Sunday Words of Encouragement January 22, 2023 - Fasting for God's Will

Our Sunday School is now studying James. Our teacher was excited this morning as he shared the lesson from James 1:1-5, which he titled “Say What?” James was addressing believers who were going through times of persecution and hardship. James was giving a direct message of encouragement and reality i.e. 'put on your big girl pants'. Face the situation with joy and active patience because the trouble will lead to endurance in your faith.

We had beautiful worship and praise which ushered in the presence of God. Pastor’s message was from Isaiah 58:1-8 to address God’s meaning of fasting versus man’s meaning. God is directing Isaiah to admonish the people who seek God daily and who look like they are doing right but have deceived themselves. James 1:26. It is stated repeated in the Bible, “everyman looks right in his own eyes”.

God looks at our hearts and motives. Proverbs 21:2. Fasting with wrong motive is not good. We should not be seeking our own agendas, but rather seeking to do God’s Will. We need to ask God to allow us to follow His Will.

We should not seek our own pleasures but seek His will. It is part of honoring the Sabbath, known as the Sabbath principle. Give the day to worship and to God, trusting that He is able to maintain the world, and particularly our own world, without us.

While fasting, the flesh will rebel. We need to die to self and show the fruit of the Spirit: self-control.

As children of God we should be walking in the Spirit. We may get agitated, but, like Christ, we should be angry without sinning. If we are led by our flesh, we are disqualified from blessings.

Humbling ourselves in fasting is just one step. The next is to seek His Will and be available as a servant to God. God wants to restore us and the surrounding circumstances through us.
He wants to break all yokes in our lives and let us find freedom in His Will.

We're not a submitted church for just 2023, but for generations to come. Being submitted starts with the people wanting God more than their own pleasures. Allow Him to restore and rebuild.

I found this song which is fitting for today’s message: Trust in You.

Verses for Today:
Isaiah 58:6-8
6“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.


My Heavenly Father, Redeeming Lamb, and Guiding Spirit, I know you see the bigger picture in my life and in all the world. I pray that You will help me to surrender to Your Will.

Audible Book Review: Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1 by Janice Cantore

I enjoyed this Christian police procedure thriller and will want to get more in the series.
Crisis Shot: The Line of Duty, Book 1
By: Janice Cantore
Narrated by: Alice Anne English

Series: The Line of Duty, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 34 mins
Release date: 09-05-17
Publisher: Two Words Publishing, LLC
Genre: Clean & Wholesome, Police Procedural, Thriller & Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Tess O'Rourke dreams of becoming the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. As commander of the East Division, she is well on her way...until the night she responds to an officer-needs-assistance call and fatally shoots an unarmed teenager. Despite being cleared of wrongdoing by a grand jury, Tess is so hounded by the public that she takes a job in Oregon to escape the bad press.
Winning over the residents of Rogue's Hollow might be more difficult than adjusting to her new role as police chief in the small backwater town - especially when her closest friend, the pastor's wife, goes missing and the woman's cousin is found shot. Tess finds an ally in sheriff's deputy Steve Logan, but as they track down Rogue's Hollow's first murderer, she worries that she's breaking one of her rules and getting too close to him.
©2017 Janice Cantore (P)2017 Two Words Publishing LLC

Review:
Tess O’Rourke became a police officer like her father. She was working hard to become the first female chief of police in Long Beach, California. One night she responds to the call of another officer and finds four teens beating the officer with a baseball bat. Three of the boys flee but one stays and ignores her demands to step away. When he reaches for the fallen officer’s gun, Tess fatally shoots him. A local radio journalist starts a campaign against her, ruining her local career even though she is ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.

Tess sends out many resumes but only gets one likely interview. She is hired as the new Chief of Police in a small Oregon community with mixed reactions by the hiring team and the residents. When her new friend in town, the pastor’s wife, goes missing, and the woman’s cousin is found shot, Tess finds herself under great scrutiny as she conducts her investigation. She is glad to have an ally and friend in sheriff’s deputy Steve Logan, even as she tries to resist their growing attraction.

