The News is Out!

I'm so excited to finally be able to share our bookcover. Lynn and I are absolutely in awe of how God has orchestrated this book, right from the beginning to where we are now working with our fabulous editor Kim Bangs and the rockin' Regal team. They are the best! Their team came up with THE perfect title and a gorgeous cover.

God is doing amazing things with this book—His book. You can read our post over at S.U.M. to read our official announcement. Praise God and blessings to you!

A Life That Speaks

Recently we sang the song “Blessed Be His Name” in my church. As in the story of Job, one part of the song conveys the words that God gives and takes away. I have to admit this part always bothered me. It always seemed so harsh to me that God took away Job’s family and home, that God takes away anything good.

But as I grow closer to Him, I’m realizing that often what we cling to as good isn’t God’s best. (I’m not referring to Job here.) I’ve also learned that anytime God removes something from my life, even if it’s something that seems good, it’s for my best or for a greater good.

Unfortunately, the idea of giving something up for a greater good doesn’t fly well in today’s philosophy of pursuing happiness. The idea of sacrificing something for someone we love is considered repugnant when it means we can’t have what we want too...

Read the rest at S.U.M.

Contemplating Peace

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7

For days now this verse has had me contemplating peace. It’s a word that appears to have universal meaning yet seems to have multiple sources of origin. That’s the part I’m contemplating. What does peace mean and where does it come from? There’s inner peace and world peace. Seemingly different but I’m beginning to wonder if they are connected in a way we’ve yet to consider.

Read the rest at Laced With Grace...

Dead Reckoning by Ronie Kendig

I mentioned last week that I'd be featuring a fantastic author this week. Well, here she is. Ronie Kendig is a fabulous author. Her books are riveting and her characters are unforgettable. This is the kind of author you want to find so you can read everything she writes.

AND...I have one copy of this keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat book for one fortunate commenter. Leave your email address (with spaces) so I can contact you if you win! Enjoy!

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing
Dead ReckoningAbingdon Press (March 1, 2010)byRonie Kendig
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters
and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series begins in July from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Underwater archeologist Shiloh Blake is consumed with passion for the water and inflamed at the injustices of life. When her first large-scale dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she flees for her life.

When she spots a man trailing her, the questions are, Who is he? And how is he always one step ahead? Is the man trailing her an enemy or a protector sent by her CIA father?

Reece Jaxon is a former Navy SEAL and now serves his country as a spy. His life is entangled by the beguiling Shiloh Blake as he hunts down the sources to a nuclear dead drop in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, India. The only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with Reece. Will Shiloh violate her vow to never become involved in her father's web of intrigue and mystery? Will she reconcile with her past and with him? Will she allow God to help her throught this ordeal of danger, mistrust and uncertainty?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dead Reckoning, go HERE.

A Day for Praise

Can I just take a moment and tell you how great our God is? I know it completely defies logic, but I have found Him closest and have come to know him best through the trials in my life. For that reason, how I can regret any of them? My treasure it so huge! My God is massive! He's the center of my world.

My family has been through a lot the last couple years. We're on the down side of some of it and in the middle of other parts, but I am praising God for all the good he is bringing from these trials.

Romans 8:28 was ingrained in my heart before I ever read a Bible. I remember reading it the first time as an adult and having such strong affirmation of it's truth because I'd lived it since childhood. I know God put that in my heart when he created me. He knew that verse would be the heart of my life, the fuel to my perseverance.

So much more will come—trials, blessings... I'm not afraid of the trials anymore. I know God will be there and equip us with everything we need. This is the peace that defies understanding and the joy in trials. I know some days will be harder to find that place, but God is there and I will always seek him.

I pray God will bless you richly this day with his love and amazing presence. He's our greatest gift and treasure.

Now I have a gift for you. I have a copy of When Someone You Love Has Cancer by Cecil Murphy and beautifully illustrated by Michal Sparks (hey, I'm an artist. Gotta mention the creative guy.) Leave me a comment about what you are most thankful for and I'll draw a name. Be sure to come back and check who won or leave your email address (with spaces to avoid the bots!) so I can contact you.

Come back Monday for another book give-away from one of my all time favorite espionage/thriller authors. She's awesome!

Contest at Laced With Grace

Laced With Grace underwent a total redesign that is superb thanks to the talents of Lori Kasbeer. AND, this month to honor the LWG ministry, they're giving away a $50 Amazon gift certificate.

So roll (and click) on over there, check out the new design, and enter the CONTEST. God bless and thank you!

Miracles?

I was dumbfounded the other day to see I've been blogging for five years. Then it dawned on me that I've yet to share some of the miracles that have happened recently. Like my header says, miracles come from God. And my family has seen several over the last couple years.

The most recent was my daughter's MRI. I've shared how she was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor the fall of 2008. Now, just a year later, her MRI is completely clear. Even the original duct for the cerebral fluid is working. We new this toward the end of last year, or so I thought. The miraculous part is that this duct is completely clear and the swelling is gone. We're told this is highly unusual.

But it's so God. His miracle. A gift to us.

I feel like we're on the final part of this journey that began almost two years ago. God's healed my daughter physically, and continues to heal her emotionally. I am in awe.

God's faithfulness is so amazing. There's just no limit to it. I don't know how people go through life without God to hold them up. I couldn't do it. No way. I'm just too weak. God is my strength. My Jesus keeps me going.

So, there you go. A miracle. One of many in our lives recently and certainly a significant one. The amazing thing is...just daily living and loving is a miracle waiting to happen.

Go do it. Be part of a miracle. :-)

MISSION: Julia!

My awesome "twin" (not by birth but by spirit!) Ronie Kendig is the author of Dead Reckoning, her first book! It's an awesome book I might add, so be sure to check it out. You will LOVE her characters.

And speaking of characters, Shiloh certainly put things in a tailspin over at Novel Journey yesterday. Let me tell you, that girl is..., well, let me just say, Reece has his hands full, but you have to love the way she's going all out to find his sister, Julia.

So here's the next clue, seekers! Hang in there. We have to find Julia before it's too late!

When Shiloh Blake’s first large-scale underwater archeological dig traps her in the middle of an international nuclear arms clash, she is forced to flee for her life into the streets of Mumbai, India. Is the man trailing her an enemy, or is he sent by her CIA father to protect her? Whoever he is, the only way to end this nightmare and prevent a nuclear meltdown is to join forces with former Navy SEAL Reece Jaxon.

Make sense, eh?


Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. Her novels include Dead Reckoning (March 2010, Abingdon Press) and Nightshade (July 2010, Barbour Publishing), Book#1 in The Discarded Heroes series. She speaks to various groups, volunteers with the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and mentors new writers. Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com.