Ten Commandment #3 … BROKEN!!!

Posted by admin on Feb 20, 2018 in Blog | Comments Off on Ten Commandment #3 … BROKEN!!!

Something has been bothering me for a long time.

We all try to keep the ten commandments, right? Most of us think we do okay in that area … I mean we don’t kill, we don’t steal, we don’t commit adultery, we honor our fathers and mothers, etc. However, there is one commandment some of us break regularly, and many of us don’t even think about it.

Which one is it? Commandment number three: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”

How many times have we heard the phrase “OM__”?  I feel guilty even typing it because I know when you see it, you repeat the actual WORDS to yourself … even if you don’t want to. And I hate to break it to you, but I believe abbreviating the words is the same as saying the words, and it also makes others repeat the phrase in their heads.

Maybe most of us don’t know what “in vain” means. It means “without result or for no purpose.” In other words, unless I am talking about God specifically or praying to Him, I should never use His name in conversation, especially not as an expletive.

It makes me cringe when I hear people use God’s name in vain, but it makes me sad when I hear a Christian use them. Christians are supposed to know better … be more active in trying to keep the Ten Commandments.

Yes, I know we’re not under the law, technically, but God is the same “yesterday, today, and forever,” and I believe He expects us to respect and honor His name. (Hebrews 13:8) I think He will bless us for it.

In the past, people came up with alternative words or phrases to use in certain situations to keep from being guilty of using God’s name in vain.  If you research their history, you’ll find these words are all derived from God’s names. Word such as “Oh my Goodness,” “Oh my Gosh,” “Holy Smoke,” “Goodness,” “Gracious,” “Honest to Goodness.”

I’m not saying I think it’s wrong to use these alternative words … I’ve use a couple of them myself. Strictly speaking, they are not using God’s names, but I’m not sure how I feel about using them.  The Bible say, “But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12)

What do YOU think?

 

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Book Review: What a GREAT Novella Collection

Posted by admin on Feb 19, 2018 in Blog | Comments Off on Book Review: What a GREAT Novella Collection

This was a fun book to read. Each story was short, but honestly, each novella had what it takes to make a great story. Each author was expert at fleshing out the characters and building complex plots in a short amount of time.  Even though the four stories included in the book were written by different authors, I loved each story for its own merits. The stories fit together to make a wonderful and enjoyable reading experience.

 

 

Over all, I give this book five stars. I highly recommend this book to anyone loving historical romances, and I will definitely be checking out other books by these authors.

 

 

I was given a free copy of this book by the publisher, but I was not required to write a review. My review is written with my own opinions and thoughts.

 

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A New Home for Allie- a picture book for ages 5-8

Posted by admin on Feb 5, 2018 in Blog | Comments Off on A New Home for Allie- a picture book for ages 5-8

 

 

 

FREE GIFTS for PRE-ORDERING the NEW BOOK:

Our new book, A New Home for Allie, is now available for pre-order, and we're offering several gifts for ordering! Click To Tweet

Click HERE if you would like to Pre-order:

Once you’ve ordered, make sure to visit Carrie’s page to learn how to get your gifts:  1) a free signed bookplate with a hand-drawn picture of Allie, 2) a FREE ebook: Moving: by Carrie Daws, 3) a 4″ x 6″ print of Allie, (the star of the book) and 4) an opportunity to join a private Facebook group where you will have access to all news about giraffe related giveaways and information. Carrie and I will also be available on that page to chat or answer any questions you might have about the book.

After you order, make sure to visit Carrie’s page to learn how to get your gifts: Click Here

 

Written by Carrie Daws and illustrated by Joanie Bruce, A New Home for Allie is about a sweet little giraffe whose father is a member of the Animal Jungle Patrol. When her father gets orders to move from Kenya to Somalia, Allie is concerned about leaving her friends and the only home she has ever known.

Carrie Daws, a prolific author of inspirational books for the military, helps military families survive and thrive while living in a regimented and unpredictable lifestyle. Now she has written a book for children 5-8 years old, helping them learn to find and make new friends wherever they go.

