One Thing...IMAGINE!

I want to revisit my "One Word" for the year:  IMAGINE!  The past few weeks I've met with several friends to discuss their dreams and visions, use me as a sounding block for ideas they've had, and to come up with creative ideas for books and businesses.  I've very much enjoyed my time with each of these people not for what I get to talk to them about as much as for what I'm sowing into their lives and my own.


One of the key things I have asked the people I've met with is this:  Tell me what you IDEAL day looks like.   (Later) Tell me what you IDEAL week looks like.
Can you see your ideal day or week and how it would progress?  Are you having a hard time seeing passed what your life and days look like right now?  That's okay...for now.  But don't be content to stay where you are!  IMAGINE your ideal day and week now.  What can you do to start helping that day or week begin to take shape?

I met with a friend who was considering becoming a consultant of a home-based business.  I asked her why she was considering it, and like many of us her reply was to do something just for herself outside of family life.  I asked if that was her dream, but I knew it wasn't.  She's an incredibly talented singer!  So I asked her what was keeping her from doing that, and you know what she said?  Nothing.  She just didn't know where to start.  So we discussed some ideas and two days later she and I met again at a function, and she told me that she had talked to someone in her church about playing guitar and they are going to start performing at a local venue in town!  THAT is what the Lord can do with your dream or vision when you begin to focus on Him and the talent, dream, goal, or vision He has given you for your life!!

In case you are wondering about my ideal week, here's a glimpse.  It's not by any means specific (YET!), but it gives me a vision for something.  One of my favorite quotes is:  If you aim for nothing, you'll hit it 100% of the time.  I don't want to aim for nothing!  I want to aim for something, even if I fall short.

My ideal week looks something like this:

•      Meetings with people to help realize their dreams, goals, and visions 
•      Start the kids on school in the mornings; write/blog while they are doing school
•      Be a speaker at various organizations such as MOPS, women's groups/ministries, writer's conferences
•      Weekends off for family time

As I was sitting in church this past Sunday, the Lord showed me that my IDEAL week is taking shape!  The week is beginning to look just as I imagined, I mean JUST AS I IMAGINED!  I saw my ideal week long ago, and I began to schedule meetings (by faith, really!) to start living toward what I could see and all it took was one thing, one step toward my vision.

What ONE THING can you do today to begin guiding and steering that goal, dream or vision that the Lord has given you?  I'd love to hear from you!

Blessings!

Trauma Plan Giveaway--WINNER!!!

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway!!!  The winner of the Trauma Plan signed copy is:

Josh K.!

Congratulations!!!  

Q&A with Trauma Plan author Candace Calvert

It has been wonderful working with Candace on this book giveaway and also having her as a friend and mentor as a writer.  I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the inspiration and person she is!!

 

What inspired you to write your first book?

I’d been disappointed that TV medical shows offer  lights-and-siren excitement, hospital lingo, and interpersonal drama, but very rarely address issues of faith. As an ER nurse, I saw how many prayers were sent heavenward by patients, family, and medical staff, too.  My intent was to “help Grey’s Anatomy find its soul.” And add a measure of wholesome romance, because that’s good medicine too.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I love that other medical authors have arrived on scene, like Dr. Richard Mabry (The Prescription for Trouble series, Stress Test), and Jordyn Redwood (Proof, Poison).  It’s like having a team again, being back in “scrubs.” I also enjoy reading the work of fellow Tyndale author Janice Cantore (the Pacific Coast Justice series). She’s a veteran police officer, and I’m a retired ER nurse—those careers often intersect, and I love that she and I now share a readership.

What are your current projects?

Rescue Team, the continuing story of nurse of Kate Callison of Trauma Plan, releases May 1^st. And I’ve just completed the final manuscript in the Grace Medical series, (working title) First Responder.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

(Smiling) It’s funny that you should ask this question. When we sent advanced copies of Rescue Team out for early reads, authors Janice Cantore and Jordyn Redwood offered gracious endorsements. But both of these suspense authors asked the same question about a secondary plot line that didn’t feel quite “tied up.”  I sent an SOS of sorts to my wonderful editor, and was able to insert a few lines before the final book went to print. The advanced copies, however, had already been printed. Reviewers who got a copy from me, will find a separate note tucked into pg. 352 with my added (“spoiler”) edit.  Yes, I am that compulsive!

Who designed the covers?

Thank you for asking. I love the chance to give Tyndale House’s art and design department a round of applause! The covers for my Mercy Hospital series were designed by the very talented Mark Anthony Lane II. I hear he got teased plenty about all the hours he spent online searching for photos of good looking men! My newest cover designer, Stephen Vosloo, is also a photographer, so the search for cover heroes went “live” with a photo shoot. Trauma Plan’s Texan hero apparently has a delightful South African accent.

