Peering Through Life's Window

Award Winning Author Eva Marie Everson Talks about Finding Refuge in the Eye of a Storm. Eva Marie is offering a free book to one lucky reader who leaves a comment. She's picking a number, she's writing it down--will yours be the one? To win a copy of Eva Marie's Latest Book be sure to leave a comment and your email address.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                FINDING REFUGE BECAUSE OF A STORM I found a place of refuge because of a fierce storm. Not just one, actually. Four. The 2004 Hurricane Season is one most Floridians will long remember. In August, Hurricane Charley swept around the eastern coastline, encircling the state, and threatening to hit the west coastline. Instead, on Friday morning August 13, 2004, Charley took a turn toward Port Charlotte near the Southern tip

Anne Payne wins Christa Allan's Walking on Broken Glass. Congratulations, Anne!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Christa reminds us in a poignant, touching way that parenting is forever, and we need God's help. She will be giving away a copy of her debut novel, Walking on Broken Glass. Look for her new book, Edge of Grace , in August.                                                                                                         WATCH ME                                                       You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb." Psalm 139:15 NLT When my children were young, we lived in an area with a community pool. The kids and I would schlep there, the car a container of wiggling bodies, pool toys, and over-sized towels. Sometimes Penny, our saved from the dog pound pooch,

Christian writer, speaker Leigh Delozier shares her experience the day the clouds stood still when she walked on the beach in Charleston, S.C. BEACH WALKING WITH GOD It’s a beautiful spring day, and I’m walking on the beach in Charleston, SC, with friends while we enjoy a girls’ weekend away from the world. The sun is already warming things up and the sky is bluer than blue, even though there are a lot of clouds trying to cover it up. But they’re pure, white clouds with no rain in sight – it’s just the right setting for a lazy day together. The sand is flat and packed down perfectly for walking. Countless shells lie half-buried near the water. So many colors, so many shapes, so many designs. Seeing things like that reminds me just how creative God really is. Waves curl and roll up and back, up and back, depositing new shells while they steal away others. Where did the shells come from? How far have they traveled? How many beaches have they washed up on, only to be pulled back

Book Release Celebration for Mystery/Adventure Novel and Book Give- Away May 23 – June 1  To win a mystery/adventure novel with a touch of romance, leave a comment at http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com/ . But that's not all! You may also be eligible to win two free e-books as part of this contest. Montezuma’s Treasure and Family Secrets are Themes for Mystery Novel Mysterious events, the search for Montezuma’s treasure, a good-looking rogue, and family secrets! How important is it to learn about the past? Will it make a difference in one’s life and the choices we make? To April, it makes a big difference. Knowing about her parentage changes her perspective of life. With a blend of mystery, adventure, humor, and sweet romance, Linda Weaver Clarke creates a story based upon the adventures of a married couple and their three daughters in “Montezuma Intrigue.” When a leather parchment of Montezuma’s map is found in great-grandfather Evans’ old chest, April and the tw

Linda Weave Clarke won Shannon Vannatter's White Doves. June Foster -- Christine Lindsay's Shadowed in Silk. And Lauren Brooks -- Jo Huddleston's Amen and Good Night God. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to the authors for sharing their wonderful devotionals and books.

 Jo will be giving away a signed copy of her prayer book, Amen and Good Night, God. Equipment for Valley Travel My bedside vigil stretched into days as I watched meningitis suck precious life from the still form of my college-age child. Sunday afternoon I sat alone with my daughter, watching the disease apparently winning its battle. Gone were the twinkle in her eyes and the ready smile on her lips. The nurse had just left, the same one who had been coming in every 15 minutes to take vital signs. Pained and discouraged, I watched when she recorded on her chart a blood pressure reading only half what it should be. Alone again in the hospital room, each of us experienced our own unique agony. Lying curled in a fetal position, my daughter moved only her eyes. With them almost swollen shut, she looked up at me through her consumed torture. "Mother, this may be my time to die," she whispered. No panic or fear registered in her words or in her fevered eyes. The same th

Christine will be giving away a download of her new book, Shadowed in Silk . To enter to win leave a comment with an email address. SECRET PRINCESS India’s evening air caresses like warm silk. A small mountain of kid-sized sandals sits close to a wooden beam holding up the makeshift roof. Voices of hundreds of children fill this tiny Christian church in the center of the bustling city in the south of India. The children sit on rugs, thick blankets, and bamboo matting on a floor of deep, clean sand. Counselors and specially chosen kids from the congregation lead in dance sequences. The Indian style music, heavy with the beat of tom toms, and each willow-like hand gesture and foot movement holds traces of ancient India. It was at a camp setting like this one that a young girl by the name of Priat first heard about Jesus Christ. Like many of the children in this camp setting, Priat came from a low-caste Indian family, the Dalits. In years past this group of p

                                                              "Serve the LORD with gladess; come before His presence with singing."Psalm 100:2 People love to hear music when they attend church. It adds another dimension to the service. I am sure that in your own personal experience you recall times in your life that were heightened by the music being played in church. My father’s funeral is one such memory, to me. Even this week’s Royal Wedding was uplifted with glorious music and the divine songs of a choir. But harmony is not always prevalent. We have been experiencing a crisis in our church choir for months now, one that has tested the limits of our tolerance and true Christian spirits as individuals and as a group. The trouble began last October when our music minister and his wife, the organist, resigned. Our Pastor and self-appointed Choir Spokesman set out together to search for a new Music Director. They recruited someone who was approved by the Parish counc

On Monday, May 2nd, relax have a cup of coffee and join me at Coffee Time Romance. I'll have an interview and blog about Love Turns the Tide. Read free excerpts. It's http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts . I'll be giving away a free download of Love Turns the Tide. See you then!

