Have you smiled today because of the simplicity of something? My boys just transformed my bathtub into the ocean, complete with a pirate boat, shells, a whale, and a stack of towels in the water with a palm tree perched in the center … clearly an island. Can’t say all that made me smile (especially the mess that’s still in my bathroom now), however, this video did the trick. Enjoy!

2 year old sings Lord\’s Prayer

Friends, I printed something this week and hung it up where I could see it regularly. My heads been spinning, so please forgive me for not remembering where I found this. Just know that I’m thanking God for the one to whom credit should be given. Here’s what it says.

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD.

Difficult moments, SEEK GOD.

Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD.

Painful moments, TRUST GOD.

Every moment, THANK GOD.

Let’s see if we can pick out the common factors … first, life is going to be filled with a smorgasbord of  MOMENTS. Some are going to be like dessert - rich and sweet. Other moments more closely resemble liver and onions. My nostrils are flaring at the very thought. But every moment has value in God’s economy.

Second, GOD is part of every MOMENT. When we have a relationship with Him, we are always in His presence, and we have the opportunity to share each moment with Him as we praise, seek, worship, trust, and thank Him.  

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,

though he is not far from each one of us.

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

Acts 17:27-28

In the last few weeks, I’ve had every one of the moments listed above and countless more. How about you? But I know that my life isn’t made up of big moments that define me, but of many moments that demonstrate God’s faithfulness, provision, and protection. This week, I encourage you to consider your “moments,” how God has been a part of them, and how you have (in the past) or will (in the future) share those moments with Him as you praise, seek, worship, trust, and thank Him.

With Holy Enthusiasm ~ Vicki 

Paige Kelley is a very sincere person. She is truly trying to be there for her Mom. The only problem is that her life seems to be all about her Mom.

~Julie

About the Author~
Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.

Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax-maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.

By the time she was 23, Laura had climbed the Eiffel Tower, trod the steps of the Parthenon, skied (okay, snowplowed) in the Alps, rode in a gondola in Venice, and wept at the ovens of Dachau. She’d also learned how to fold her underwear into equal thirds, make a proper cup of English tea, and repel the amorous advances of a blind date by donning combat gear and a gas mask.

Laura is a former newspaper reporter and columnist with a degree in journalism who has written hundreds of articles on many subjects ranging from emu ranching and pigeon racing to goat-roping and cemetery board meetings. However, realizing that livestock and local government weren’t her passion, she switched to writing humor, which she calls a “total God-thing.” Read the rest of this entry »

Breach of Trust like a MUST READ, according to my friend, Lori, who reviewed it for me. In fact, Rachel and Julie, my other reviewers, have already called dibs on it before I get to read it. That says it all … but in case you want to hear more, here’s the scoop:

This book is definitely a page-turner… or maybe I should say “Paige” turner, since the main character’s name is Paige! The quiet life of this small-town librarian doesn’t stay peaceful for long, and the reader is quickly caught up in the excitement and adventure. The suspense just keeps building as new discoveries and old secrets come to light, and Paige has some major life issues to resolve along the way. If you enjoy a fast-paced adventure filled with action, mystery, danger, and romance, you will love this story!  ~Lori

About the Author~

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

About the Book~

 Paige Rogers survived every CIA operative’s worst nightmare.

A covert mission gone terribly wrong.

A betrayal by the one man she thought she could trust.

Forced to disappear to protect the lives of her loved ones, Paige has spent the last several years building a quiet life as a small-town librarian. But the day a stranger comes to town and starts asking questions, Paige knows her careful existence has been shattered.

He is coming after her again. And this time, he intends to silence her for good…

Paige Rogers is a former CIA agent who lost all she treasured seven years ago when her entire team was killed in a covert mission. She blames their leader-Daniel Keary-whom Paige believes betrayed them. Disillusioned and afraid for her life, she disappeared and started a new life as a librarian in small town Split Creek, Oklahoma.

But her growing relationship with high school football coach Miles Laird and the political ambitions of her former boss threaten to unmask her. When Keary announces his candidacy for governor of her state, he comes after Paige to ensure that she won’t ruin his bid for office by revealing his past misdeeds. He threatens everything she holds dear, and Paige must choose between the life of hiding that has become her refuge . . . or risking everything in one last, desperate attempt to right old wrongs.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Breach Of Trust, go HERE

I’ve read previous books by Lisa Samson and have really enjoyed them. Samson is an edgier-than-normal Christian writer, and while I’ve enjoyed previous books she’s written, I know that her writing style isn’t for everyone. I have not read the latest book yet, but my friend, Julie, made a valiant effort. Unfortunately, it turns out that Samson’s style isn’t her cup of tea. Now that my retreats are behind me, I’m going to read the book myself. Here’s what Julie had to say:

The Passion of Mary-Margaretby Lisa Samson is an interesting, but confusing, book. Samson has a unique style of writing. Mary-Margaret is a Catholic sister, and Jesus often meets her and talks with her. I enjoyed the conversations they had and found myself wanting Jesus to talk with me in an audible voice. Because Jesus talking is imbedded in the story, I often had to reread those passages to know if it was, in fact, Jesus talking or another character. That was confusing. Read the rest of this entry »

My dear friend, Virginia (Ginny) Smith has another new book out. It’s called Age before Beauty and it’s the second book in the Sister-to-Sister series. All my blog readers should be familiar with Ginny. I’ve blogged about every one of her books and even hosted a “Virginia Smith” week last summer. Take a moment to check out her latest treat. After several months of insanity, I’ve rewarded myself with a day of sweatpants, (shhhh) no shower, and a good read … Age before Beauty. Stay-at-home moms, women who’ve had young children, and those of us who struggle with independence/control issues will feel a heart tug as they relate to Allie. As usual, Ginny points her readers and her characters to the Source of strength and love, even when we feel the most needy and unlovable. Well done, my friend. 

About the Author~
Virginia Smith left her job as a corporate director to become a full time writer and speaker with the release of her first novel Just As I Am. Since then she has contracted ten novels and published numerous articles and short stories. She writes contemporary humorous novels for the Christian market, including Murder by Mushroom, Stuck in the Middle, and her newest releases, A Taste of Murder and Age before Beauty.
In March of 2008, she was named “Writer of the Year” at Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference. An energetic speaker, Virginia loves to exemplify God’s truth by comparing real-life situations to well-known works of fiction, such as her popular talk, “Biblical Truths in Star Trek.” Visit Ginny online at www.virginiasmith.org.

 About the Book~

Desperate to stay home with her baby, Allie Harrod launches a new career. Sure, she dropped out of Girl Scouts because she was lousy at cookie sales, but makeup is different, right? She’ll do anything to make enough money to cover her share of the household bills, but how can she focus on her business when her list of problems is growing? None of her pre-baby clothes fit, her checking account is dwindling, and her mother-in-law has decided to move in! To top it off, her husband’s attractive coworker suddenly needs his help every weekend. Middle sister Joan insists that God has the answers to all her problems, but Allie isn’t so sure. Can she really trust him? Read the rest of this entry »