 I was even more surprised to learn that the cover model for Rescue Team served several tours of Afghanistan—such an honor to have my story’s hero depicted by a real life hero. 

Thank you, Lyn. I so appreciate this opportunity to connect with your readers. And I’d love to have them “scrub in” with my stories of hope. For more information they can visit my website: www.candacecalvert.com

Trauma Plan--Book Review

Sidelined by injuries from a vicious assault, chaplain Riley Hale is determined to return to her former duties as an ER nurse. But how can she show she’s competent when the hospital won’t let her attempt even simple tasks? Determined to prove herself, Riley volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the maverick doctor in charge.

Dr. Jack Travis defends his clinic like he’s commander of the Alamo. He’ll fight the community’s efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use Riley Hale’s influential family name to make it happen.

As Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his compassion—and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack’s rough exterior is a man she can believe in. But when clinic protests escalate and questions surface about his past, Jack goes into battle mode and Riley wonders if it’s dangerous to trust him with her heart.

This book blends action with compassion and real-life situations with humor and an engaging storyline that captivates the reader.   I personally fell in love with the main characters, Dr. Jack Travis and Nurse Riley Hale!  I liked how Candace Calvert brought the town of San Antonio to life during Fiesta, and the way she created scenes in an easy-to-imagine manner showing the reader sights, sounds, smells, and tastes to enhance the connection to the settings is something only a master of the craft of writing could do.  Candace Calvert weaves three story lines (at least!) alongside the main story of Trauma Plan and opens the door for additional stories in her Grace Medical series!

Purchase Trauma Plan at Amazon.com.  For more information about her other books, visit:  candacecalvert.com and her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/candacecalvertbooks


Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes love, laughter and faith are the best medicines. She likens her exciting Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series to "Grey's Anatomy finds its soul." A native Californian, she is the mother of two and proud grandmother to seven.

Trauma Plan book GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win the first book in Candace Calvert's Grace Medical Series: Trauma Plan!!!  

Candace Calvert is a former ER nurse who believes love, laughter and faith are the best medicines. Her Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical series offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency medicine—along with a soul-soothing prescription for hope. Wife, mother, and very proud grandmother, she makes her home in northern California.

  
Be sure to check in tomorrow for my review of this action-packed medical drama and on Thursday I'll have a Q&A with Candace!!

Don't forget to share this GIVEAWAY with your friends!!







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Love and Compassion--More Than Just A Day

According to History.com, while some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial, others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to "Christianize" the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.  The unmarried women would put their names into an urn and bachelors in the town would draw names out of the urn.  The matches often ended in marriage.

During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine's Day should be a day for romance.  

But what about the love part?!   The Bible tells us that "these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).  We also read that we are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30).  Regardless of the supposed history of Valentine's Day, God our Heavenly Father is the original creator of love...He IS love!!  

What a perfect example of loving others everyday, not just on one specific day of the year.  Recently, I began following the Facebook page of a mom and her children.  They created The Compassion Project on Facebook, and she and the children come up with amazing ways to show compassion to those in their town.  Look around this family's Facebook page and see what they've done so far.  

• How can you show love and compassion to those around you?  
• How can you be Jesus to the people you come in contact with each day?  
• What ideas can I share that will inspire others to show love and compassion?

We would really enjoy reading your ideas!!

Blessings!!

The Challenge book Giveaway--WINNER!!!

Our WINNER for The Challenge--Victorious Living in Another Kingdom signed book is:

Livivua C. !!!

Congratulations!!!!

Heart's Desire...

This week I was visiting with a friend of mine and sharing about the things on my vision board.  As I began to picture some of those areas I believe the Lord has in store for me THIS YEAR, I quickly saw three items the Father is causing to come to pass...all by the end of March!!  When I shared that with her, she immediately began to tell me of the things the Lord has already allowed her to "check off" on her vision board!! 

Friends, we are not special people that the Lord has granted our dreams and visions!  What He's done for us, He WILL DO for you, too!  Don't lose faith if you aren't seeing that right now, though.  Perhaps the timing is not right just yet.  When you allow you heart's desire to become the desire to do the will of the Father, things will indeed fall into place at the right time, at the right place, and with the right people aligned to work just as God planned.
In Ecclesiastes 3 we read that "To everything [there is] a season, A time for every purpose under heaven...(Ecclesiastes 3:1, NKJV).  We also read in Habakkuk 2:2 that we should "Write the vision And make [it] plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it. (NKJV).  The Word says seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and all these things (your wants, needs, desires, dreams, visions) will be given to you (Matthew 6:33, paraphrased).  Our Father in Heaven is a God of increase!  So those things you have need of, dream of, hope for, and have faith in coming to pass can happen and increase the Kingdom of God! 

