Celebrate with Joy!

Something inside of me sparks when I near the Christmas season. 

I so wish every one could experience the holiday the way I do.

The joy that bubbles over comes from the beautiful baby born in a manger,

 so many years ago.

I love celebrating the One who came to earth to offer grace. 

His grace has saved my life.

Celebrate Jesus Joy!

 

Welcome Penny Zeller, Author of Love Under Construction

I'm excited to be part of the blog tour for Penny Zeller. Enjoy meeting Penny and learning about her latest release.

About Love Under Construction:

She builds websites. He builds houses. Together, can they build a family for two orphans?

Irelynn agreed two years ago to help raise her best friend’s twins should anything happen. When she is called upon to fulfill that agreement, there is only one problem—Irelynn must share the responsibility with the arrogant but handsome Quinton Gregory.

Quinton takes the role of raising his niece and nephew with all seriousness. He will do anything for the twins, even if it means putting up with the beautiful but stubborn Irelynn Brady.

When forced to be in each other’s presence far more often than is comfortable, things slowly begin to change. Will the unexpected attraction between Irelynn and Quinton become a love under construction?

Available for purchase:

https://amzn.to/3HZ86mN

About Penny Zeller:

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics. Today Penny is a multi-published author of several inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a fitness instructor.

When Penny is not dreaming up new characters, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, cycling, gardening, and playing volleyball.

She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her www. pennyzeller.com and her blog, random thoughts from a day in the life of a wife, mom, and author, at www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com.

Find Penny at:

Website: https://pennyzeller.com/

Blog: www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PennyZeller

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyzeller/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/zellerpenny/

To follow Penny's tour all week, check out:

Love Under Construction Mini Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, December 6:

Blog Tour Kickoff/Sneak Peek/Meet the Characters | Penny Zeller

Author Interview | Kristina Hall

Tuesday. December 7:

Book Spotlight | Joy Hannabass

Book Spotlight | Penny McGinness

Wednesday, December 8:

Author Interview | Vanessa Hall

Thursday, December 9:

Book Spotlight and Guest Post| June Foster

Friday, December 10:

Book Spotlight and Giveaway| Chat with Vera

Book Spotlight and Review | Madi’s Musings

Book Spotlight and Guest Post | Kathy McKinsey

Saturday, December 11:

Ebook Giveaway | Patti’s Porch

Blog Tour Wrap-up/Love Under Construction Quotables | Penny Zeller

Faith Before Fear

Luke 1:35-38
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

I love holding and rocking babies.

In 2009, we were thrilled to find out we'd have three grandbabies born. Max arrived in October, Eli in time for Christmas, and Zeke the following January. Our hearts overflowed with joy as we met each of these baby boys. As a grandma, I fell in love with them, just as I had my own babies. The boys have or will soon turn twelve, and they are lights in our lives. All so different from one another, yet so precious.

The mamas got to share in the joy and challenges of carrying a child, at the same time. Sisters, Sara and Maggie, expected Eli and Zeke with only five weeks separating their birth. What an exciting time for this grandma.

Cousins, Elizabeth and Mary, shared the experience of pregnancy and childbirth. Wow were their circumstances exceptional. Elizabeth was considered old, yet God blessed her with a child. Mary was a young virgin, yet God gave her a baby. Their stories are unusual and perhaps hard to believe. Yet the writers of the Bible tell the stories with clarity, truth, and hope.

I love Mary's humility as she accepts the angel's pronouncement. "For no word from God will ever fail." Her response says it all, "I am the Lord's servant." Mary believed. She trusted God and put her faith in front of her fear because she knew God never fails.

Can you imagine being in Mary's circumstance? Would people ridicule her? Would they punish her? She had more at stake than we might today. The Jewish laws were strict, and she could be severely punished for being unwed and pregnant. But she put her faith before her fear and trusted God with her life.

Elizabeth was old and her husband made mute before John the Baptist was born. Did Elizabeth hide with embarrassment or did she trust? She believed God blessed her, and she jumped with joy. She too put faith before fear.

This Christmas as we celebrate Jesus, put faith before fear and share about the babe who grew to be a man. Not just any man, but Jesus the Savior of this broken world.

Have the hard conversations and talk about the hope we have in Jesus.

Shine Brightly

In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches about being a light to the world.

"...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds

 and glorify your Father in heaven."

Our acts of kindness, generosity, and love should shine the light on Jesus 

and spill over on others--

so the glory of God will illuminate the world.

As we prepare to celebrate Jesus' birth, shine a light that draws others to Him through kindness, love, giving, and caring.

 

Roll into Christmas

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
   come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
   we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
   and his courts with praise;
   give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
   his faithfulness continues through all generations.

We've celebrated Thanksgiving, and Christmas is coming.

Another holiday season has rolled around. Thanksgiving Day we were blessed to spend time with some of our family, something we didn't get to do last year. Nieces and nephews have grown by leaps and bounds, as have our grandchildren. As usual on this holiday, too much food went into my mouth, but my goodness it was yummy.

As I looked around the room and visited with folks, I thanked God for the opportunity to spend time together. Something I'd taken for granted before the pandemic. I also loved meeting my niece's puppies and seeing my mom cuddle with one. The day satisfied in so many ways.

I know the holidays, along with joy, can bring stress and busyness.

As I prepare my heart for the Christmas season, I want nothing more than to focus on the reason we celebrate. Yes, I love the decorations, the music, the movies, and the food, but more than anything, I love Jesus and the reason He came.

Jesus fulfilled the prophets' words in the Old Testament by being born of a virgin, in a manger. That sweet babe grew into the man who gave His life for our freedom from sin. He's the reason we celebrate.

As you decorate the tree, thank God for the beauty He created—as you sing a carol, praise the Lord for his love and mercy—as you shop for gifts, pray for the recipient— and every day, recognize the grace we have because of Jesus. Let's roll from the Thanksgiving season into Christmas with a grateful heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The past few weeks I've received many encouraging notes about my writing.

I'm so thankful for the folks who take the time to read the blog and 

to God for providing the opportunity and words.

Without readers, my words are meaningless.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

Blessings for a joy filled Thanksgiving!

 

Fiction Suspense Book Review: A Stranger's Game by Colleen Coble

Book Description:
This gripping new novel from USA TODAY bestselling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

 A wealthy hotel heiress.

Even though Torie Bergstrom hasn’t been back to Georgia since she was ten, she’s happy to arrange a job for her best friend at one of the family properties on Jekyll Island.

A suspicious death.

But when Torie learns that her best friend has drowned, she knows it is more than a tragic accident: Lisbeth was terrified of water and wouldn’t have gone swimming by choice.

A fight for the truth.

Torie goes to the hotel under an alias, desperate to find answers. When she meets Joe Abbott and his daughter rescuing baby turtles, she finds a tentative ally.

The more Torie and Joe dig, the more elusive the truth seems. One thing is clear: someone will risk anything—even more murder—to keep their secrets buried.

My Thoughts:
Gripping is right. Coble is a master at writing suspense that keeps you reading and sticks with you after the story ends. Torie takes on her own undercover assignment, even though she's not law enforcement. Joe, without knowing her true identity, helps Torie search for the reason her best friend died; all while protecting his daughter. I enjoyed A Stranger's Game and the twists and turns that finally led to the killer. Colleen Coble's writing wraps you in the story and leaves you breathless by the end. If you enjoy great suspense, you'll want to read A Stranger's Game. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.