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"Word-Vessel" - 5 new articles

1. Grace-Filled Words
2. Winners & Links & Blog Awards (Oh My!)
3. BOOK REVIEW: "Kristin and the Santa Secret" by Christopher Fenoglio
4. BOOK REVIEW: "God Is With Me Through The Night" & "God Is With Me Through The Day" by Julie Cantrell (& Book Giveaway!)
5. AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lena Nelson Dooley (& Book Giveaway!)
6. More Recent Articles
7. Search Word-Vessel

Grace-Filled Words

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Have more grace-filled words ever been spoken?

During His earthly ministry, Jesus spent His time with 'sinners,' but found a way to reach them without condemning them or condoning their sin. In contrast, He spoke harsh words to those who assumed positions of power, those who saw themselves as righteous, calling them 'white-washed sepulchres.'

The ultra-religious people of Jesus' time were typically well-educated. They, of all people, should have recognized Him for who He was. But when it came right down to it, they were more concerned with holding on to their power and prestige than honoring Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

So they instigated His death. Or so they thought.

The scary thing about the whole scenario is that it is humanly possible to stare grace in the face and be so self-centric that we don't recognize Him in our midst.

The glorious truth is that Jesus loved those scribes and Pharisees as much as He loves you and me. When He hung on the cross, experiencing the ultimate pain and suffering for our sins, He did it for them too.

Even in light of their hatred, cruelty and evil, the words He spoke were words of grace. "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Dear Father,

Thank You for Your grace that still reaches across the ages with grace-filled words of forgiveness. Thank You for loving us so much. Help us, as Your followers, to be quick to forgive others, even when they hurt us. Even when they hate us. Even when their words and actions lead us to the brink of death. At the time when we aren't sure we can ever forgive them, help us to remember how much we've been forgiven. 

Forgiven.

What grace.

In Jesus' name,
Amen

Winners & Links & Blog Awards (Oh My!)

First off, let me offer my heartfelt thanks to so many of you for your prayers and encouragement over the past couple of weeks. As many of you know, my cat died on Sunday, November 8th, and I've had a harder-than-expected time getting past it. Finally yesterday, for the first time in almost two weeks, I regained my desire to write, and I contribute that to your faithful prayers on my behalf. Words can't express my gratitude to God for such wonderful friends. Hugs and blessings to you all!


LINKS:

Here's a great article on productivity and time management from the Wall Street Journal.
And here's an interesting article on opposition to self-publishing from Michael Hyatt.

BLOG AWARDS:

Carman at A Sequence of Continuous Delights awarded me with not one, but two blog awards! Wow, thanks Carman! And Katy at A Few More Pages also honored me with the same award as Carman. I'm doubly blessed! :)

The first one is the Kreative Blogger Award (from Carman). Here are the rules:

~List 7 of my favorite things
~Send this award on to 7 other blogggers

Lynn at Faith, Fiction, Fun & Fanciful
Edwina at Musings of Edwina
Sheila at Sheila Deeth
Linnette at Linnette's Writing Corner
Lisa at Lisa Buffaloe's Blog
Colletta at Colletta's Kitchen Sink
Patricia at Readin N Writin with Patricia

The next award is the Honest Scrap Blog Award (from Carman & Katy). Part of getting this award is that I have to tell you 10 honest things about myself, then pass this award on to 10 other bloggers.

1. I've been a brunette, redhead and blond. (And yes, it is true. Blonds really do have more fun!) :)
2. I teach private voice and piano lessons. (And I have the greatest students in the whole world.)
3. My hubby and I were great friends for three years before we ever started dating.
4. I've lived in Texas my entire life (and in almost every part of the state).
5. I'm a Nana as of October 18, 2009. (My grandson Harrisen is the cutest baby in the whole world. Wanna see my pics?)
6. I've prayed for my future daughter-in-love's since before my sons were born. (One down, one to go--I must've prayed really good for the first one.)
7. I know how to roof and drywall and paint and do minor electrical and plumbing.
8. I did the landscape design for my cottage garden.
9. I've published six children's songs.
10. I'm a Jill-of-all-trades, and the master of none!