There were several good twists in this story, and it moved along quickly. There is a good bit of Christian faith sharing which might not suit all readers, but I found uplifting. I plan to seek more titles in this series. I recommend it to readers who would enjoy a Christian Police Procedural thriller.

Audio Notes: Alice Anne English does a good job with the narration. She provides distinct voices and accents for the female and male characters. She also presents the story with fitting emotion. I enjoyed the audio experience.

Source: 1/2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audio Book Review: Joy to the Wolves, Red Wolf, Book 1, by Terry Spear

I enjoyed the mystery and shifter romance in this story.

Joy to the Wolves
By Terry Spear
Narrated By: Mackenzie Cartwright

Series: Red Wolf, Book 1
Duration: 10 h 28 min
Release date: 10-08-20
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Genre: Holiday, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Summary
As Christmas approaches, red-wolf shifter Brooke Cerise unexpectedly inherits an antique shop in Portland, Oregon. But when a missing reindeer calf turns up on her property, she becomes embroiled in a kidnapping case and the primary suspect of far-too-intriguing shifter Detective Josh Wilding. Josh doesn't intend to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, but Brooke gets under his skin from the moment they meet, and he can't help his instinct to protect her. These red wolves are both on the hunt for love, but there's a mystery to solve before they can enjoy their holiday happy-ever-after.

Review:
Brooke wasn’t really ready to move to Portland, Oregon, when she inherited her Aunt’s antique shop there. But the inheritance came with a treasure hunt, so Brooke was intrigued. She was surprised when she found a reindeer calf in her courtyard. Josh, a local Detective and part owner of the Wilding Reindeer Ranch, is suspicious of Brooke when he finds the cute calf drawing in customers to see the reindeer while they shop. He is also surprised to realize that she is a red-wolf like him.

Josh begins to hang around the shop a lot first to investigate how the reindeer got there. Then he remains after Brooke experiences a break in. She was able to overhear the intruders and knows they are hunting something that was sent to her Aunt. Josh and Brooke now have two mysteries to solve as they begin to deal with the attraction drawing them together.

This is an engaging shifter story. I enjoyed the mysteries, the bit of suspense, and the growing romance relationship. There are several intimate scenes that were more detailed than I prefer but those were balanced with the plot mysteries. I found it a little unrealistic that Josh and some other detectives were so readily available but there is leeway in fiction. The story isn't particularly a Christmas story but the reindeer is a nice addition. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy shifter romance with a good side of mystery.

Audio Notes: Mackenzie Cartwright is a good voice for this book. She provides a nice energy and distinct reading even if her male voices aren’t really differentiated. I did enjoy the audio.

Source: 9/26/2021 Audiobooks.com Two for One Credit. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Detroit Christmas, A Grimnoir Chronicles Audio Drama, by Larry Correia

This is a fun, quick listen, although not quite what I hoped for. I was filling time before starting a long book for travel. This Christmas title by an author I enjoy seemed like a fit.

Detroit Christmas
A Grimnoir Chronicles Audio Drama
By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: full cast


Series: Grimnoir Chronicles
Length: 1 hr and 12 mins
Release date: 02-11-16
Publisher: Baen Books
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Private eye Jake Sullivan is a war hero - and an ex-con. He's free because he has a magical talent, and the Feds need his help in apprehending criminals with their own magical abilities. Jake's talent is gravity spiking. He can vary the force of gravity however he wishes in an area. When it comes to spiking, Jake is the best.
Now a rich beauty walks into his office to hire Jake to find her missing husband, a magical healer who has ties to the Detroit mob. Jake takes the case, but little does he know that there are plots within plots waiting to ensnare him, and solving the case may require fighting for his life with the odds stacked against him. But Jake is used to that. And now it's Christmas. Time to deck the walls with splattered bodies!
Detroit Christmas is a richly imagined, fully produced audio play, with original music, film-quality sound effects, and an amazing cast.

