Peering Through Life's Window

  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…” Isaiah 9: 6  Merry Christmas! The story behind  Discipleship Series  has its roots in the Christmas story. Because God loves us so much, He wanted us with Him, but He’s one-hundred percent good and can’t mix with sin. To separate us from the evil which entered our world when Adam and Eve sinned, he sent us a Savior, Jesus, who was born human in form, but with the spirit of God. As the only perfect person to live on earth, Jesus can stand before God. He suffered and died for our sins so someday we too can stand before God if we accept Jesus as our Savior.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to the apostles when they were eating. In Mark 16: 15- 16, “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” Over the past few years, I’ve heard how important disciples for Christ ar...

  A Warm Welcome to Tracy Wainwright Hi Tracy, thanks for telling us about your technique for getting rest in a busy life. About 10 years ago, I began feeling the call to implement a Sabbath rest into life. Over the last decade, I have done better at this sometimes and worse at others. Lately, following an exceptionally busy year and heading into the Christmas/holiday season, the idea of resting in the Lord and being intentional about observing a Sabbath has resurfaced. And it seems like I’m not the only one, as the topic seems to be coming up in a variety of spaces and platforms. But how do we rest in the midst of busy schedules, obligations, and commitments? 1 – We must be intentional. Once or twice a month, I spend some quality time with my calendar and plan a do-nothing, go-nowhere day. It goes on my calendar just like all the other things and I hold it as non-negotiable (barring emergencies). Because I’ve learned the importance of rest, I’ve decided to make it a priority. Know...

  Hats... Horns... The winner is... Congratulations, Melissa!

  A Warm Welcome to Carol James Carol will give away a digital copy of  Crocuses for Christmas to a U.S. resident. A Favorite dish for a Texas Christmas My most recent Christmas novella, Crocuses for Christmas , is set in a small fictional Texas town called “Crescent Bluff,” as are all my novels.  I’m sure you and your readers are familiar with Texas pride…as in everything’s bigger in Texas. Well, I’m here to tell you that somethings are, and somethings aren’t.  But, we do like our beef! While most people enjoy ham or turkey for Christmas. My family’s favorite is beef brisket. My step-mom gave me this recipe about forty years ago. At the request of my family, I’ve been making it every Christmas (and other holidays) for years. It’s easy to make and yummy to eat. I have yet to find a person that didn’t like it. (Of course, I haven’t tried it on vegetarians.) Bessie’s Oven Brisket 4 lb. beef brisket (If you have a big crowd you can get a larger brisket and sim...

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Children’s/Middle Grade: Key’s Secret by Jennifer Arrington and Albrey Arrington -- A strange blue envelope greets the kids of Coral Canal right before Labor Day weekend. Inside it contains a riddle and a set of instructions. Nobody, not even their parents, seems to know who sent the riddle, and the children only have five days to solve it and send photographic proof. (Children’s/Middle Grade, Independently Published)   Contemporary Romance: An Unexpected Texas Reunion by Heidi Main -- After a traumatic experience, Brenna Park hopes that leading a youth summer camp with her emotional support dog, Lulu, will help ease her back into her life. Only, she didn’t expect to be sharing the responsibility with the man she left behind a decade ago. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])   Not Exactly Mr. Darcy by Carolyn Miller -- What happens when history teacher O...