Saturday Links

I want to celebrate the way I've always dreamed.
https://www.thuswesee.com/2018/12/feeling-christmas/

Jeff Rab is one of my favorite bloggers:
https://jeffrab.com/2019/09/10/to-see-the-way/

Fun pictures from Jez Braithwaite:
https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2019/11/25/photo-for-the-week-47-abundant/

Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud on "The Beauty of Hard Thanksgivings":
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2019/11/28/the-beauty-of-hard-thanksgivings/

God bless.

My Annual Start to the Christmas Season

...with some of my favorite songs that I listen to all year long...

The first one is simply totally fun.

All I want for Christmas by The Piano Guys

https://youtu.be/c16dH9QezyE 

Stille Nacht (Silent Night) by Manheim Steamroller on their Christmas album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anv4FIQ4tbo 

Believe Again: O Come All Ye Faithful by David Osmond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF__6qGtwSc 

Angels We Have Heard On High by The Piano Guys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrLoWt2tfqg 

Baby, What You Goin' to Be by Trinity HS Alumni Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsoB7mmdmFg 

Mary, did you know? by Donny Osmond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLCCrEVqPA 

Believe by Josh Grobin on the Polar Express album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ19mW-TMRk 

Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1ujXx2p-I 

Silent Night by David Osmond 
https://youtu.be/PkVATabHBqc 

The Gift by Aselin Debison
https://youtu.be/YeQt6S2O0Qk 

Gentri's O Holy Night
https://youtu.be/g4fvMgNfN0I

A Soldier's Silent Night
https://youtu.be/e29nKH4DCFQ 
A Christmas dedication to our men and women in uniform. A Soldier's Silent Night was originally titled 'Merry Christmas My Friend' and written by Lance Corporal James M. Schmidt in 1987.

Happy Thanksgiving

Tim Janis has posted several Christmas music selections, each about two hours long.

https://youtu.be/B-uxS-UQPvY

Wordless Wednesday

Are You Ready For Thanksgiving?

Celebrate with a story.

Giving Thanks

The eleventh novella in the series...

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Eight years ago, Michelle Bronson ran away. Returning Thanksgiving Eve will allow her to settle before anyone knows she's home. Accepting Jesus made her new, but the past won't stay buried. She's strong enough to face it. She must, if she wants to embrace life. Maybe assistant baker at Holiday Sweets is the open door she's seeking.

Theodore Williams III lived his life as Mr. Straight as an Arrow. He remembers Michelle, along with his harsh judgment of her, but she's not what he expected. The choice is his to hold to what he knew or to embrace the new. Perhaps God is opening a door to the future.

Placing God first opens doors never imagined...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071W5C2T6/ref=sr_1_1

If you prefer paperback, Giving Thanks is available with three other Holiday, USA, novellas:

Holiday, USA Anthology 2016-17

All four novellas, 9-12, are available in their entirety in paperback, including the covers on the back, for those who enjoy collecting a series.

http://a.co/5ETTtmt   

Monday Quote

Scripture Study

Psalms 107:1

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Saturday Links

Linda Mahkovec shared a bit of Thanksgiving history, from WWII:
https://lindamahkovec.com/2019/11/17/thanksgiving-wwii/

Gail Johnson's blog post on "Contentment" was timely for me:
https://gailjohnsonauthor.com/2019/09/03/contentment/

Vrunda Chauk shares an uplifting post on Gratitude:
https://vrundachauk.wordpress.com/2019/09/09/magic-of-gratitude/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Finding Joy (Love's Compass Book 5) by Melanie D. Snitker Inspirational contemporary romance. Learned about Texas longhorn cattle. This story touched on one of my own struggles, trying to please unpleasable people. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

Musical Thursday

Matthew West's "Mended."

https://youtu.be/-Otg-5p7qug

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Sassy is American English and appears in 1833.

Monday Quote

Scripture Study

Isaiah 53:6-7

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one t his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Saturday Links

Lucy Blessed, over at One Grateful Leper, on trusting God:
https://theonegratefulleper.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/can-i-really-trust-god/

I love Denise Balog's jewels of inspiration:
https://denisebalog.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/a-teacher/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Finding Faith (Love's Compass Book 4) by Melanie D. Snitker Inspirational contemporary romance. Loved this story. She also mentions one of my favorite Casting Crowns songs, "Just Be Held." Heartwarming.

Musical Thursday

Tim Janis' "Magical Forest"

https://youtu.be/QDZkbqUy_f0

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Alas, cheeky, meaning impudent or presumptuous, doesn't appear until 1859. Online Etymology also informed me that it was "the nickname of a misbehaving boy in a story," in 1850.
https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=cheeky

Veteran's Day

God bless all those who've served, be they soldiers, marines, airmen, sailors, national guard, or coast guard.

Scripture Study

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Saturday Links

How fun is this? Kristen Billerbeck over at Christians Read:
https://christiansread.wordpress.com/2019/08/27/proud-author-moments/

Bridget A. Thomas, over at Christians Read, shares inspiration:
https://christiansread.wordpress.com/2019/08/29/working-for-the-kingdom-of-god/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Finding Courage (Love's Compassion Book 3) by Melanie D. Snitker Inspirational contemporary romance. The theme of the story suited a difficult time in my life. I appreciate the encouragement that helped me face similar problems. I'm adding Melanie D. Snitker to my must read list.

Musical Thursday

Tim Janus' "Celtic Light"

https://youtu.be/RPtOXO2kGIs

Wordless Wednesday

Tuesday Tidbit

Fluffy appears in 1825.

Monday Quote

"In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there's something stronger - something better, pushing right back."
~ Albert Camus

Scripture Study

Isaiah 53:2-3

For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Saturday Links

I allow myself to become upset over things I can't control far too often. Coach Mullen, over at My Good Time Stories, offered a great perspective:
https://mygoodtimestories.com/2019/08/19/the-professor/

One Grateful Leper shared an important perspective, one with which I too often struggle, running my own race:
https://theonegratefulleper.wordpress.com/2019/08/25/are-you-running-your-race/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Finding Hope (Love's Compass Book 2) by Melanie D. Snitker Inspirational contemporary romance. I liked this one even better than the last one. Better and better.