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Archives For June 2011

A story that filled up my heart and July giveaway information

Renee Ann Smith —  June 30, 2011 — 53 Comments

I have favorite books for every mood or season of life I’ve experienced. When I rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 (on Good Reads or Amazon), I give 4′s to the novels that are well-written, suspenseful, and engaging. I save the 5′s for those books that mean something more to me.

A 5 is for a novel that has helped me grow as a person, comforted me, filled up a crack or two in my heart, or bolstered my faith in God. I think Martha by Diana Wallis Taylor earned a 5 because it did all of these things. This lovely story brought to life a woman I’ve long admired. Martha was specifically mentioned in Scripture as a friend of Jesus. He felt at home in her house, visited frequently, and trusted her to make his followers comfortable as well. I loved how the author depicted Jesus speaking to Martha’s heart and making Himself a part of her life, as in this excerpt . . .

“The disciples, enjoying a respite after long hours on the road, were in a mood to celebrate. Thomas pulled a kinnor, a small harp, from his sash and began to plunk its strings, sending a simple melody through the courtyard. Mary picked up her lyre and joined in the music. Jesus seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, his eyes dancing with the music. Martha suddenly felt like celebrating with them.

As the hour grew late, Jesus rose from the table and his disciples, ever aware of his movements, rose with him. Martha hated to see them leave. ‘Master, you are welcome to sleep here.’

Jesus at Martha's house

‘You are kind, Martha, and a generous hostess, but we will retire to the Mount of Olives for the night.’

‘Will you come again?’

He smiled and she was lost in the depths of his eyes. ‘I must travel a long way, but whenever we are in this area again, we will come.’

Jesus glanced to where Thomas and Mary were talking quietly. ‘I believe at least one of my disciples has good reason to return also.’ His eyes danced and Martha was filled with love for him—not the love she’d known with Thaddeus, but a holy love, deep and abiding. It didn’t matter what others said about him. She knew who he was.”

The author created a beautiful inner voice for Martha. I found myself hurting with her as she bids farewell to loved ones, struggles to release cherished dreams, and prepares to embrace a solitary life. The peace that Jesus gives Martha felt real to me. Both those who have experienced that peace—as well as those who are seeking it—will enjoy this novel.

Also, I thoroughly enjoyed the happy ending Diana Wallis Taylor imagined for her sweet main character. Did it happen that way for Martha in real life? Someday I’ll ask her!

***Available June 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Thanks to Revell for providing my review copy of this book. Don’t miss this uplifting story! Follow this link to purchase your copy.

July Giveaway Contest: At the end of July, I’ll be giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card to one fortunate commenter. All you need to do to be entered is comment on any eligible post up until July 31st. (I will label the contest posts.) I will then submit all names to the Random Number Generator to determine a winner. I will submit your name as many times as you comment, but you also have a great chance of winning by commenting on just one post! Today’s post is the First Contest Post.

***So feel free to comment and also tell me if you’d like to be included in the drawing. Or you could just leave a comment to say hello. (We bloggers love that!)

Journey to the Well: You can order Diana’s first book from Amazon.com at this link.

About the author: Diana Wallis Taylor lives with her husband Frank in San Diego, California. Between them they have six grown children and ten grandchildren. She serves on the board of the San Diego Christian Writer’s Guild and is active in Christian Women’s Fellowship. Follow this link to visit Diana’s website.

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Book Suggestions, Giveaways, Monthly Giveaway , , ,
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The Constantine Codex

Renee Ann Smith —  June 28, 2011 — 13 Comments

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12~

Sometimes I take for granted the power and beauty of the Scriptures. I recently finished a book that brought this home to me in an entertaining way: The Constantine Codex by Paul L. Maier.

In this novel, archeologists Jon and Shannon Weber uncover an ancient biblical manuscript containing the lost ending of Mark plus another letter from a New Testament author. At first, I couldn’t suspend my disbelief long enough to really get into the story. So I did some reading about The Dead Sea Scrolls, which were uncovered in 1947—during modern times—to remind myself that God’s world still holds many wonders and mysteries yet to be discovered.

The Constantine Codex is fast-paced, exciting, and informational. Since Jon Weber has friends all over the globe, the action takes place in exotic lands as well as here at home. And since he’s a Harvard professor, he and his colleagues are able to both explain the significance of the ancient texts and debate the merits of their faith systems as they do so. Somehow Jon ends up with a possible fatwa on his head, explores crypts with the help of a buddy from the Vatican, and yet finds time for romantic dinners with his beautiful wife Shannon, who actually found the codex to begin with.

