Moment of Truth - Giveaway

As a Christian, I know I will have eternal life, a life without end, without tears, aging, illness or any more death. Yet it doesn't stop me from time to time, wondering and sometimes afraid of when it actually happens. Will it hurt? Will I be carried by angels to my heavenly home? What will it be like in heaven? What will I look like?

I guess it's pretty natural considering not many people have made it there and back and lived to tell their tales. Most Christian believers that have had a near death experience really didn't make it into heaven but got glimpses of what it might be like, they were sent back instead of proceeding forward. It simply wasn't there time. I for one, hope it happens quick. I have a huge fear of pain, and I would hate for it to be long and drawn out, like with a terminal illness. I think it would grieve me to watch my family members and friends have to deal with saying goodbye.

I have found comfort in what God's Word, the Bible, has to say regarding some of my greatest fears, from 1 Corinthians 15:55 "“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Sounds like for us, it won't hurt, or perhaps like childbirth, its simply a pain that is forgettable. We remember it hurts, but it doesn't last.

We know how this will all end, in one of two paths, the road to heaven for believers and the road to hell for those that don't. We've read the book so we know how it all ends. If you don't perhaps you should read Revelations. I can tell you it's quite eye-opening. I, for one, know it won't be like what I heard in high school, that hell is a place for partying with all your friends, doing everything you're not supposed to be doing here. It will be a place for eternal suffering, and torment. Think of the worst pain imaginable and think of that, never ending but only way worse.

Yet heaven awaits for believers of Jesus Christ. The Bible is quite clear on that point, especially if you believe in the word of God, the Bible, is true!

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That means to my understand, not through Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, or any other Higher Power but Jesus. Without a belief in Him, what He did for all of mankind and what He represents, we can not enter heaven. We shouldn't think we have time to wait either. How many times do you hear of someone who died so suddenly, no one even had the opportunity to say goodbye. Yet I have so many friends who believe they will make it to their death bed and make their confession there. That, my friends, isn't a risk I would ever want to take. The odds aren't in their favor, but it could happen.

So I am curious and thus the reason for this post, what do you really believe happens when we die?
Do we fall asleep or are we instantly transported to heaven? What is heaven going to be like? What will we be like? Will we have any memories of this life in heaven? Will their be pets in heaven?

I am curious and would LOVE to hear your thoughts. If you leave your thoughts below in the comment box, I will be having a giveaway for the book by Joe Beam and Lee Wilson, called The True Heaven. Simply share with me what you think and if you can, your email address so I have a way of contacting you if you're the lucky winner. This giveaway will be going on until August 10th, so please share your thoughts. I'd love to know what you think heaven will be like.

Lunch In Paris?

Ever wonder what would happen if you mixed Julia Child and the movie, “Under the Tuscan Sun” together? You would have, the book I just finished reading called Lunch In Paris By Elizabeth Bard!

In Paris for a weekend visit, Elizabeth Bard sat down for lunch with a handsome Frenchman – and never went home again.

Was it love at first sight? Or was it the way her knife slid effortlessly through her pave’ au poivre, the steak’s pink juices puddling in the buttery pepper sauce? Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard, is a memoir abut a young American woman caught up in two passionate love affairs – one with her new beau, Gwendal, the other with French cuisine. After packing her bags to begin a new life in the most romantic of cities, Bard is plunged into a world of bustling open-air markets, hipster bistros, and size-two femmes fatales.

She learns how to gut a fish (with a little help from Jane Austen) and soothe pangs of homesickness (with the rise of a chocolate souffle’) and she develops a crush on her local butcher (who bears a striking resemblance to Matt Dillon).



This book is an amazing read for anyone who has longed for the desire to just pick up, leave and move to Paris! Woven wonderfully at the end of each chapter are the most amazing recipes of everything from appetizers to main courses, to “death by chocolate” desserts! What more could woman ask for a cook book and love story all in one!

I received this complimentary amazing book courtesy of Hachette Book Groups to review. If you would love to know more about this book, the author or even where to purchase a copy of this heartwarming book, simply click on the link below.

