I was 26 when I ran out of hope. Sad, lonely, and at the point of wanting to leave this world, I had to make a choice between suicide and God. I was a single mum (by choice), and I didn't trust anyone to take care of my daughter, or to love her as I did, if I were to suicide, and there was no way I was taking her with me. So, God was my last option. I'll share more of my testimony another time, but, for now, I'll just say: Two days after I cried out to Jesus, asking God to forgive me for all my sins and for Him to forgive all who had sinned against me, I ran into the only Christian I knew, in a dead-end lane, which ran along the back of the property I attended Sunday school 20 years earlier, in an answer to my prayers. (I was walking by the property; I was not attending any function there.) Long story short: In the darkest period of my life, the Light of the world [Jesus] rescued me. Over 25 years later, Jesus is still my hope. Without Him, I'd slip back to that place of longing for death. Yes, I am married, have children, and am presently stepping out into my dream of being a published author, but while the thought of breaking the hearts of my children may keep me away from the edge of suicide, my hope is in Him, and Him alone. Whether you think me weak or a religious fool or not, is not an issue. The issue is, without Jesus I would not want to be in this world. He keeps me going. He keeps me alive. He gives me purpose, love, a sense of worth and self-acceptance, healing, courage, and hope, as no one or nothing else has. So, if you see me walking away from person, circumstance, or issue, and towards Him, know that it's nothing personal. I need Him. ~ for the reader ~ "Ted Dekker" Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author, with over 35 novels, best known for suspense thrillers. ~ for the writer ~ "J.K. Rowling's rejection letters give hope to the writer in us all." by Tim Chester ~ for the soul ~ Romans 5:1-11 New International Version - UK (NIVUK) Peace and hope 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. ~*~ ~ from my home and heart to yours ~ ~*~
Stay and have a cuppa, or scroll to find 'for the reader', 'for the writer' and/or 'for the soul'. ~ morning tea ~ ~ for the reader ~ ~*~ The main reason I am sharing a cuppa with you today is to introduce you to a dear friend, and fellow Desert Breeze Publishing author, Christy King -- if you don't know her already, that is. :) I just read Christy's brief blog My Book Boyfriend is an Oogy Monster and enjoyed it so much I had to share it:
I'm curious to know whether or not you have a book boyfriend -- or girlfriend. If so, you can tell me in the comment section below, or on Christy's blog. We won't tell anyone. ;) ~*~ ~*~ ~ Christy's website: Christy King ~ ~*~ ~ for the writer ~ ~ *How to Select an Enticing Excerpt* ~ by Naomi Musch ~
~ for the soul ~
A better title for this particular blog would be morning tea #3, 4, 5 and 6, because it's taken me a couple of days (from the moment I started mt #3 until now) to sort through issues on this website... I'll post here today ( *fingers crossed* ) but I'm presently looking for another website, just in case the issues on this site cannot be resolved for me. Anyhooooo... moving on... ~ morning tea ~ that moment when... ...someone knocks on your door, asking for a certain person, and, upon hearing your maiden name, you wonder if the past 23 years of marriage have been a lie -- ha... ha... ;) -- but you cast off silliness when you open a delivery from your favourite tea company and find more than a box of your favourite tea staring back at you! :D (It was addressed to Donna Keevers. I guess the Driver got lost! hehe ;) ...And no, they aren't paying me to say this, lol -- and the parcel has nothing to do with my morning tea posts. It was to do with another matter entirely. :) ) How great is that! :D And such good timing, too. Thank you, Madame Flavour! I am sure I'll enjoy every mouthful. :D ~*~ ~ the path chosen ~ You may have noticed by my accent ;) that I am an Australian, which means I was raised on British English, not American English. What you may not know is that Desert Breeze Publishing -- with whom I have signed a contract for The Path Chosen -- is an American publisher. Therefore, TPC, and any other novel I may have published through DBP, will be published with American English. And I say that with great respect. If I were to be published in Australia, or England for that matter, the spelling would/will differ. Whether you 'favour' Australian/British spelling, or you 'favor' American spelling, I hope you will enjoy my