The Next Big Blog Hop!

 THE NEXT BLOG HOP!!!
This provides an opportunity for authors to show off their craft to others. I was tagged by @FindMeb427 (Allisia!) Thank you for the tag, and I can't wait to read all about the new books coming out!!
 I have tagged Tracy Craft and Heidi Kreider! These authors have great talent, and you should check out their books!
Next Wednesday, these talented authors will be posting on their blogs, so be sure to visit and keep the Hop going!


Let the questions begin:


What is the title of your book?
I have three novellas in a series--The Melody Series (Most of the stories take place in the fictional town of Melody, Georgia!):
Book One:  The Choice
Book Two: The Decision
Book Three:  The Breakthrough

Where did the idea for the book come from?
The ideas for these books were birthed from a class I took in college.  We were challenged to rewrite a familiar family story in the eyes of someone else.  It was then I found my "voice" and the books just came from that muse!

What genre does your book fall under?
I suppose they fall under Christian fiction romance, mostly.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
This series will be self-published and available about the end of March!

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
The first book is still in progress.  I sort of wrote them all out of order!  The first book that I wrote back in 2008 took about 14 weeks and became the second book in the series.  The next two were NaNoWriMo contenders, so they were written in 30 days!  The Choice was not finished at that time and is technically the first book, but The Breakthrough was finished and is the last book!!

Give a one-sentence synopsis of your novel:
When life seems to fall apart around you and all you hoped for is snatched from your grasp, remember God has better things in store for you--more than you could have ever hoped for, thought of, or imagined!

Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Those who have had an impact in my writing are Candace Calvert, Shawn Grady, and my professor, Renee Klug!!  I was inspired to write these books because I know the Lord gave the ideas to me years ago and sitting on them might be withholding a blessing or a word from the Lord to others.  It was definitely time to write them!!

What else might pique the reader’s interest?
I write my books in first person, present, which is not a point of view many writers use!  I like the feeling of things happening NOW, not what has happened...I've started writing the next three book series--The Dissonance Series!  Yep!  Based on the fictional town of Dissonance, Wyoming!!  this one has a military flair to it!


Other blogs to hop to next week:

Allisia Edrington
Tracy Craft
Heidi Kreider

The Challenge--book review

Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior is only the beginning of a Christian life ; living out a life of Christ is the challenge!

The Challenge — Victorious Living in Another Kingdom offers help in practical means for building strong Christians as well as strong and dynamic Christian communities. Applied wholeheartedly, The Challenge will lend itself to forming a solid and maturing nucleus of believers who will bear one vision, hold to one purpose, and speak with one voice.
What I liked about this book were the practical ways to help bring out my best as a Believer.  Mark includes topics of reflection such as accountability, faithfulness, prayer, lawlessness, the government of God, service and servanthood, and obedience.  With strong Biblical examples as guides, Mark shows how to correct problem areas in our lives and how to build stronger, more consistent habits of Christian living.

Mark's thirty plus years of ministry experience--from pastoring to international ministry--have uniquely given him a world-view needed by today's Church.  His ministry is at once challenging and encouraging issuing from a life of prayer and the Word of God.  Mark currently pastors in Colorado with his wife, Patty.

Purchase "The Challenge" at Amazon.com or through Trafford Publishing!

Also, be sure to check out Mark's other books at Amazon.com and Trafford Publishing:

 Cry for Spiritual Reality (2010)
 Surely God Will Do Me Good (2010)
A Portrait of Intercession (2010)

The Challenge book GIVEAWAY!!!

If it seems as though we're having a lot of book giveaways, it's because WE ARE!!!  


This week, I am excited to present "The Challenge" book giveaway!!  In short, this book is a wonderful, necessary practical guide to rising to the challenge of Christian living!  Meet Mark Spencer through a brief Q & A, enter the book giveaway, and see why this book is a must-have for your library!!

Check out the review that will post tomorrow, and see how you can live victorious in another kingdom!!




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Books and giveaways!!

At the beginning of the year, I decided to take this blog in a new direction.  I will continue posting practical Christian living topics, homeschooling experiences, and all things homemade!  But I wanted to offer as many giveaways as possible!
To that end, twice a month I will be posting a book review of a fiction and a non-fiction book.  Some of these reviews will also be accompanied by giveaways of the highlighted book!
I want to engage you as readers and believers, and I LOVE giving things away!!!  I will also be giving away other things, so be sure to follow the blog so you can stay up to date with our newest giveaway!!!

Have a great week!!