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/books_9780316042789.htm

The best part about this is I get to provide 5 of my readers with a copy of this wonderful book. Here are my guidelines for this giveaway.

1. You must be a follower. How else will you learn about these amazing giveaway offers? Leave that as a separate comment for one chance to enter!

2. Leave me a comment telling me about your favorite place to just up and leave and want to live there. This gets you entry number 2!

3. Spread the word and tell others about this giveaway and I will give you extra entry for 3 chances to win.

The giveaway is for US and Canada residents only and NO P.O. Boxes please. I must have a way to reach you so please leave me an email address if you don’t have one linked to your blog. The giveaway will go for one week and will end on March 30th!

Trust me this is the perfect book to read over Spring Break, summer vacation or while you are having your favorite Starbucks beverage and croissant!

eat the Cookie...buy the shoes giveaway!

How many of you feel guilty when you try and rest or entertain yourself or even do something you really enjoy?

Well stand with me because you in the group of more than 80% of us that do. Why?

Where do you think this guilt comes from God? or the enemy? or ourselves?

Most people feel guilty when they take the opportunity to celebrate. They push themselves to go on with no joy fuel in their tank. Joy is the fuel we need to reach the finish line of an endeavor with a good attitude. We may drive ourselves to finish, but somewhere along the way we will probably become bitter and get a chip on our shoulder if we don't lighten up and take time to celebrate the journey.

I believe that we must confront the reason why we tend to feel guilty about enjoying and celebrating life when God has clearly ordained and commanded both. What? Wait. What did that say? Our thinking has been warped in these areas. Satan has managed to deceive us, and by doing so he succeeds in keeping people weary and worn out, feeling resentful, and taken advantage of because of excessive work and responsibility. We need times of refreshment and recreation as well as work and accomplishment.

God will convict us our wrong choices and actions, but He never makes us feel guilty. Guilt presses down and weakens us, but godly conviction brings awareness of wrong, and an opportunity to change and progress.

Sadly, if we are not confident about our choices, we can easily let other peoples' comments make us feel guilty and ruin the joy we need to experience in life through doing the little things that mean a lot to us.

So I would encourage you all to eat the cookie...buy the shoes. Celebrate your life's progresses and forget about those times where we really punish ourselves for not living up to perfection. No wonder we are often discouraged. Joyce Meyer has written a wonderful book, called "eat the cookie...buy the shoes. Giving yourself permission to lighten up!" from the Hachette Book Group that is due out in mid April.

This book has lifted my spirits up so much and have allowed me to look at my life through those rose colored glasses God has. He sees the good in me in everything I do each day, yet I don't. This is one book that is highly recommended not only for your own library but as a great gift for someone who is easily discouraged and needing a lift!

I would highly recommend this one as a keeper in your permanent library because its great to reference and re-read again and again. It is a reminder to celebrate our life and knowing the difference between healthy indulgences and destructive self indulgences. We need to remember that God is the ultimate party guy and the Bible is filled with celebration after celebration, all ordered by God, and the way they enhanced people's ability to live productive, happy lives.

If you would like more information on where to obtain your copy click here.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book by Hachette Book Groups for my review. If you are interested in winning a copy, I am giving away three copies of Joyce's new book. So simply leave a comment here and you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win. Remember I need a way to reach you so if you don't have your email attached to your blog, leave it in your comments. Don't forget to tell others and you get another entry, but come back here and let me know. This giveaway is for US and Canada residents only. No PO Boxes!

I will announce the winners on Wednesday! So make sure you spread the word!

Winners, Reviews and More Giveaways!

I just wanted to congratulate the winners of the recent "Hear No Evil" Book giveaway with over 49 people entered, I decided to giveaway two copies of the book so more than one person could enjoy it. Please join me in congratulating Misha at From My Front Porch In The Mountains and Skoots1Mom at My Hands, His Glory. If both of you ladies can email me, I can get your mailing information and get these books out to you this week.

I also had the wonderful priveledge of completing what is called a Spring Fiction Giveaway where you are randomly sent two great books to review. Here is more about the wonderful program.

