The Survivor by Shelley Shepard Gray

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Survivor Avon Inspire; Original edition (August 30, 2011)
by Shelley Shepard Gray
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Shelley Shepard Gray is the beloved author of the Sisters of the Heart series, including Hidden, Wanted, and Forgiven. Before writing, she was a teacher in both Texas and Colorado. She now writes full time and lives in southern Ohio with her husband and two children. When not writing, Shelley volunteers at church, reads, and enjoys walking her miniature dachshund on her town's scenic bike trail.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page

ABOUT THE BOOK

One of today’s most beloved authors of inspirational Christian fiction, Shelley Shepard Gray completes her acclaimed Families of Honor series with The Survivor—a poignant and beautiful story of love and faith in a small Amish community. Delving once more into the lives of these devout and fascinating folk, as she did in her popular Sisters of the Heart and Seasons of Sugarcreek novels, Gray tells the story of a young Amish woman who has survived the ravages of cancer, but now longs for the love of the one man who can heal her lonely heart. Like Beverly Lewis, Wanda Brunstetter, and Cindy Woodsmall, Shelley Shepard Gray introduces readers to characters they will never forget as she masterfully depicts a world of simple living, abiding faith, and honest emotions.

If you would like to read the first chapter excerpt of The Survivor, go HERE.
 

Computer issues

Just to let you know I've been faced with computer issues so blogging is on the back burner right now, well, if I can get my hands on a computer I'll blog.  I shut down my computer last Thursday evening and Friday morning it wouldn't start.  ARGH!  I went Sat. and Mon. to library but can only use it for an hour so that doesn't leave me with much time to blog.  I must keep up on my book blog so that is where my time is spent when I do get on.  You may visit me there I have some giveaways listed if you like reading, winter is coming so there will be time to read.  Stop by and leave me a comment.  I don't know how long I'll be without a computer.  What did we do before the computer???  Did we have a life or what?  Don't forget to visit me at 4 the LOVE of BOOKS.  Tomorrow starts a book giveaway Amish Values for Your Family by Suzanne Woods Fisher.

Take 'Em to Go! recipes

With kids heading back to school and the weather cooling down for some of us (sorry, Texas and other sweltering states) we thought this week would be a great time to round up all your portable lunchbox-friendly recipes.

Whether you're packing a picnic or looking for something other than PB & J to send to school, tell us...

What's YOUR favorite PORTABLE recipe?  Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up.

Visit Gooseberry Patch here.

Wordless Wednesday ~ short lay over in DC

Last week my daughter and I had a short train lay over in DC here are some of the things we saw while there. Wish we would have had more time to sight see.

front of Amtrak train station

Christopher Columbus fountain

inside Amtrak's Main Hall

Inside Amtrak's Main Hall

Inside Amtrak's Main Hall

Senate office building

Senate Office Building

Freedom Bell

Freedom Bell

US Capitol from afar

US Capitol Building

Supreme Court Justice Building

Washington Monument from afar

posted at:
A Renaissance Woman

My winnings...

I haven't posted things I've won in awhile so thought I'd do that today.

Don't remember whose site I won this cd-rom from, but non-the-less I won it and it was in my mail box

 

Won on Muse Reviews blog

Won this gift basket from Girl Gone Mom blog. This one came today and I'm so excited to try the coffees

Ransome's Quest by Kaye Dacus

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Ransome’s Quest Harvest House Publishers (August 1, 2011) by Kaye Dacus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Humor, Hope, and Happily Ever Afters! Kaye Dacus is the author of humorous, hope-filled contemporary and historical romances with Barbour Publishing and Harvest House Publishers. She holds a Master of Arts in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University, is a former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, and currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers. Kaye lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and even though she writes romance novels, she is not afraid to admit that she’s never been kissed.

Kaye Dacus (KAY DAY-cuss) is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there. She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. But her greatest joy comes from mentoring new writers through her blog and seeing them experience those “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The pirate El Salvador has haunted the waters of the Caribbean for almost ten years. When he snatched Charlotte Ransome, it was a case of mistaken identity. Now Charlotte's brother, whose reputation in battle is the stuff of legend, is searching for him with a dogged determination. But another rumor has reached El Salvador's ears: Julia Ransome has been kidnapped by the man feared by all other pirates--the pirate known only as Shaw. The violent and blood-thirsty savage from whom El Salvador was trying to protect her.

When word reaches William of Julia's disappearance, his heart is torn--he cannot abandon the search for his sister, yet he must also rescue Julia. Ned Cochrane offers a solution: Ned will continue the search for Charlotte while William goes after Julia. William's quest will lead him to a greater understanding of faith and love as he must accept help from sworn enemy and have faith that Julia's life is in God's hands.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Ransome’s Quest, go HERE.

Day by Day

This is one of my all time favorite songs....

Day By Day

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find, to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.

He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best—

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He Whose Name is Counselor and Power;

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”

This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

Ever to take, as from a father’s hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

BIBLE REFERENCE:

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9


Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:14-18


And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10


Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4


This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Psalm 119:50


And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20

Karolina Wilhelmina Sandell-Berg - Lyrics
1832-1903
Born: October 3, 1832, in the rectory at Fröderyd, Småland, Sweden.
Died: July 27, 1903, Stockholm, Sweden.
Buried: Solna Cemetery, near Stockholm, Sweden.