time travel story and the journey its characters must take. Actually, I pray you will fall in love with David, Dianna, Adam, Anna, and those they meet along the way, and enjoy travelling/traveling ;) through part of my beautiful country ~ as it was in 2015 and 1858. ~*~ ~ The Path Chosen ~ ~ a time travel novel ~ "When two Sydney-based women are forced to trade places, 157 years apart, the last thing they expect to find is their heart's desire." ~ Out April 21 2016 ~ {{{ ~ TPC by DKD @ DBP ~ }}} ~ #NotPureRomance ~ #NotPureChristian ~ ~ so what is it......?!??!!? ;) ~ ~*~ ~ for the reader ~ ~*~ I would like to take this moment to introduce you to a beautiful friend of mine, and a fellow author at Desert Breeze Publishing: Laurel Hawkes. Laurel is a beautiful soul with a big heart, great depth, insight, and experience. I haven't known her long, but I know she's worth knowing, and her stories are worth reading. If you haven't met Laurel, or read her novels, you can find her here: ~ Laurel Hawkes at Desert Breeze Publishing ~ ~ Laurel Hawkes on Amazon ~ ~ Laurel Hawkes on Blogspot ~ ~ Laurel Hawkes on Facebook ~ ~*~
~*~ ~ for the author ~ ~ 5 Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 1 of 2 ~ by K. M. Weiland ~ ~*~ ~ 5 (More) Ways to Trim Your Book's Word Count, Pt. 2 0f 2 ~ by K. M. Weiland ~ ~*~ ~ for the soul ~ ~ press on images to enlarge them~ This was what I was going to touch upon in mt #3. Here, I'll just say: If faith comes by hearing the truth of God, and freedom and healing comes (and I'm talking heart matters here) from that truth, and you are not feeling emotionally healed or free, then what are you listening to...? Something to think about... (for me too...) PS. What are you reading, writing, blogging, and/or having for morning tea? ;)
COMING SOON: My first giveaway...! I will work out how to do that so I don't get to pick the winner. I believe it can be done automatically, by the proper program... Off to look for one now. (Help!!) ~ tea time ~ ~ making notes ~
~ for the reader ~
SIDE NOTE: I soooo want to write 'an' historical romance, but the editor who helped me polish my novel said 'a' not 'an' with 'h' words. My youngest (an Aussie like me ;) ) says 'a' historic, but I say 'an'. I think it's because I speak 'old Aussie' lol. I don't pronounce my 'h' clearly, whereas Kathleen does. We both say 'an' hour, though; and 'a' house, and... other stuff. ;) Ya gotta love the English language... How anyone learns to speak it, or read it, I don't know. ;) What say you? 'ow do you say it? 'An' historical, or 'A' historical...? (If replying to this particular question, please state what country you live in. :) I'm quite curious over the 'English' pronunciation and spelling of each country -- and will soon write a little blog about the Aussie/British spelling and American English.) ~ for the writer ~ I read this earlier today, and thought you, Dear Writer, might find it interesting, too. The Essential Guide To Nailing Your Character's Appearance (plus a character sketch template) by Kristen Kieffer. ~ for the soul ~ ~*~ ~ Jesus said ~ ~*~ ~ matthew 5 ~ So... what's in your cup...?
:) NOTE: Pressing on images should enlarge them. Also, if you have the app, they can be pinned. :) (All images are mine unless otherwise stated.) ~*~~*~~*~ ~ today's tea ~ ~*~~*~~*~ for the Christian ~*~~*~~*~ for the Romantic ~*~ The moment I saw you, you took my breath away. I've been waiting to breathe ever since. ~*~ A (possible) line I thought of for a future story. ~*~~*~~*~today's #1 task: I'm working on the 'final review' for The Path Chosen. It's the last time I see it before publication. Trying to make sure there's no typos. *fingers crossed* -- which makes it difficult to type! ;) ~*~~*~~*~a time to read: At the moment, and when I have time, I'm reading "Feel My Love" by Gail R. Delaney. Gail has me crying and sniffing all over the place throughout this book -- which I love. Not only does Gail write beautifully, and the action flow really well, the story is based on her parents love story. *sigh* Knowing such a love is true, to see a real man play his part so very well -- so to speak -- and knowing this love lasted, makes the reading of this novel that much more enjoyable. *double sigh* ~*~~*~~*~ for the writer K.M. Weiland ~ "Helping Writers Become Authors" ~ and a successful author herself ~ ~*~~*~~*~PS. If you have a favourite tea, novel, author blog, and whatever else you feel will fit this blog, leave a link. :)
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~ Morning Tea Time ~
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