Now for the ten wonderful bloggers I'm passing this award on to:

Susan @ Sunny Susan
Sharon @ Sharon Kirk Clifton, Writer
Lilac Grandma @ Reading is What I Do Best
Charity @ Giveaway Lady
Susan @ Christian Writer/Reader Connection
Deborah @ Butterfly Journey
Sandra @ Musings of a Book Addict
Candee @ Encouragement for the Journey
Michelle @ Life in Review
Vicki @ Reading At The Beach

BOOK REVIEW: "Kristin and the Santa Secret" by Christopher Fenoglio

One of the trickiest maneuvers parents face is the Santa secret. So when Christopher Fenoglio contacted me via Facebook about reviewing his booklet Kristin and the Santa Secret, which deals with this very issue, my curiosity was piqued.

This is a great story-poem to make the experience both delightful and heart-warming, and at the same time teach your children the true meaning of Christmas.

Written in the style of Dr. Seuss (without the whimsical characters) and Clement C. Moore, who penned the famous work The Night Before Christmas, this story is sure to become a favorite for generations to come.

Here's the back-cover copy:

Kristin is a very curious girl who just can't stop thinking about Santa Claus.

"Can you tell me why Santa gets dressed all in red?
Does he know to watch out for the planes overhead?"

Kristin's parents understand that as she grows up, her belief in Santa Claus will change. So before their daughter learns more about Santa on the playground, her parents sit beside her and teach her the true meaning of Christmas.

Kristin and the Santa Secret is a heartwarming poem that gives parents the faith-filled words and a simple method to help answer the question asked by children every Christmas: "Is Santa Claus real?"

The answer can be found within.

To learn more about how you can get your own copy, visit www.KristinAndTheSantaSecret.com.
Also available at Amazon.

FTC Disclaimer: This book was provided to me by the author to review.

Be sure to check back in on December 10th, when I interview Christopher Fenoglio. (He's also giving away a copy of "Kristin and the Santa Secret" at that time.)

NEXT POST: Winners & Links (& NaNoWriMo update!)

BOOK REVIEW: "God Is With Me Through The Night" & "God Is With Me Through The Day" by Julie Cantrell (& Book Giveaway!)

These two new children's books from Zonderkidz, God Is With Me Through The Day and God Is With Me Through The Night, both by Julie Cantrell, are full of adorable animal pics and show children that God is with them all the time--even when they're alone or afraid. It also passes along the information that they are loved by the God who created them and watches over them.

Here's the back cover copy for God Is With Me Through The Night:

Cheerful dolphins and loving zebras inspire timid hearts to have big faith. Even in the dark, God keeps his children safe, brave, and loved. He is always there--all through the night.

Here are a few questions and answers from Julie Cantrell, the author of these two great books:

Why did you write these picture books?

When my daughter was young, she had a hard time sleeping in her own bed. She was afraid of the dark, and she suffered from terrible nightmares. She loved to read, and she loved animals – so when she was five years old, the two of us worked together to create a bedtime story just for her.

We found stock photos of animals, and we wrote simple text to reassure her that even when I tucked her into her bed at night, she was not alone. I wanted her to feel secure that I would never leave her in a place that wasn’t safe, and that God was always with her—even in the dark.

How did the books become published?

I never intended to publish the book. I wrote it to help my own daughter overcome her fears while building her faith in God. When her friends would sleep over, they all enjoyed the book and wanted me to print copies for them. Then the neighborhood kids asked for copies. I was working in a preschool as a speech-language pathologist at the time, so I read the story to my students. They all reacted positively to the story, so some of the other teachers and parents asked for copies. Their reactions made me think seriously about sharing the story to children on a bigger scale.

I had been working as a freelance writer for many years, so I decided to look for an agent.  Several publishers expressed serious interest in the books, and we ended up signing a contract with Zonderkidz (the children’s division of Zondervan).

I was thrilled when they asked for a partner book to help children cope with fears such as separation anxiety and shyness through the day. God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were released simultaneously on March 1, 2009.

How did your professional background help you write these books?

