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Looking Out the Window: CBA Best Selling Author Maggie Brendan Shares a Beautiful Fall Devotional and Talks about Her New Book, Twice Promised. She'll Give Away a Copy..


Read about Three Heavens. She'll Give Away a copy of Twice Promised. To enter to win leave a comment and an email address.




AUTUMN SOVEREIGNTY

We are having perfect fall weather today, and I relish walking through my neighborhood each afternoon admiring the canvas of Godā€™s handiwork. Many times Iā€™ll carry my camera or cell phone to snap a picture of autumnā€™s beauty.

As usual, Iā€™m energized when leaves will soon change from deep orange, brilliant reds, and burnished gold from the oaks, sweetgums, and maples on either side of our boulevard.  I think God speaks to my heart through what I see reminding me of His goodness, and the fact that he remains faithful beyond what we humans can begin to conceive or even comprehend.

He does this in many ways, but one thatā€™s so evident to anyone with a pair of eyes, is by ushering in fall with all its brilliancy on time without fail. The cerulean sky is cloudless and bright as I look up knowing that beyond this atmosphere is the third Heaven in all its splendor where He sits at the right hand of the Father. I contemplate my loved ones whoā€™ve passed from this life, awaiting the time that they will return to this earth to reign with him right where Kind David ruled in Israel and my soul is comforted.  Isnā€™t that a wonderful promise? God said Heaven is My throne and earth is My footstool, from where he observes the poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word. Psalm 14:2.  Heā€™s not saying that we should be scared of Him, but rather that we take His Word seriously and be humbled at His sovereignty. 

Did you know that Heaven is mentioned 559 times in scripture? Did you know that there are three Heavens?  One is the atmosphere where the bird, the wind and clouds are.  The second Heaven is the celestial Heaven where the sun, moon and our solar system hangs.  The third Heaven is where God dwells.  God has placed eternity in our hearts and nothing else will entirely satisfy us while we have our temporary existence here on earth.

As I take my daily walk contemplating our bad economy, terrorism that we face, and our changing world status, Iā€™m reminded that my hope is in Heaven and not Washington politics as America faces another presidential election.  Have you considered this? So I dwell on the sovereignty of Godā€™s glorious autumn and this verse comes to mind: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7.)




About Twice Promised

Two beautiful brides. One unsuspecting groom. Three weeks to figure it all out.
Greta Olsen arrives in Central City, Colorado, as a mail-order bride, expecting to marry Jess Gifford, the man sheā€™s come to know through his tender letters. But when the dust clears, she meets Cora Johnson and discovers sheā€™s not the only bride waiting at the train station for Jess.

Already shocked to find they must compete for Jessā€™s affection, the young women can hardly believe it when not Jess but his brother Zach picks them up from the stationā€”and reveals that Jess knows nothing about any mail-order bride, let alone two. Will either bride make the match she hopes for?

Filled with surprises, misunderstandings, and tender romance, Twice Promised is the story of how two unlikely women become twice blessed.

 Praise for Twice Promised
ā€œTwice Promised is another great love story by Maggie Brendan . . . with fast-paced plot twists as the characters find their way to true love.ā€ā€”Mary Connealy, author of Over the Edge, In Too Deep, and Out of Control

ā€œMemorable characters and solid storytelling abound in Maggie Brendanā€™s delightful tale. The two romances will double your reading pleasure, and the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. I loved it!ā€ā€”Margaret Brownley, New York Times bestselling author of the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series

Bio
Maggie Brendan is a CBA bestselling author, was nominated for the Rita, a finalist for Inspirational Readerā€™s Choice awards and a finalist for Heart of Excellence award for Deeply Devoted. She is a member of the Authorā€™s Guild, the American Christian Fiction Writers, Romance Writers of America, Faith, Hope and Love and Georgia Romance Writers. She is the author of the Heart of the West series. Her latest series is The Blue Willow Brides. When sheā€™s not writing, she enjoys reading, singing, painting, scrapbooking and being with her family. You can follow Maggie on her website here and her blog, Southern Belle Writer She is also a resident blogger on Bustles and Spurs

Buy Links
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Comments

Love the cover of your book and I would LOVE to WIN a copy to read .Thank you so much for the contest !! Blessings ,Dana
Jodie Wolfe saidā€¦
I've been eagerly anticipating Maggie's new book in this series. I'm so excited it is finally out. Congratulations Maggie. I would love to win a copy.

Blessings,
Jodie Wolfe
digging4pearls(at)comcast(dot)net
Jo saidā€¦
I would love to read this book. The cover is beautiful!

Blessings,
Jo
azladijo(at)aol(dot)com
Kelly M. Long saidā€¦
Maggie Brendan is a bright light in Christian Fiction. Her wisdom shines forth in all that she writes!
Love,
Kelly Long
Sheryl Barnes saidā€¦
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of your new book. The cover is beautiful. Very appealing. Should catch the eye of a lot of people.

