Looking Out the Window: Staci Stallings Holds Two-Day Give Away of Her New Book

Staci Stallings is a Contemporary Christian author and the founder of Grace and Faith Author Connection.

Staci has a special surprise for you today, Feb. 1st, and tomorrow, Feb. 2nd
FREE ON KINDLE TWO DAYS ONLY!

Coming Undone

ABOUT COMING UNDONE

"If you've ever searched for love, been afraid to love, or lost someone you love, you will love Coming Undone."
The story of two people trying to live life by the world's rules who find that loving someone only happens when you learn to love without asking what you're going to get in return. Available as a free download from Amazon today and tomorrow only!
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Undone-ebook/dp/B005GGP3HI/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

An Encouraging Story From Staci

Over Puddles, Underappreciated

by Staci Stallings

In the process of doing ticket sales for our elementary school, one of the fun things I get to do is stand in the drive line in the mornings and help the kids get out of cars. Now at our school, we have the “safety patrol.” These are our fifth grade students, who stand out in the drive line in their orange safety vests and help get the kids out of the cars and to the school door.
I happen to be working with three very wonderful kids–two boys and a girl. Over the course of the last couple of weeks, we have come to enjoy working together and teasing one another. This morning something happened that I think you should hear about.
See, I hear a whole lot of noise in our world about the upcoming generation being “lost” or “unfocused” or “lazy.” I hear a lot about how people don’t know what this world is coming to, and they are fearful for what comes next when “this bunch” gets to be in charge. Well, I’ll be frank with you. I’m not worried. The kids I work with are polite and helpful. They will go out of their way to assist you. They are bright and enthusiastic and kind.
Great example: The two boys I work with on the drive line. Don’t get me wrong, the girl is great too. But I expected that because I know her and know that she is great. The boys surprised me.
There is one suburban that pulls up every morning and the three of them race to unload it. Here’s the thing, though, in this van is a set of twins. The twins are about three years old, and they cry every single day! They are both in car seats with backpacks and lunch boxes. It is a job to get them out. Half the time we end up with one or two safety patrol in the van unbuckling and helping the kids out. In many cases even once they are out, they are crying–not angry, just sad.
And these boys and this girl–the “lost” generation–race to this van to get to help these kids into school. Often they end up carrying one or both of them, the backpacks and the lunchboxes, going, “It’s okay. It’s going to be fun. You’ll see.”
This has always amazed me.
Then this morning they topped even that. A small sport utility vehicle pulled up and because of where the parent stopped, the child had to navigate a rather large puddle by the curb. The boys immediately recognized that this would be a problem. The first one opened the door. The child, about 4, was having trouble getting out of the car seat, so our hero boy gets in and helps her. As he went to get out, the other boy came over to help. First boy hands out the small pink backpack and the lunchbox and mat to second boy. Then the first boy said, “We have to be careful. There’s water here.”
He gets out, straddles the water, and lifts the little girl from the back over the water, safely to the curb. The grateful mom said, “You boys are so sweet to her” even as the second boy was helping her get her backpack on and handing her the lunchbox and saying, “Tell Mom bye.”
“Lost”? I don’t think so.
If I’m ever in need of a hero, these are the guys I want on my team!
Copyright Staci Stallings, 2010

Looking Out the Window: Memories on the Heart

Several weeks ago my husband, Rick, and I ate at a restaurant we frequent fairly regularly. The cute, young waitress who usually waits on us took our orders for burgers and fries. I’ll call her Mandy. As usual Mandy’s smile and bubbly personality brightened our day. We giggled and confessed to her that we shouldn’t eat the fries, but we were going to do it just this once. She joked. “Okay, you’re being bad today.” Not long after we got our food a couple came in and sat in the booth behind us. Mandy walked up to the table with her big grin. “Hi, how are you?” she asked. The man, who had salt and pepper colored hair and a pudgy face, spoke in a harsh tone, “I want the steak.” “Sure, which one would you like?” Mandy asked. “I don’t want you to put it in the microwave. That will make it tough. Do you understand?” Mandy’s lips turned down. “Yes sir, which one do you want to order?” “I want it medium rare. I don’t want blood oozing out of it. I want it cooked right.” “Yes sir, which steak di

Looking out the Window: Bible Study Leader Kristi Neace Says God Won't Fail Us and Introduces Us to Her New Book, Pathlight to Praise. Free Bible Study Coming Soon.

A Warm Welcome to Kristi Neace Kristi shares a devotional. She will start a new Bible study on Facebook in July. Watch for the announcement, giving the exact date and time on her Facebook Page Scriptural videos also available. See below.* In a Pit? Psalm 40:1-3‚ “I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Can you think of a time when God helped you out of a low place? Perhaps something had caused you to spiral downward, or maybe like the Old Testament character, Jonah, you had run away from God so as not to have to do what He was asking of you. Through this passage, we see that David was experiencing this first-hand. He was in a place of despair, yet God was gracious, and after some time, placed David in a new area of serv

Looking Out the Window: Brandy Heineman Talks about Writing and Her New Book, Whispers in the Braches

A Warm Welcome to Brandy Heineman Photo credit: Copyright Emilie Hendryx of E. A. Creative Photography, 2014. Hi Brandy, lots of writers enjoyed reading as a child. How about you? If so, what did you read? Oh, yes. I always loved to read. I adored mysteries— The Dollhouse Murders and Behind the Attic Wall come to mind—and of course I had my Baby-Sitters Club and Sweet Valley High phase, my Roald Dahl phase, my Judy Bloom phase . . . I was quite a bookish child, I’d say! About Whispers in the Branches In 1942, Ruby lost something. In 2012, Abby found it. Abby’s love life, career, and faith are in shambles when she first hears Great Aunt Ruby’s claims that the family home is haunted. Abby moves in, determined to shake out a ghost, but the secrets she discovers there aren’t the ones she hopes to find. Whispers in the Branches is my first novel. It was released earlier this year by Elk Lake Publishing. Buy Whispers in the Branches on Amazon Where

Peering Through Life's Window

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