Here is what the book is about:

Allie loves her home in Kenya. But her dad works for the Animal Jungle Patrol, and he just got orders to move their family to Somalia. She has many questions, and the journey will be long. Will the new place be like what she knows? Will she find friends in her new home? And will she ever see her best friend again? What awaits her in A New Home for Allie?

Visit the home page of my website to check out the many endorsements we received for this sweet little book.

 

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Merry Christmas!

Posted by admin on Dec 16, 2017 in Blog | Comments Off on Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying the holidays as much as I am. Last year my daughter was married on December 17th. Our Christmas went by in a whirlwind, so I’m enjoying every minute of Christmas this year. 🙂
It’s been a while since I posted, but I wanted to wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas, and let you know about the new Christmas Trilogy which released early in December.

“Holly, Ivy, & Intrigue” is a collection of three Christmas suspense/mystery stories written by myself, Alexa Verde, and Denise Weimer.

A kind book reviewer wrote this about the book:
“The collection of stories is fast and enjoyable. Each story offers a lot of adventure and intrigue. I love how the characters are fun to get to know. The authors have come together to give readers an enjoyable time of savoring their writing style.”

If you would like to know more about the book, or order a copy for a Christmas gift click here: HOLLY, IVY, & INTRIGUE

Please remember the reason for the season. God loved us enough to send His own son … as a little baby in a manger under the roof of a stable. What love!

Thank you all for your support and encouragement, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

With love,
Joanie

Holly, Ivy, & Intrigue” book blurbs:

“Christmas Murder Mix-Up” by Joanie Bruce
“I have to get rid of her now.”
After four months of a blissful marriage, Paige is devastated to overhear her husband, Cooper, say those words to his best friend. Because of a suspicious Christmas gift, a gas leak, and a home invasion, Paige’s love for Cooper is tested to the limit. Will their marriage survive the Christmas Murder Mix-up?

“Holiday Pursuit” by Alexa Verde
When Brianna Rockwell’s brother finds himself in danger and disappears three days before Christmas, she does everything to rescue him. Brianna dodges bullets, escapes fire, and even turns to her longtime crush for help. But the closer she gets to solving the mystery and finding her only sibling, the more desperate someone gets to silence her forever…

A Holiday Intruder” by Denise Weimer
Kelsey Jordan prefers upcycling junk and refinishing antiques for her store in a Georgia mountains town to being the center of attention. When a robbery and an unknown benefactor shove her in the middle of a decades-old mystery, and a real estate developer and a former baseball star compete for her attention, Kelsey isn’t sure who to trust.

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A Book Review for A Love So True

Posted by admin on Nov 15, 2017 in Blog | Comments Off on A Book Review for A Love So True

 

 

This book took me forever to read, but NOT because it was a slow-moving story. It was totally fantastic. It took me so long to finish the book because I have a million things on my plate  and could only read a small amount at a time. It hurt me every time I had to stop, because I was caught up in the story and wanted to keep reading.

What I liked: The details of the lifestyle and circumstances of this time period were realistic and believable. It was interesting, but sad, to read about women forced into prostitution and how they were treated by society—even when they longed to leave that way of life and start a more accepted life for themselves. Obtaining forgiveness and the acceptance of the “upper crust” of society during that time period was impossible, and I felt sorry for women caught up in that lifestyle, sometimes through no fault of their own.

What I didn’t like: Even though the plot never faltered, the story seemed longer than necessary. However, this was a minor complaint.

Over all, I give this story five stars. When I closed the book at the end, I was sad that I wouldn’t have it to come back to again. I highly recommend it to anyone loving a historical fiction. If you have to set it aside for a while, you will always look forward to opening it again. Great job, Ms. Jagears! I love your writing!

(I was given a copy of this book by the publisher, but the thoughts, the rating, and the opinions are my own and were not influenced.)

I would love to hear your comments about this post.

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