Review:
Jake Sullivan is a tough guy – a former war hero and an ex-con. Now he is a private eye who works with the Feds to help capture criminals with magical abilities. Jake is needed as he has a unique magical talent – he can gravity spike increasing or decreasing the gravity around him to escape quickly or put a lot of pressure on others.

Jake is engaged by a rich beauty to find her missing husband, a magical healer. The man is sought by several groups prone to injuries, including a mob gang. Jake has to follow the clues to find the man, even if the clues draw him into pretty apparent traps. That’s okay, Jake is accustomed to leaving a trail of bodies behind him.

I totally enjoy the Monster Hunter International Series written by Correia. I have also listened to one of his stories in The Adventures of Tom Stranger, Interdimensional Insurance Agent. This story, in the Grimnoir Chronicles, is more of along the line of the Tom Stranger variety. Jack is a hard nosed-detective hired by a distressed female and that reminds me of old time private eye stories.

This is a very fast paced story, full of action which supersedes the mystery element. Of course, it is a short book so things move along quickly. I have book one and a couple more of the short novels to listen to in this series. I recommend this to fans of private eye stories and characters with supernatural abilities. Don’t expect it to be a sweet Christmas book.

Audio Notes: This is a performance by a full cast. There are 13 character voices and plenty of background sounds like gun shots, sirens, body slamming, and more. The background level noise was busy and sometimes made it hard to catch the dialog. Still, overall, I enjoyed the production.

(By the way, if you like old time detectives check out: The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio.)

Source: August 2020 Audible Plus Catalog Free Selections. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Sunday Post January 15, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 16, 2023

I am linking with Sunday Post at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? now at The Book Date (at Wordpress)

What Are You Reading? is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

We don't have a full report on my DIL surgery and cancer yet. However, the doctor did have to take a slice of cheek bone right under her eye so that is not good. He advised that he might not have gotten clear margins based on that location.

We continue to stay busy at work while catching up slowly.

I decided to try a vegetable casserole today. Not precisely like the recipe but close and yummy.

My continuing prayers include prayers for more unity in all nations and a calmer atmosphere in 2023. Praying for friends and families dealing with grief.

This week the weather was mostly nice until later in the week as it got cold and damp.  The week ended with very cold weather on Saturday with no higher than 50 during the day and down to 29 during the night.  Brrrr for me and my puppies.

I finished two audios and posted three reviews with my memes.

I visited 18 blogs again last week.
Shout out this week to GIRL PLUS BOOKS. I really like Tanya's profile comments which includes: "Lover of Fictional Characters." Check out the rest.

Audiobooks.com is still sharing some free listens for children.

• Sunday Post January 8, 2023/It's Monday! What are You Reading? Plus Mailbox Monday January 9, 2023.

• A2022: Audible Book Review: The Legion Awakes, The Sleeping Legion, Book 1, by J.R. Handley; Genre: Military, Space Opera; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
  

• A2022: Audible Book Review: TFS Ingenuity, The Terran Fleet Command Saga, Book 1, by Tori L. Harris; Genre: Alien, First Contact, Sci Fi, Space Opera, Technothriller; My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.0; Narration 4.0.
  

• ATBR: Audible Book Review: Sheryl Crow, Words + Music Vol 6, by Sheryl Crow; Categories: Biographies & Memoirs, Entertainment & Celebrities; My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.
  

• Sharing Beyond Books #454 Comment Giveaway January 14, 2023. Open Worldwide. Ending 2/11/2023.
  

• Sunday Words of Encouragment January 15, 2023 - Anchored in the Shaking Waves by Johnathan Cahn.
  