Oskar Ahnfelt - Composer
1813-1882
Born: May 21, 1813, Gullarp, Skåne, Sweden.
Died: October 22, 1882, Karlshamn, Blekinge, Sweden.
Buried: Karlshamn, Blekinge, Sweden.

HYMN HISTORY:

The waves of revival that swept the Scandinavian countries during the latter half of the nineteenth century were greatly influenced by the wealth of fine hymns which flowed from the pen of Lina Sandell, born on October 3, 1832 at Froderyd, Sweden. She was a daughter of the pastor of the parish church of that community. Being a frail youngster, she usually preferred to spend her time in her father's study rather than to join her comrades in play. When she was twenty-six years of age, she accompanied her father on a journey to Gothenburg, but tragedy occurred before the destination was reached. The ship gave a sudden lurch and Lina's father fell overboard and drowned before the eyes of his devoted daughter.

Although she had written hymns prior to this tragic experience, more songs began to flow out of her broken heart which reflect a simple, child-like trust in Christ and a deep sense of His abiding presence in her life.

The remarkable popularity attained by her hymns has been due, to a large extent, to the simple but melodious music written for them by such musicians as Oscar Ahnfelt. He was known as a "spiritual troubadour" in his day. Not only did he possess the gift of writing pleasing melodies that caught the fancy of the Swedish people, but he also traveled from place to place throughout the Scandinavian countries singing these folk-like songs to the accompaniment of his home- made ten-string guitar. Miss Sandell once said, "Ahnfelt has sung my songs into the hearts of the people."

Not only Ahnfelt, but also Jenny Lind, affectionately known as the "Swedish Nightingale," used her sweet voice in the singing of these heart-warming hymns. Though she was internationally known for her formal concertizing, it is said that she would sit with the common work-men at their crude benches and sing these simple hymns about the Savior she loved and served.

It is often true that whenever revival fires begin to glow, there is Satanic opposition. The account is given that at one time King Karl XV was petitioned to forbid Ahnfelt's preaching and singing throughout Scandinavia. The king called for Ahnfelt to appear before him. Being considerably perturbed as to what he should sing to his monarch, Ahnfelt requested Lina Sandell to write a special hymn. She was equal to the occasion, and within a few days the song was ready. With his guitar under his arm and the new hymn in his pocket, Ahnfelt appeared at the palace and sang these words:

Who is it that knocketh upon your heart's door in peaceful eve? Who is it that brings to the wounded and sore the balm that can heal and relieve? Your heart is still restless, it findeth no peace in earth's pleasures; Your soul is still yearning, it seeketh release to rise to the heavenly treasures.

The king listened with moist eyes. When Ahnfelt had finished, King Karl gripped him by the hand and exclaimed, "You may sing as much as you desire in both of my kingdoms."

The name of Andrew L. Skoog, the translator of this hymn, was well-known to the immigrant Swedish community in midwestern America in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was born in Sweden and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, at the age of twelve. He had only a sixth grade education, yet he edited seven hymnals, numerous works of the masters, and wrote a textbook on theory. For the last fifty years of his life he was active in the religious life of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area where he was associated with the illustrious Pastor E. August Skogsberg. The two men were frequently described as the Swedish counterpart of the Moody and Sankey team.

Lina Sandell was married to a Stockholm merchant, C. O. Berg, in 1867, but she continued to sign her hymns with the initials "L. S." by which she was affectionately known throughout Sweden. She has often been called the "Fanny Crosby of Sweden" for her many fine contributions to gospel hymnody.

Lina Sandell Berg is also the author of the beloved Swedish hymn "More Secure Is No One Ever.”



http://www.biblestudycharts.com/HH_Day_by_Day.html

Featured Friday @ the Patch....

gooseberry link up....

Since I'm gone today I'm going to just post the link for you to head over to Gooseberry Patch and see what they are offering in regards to recipes today.  While you're there take a look around they have fun stuff....Click on Icon below to get started. 

20 years of WIPs today.....And Wordless Wednesday

This week since I'm out-of-town I thought I'd post why I'm out-of-town it is because I'm taking my WIPs to school.  BooHoo!  sniffle sniffle.....  My first born is growing up.  She graduated from High School (homeschool) in 2009 and attended community college for two years.  Now this fall she's transferring to 4-year college in VA of all places.  3 days drive from home, across the country if you ask me.  But that is a mother's point-of-view.  Mom isn't liking this one bit.  and especially today because this is our final day before we have to say our good-byes which I hate good-byes.  My youngest and I will head home tomorrow morning on AMTRAK, nice way to go if you need to travel.  So with no further explanation my WIPs for this week.....ENJOY my pics. 

Happy Birthday

first day of school:  kindergarten

Class of 2009

accomplishments

first step toward dorm life

Lynchburg or BUST!

on to experience new...friends, surroundings and challenges

So there you have it folks my first born....My WIP I'm so excited to see where she's headed.

I'm also posting this at...

posted at:
A Renaissance Woman