Aside from writing articles on the topics of faith, family, and child development for nearly a decade, I am also a certified speech-language pathologist. I’ve spent years helping children of all abilities/disabilities develop their communication skills. This includes not only their speech, but their reading and language skills as well. I was certain that young children preferred books with big pictures, simple text, and repetitive prose. Plus, I knew that most kids love animals.

Still, I conducted extensive research on children’s picture books. I was surprised to read studies that indicated children prefer color photos to illustrations. With real-world reactions from children, data to support the design of the books, and a gut instinct that families would enjoy reading these aloud time and time again, I decided to move forward with publishing. I am excited to share this universal message with children around the world.

How have children reacted to the books?

It’s been amazing to see children’s reactions as I read to school groups and story time groups. They laugh at the funny photos. They say “awww” when there’s a sweet photo. And they show sad expressions when the animals express fear or loneliness. I encourage them to talk to the animals on the pages. “Tell the goat, ‘Don’t be scared. Go play with your friends.’” Or “Silly kitty. That’s just a shadow!” They really interact with the book and always ask me to read it again.

Through the use of realistic, natural photos, the children can understand that all of God’s creatures feel afraid at times. It helps them cope with their emotions so they feel confident to explore their world or sleep through the night.

How have parents reacted to the books?

It’s been wonderful to hear feedback from parents after they’ve bought the books, especially to hear that this is sometimes the first book their child could read independently. As a mother, author, and speech-language pathologist, that’s an amazing compliment.

One of my favorite stories was from the parents of a three-year-old daughter. They emailed me to say they ran to her bedroom door because they had heard her screaming. When they got there, they realized she was yelling, “I am safe! I am loved!” which are phrases used repetitively in both books. Another huge compliment has been to hear that children carry these books around with them in the car or that parents have had to tape the pages back together because the books have been so “loved.”

I am thrilled, honored, and grateful that these stories are reaching so many families. If there’s one thing I want everyone to know, it’s that they’re loved and that they’re never alone. If I can share that message with even one child a day, then I am very blessed.

AUTHOR BIO

Julie Cantrell is a certified speech-language pathologist with years of experience helping children develop communication skills. As a freelance writer, she has written countless articles on the topics of parenting, family, faith, child development, education, and health. She also wrote for MOPS, Intl. (Mothers of Preschoolers) for nearly a decade, where she served as contributing editor for MOMSense magazine. She currently writes for Princeton HealthCare System and FNC, Inc.

Julie's first picture books, God is with Me through the Day and God is with Me through the Night were published this year by Zondervan to help young children overcome fears while building their faith in God.

Learn more about how to help your children overcome fears by visiting Julie's blog. There, you'll also find themed activities for parents and teachers of young children--plus lots of fun ideas for families!

(You can visit Julie's website at http://juliecantrell.wordpress.com for fun and developmentally appropriate activities to go along with the books.)

Readers, I'm passing along a copy of each of these books to two of you. Just leave a comment (with a way for me to reach you if you're the winner) to be entered in the drawing.

FTC Disclaimer: These books were provided for review by the publisher.


NEXT POST: Book Review Of Kristen and the Santa Secret by Christopher Fenoglio

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Lena Nelson Dooley (& Book Giveaway!)

I'm pleased to welcome Christian author Lena Nelson Dooley to WordVessel. Here' her bio:

Lena Nelson Dooley is a multi-published, award-winning author. Several of her books have appeared on bestseller lists, both nationally and internationally. With over 570,000 books in print, Lena loves to encourage readers with her stories of hope and changed lives. Lena spends her working hours in the office in her home, where she writes full time. She has hosted a critique group in her home for over 25 years. More than a dozen authors have signed their first book contract after being under her mentoring.

She lives in Texas with her husband of 45 years. The Dooleys are active members of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, where Lena serves on the Altar Ministry team and volunteers in the church bookstore. Sharing a love of travel, James and Lena have visited several states and a couple of foreign countries.

Lena, thanks for being with us today. What are you currently writing?

Right now, I’m finishing up writing Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico for Summerside Press. It will release in May 2010. It’s a historical—a heroine in peril, mail order bride, gone awry.

Tell us about your latest books.

