Happy May 1st!

So my family members and I have a habit of texting or calling each other every time it's a new month and being the first to say "Happy (Whatever-month-it-is) First!"

My sister got me today. I got a Happy May 1st text this morning, before I'd even have coffee. Watch out, Sissy. June is mine. ;)

I'm excited that it's May because that means summer's coming and I'm excited because it means Talon, the next book in Ronie Kendig's A Breed Apart Series, is officially out today!

Seriously, y'all. If you like romantic suspense and you haven't discovered this author yet, you're completely missing out.

Aspen Courtland, the heroine of the book, is someone readers of the first book in the series have already met. To be honest, while I liked her fine in Book 1, I was surprised my how much I utterly adored her character in this book. She's got depth, spunk, plenty of temper, and a romantic heart. What's not the like there? Seeing her spar (verbally and physically) with the hero was great and I loved the chemistry between the two of them. Sparks were practically flying off the pages of the book, I'm telling you.

The suspense in this book is excellent. The pacing is just right and I never felt like the more romantic scenes were rushed, but there was plenty of rapid machine gun fire and plenty of explosions to keep my heart pounding and keep me reading way (too) late into the night. The plot was complex and kept me guessing and trying to figure out how everything tied together.

Ronie Kendig, who I just started reading a couple of years ago when I read Digitalis (book 2 in an incredible series--read book 1 first!), is quickly becoming one of my top five favorite Christian fiction authors of all time. I loved her first series, and the main thought it my mind when I finished Talon a couple days ago was that she just keeps getting better.

The only bad news? I have to wait until next year for Book 3. But it'll be worth it. Check this one out, you'll be glad you did--even if it keeps you awake half the night like it did for me. =)








***I forgot that I'm supposed to tell you I received a complimentary copy of this book. I wasn't, however, required to post a review at all, and would never tell you a book was awesome if it wasn't. This one was. Trust me.***

A Beautiful Day!

It's gorgeous here today. If you live in the middle of the country, or wherever the severe weather is today, I'm sorry for you, really, but I'm SO glad it's not here. We had enough icky days a few weeks ago and I'm 100% in favor of the sun shining like it is today.

The only problem is that it's hard to get things done!

Here's what I'm pondering doing during naptime.

1. Laundry. The never-quite-conquered beast that lives in piles all over my house. Maybe it's really the laundry's house and it's just letting me live here...scary thought.

2. Write. Always good. But I already did this earlier. So, technically, it would be good, but probably there are other things that should be a higher priority today.

3. Laundry.

4. Read. Because if writing is my 'job', then reading is like research, so I'm really working, right?

5. Lay in the sun. Except it's not good for your skin and I'm getting old enough to care about such things (traumatizing thought of the day...)

6. Laundry.

I'm seeing a common theme appearing over and over in my list. I'm thinking it's going to be laundry.

Tune in later this week for a post that may pertain to your life at all. Today, blogger was my list-maker to help me get OFF this computer and DO something.

Thanks y'all. You may now return to your regularly scheduled internet surfing. Or go do your own laundry. Whichever. ;)

So Glad for Sunday

This is written after Easter. I got caught up in the day, in celebrating the fact that Jesus really IS alive, that I forgot to post.

I also forgot to dye eggs. And hide eggs.

But you know what? I love all that stuff. But this year, it was about staying focused.

It was about driving to the Easter Sunrise service at my little church, two kids miraculously in the car before 6:40am, and watching the sunrise. It was about watching the day dawn and thinking to myself that 2,000 years ago, creation awoke the same way, with the Resurrection having just become a reality.

As I drove, I wondered how God viewed that morning. Did He rub His hands in silent anticipation as He saw the disciples awake, still depressed and confused about their Rabbi's death? Did He smile and say "Just wait...Wait and see..."?

I don't know. But I know He was eager for people to see, to understand, how He was writing Redemption's story as Jesus conquered death and defeated Satan for all time.

Did you hear that? For. All. Time.

The Resurrection is real. Jesus is alive.

How does that change you?

We Weren't Worth It

Today is Good Friday.

Such an odd, but appropriate name for this day, the one that marks 2,000 years since the Son of God was brutally beaten and executed for no crime he'd ever committed. He was falsely accused, several legal proceedings were done incorrectly in an attempt by the religious and political leaders of the day to silence Him by putting Him to death as soon as possible.

This is the God who holds the world together, down to the smallest molecule. He was doing so while He was accused. While He was beaten. While He was mocked.

He could have stopped it at any time, but He didn't. Because He was obedient to the plan God has, because He loved you.

2,000 years ago Jesus hung between two thieves who were being punished for their sins. But He hadn't done anything worthy of punishment. YOU had.

If today doesn't move you, if you don't care, if you don't believe it has any significance, I'm pleading with you, please read the story. If you disagree still, if you find you 'can't' believe (though believe me, friend, if you WANT to believe, God will give you the faith you need), then that's fine. But I'm asking you to try. Mark, chapters 15 and 16, detail the story I think you should read again. Don't come at it with any preconceived notions, okay? Just read it. Think about it. 

And realize how little sense it makes.

My husband was preaching the other day on a parable (a story that has a lesson) that Jesus told. In it, the owner of a vineyard was trying to collect the profits and he kept sending servants and they kept getting beaten or killed. Finally, he sent his son, the only one he had.

And they killed him too.