Value Fiction For Your Spring Break

Colorado Springs, CO— Fiction lovers don’t need to budget to travel this spring break with Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group’s six full-length novels by beloved Christian authors (WaterBrook, February 16, 2010). At the low cost of only $5.99, these well-read “get-aways” provide quality entertainment at a price that any reader can afford.
Full-length novels offered include:

Secrets
by Robin Jones Gunn - Jessica has moved to a new town to start a new life. But a friendly fire-fighter and a suspicious boss both want to know what she’s hiding.

Beneath a Southern Sky
by Deborah Raney – Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her?

The Golden Cross
by Angela Elwell Hunt – Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.

Deep Harbor
by Lisa Tawn Bergren – Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii, Japan, and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen, Norway, each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need.

Faithful Heart
by Al and Joanna Lacy – The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California. Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.

Yesterday’s Promise
by Linda Lee Chaikin – Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.

My Reviews on Beneath A Southern Sky and Secrets

I was provided with a complimentary copies of Beneath A Southern Sky By Deborah Raney and Secrets from Robin Jones Gunn to review for Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Beneath A Southern Sky By Deborah Raney

Here was another great read for me. This book completely transported me to the Rain Forests in Columbia and the farms of Kansas all within the pages of the book. The best part of these books is that they are all Christian love stories and you find the characters searching for answers to their problems in prayer to God.

It is a love story unlike any other that begins in the Rain Forests of Columbia where you meet Daria and Nate, who are missionaries for God. Nate is a doctor who is called away to a village to help with a medical emergency while Daria waits for his return among the drug cartels and villagers with whom she can barely speak and understand the language. When Daria learns that Nate has been killed in a fire, she moves back to Kansas to begin her life as a single mom caring for Nate’s child.

While there she finds a job at a veterinarian’s office of Colson Hunter and over time develops and new love for him. He is in turn while grieving and keeping a secret from Daria, falls for her and her daughter Natalie. Cole proposes to Daria and it’s only after she gets married, she receives a telegram informing her that her first husband Nate has been found alive.

This book reminds me of the classic romance movies, and will completely leave you guessing ‘til the end on which choice Daria makes. I absolutely loved this book and finished it within hours of starting it!

I have included a link with more information on where you can purchase this book below:

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9780307458766

Secrets By Robin Jones Gunn

I absolutely loved this book and could see reading this over spring break or on a beach in the summer. For the price point on these Christian based romance novels you can’t do wrong as well as the content of the story. These are both books I have passed along to my oldest teen daughter, who like me, is a die hard, hopeless, romantic at heart.

This story is about a young girl, Jessica, who suddenly finds herself in falling in love with a firefighter after just moving into a small town in Oregon. She longs to just lose herself in the small town life and seeks a job as a teacher in the local high school. Yet it seems like God has different plans for Jessica, and no matter how hard she tries to hide the secrets of her past, they won’t stay hidden.

I don’t want to ruin any part of the story for you but this one had me hooked from the very beginning and I completed it in a few short hours. The best part I love about this book is it’s ability to remove you from your current place in time, and transport you someplace else while you are immersed in the story.

If you are interested in finding about more about the author and where you can purchase this book, I have provided you with a link below.

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781590526736

So here is the next giveaway, leave me a comment and you will be entered to win both books so you can begin your Spring Break and enjoy these great books as well. The giveaway ends on Friday, February 26th. You only need to comment once to be entered!

Congratulations to Book Giveaway Winner!

I am super excited to announce the latest book giveaway winner for a copy of the Daniel Fast which is going out to Lidj at Crown of Beauty! She is the most beautiful spiritual soul that I have ever met and couldn't be happier for her. If you haven't had the opportunity to stop by and visit her, please do! She lives in the Philippines and shares her wonderful journey of what life is like for her and her family being a believer in Christ.

You will be blessed just stopping by her site. Thanks again to all of you that entered. Be watchful of the next giveaway that is coming very soon!

I will update you all Friday on Round Three of my medical battle. Trust me, this one is one you don't want to miss!