WRITER MOM “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” (Psalm 127:3) The offer made my mouth water. Imagine a conference promising a free critique by a professional editor. It was the stuff of a starving writer’s dreams. My dilemma: as a stay-at-home mom, I rarely spent more than a few hours away from my eight-month old son. An editor willing to evaluate my manuscript over a casual dinner beckoned to me. However, the thought of leaving my son for an entire day gave my heart a painful thud. As always, my husband supported my desire to write. He urged and eventually cajoled me to attend the seminar. I expected to miss my baby, but never anticipated just how badly. As I prepared to leave that morning, hubby walked me to the car holding our son. A quick kiss goodbye and my guys turned toward the house. Our son’s questioning gaze over his father’s shoulder almost convinced me to stay home. At the conference, though the speaker interested me, thoughts

Often children remind us of truisms we've forgotten, or haven't heard in a long time. Sometimes we hear a youngster say something that's so true, and we comment, "Out of the mouths of babes." When I've observed elementry students playing in groups, I've often noticed how they talk about caring. There are such phrases as "Who cares?" "Tell somebody who cares," "Nobody cares," "I don't care," and "Why should I care?" to name a few. Even at this early age, they, like us, seem to be searching, reaching out for someone who will be concerned if they're sad or hurt. No one cares more about us than Jesus. He suffered and died on the cross for our sins. If we trust in him, he'll be there for us. His compassion is so much deeper than we can imagine; his power so great he rose from the dead. Matthew 28: 1- 6, "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary w

AND THE WINNER OF THE GOLD STANDARD IS... HATS AND HORNS... JO LEGAT Congratulations, Jo!

LISA LICKEL WRITES ABOUT G OOD WORKS GIVING UP SOMETHING AND GRACE Lisa's giving away a copy of her Barbour mystery, The Gold Standard Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. --Joel 2:12-13 It's Lent, traditionally a time of mourning, of self-contemplation and self-deprivation. Most of the people in my circle don't pay it any more mind than Advent. My husband I moved about a year and a half ago to worship with a new congregation after spending our whole married lives with one body of believers. We are learning different ways of celebrating our Lord and Savior, and it is good. We are also able to share some of the meaningful traditions from our former congregation; one of which is to gather during this time as a smaller group. Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn and he will heal us; he has struck down and he will bind

Hi Regina, First, tell us a little about yourself . Thank you so much for having me here today, Gail! I live in Providence, RI, and grew up in nearby Barrington. After graduating from Providence College I attended the University of Delaware, eventually earning my Master’s Degree in American Civilization from Brown University. Nature inspires me and my husband and I enjoy visiting nearby Cape Cod. My hobbies include Travel, Museums, Theater, Classical Music, Choral Singing and Gardening. Also I am a radio host for In-Sight, an association dedicated to providing services to the visually impaired of all ages. What an interesting and rewarding life. Tell us about your latest book. My newest book is “Light of the Heart. This is Book One in the Sterling Lakes Series. The premise of the Sterling Lakes Series is how the renovation of the church in town leads to a rebirth of the entire town itself on many levels – physically, emotionally and spiritually, to name a few. “Light of the Heart” deal

AND THE WINNER IS.... LINDA WEAVER CLARKE CONGRATULATIONS, LINDA!

INTERVIEW AND BOOK GIVEAWAY FOR CATHY'S DEBUT NOVEL Hi Catherine, first, tell us a little about yourself. Okay, here goes! I was born and raised on the island of Bermuda, where I still live with my hubby and two-college age kids, when they’re home. I went to school here and in England, and Canada, where I earned a BA in English from the University of Toronto. We also lived near Toronto for the first seven years of our marriage, which convinced me I’m not cut out for Canadian winters! I love dogs and gardening. I’m pretty shy around strangers, but I love meeting new people and traveling. Sounds like you got to live in some fascinating places growing up. Were you an avid reader as a child? What did you read? Oh yes! I loved to read everything, mostly Enid Blyton when I was little, she is a British author who wrote fabulous children’s stories. My mom used to enjoy mysteries so as I got older I read a lot of those, and then we started reading Wilbur Smith. I started the bent towa

AND THE WINNER OF TRANQUIL MOMENTS, SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT FROM THE ISLAND OF MAUI IS....DRUM ROLL... Anne Payne. Congratulations, Anne!

DEVOTIONAL AND BOOK GIVEAWAY Excerpt from TRANQUIL MOMENTS, SPIRITUAL REFRESHMENT FROM the ISLAND OF MAUI by Eileen Rife Son Blockers “Make Your face to shine upon Your servant; Save me in Your loving kindness.” –Psalm 31:16 Sitting on the sand outside our motel in LaHaina, I apply more sunscreen, smoothing it over my arms and legs, covering every exposed area to block the sun’s harmful UV rays. I want the glorious benefits of the sun’s warmth and light, but I realize, in this marred world that too much exposure may come with a price: detriment to long-term health. Indeed, the tainted earth and heavens groan with longing for their redemption, freedom from the effects of sin, just as I long for release from this imperfect body in which I dwell. A curse fell on the world like a wet blanket, snuffing out the laughter and joy at God’s creation party. And so we both wait—creation and I—for the final, freeing touch of the Son’s hand. In the meantime, I want nothing to block Him from my view.