Finished Reading:
1. NetGalley App on Smartphone (NG2022)

Coup de Grâce
By: Paul Centeno
Narrated by: Rob Jones UK
Length: 10 hrs and 40 mins
I like SteamPunk and this was a good adventure.
Source: December 2022 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

2. NetGalley App on Smartphone (NG2022)

The Prayer Warrior
By: Traci Wooden-Carlisle, D. Tina Batten
Narrated by: Anita Faye Thomas
Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins
This is a positive Christian novel.
Source: December 2022 NetGalley.
Click on book title for full description.

Currently Reading:
1. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

Forging Zero: The Legend of ZERO
By: Sara King
Narrated by: Liam Owen
Series: Legend of ZERO, Book 1
Length: 21 hours and 54 minutes
This is an older TBR and my first Number pick. I am engaged by the sci fi story and already 3/4 done.
Source: 11/28/2016 Audible Sale.
The Legend of Zero begins the epic journey of 14-year-old Joe Dobbs in a post-apocalyptic universe following a massive alien invasion of Earth. The oldest of the children drafted from humanity's devastated planet, Joe is impressed into service by the alien Congressional Ground Force - and becomes the unwitting centerpiece in a millennia-long alien struggle for independence.
Once his training begins, one of the elusive and prophetic Trith appears to give Joe a spine-chilling prophecy that the universe has been anticipating for millions of years: Joe will be the one to finally shatter the vast alien government known as Congress. And the Trith cannot lie. But first Joe has to make it through bootcamp.

2. Audible Smartphone (ATBR)

The Last Tribe By: Brad Manuel
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Length: 22 hrs and 42 mins
Release date: 06-14-16
I wanted another long book and a post-apocalyptic.
This fits and is also a new to me author.
Source: 05/17/2020 Audible Credit pick.
Publisher's Summary
Imagine being alone in the world, one of only a handful to survive a global pandemic. Not only do you struggle to find food, water, and shelter but you also deal with the sadness and losing everyone you know and everything you have.
Fourteen-year-old Greg Dixon is living that nightmare. Attending boarding school outside of Boston, he is separated from his family when a pandemic strikes. His classmates and teachers are dead, rotting in a dormitory-turned-morgue steps from his room. The nights are getting colder, and his food has run out. The last message from his father is to get away from the city and to meet at his grandparents' town in remote New Hampshire. Knowing the impending New England winter could be the final nail in his coffin, Greg packs what little food he can find and sets off on his 100-mile walk north with the unwavering belief that his family is alive and will join him.
As the fast-moving and deadly disease strips away family and friends, Greg's father, John, is trapped in South Carolina. Roadblocks, a panic-stricken population, and winter make it impossible for him to get to his son. John and his three brothers appear to be immune, but they are scattered across a locked-down United States, forced to wait for the end of humanity before travelling to the mountains of New Hampshire.
Spring arrives, and the Dixons make their way north to find young Greg. They meet others along the way, slowly forming the last tribe of humanity from the few people still alive in the Northeast.
©2015 Brad Manuel (P)2016 Podium Publishing.

Again, I will decide on the next book when I get there. :-)  I'm thinking maybe the next book in an ongoing series.

January 15, 2023 -  I am enjoying this new plan on YouVersion. I totally enjoyed watching the devotion videos so I am doing another BibleProject plan: The Full Story - "From the beginning to the Amen" .  I have never done a Chronological reading before. I think I will enjoy it.
I added a three day study during the week that was good: STILL: A 3-Day Devotional by Michael W. Smith.

I finished two audio titles and reviewed three so I am making slow progress. I am now behind 10 reviews (I missed two in my list the last two weeks).  I continue to work on these.

NETGALLEY STATUS--
I still have three current titles from NetGalley, two audio and one ebook.
I still have the two old ebook titles. I went ahead and said "no feedback" for A Place Called Armageddon as a DNF.
I have one author review in my queue that I need to start reading on my computer.
(Plus a few that I received from Facebook links and newsletter sign-ups, not specific review requests.)
Still many titles through InstaFreebie and many new author requests I haven't replied to.