I had two books release in September: Wild West Christmas, which is a historical set in Texas where I live, and Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe, a contemporary. We’re featuring both of these books on this interview.

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading newly-released Christmas books during October and November. I write reviews for them which appear on my Shoutlife blog, then in my monthly newsletter: http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com

What professional groups are you affiliated with?

I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (www.acfw.com ), Christian Authors Network (www.canblog.typepad.com ), and DFW Ready Writers, which is the local chapter of ACFW, (http://dfwreadywriters.blogspot.com ). I’m actually the president of DFW Ready Writers right now.

What are your favorite writing conferences and why?

Since I write fiction, the most beneficial for me is the ACFW national conference. It’s held every September. This year we were in Denver. In 2010, we’ll be in Indianapolis. But there are many other writing conferences around the country. Some large, some regional. I’ve been a speaker at the Texas Christian Writers Conference, which is in Houston in August, and for the North Texas Christian Writers Conference, which is in Ronoke, Texas, in September. It’s often more affordable to attend one of the regional conferences, if money is an issue with you. However, you usually don’t get as much exposure to agents and editors at these events.

How can readers get in contact with you?

www.lenanelsondooley.com
http://lenanelsondooleynewsletter.blogspot.com - Monthly free book
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com - Author interviews/Free books
www.bustlesandspurs.com - Regular Blogger
www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
www.twitter.com/lenandooley 

Here are the back cover blurbs for both of Lena's books:
"Wild West Christmas"
Christmas Courtships Corral Four Sisters in Texas

Charlsey Ames can ride, rope, and work the ranch with the best of them. But things don't add up when she finds herself attracted to accountant Harold Miller III, a citified tenderfoot. Will he ever see the gentle woman beneath the coating of trail dust.

Sharp-shooting Lucy Ames is thrilled to join Major Paulson's Wild West Show. But is she setting her sights too high when she begins falling for budding evangelist Gordon Paulson? Would she be better off aiming for a stable, widowed rancher?

Although horse-trainer Sarah Ames is stunned when her pa hires the part-Mexican Carson Romero to take over her job at the ranch, she gradually becomes attracted to the drifter. But when cattle go missing, Carson seems the prime suspect Has Carson stolen Sarah's heart as well as some prime longhorns?

An expert tracker, the plain Bessie Mae Ames resolves to spend her life taking care of her widowed father. That is until Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides back into town, trailing a wanted man. Will the soon-to-be-smitten ranger find both he and his prey sweet on an unsuspecting Bessie Mae?

"Christmas Love at Lake Tahoe"
Love Hits the Slopes at Christmastime

Four young women, fresh out of college, pursue their careers at a new ski lodge at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village during the winter season.

Bethany Stillman's resolve to focus on her RN career falters when she meets paramedic Cole Beckman. Cole wonders how long it will be before Beth realizes he's to blame for crippling her grandfather. Can a Christmas miracle forge a path to love and forgiveness?

Social director Scarlett McKaye loves planning things down to the last detail. But what she didn't count on was having to spurn the bold advances of a reckless suitor. How far will daredevil Derrick Greene go to cancel Scarlett's reservations?

Stephanie St. John is determined to make a go of the time-share program at Snowbird Lodge. But Darrin Hart seems to be undermining her efforts, her confidence, and her reputation. Will misunderstanding be resolved, or will Stephanie succeed in business only to lose at love?

A wounded-at-the-heart Michaela Christianssen has chosen a male-free existence. But her friends and an eleven-year-old girl have other ideas. Widower Jonas Bradley is content with his life as father and forest ranger, until he finds himself pining for Michaela. What will it take to fell her oppositions to romance?

Lena, thanks so much for being with us today. We enjoyed learning about you and your work.

Lena is graciously offering one of her two new books to one of you lucky readers. AND...if we reach thirty comments, she's giving away both of her books and we'll have TWO lucky winners!

Leave a comment (with an e-mail address for me to reach you if you're the winner) to be entered in the drawing.

NEXT POST: Book Reviews of "God Is With Me Through the Night" and "God Is With Me Through the Day" (Children's Books from Zonderkidz)

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