Sheryl
RedeemedReaders@bellsouth.net
Amy C saidā€¦
I have read some good reviews on this one!
Campbellamyd at gmail dot com
Kim F saidā€¦
Sounds like a great story and thanks for the reminder to stop and check out God's glory every day!

babykf629 at gmail dot com
Linda from Georgia saidā€¦
Your book sounds like a wonderfully good "read." I'd love to win a copy. If I don't, I believe the stores will gladly take my money.
Marissa saidā€¦
I can't wait to read this!! I've read all of her other books. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Could you give a reference of where in the Scriptures it says there are three heavens? I'd like to know.

Thanks for doing the giveaway!

marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com
Merry saidā€¦
I've been waiting for Twice Promised, what a fun storyline! Please include me in the drawing.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
Athena saidā€¦
I can't wait to read it, sounds like an amazing story!
mama2six (at) bresnan (dot) net
Kelly Z saidā€¦
This book looks like a great read! Thanks for giving away a compy! Kelly Z kzavala(at)tds(dot)net
Tina Pinson saidā€¦
congratulations on your new release, Maggie. Love the premise of story. And I agree the cover is great. Would love to be in the drawing

tina_pinson(at)yahoo(dot)com
spangldlady saidā€¦
I was really impressed as I read about the book. Sure would like to win it---it is right up my alley :D
Blessings! Darlene

spangldlady[at]gmail[dot]com
Susie saidā€¦
Thanks for the giveaway!
Maggie Brendan saidā€¦
Marissa, In ! Kings 8:27, it mentions heaven and heaven of heavens--meaning several. I'm on editorial deadline but I quickly looked up a couple references for you. Hope this helps.

Scripture describes three heavens not just one. Many people believe they are going to heaven when they die and one question for them might be "to which heaven are you going?"
The FIRST heaven mentioned in Scripture is the sky: the abode of blue birds, blue flies, and blue airplanes. Genesis 1:20, Job 12:7, and Psalm 8:8 (and other verses) speak of this first heaven.
The SECOND heaven described in Scripture is "outer space": the abode of the sun, the moon, and the stars. Genesis 15:5, Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalm 8:3 all speak of this second heaven.
The THIRD heaven spoken of in Scripture is the spiritual realm that is the abode of G-d and angels. Ephesians 1:20 says that the Father has raised Messiah from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. Paul tells us about a man who visisted to this third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4. Many scholars believe that Paul was speaking modestly of himself and his (possible) death in Acts 14:19.

Thanks for asking, Marissa!



Wendy Newcomb saidā€¦
Very interesting, enjoyed reading about the three heavens. Thank you for hosting this giveaway, I would love to have this book.

wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
Angie Adair saidā€¦
Such a great giveaway! Would love to read this book.. angadair@nwcable.net
Sounds like a great read from a perfectly lovely lady! I want to get ahold of this book. May even break down and make my Kindle read it to me in its tinny voice! Blessings!
Anonymous saidā€¦
An intriguing and interesting plot. I am sure the message in it is powerful.

jringalls@msn.com
Janice saidā€¦
I just got home from Wed. night Bible study where we discussed heaven so it was nice to read about the third heaven as an expansion to what we discussed.

Deeply Devoted was a treasure of a book. I loved the characters and the tension of how they worked through their difficulties. I know I will like this Blue Willow Brides book, too.

Thank you for the opportunity to win it. And thank you for sharing the devotional thoughts, particularily relevant this evening with the presidential debate coming on television in a short time from now.

Blessings, Janice
jsmithg(at)hotmail(dot)com
June Foster saidā€¦
Thank you for your beautiful devotional. Twice promised sounds like a book I'd love to read.
Shopgirl saidā€¦
This sounds like a very cute story! I can't wait to read it!
Anne Payne saidā€¦
I love this time of year. The colors and cool temperatures are refreshing to my spirit.

Thanks for the opportunity to win Maggie's book. I love her stories!
Many blessings during this wonderful time of year ~ Anne

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net
Jaime Wright saidā€¦
Great premise for a novel - but then Maggie always knocks it outta the park! jaimewrightbooks at gmail dot com
Anonymous saidā€¦
I would love a chance to win this great book. I love the plot and can't wait to see what happens. Thank you for this opportunity.

clSwalwell@gmail.com

In Him,

Cheri
Maggie Brendan saidā€¦
Janice, isn't that neat that y'all were studying heaven and then I write about it? That's a God thing!

Anne and Jaime--thank you for your encouraging remarks about my books!I hope you enjoy the new one. I just got the title for book #3 and it's a great one--Perfectly Matched!

Thank you again, Gail, for the chance to share my devotional. :)
Gail Pallotta saidā€¦
Thanks for sharing your devotional and telling us about your new book, Maggie. Having you was my pleasure.

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