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs. This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) and after a tour of hosts has returned to its permanent home at Mailbox Monday. Thanks to the ladies sharing hosting duties: Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit, me and new to the team, Velvet at vvb32reads. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I didn't hold out too long on not buying new books since there was a good Audible sale where I picked up 3 audios, and then a daily deal I liked.
I also added ten free sci fi titles through Audible Plus Catalog.
I will pick my VIP selection before the end of the month at Audiobooks.
I won't have new credits at Audible until the 19th so I won't select those until after that.
Unless I find something at NetGalley or free on kindle, I might go three weeks with nothing new!
I got no free Kindle titles again this week.
Are your mailbox and TBR piles blooming?

Review Titles

NONE

Won

NONE

Purchased

1/12/2023 Three books at $3.95 each from Audible’s First in Series sale.

The Mayflower Bride
Daughters of the Mayflower Series, Book 1
By: Kimberley Woodhouse
Narrated by: Sarah Zimmerman
Length: 7 hrs and 15 mins
I have had my eye on this series for a long time.

Love's Unfading Light
An Eagle Harbor Novel Series, Book 1
By: Naomi Rawlings
Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins
This looks like a series I will like.

Mr. Gardiner and the Governess
A Regency Romance (Clairvoir Castle Romances, Book 1)
By: Sally Britton
Narrated by: Jessica Elisa Boyd
Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
I have always liked stories about Governesses.

1/14/2023 Audible Daily Deal:

The Librarian of Crooked Lane
The Glass Library, Book 1
By: C.J. Archer
Narrated by: Marian Hussey
Length: 8 hrs and 9 mins
Put a library with magic and I'm interested in this series by an author I have enjoyed.

Free

1/14/2023 These TEN Audible Plus titles showed up while I was preparing my sci fi review on TFS Integrity. These military and space opera series include book 2 in the Terran Fleet, three sets that include Books 1 and 2, two books in other ‘new-to-me’ series, and then the 1st book of two more sci fi series. Four of the authors are ‘new to me’ as I have not read titles from them yet.

TFS Theseus: The Terran Fleet Command Saga, Book 2
By: Tori L. Harris
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: The Terran Fleet Command Saga, Book 2
Length: 7 hrs and 56 mins

The System States Rebellion Omnibus: Books 1-2
By: Dietmar Wehr
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: The System States Rebellion, Book 1-2
Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins

Bounty Hunter: Publisher's Pack (Book 1-2)
By: Rachel Aukes (New to Me Author)
Narrated by: James Anderson Foster
Series: Bounty Hunter, Book 1-2
Length: 14 hrs and 48 mins

Time Wars Last Forever: Publisher's Pack
Books 1-2
By: Craig Robertson (New to Me Author)
Narrated by: Scott Aiello
Series: Time Wars Last Forever, Book 1-2
Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins
(This is also in the Time Travel genre.)

Genesis: The Holy War Series, Book 1
By: Rick Partlow (New to Me Author)
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
Series: Holy War, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Judgment Day: The Holy War Series, Book 2
By: Rick Partlow
Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
Series: Holy War, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Sky Hunter: A Targon Tales Prequel
By: Chris Reher (New to Me Author)
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Series: Targon Tales, Book 0
Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins

(Book 1 acquired through Audible Plus in March 2022.)

Only Human: Targon Tales, Book 2
By: Chris Reher
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
Series: Targon Tales, Book 2
Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins

Forerunner: AI Fleet, Book 1
By: Isaac Hooke
Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
Series: AI Fleet Series, Book 1
Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins

Starship Eternal: War Eternal, Book 1
By: M. R. Forbes
Narrated by: Jeffrey Kafer
Series: War Eternal, Book 1
Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins



No new titles added to Kindle library. Free titles often found at Bookbub, Bookfun, Book Adrenaline, Ereader News Today, Inspired Reads, Pixel of Ink or Kindle ebooks.