I enjoyed the elements of this story that reminded me of a National Treasure type adventure set in Bible lands. But the scenes that spoke to me most were the ones where the Christian scholars read the codex to each other. Their reverence for the Word, their tears over the apostles’ courage in the face of death, their determination to defend the faith at all costs touched my heart. These fictional characters inspired me to make sure I haven’t lost my first love for God’s Word!

***I so appreciate Glass Road Public Relations providing my review copy of this novel. You can pick up your copy of The Constantine Codex here.

Follow this link to view author Paul L. Maier’s page at the Thomas Nelson website.

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Book Suggestions , ,
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Forever After (or planting seeds, VBS, and Hallmark movies)

Renee Ann Smith —  June 27, 2011 — 12 Comments

“‘I remember going to this church one summer.’ Her voice was almost a whisper. ‘It was a Vacation Bible School or something—and they invited all the kids in the neighborhood. Mom made Becky and me go, and they talked about that—about Christmas. I thought it was so weird . . . talking about Christmas in July. But there was something I always liked about that.’

Part of the set for my church's VBS--happening this week!

‘I’m going to go out on a limb,’ he risked, ‘and say maybe God planted a seed in your heart way back then.’

She looked skeptical. ‘A seed that’s supposed to grow into what?’

He grasped for an answer that wouldn’t scare her off. ‘Into knowing Him. I think God knew we’d have this conversation one day. And I think He wanted you to know that you can know Him . . . just like you know me.’

She gave a humorless laugh. ‘Wow. You and God are pretty tight, huh?’

‘Oh, yeah’—he held up a hand and crossed his fingers—‘we’re like this.’

She nodded, leaning forward, so much hope in her eyes. ‘But how do you know, Luc?’

‘You just know’—he placed a hand over his heart—’in here.’
~~from Forever After by Deborah Raney

If an author wrote about folks helping out in Vacation Bible School or teaching a Sunday school class or sharing a passing word about the Lord with a friend or neighbor, it wouldn’t make for a very exciting plot. I probably wouldn’t buy that book. Yet those are the moments that lead to reclaimed lives and eternal happy endings.

So it is with Jenna, the focus of Deborah Raney’s novel Forever After. She thinks of her past as a time filled with hurts and disappointments. But that’s when important seeds were planted that blossom years later—in spite of her poor choices, lack of forgiveness, self-doubt, and personal fears.

As in “real life,” God puts people in Jenna’s way to show her glimpses of His heart. One of the key players is Luc, a wounded hero whose faith—though a bit battered and bruised—shines like a beacon in Jenna’s world.

Luc, Jenna, and the other characters who inhabit Hanover Falls experience realistic problems and heartaches as they struggle to figure out how God wants them to live out their lives each day. Along the way, they find love, joy, and eventually peace. I loved seeing small seeds of faith grow to fruition in this sweet story. I’m glad I paid a visit to Hanover Falls. This book will definitely join my list as one I’d enjoy seeing made into a Hallmark movie!

Deborah Raney

Would you like to visit Hanover Falls? Follow this link to purchase a copy of this book. ***Many thanks to Glass Road Public Relations for providing a copy of this book for me to review.

About the author: Deborah Raney has written more than twenty books. Her newest series is The Hanover Falls Novels, published by Howard/Simon & Schuster. Follow this link to visit Deborah’s website.

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Book Suggestions, I wish it were a Hallmark movie , ,
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Have these thieves stolen your joy, too?

Renee Ann Smith —  June 26, 2011 — 20 Comments

“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this . . .

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.”

~Excerpts from Matthew 6, the Message~

In Devotional Thoughts, Quotes, Thankful Thursday, Word-filled Wednesday , , , , ,
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Have Some Fun with the Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop

Renee Ann Smith —  June 20, 2011 — 138 Comments

UPDATE: My winner has been emailed. Thanks all for joining in the fun!

I’m taking a break from blogging so I’ll only be sharing one post all week–but it’s a good one! I’m giving my followers and visitors the chance to win some great books and book-related prizes through the Midsummer’s Eve Giveaway Hop. This exciting event was organized by Kathy at the I Am A Reader, Not A Writer Blog.

The hop will run from Tuesday, June 21st, (or really late Monday night when I post this) to Friday, June 24th, at 11:59 pm. Do you remember how it works? You can enter my giveaway and then hop to any blog on the linky list (at the end of this post) to see what they’re offering. Who knows what wonderful prizes are out there!? Continue Reading…

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Branded: Sharing Jesus with a Consumer Culture

Renee Ann Smith —  June 20, 2011 — 2 Comments

From Branded by Tim Sinclair: “In most cases as we share our lives, I don’t think Christians are intentionally trying to be deceptive. Quite the opposite. We’re trying to be effective. We’re trying to present Jesus in the best possible light to those who might be seeking Him.

