Meet Gabby, God's Little Angel (and KINDLE giveaway!)

I'm super excited about Sheila Walsh's new series for little girls, Gabby, God's Little Angel! Alyssa will love the beautiful illustrations and the book is meant to be read aloud. Last spring I interviewed Sheila on Living Inspired- you can listen to the podcast here or on iTunes for free.

Sheila Walsh is celebrating Gabby’s arrival with a fun KINDLE Giveaway and an Angel FB party on October 4th!

Meet Gabby for yourself here. Help Sheila introduce Gabby - be sure to check out her video trailer promotion here!

In Gabby, God’s Little Angel, Gigi fans will fall in love with Gabby and learn about God’s love and provision and a little about His invisible creation, the angels.

Read what people are saying here.

Enter today - Sheila and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have put together an “Angel” prize package worth over $150.00!

One lucky winner will receive:

• A brand new KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• Gabby, God’s Little Angel 

But wait! There’s more …


On October 4th join Sheila at her Author Page on FB for the Gabby, God’s Little Angel Party! She will announce the winner of the KINDLE, host a chat and give away a ton of fun products from the Gigi and Gabby line! RSVP today and then be sure to stop by on October 4th at 5:00 PM PST (6 PM MST, 7 PM CST, & 8 PM EST).

The answer was EASY!

I'm excited that I was able to meet the ladies from Romantic Times Reviews! They interviewed me for an upcoming issue. They asked about what I was excited about in the upcoming year. The answer was EASY!

This is what I'm excited about:
Along Wooded Paths

Remembering You

Chasing Mona Lisa

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Beyond Hope's Valley

I was also thrilled to see that Along Wooded Paths got 4 STARS in the November issue of RT Book Reviews.

You have to subscribe to read the whole review of Along Wooded Paths, but my favorite line is this:

Goyer gives the reader a glimpse inside a way of life very few outsiders get the chance to experience. --RT BOOK REVIEWS

If you missed my other RT BOOK REVIEWS here they are:

Beside Still Waters (4 STARS)
A wonderful story about the Amish and the way they live their lives by the writings of the Bible.

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington (4 STARS)
The characters in this book are so well developed that readers will feel like they know them all.

Night Song (4 1/2 STARS)
There's so much passion in this compelling book, which conveys the horror and fear of the times. The friendships, passions and loves of the characters are strongly conveyed.

Songbird Under a German Moon (4 1/2 STARS)
Goyer continues to entertain and educate with her enthralling novels. Strong plots, vibrant heroines and complex settings are her hallmarks.

The Swiss Courier (4 1/2 STARS)
With tight writing that will have readers reading turning the pages, this novel is definitely a must-read.

Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana (4 STARS)
Goyer and Fleiss deliver a great love story set in 1890. The two authors' writing styles blend well, the characters are charming and readers will feel their emotions right along with them.

Thursday on Living Inspired: Gayle Roper and Holley Gerth

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen. Thursday at 3:00 pm Central.
I'm super excited about Thursday's show. The first half hour we'll be chatting with author Gayle Roper about the adoption of her two sons and how one of her sons has reconnected with his birth mother. Gayle will also be giving us a look at her new book, Shadows on the Sand. Then during the second half of the show, Holley Gerth from Heart to Heart with Holley and Incourage.me will be here to talk about her latest book, God's Heart for You. Holley will be sharing the inspiration behind the book and how the project evolved into something so much bigger than she expected.

For a chance to win a copy of both books, leave a comment (HERE). Winner will be notified next week via email.

More about Gayle: Gayle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers ofAmerica, is the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of Fatal Deduction and more than forty other books. She teaches and leads mentoring clinics at writers conferences across the country. Gayle lives in eastern Pennsylvania.

More about Shadows on the Sand: She serves him breakfast at her cafe every morning … but he never seems to notice her.

Carrie Carter’s small cafe in Seaside, New Jersey, is populated with a motley crew of locals … although Carrie only has eyes for Greg Barnes. He’s recovering from a vicious crime that three years ago took the lives of his wife and children—and from the year he tried to drink his reality away. While her heart does a happy Snoopy dance at the sight of him, he never seems to notice her, to Carrie’s chagrin.