I admit it. I got a little irritated (are pastor's wives even allowed to be irritated in church?) as I thought about this story. Seriously? The man sent random servants and they were killed. Yet he sent his son? To collect something of such little value as a portion of the profits of a vineyard? That wasn't worth the life of his son, not at all. As I sat there in my seat, thinking of how little sense it made, I felt like I'd been slapped.

God, the one who created the universe, sent His only son for us. Because He loves us and wants us back. Because He knew that the wrong we had done could only be atoned for by Jesus, a perfect sacrifice, dying in our place.

Logically speaking, we weren't worth it.

But God's logic isn't like ours. And to Him, we were more than worth it. 

If you're already a Christian, soak this in this Easter weekend. Remind yourself how unworthy you are of His grace, and of the fact that you've received it anyway.

If you're not a Christian, know this. I believe that Jesus' death provides a way of salvation for anyone who wants it. All mankind who acknowledge that He is the only way to Heaven. BUT I think if God had known that YOU were the only one who would accept that gift, the only reason for which His beloved Son would die? I believe He would have given Him for you anyway.

Wow.

Think about that this weekend. Let your mind try to wrap itself around the incomprehensible love of God. More to come Sunday.

Why I'm Not Boycotting Starbucks

And believe it or not, it has nothing to do with the fact that I love the taste of their coffee.

There are three things that are bothering me about this latest hate-on-Starbucks campaign. Here they are.

First, I don’t see what boycotting Starbucks is accomplishing. Yes, they’re pretty pro-gay marriage. I’m not. And if you’re a boycotter, I’m guessing you’re not either.  Let me make sure you understand where I’m coming from to start with.  I believe in marriage as I believe God defined it in the beginning. One man and one woman. I support that with my whole heart and will support that in public forums as it seems appropriate to do so. BUT if you’re a boycotting Christian, is this stance really the one you want a lost world to notice you making? Because the message they’re receiving is not that you care about your convictions. The message they see is that this issue is so above-all-else-important to you that you hate those who disagree with you. You want their businesses to suffer for the fact that they disagree.

And while I don’t think it’s what you mean, people who agree with Starbucks’ stance may think you hate them to. And that you think God hates them.

You don’t. At least, I hope not. He certainly doesn’t. So why would you risk sending that message?

Second, what is refusing to drink their coffee accomplishing? You’re trying to lessen their profits, right? It’s a “we’ll show them!” mentality. How is that appropriate as a Christian?

If you genuinely have a conviction against giving them your money when they support causes you disagree with, that’s fine. But please, be consistent and boycott Every. Single. Company. whose values are not in line with yours. Research them all. If you want to do that, by all means. That’s truly your choice and if that’s what you need to do, feel free. But don’t tell me it’s not okay to drink Starbucks and then turn around and support another company who’s less public in the causes they support that you disagree with, but that supports them nonetheless.

Third, as far as I can tell, the not-so-cutesy little photos going around facebook telling you to stop going to Starbucks are nothing more than gossip. Did you research that photo before you shared it? Or did you just think about the 85 likes you were going to get from fellow Starbucks-hating friends and not bother to fact check? According to my research, the CEO of Starbucks said something in the context of a meeting that made perfect sense. Someone pointed out that revenue dropped when they supported gay marriage. The CEO said if you don’t like it, feel free to invest somewhere else.

End of story. Anti-climactic, right? Nowhere did he say that if you’re anti-gay marriage, he doesn’t want your business. Isn’t that what the picture you’re sharing says? Turns out maybe that picture is a bit of self-righteous “telephone-telephone” gone wrong.

Think before you jump on the next bandwagon. That’s all I’m asking. Think, and pray.

Not Forgotten!

I haven't forgotten part two of my list.

Honest.

I haven't.

But my eyelids are sticking to my eyes and I feel like that's a bad sign, so I'm going to get offline and go to sleep. Hopefully more tomorrow...?

Learning List

Hey y'all! I have another post up at Scribble Chicks today--check it out! =)

Also, I wanted to jump on here and say that I've been learning a ton lately. Because this is one of those times I'm pretty sure I would completely ramble if I tried to explain them all in detail, I'll go for a list and maybe explain more later.

Besides, I have a french press full of coffee next to me that says I'm actually supposed to be working on my next novel, NOT blogging. But the blog called to me. So what can you do?

Things I'm Learning:

1. If you want friends, you have to be one. That takes effort. Especially if you're an introvert. (Have you seen all the introvert comics going around facebook? yeah...)

2. If you take the time to invest in people and really listen to them and care about them, they like that and will be your friend. Yes. This is lots like number 1. I'm learning this a lot.

3. It really IS true that we all have 24 hours and choose what to do with them. My house isn't as clean as I'd like, BUT it's cleaner consistently than it has been since forever and that's because I finally decided it matters to me. You have time. Make sure you're doing what matters to you in that time.

4. Style is personal. And you can just get a FEELING something is awesome and it will be stylish because you like it. Trust what you love. I bought some amazing-beyond-all-reason boots yesterday. The kind where I'm planning my outfit for the next time I go out around what I can wear with those boots.

5. Time with God doesn't have to be long for it to be meaningful. Talk to Him as you, as you live life. And spend time reading your Bible too, or long amounts of time praying alone if you can and want to. But don't set time limits.


There are more. Look for part 2 sometime this weekend. As for now, I really have to go back to my work in progress or my coffee (aka 'writing juice') will get cold. I'm not sure if there's possible symbolism there or not, but who wants to take that chance?

If you want more, remember to check out the other blog post for today!