The problem is that we’re forcing the issue. We’re trying to make people believe, rather than make them want to believe. There’s a big difference . . . With force, you get panic, not passion. You get compliance, not creativity.

But when you make people want to do something, they act out of desire. An employee works overtime because he knows his boss gives bonuses to those who show extra effort. A child cleans her room because she knows she’ll have extra time to play games before bed. A wife puts dinner on the table at 5:30 every night because she knows her husband plans to take the kids off her hands afterward so she can read a book or take a bath.

Workplaces are more successful, families are more solid, and marriages are more secure when ‘want to’ beats out ‘have to.’ When desire beats out fear. That also goes for one’s relationship with Christ.

When God created humans, He could have made us robots. He could have forced His creation to follow the master plan. He could have demanded that Adam and Eve obey His every command. But He didn’t. God knew that forced love isn’t love at all—it’s punishment. He understood that mandated allegiance isn’t allegiance—it’s slavery.”

With thought-provoking analogies, questions, and suggestions, Tim Sinclair addresses the topic of why Christians struggle to share Christ within our modern culture. We know that many around us would benefit from Christ’s peace and healing power. How to entice them to give God a chance is of vital importance for today’s church. I appreciate Tim highlighting this issue with such an easy-to-read, appealing book!

“Written with the wit and wisdom of an experienced marketer, Branded peels away the feelings of fear and encourages readers how to share their faith in ways that are honest, authentic, and, most importantly, effective.”

***Thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group for providing a copy of Branded for me to review. Follow this link to purchase a copy of Tim’s book. Continue Reading…

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Book Suggestions , , ,
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What moves the heart of a king?

Renee Ann Smith —  June 17, 2011 — 16 Comments

Wallis Simpson. Guinevere. Diana. Kate Middleton. For some reason, royal romance is particularly enthralling to many of us. Though I must admit that I didn’t watch the most recent royal wedding, I have enjoyed playing princess in my imagination a time or two. One of my favorite royal stories brings to mind this verse . . .

“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.” ~Proverbs 21:1~

These words remind me of Esther, a Jewish girl whose beauty God used to capture the attention–and maybe the heart–of a Persian king. Instead of marrying and raising a family, she was forced into the ranks of the harem and then promoted to become a queen. From this key position, God used her to influence royal policy and save His chosen people. I love reading versions of her story!

In A Reluctant Queen: The Love Story of Esther, Joan Wolf uses Esther’s life as a foundation but changes the details to focus on Esther’s relationship with Ahasuerus, the Great King of the Persians. As I read this version, I missed some of the historical aspects that make Esther’s story significant to our spiritual heritage. However, the love story is beautiful. For me, watching the noble hero woo his pure-of-heart bride always brings to mind God’s pursuit of His bride, the church.

Julie Andrews as royal wannabe Cinderella

Joan Wolf portrays Ahasuerus as a good and just man of conscience, who only follows royal ways because it helps him rule his country.

Roman Holiday: My favorite movie about a reluctant royal

Because of his growing love for Esther, he makes changes in the way things are done in his court. In reality, I doubt many pagan kings would’ve so quickly spurned the harem and settled into quiet family life with their true love, but it worked for me! I also enjoyed the secondary characters—the eunuchs, slaves, and harem women who befriended and supported Esther. We know her life made a difference in matters of state, so why not imagine how she might have affected the individuals around her?

The change I found most difficult to get past concerned the character of Mordecai. The book presents Mordecai as someone who uses Esther to fulfill his own purposes and instigates a competition with Haman, holding a personal grudge against him. Yet the Bible presents Haman as a mortal enemy of God’s chosen people and Mordecai as a devout man who visited Esther everyday, held fast to the Torah, and refused to bow before anyone but Yahweh. In spite of that change, A Reluctant Queen is a story I’ll save to read again. Would you like to read this novel for yourself? Follow this link to purchase a copy at Amazon.com. Not familiar with the basics of Esther’s story? You can read it here. Continue Reading…

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Book Suggestions , , , ,
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A Reluctant Queen: Kindle Giveaway

Renee Ann Smith —  June 17, 2011 — 3 Comments

Here’s some news about a book I’m reviewing this week . . .

To celebrate Joan Wolf’s debut Christian Fiction title, A Reluctant Queen, Joan and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up to give away A Reluctant Queen prize package worth over $150! Continue Reading…

In Blog Tour Book Reviews, Blogging for Books, Giveaways ,
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