.
©2015 E.J. Stevens (P)2016 E.J. Stevens

Review:
Ivy has saved Jinx but she has to leave her behind protected by Forneus. Ivy can’t tell them where she is going as she sets off to follow the clues to find her father. She cannot continue to hide out pretending to be dead so she has to find a way to convince the Faerie court to drop their death order on her. Ceff and Torn are by Ivy’s side to face the dangers as they journey through Faerie land. If they can travel through the water and the forest safely, they hope to find the house of the Celtic god of the dead. If he does attack first, they hope to find the secret door to Wisp.

Each step poses its own dangers and surprises. Some channels recognize Ivy’s blood as the royal blood of her father the former King of the Wisps – this could be for good or ill.

I really liked the dynamics between Ivy and Ceff which is growing deeper. Torn is along to add his usually snark and insouciance. Although there seems to be a little repetition within the story, there is plenty of action that keeps the story moving at a good pace. We meet new characters, some villains and some friends. There is a new hearth brownie who is an especially fun addition. Ivy has to go through heartache and the twists in the story are well done as dark secrets are revealed.

Now that I have read books 3 and 4, I do want to read more in the series. I have book 1 for Kindle so I will get to that at some point. I recommend this series to urban fantasy fans who enjoy adventures in the mixed world of humans and paranormals (although this one is mostly paranormals).

Audio Notes: I have to admit that I didn’t realize that Anthony Bowling was not the same male narrator as Book 3. He did a fine job with the numerous male characters while Melanie A. Mason continued to a portray the females with distinct voices. Mason manages to convey Ivy’s pain as well as her strengths. The narration definitely enhances the story experience for me.

I received this audiobook from the author for an honest review. It adds to my Audio Challenge. Please check my review of Burning Bright, Book 3 and don’t miss the Giveaway feature.