Who I Want To Be

Recently I had the opportunity to join with a number of other writers in doing a devotional of the book of Matthew.

Author Camy Tang wanted to put this book together to reach out to Japanese women, and the book is coming out in English and Japanese.

I asked Camy if there was anything she’d like to say.

“I just wanted a devotional aimed at Japanese women who may not know Jesus. I'm grateful to you and all the authors who contributed, and happy that the Japanese language version of this book will soon be published. I am praying that God will use the book to help many women come to know Jesus.”

Camy

--

Christian Romantic Suspense as Camy Tang

Sweet Regency Romance as USA Today bestseller Camille Elliot

This has been a fun book to help put together, as well as to read. Some of the other writers who contributed are good friends, critique partners of mine. All share their own struggles and blessings, clear expressions of Jesus’ love, and interesting knowledge of the book of Matthew.

From the book:

“To you, our reader:

I and my fellow authors pray that from this devotional book, you will realize that Jesus loves you deeply. You are not alone. There is no place you have gone that is too far away from God, and He can help you to be the person who you want to be.

—Camy Tang”

Below are links where the book can be purchased.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L9HYMD5

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w?ean=2940161250068

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/who-i-want-to-be-1

https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vwN1

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/who-i-want-to-be/id1446504175?ls=1&mt=11

Let's Have A Party!

I’ve heard people say that all the busyness and commercialism surrounding Christmas takes away from the true reason for the season. I understand what they mean. Since the kids were little, we’ve made instead of bought almost all of our Christmas gifts.

But seriously, let’s have a party!

A line from a worship song that pinches my heart every time I hear it says, “He didn’t want Heaven without us, so Jesus brought Heaven down.”

John 3:16-17 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

And Galatians 4:4-5: “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

I can’t think of a better reason for a party, (and I love parties.)

The God of the universe loves us. He wants to share Heaven with us for eternity. So, he sent his son down to Earth to rescue us, and that is what I want to celebrate this Christmas.

I love giving gifts to my children. I thank my Heavenly Father for all the gifts he’s given to help us celebrate this wonderful time.

Delicious, favorite foods. Joyful songs, ringing bells, bright, colorful decorations. Sweet, spicy smells.

I thank God that we use this time of year to get together with family, and to send and receive happy greetings from people we often don’t hear from otherwise.

I thank him for the excuse to share fun gifts with the people I love.

Like a child, I enjoy the heart-warming, mysterious story that surrounds the birth of Jesus, the old familiar bible verses and hymns that make me smile again this year.

I love all of the excitement and laughter and good times that go with this time of year.

Let’s have a party!

Heth, Psalm 119:57-63

ח Heth

You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words.

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.

Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws.

I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts.

The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Father, thank you for your love, your promise of grace, your support through trouble. Help me obey you and draw closer to you.

Homemade White Bread

Welcome back to Kathy’s Kitchen, where you find delicious recipes and helpful hints from others who love to cook. Please send me your favorite recipe and a cooking tip to share from Kathy’s Kitchen

This helpful hint comes from Kathy Cretsinger of Mantle Rock Publishing.

“Remember do not put whole candy bars in an ice cream maker, or you’ll end up with whole frozen bars in your ice cream.”

The following recipe is from my mother. My husband Murray calls it farm bread. As a child I remember eating the bread while it was still warm. I don’t think it ever got cold. I love this recipe for the holidays.

HOME MADE WHITE BREAD,

Ingredients:

1 cup cold milk

1 cup boiling water

3 tablespoons sugar

2-1/2 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons oil

1 package dry yeast

6 cups flour

Directions:

Add sugar, salt, and oil to milk and stir until sugar dissolves.  Add boiling water; mixture should be lukewarm.  Stir in yeast and let stand for five minutes.  Stir in 3 cups flour and beat until smooth.  Stir in remaining flour.  Knead dough, turning it and pressing it until dough is smooth and elastic.  Grease the entire outside of dough.  Cover with damp cloth and let rise until doubled in bulk.  Punch down, knead, and divide into two loaves.  Place in greased pans, cover, and let rise until center of loaves are just above edge of pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 50 minutes.

Courting Danger by Nike N. Chillemi

Below is an interview with author Nike N. Chillemi about her recently released book, COURTING DANGER. Filled with faith, lively description, fascinating characters, and enough surprise to thrill this mystery lover, I highly recommend this story.

Q: Is this book part of a series, tell us a little about that? How did you come to write a series?

A: There is the Authorized Operations series which has a national security twist to it. Authorized Operations is a clandestine organization. Its operatives are former US special ops soldiers, now in civilian life, who leave that life to go on secret missions. The Veronica "Ronnie" Ingels/Dawson Hughes trilogy is part of that series. Courting Danger is the first of the Katerina "Kat" Andruko/Dimitri Garmonin novels and is also part of the larger, overarching series. I came to write this series because I fell in love with the characters and decided to use the main characters from one novel as secondary characters in the next one.

Q:  What genre are your books? What draws you to this genre?

A:  I write detective novels/murder mysteries. That's also what I read. I've always loved trying to solve the puzzle of the mystery. I like to see if I can figure out who the killer is before the end of the story. Of course it's best if I can't and the author surprises me.

Courting Danger:

Newly installed Pelican Beach, Florida detective Katerina "Kat" Andruko fears the prime suspect will get off in the murder of a teen with the help of the department's forensics psychologist, a man she's just started to trust.

This case has national security implications that give former US Army Ranger, Dr. Dimitri Garmonin a chance to work with the FBI. The case could give him the chance to obtain the funds needed to expand his small Behavior Analysis Unit. He's unmoved by the chic FBI agent sent to assist but is intrigued by Kat with whom he shares a Slavic heritage.

Kat and her partner detain two wrong suspects, giving the department negative press. The predator turns his anger on Kat, targeting her. Can Dimitri use his profiler skills to catch this killer before he hurts the woman Dimitri is growing to love?

Courting Danger Purchase Link on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Courting-Danger-Katerina-Authorized-Operations-ebook/dp/B07KCBMFCX/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1541866039&sr=1-1&keywords=Courting+Danger%2C+Chillemi

Blog:  Nike N. Chillemi ~ mystery & a merry heart

https://nikechillemi.blog/

Thanksgiving Song

I want to write a song, Lord, to tell you how thankful I am. Pretty words and sweet sounds to give you something lovely for all that you’ve given me.

A thrilling rise of crescendo to praise you for your gift of salvation.

A whirling twirling excitement for the many blessings you bring into my life daily.

A gentle swell of love for your willingness to be my father.

Ripples of laughter for the amazing people you have given to be my family and friends.

A steady beat of my hope to follow you better every day.

I love you, Lord.

Grace and Truth, John 6:22-71

This was a difficult chapter for me to unravel, with many truths from Jesus hard to understand and hard to accept.

It was the day after Jesus fed the five thousand, which caused many to follow him and seek him out. Jesus told them he knew they only came, not because they cared about him, but because they’d eaten the bread. He warned them not to strive only after physical goods, which will not last, but for what will last for eternity.

Jesus told them he is the bread of life, and that he would give his life for the world. He said that those who eat his flesh and drink his blood are the only ones who will have eternal life.

After a long time to study this, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we know that Jesus is talking about spiritual things. But at that time, people grumbled against him, and many of his followers left him.

It seems that Jesus showed his human feelings then, asking if his close disciples would leave him too, and Peter gives one of his great statements:

Verses 68-69 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Some of this chapter is hard to understand, but some things are easy, and I cling to these.

Verses 28-29 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

Verses 37-40 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”