When Carrie’s dishwasher is killed and her young waitress disappears, Greg finds himself drawn into helping Carrie solve the mysteries … and into her life. But when Carrie’s own painful past becomes all to present, her carefully constructed world begins to sink.
Will the fragile relationship she’s built with Greg implode from the weight of the baggage they both carry?

More about Holley: Holley Gerth is an award-winning writer, life coach, counselor, and speaker who loves sharing the heart of God with women through words. She’s the author of several books as well as over 2,000 greeting cards for DaySpring. Her most recent book is God’s Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman (Harvest House, September 2011). Holley cofounded a new web site for women, (in)courage, which received over a million hits in its first six months. You can also find Holley online at her popular blog, Heart to Heart with Holley that has over 23,000 subscribers.

More about the book: God's Heart for You: Embracing Your True Worth as a Woman


The personal, inviting style of popular speaker, writer, and counselor Holley Gerth inspires thousands of readers weekly through her DaySpring site incourage.me and her well-known blog Heart to Heart with Holley. In God’s Heart for You, Holley offers insightful devotions, reflective questions, and captivating poetry to reveal how, through God’s love, a woman is wholly—

Accepted and known completely
Chosen with imperfections to be made perfect
Empowered with God’s strength
Beautiful and a one-of-a-kind gift to the world
Blessed with God’s best

Bound with a lovely padded hardcover, this gathering of encouraging readings will be a wonderful gift for any occasion and a powerful treasury of God’s heart and purpose for a women to return to again and again for refreshment.

A day at ACFW: One author's experience...

My mind is still trying to process all that happened yesterday. I woke up praying for this conference and praying for all the people I connected with yesterday. Here is the scoop.

First, I had breakfast with other Amish Authors: Kim Vogel Sawyer, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Vannetta Chapman, Jerry Eicher, Mary Ellis, Also joining us was Dianne Burnett of CBD.com (love them!) We had a great time talking about all things Amish--and just having fun getting to know each other better.

After that was the main session. It was awesome seeing nearly 700 Christian writers worshiping together. It must be a beautiful sight to God. It also gave me a glimpse of how He sees things. He doesn't care who's published or non-published, who has won awards or who has the most rejection letters. In His eyes we are all His beautiful sons and daughters.

I attended a workshop taught by Julie Gwinn from B&H, Allen Arnold from Thomas Nelson, and Jim Rubart amazing-author-dude (yes, I'm making that his official title).

Next was an appointment with Jeane Wynn from Wynn Wynn media. She's working on my publicity for my Amish novels. Yeah!

I was blessed to have lunch with Marcia Nelson from Publisher's Weekly. You can follow Marcia on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/PWreligion If you don't know about Publishers Weekly and you're a writer, you need to. It is THE place to go for resources about books and the publishing world.

After lunch I taught a 2-hour workshop with Cara Putman. She's one of my favorite people ever and the workshop went great! The time flew by and we had so much fun. I'll let you know when you can order the workshop cd.

After my workshop was a general session with our wonderful keynote Tracie Peterson. She reminded us to turn to God continually for the HUGE task of writing for Him.

Then ... an appointment with my amazing agent Janet K. Grant from Books and Such. We talking about books releasing, books I'm working on, books that I'm writing proposals for ... which took up an hour! I'm so thankful God has brought this amazing woman into my life.

Next was dinner with the folks from Revell at Ruth's Chris Steak House. I had the most amazing filet ever. But the conversation was even better. I sat with Mesu Andrews, Andrea Doering (editor at Revell), Lynette Eason, and Suzanne Woods Fisher. I could have talked to those women all night! But I couldn't because next was the Summerside Dessert.

It was appropriate they were they end of a great day because Summerside is like the cherry on the top of a dessert for me. Susan Downs, Suzanne McDonough, Lindsey Stout, and Rachel Meisel are super fun, super energetic and super cool. I drifted off to bed last night with a smile as large as the St. Louis Arch!!

Congrats to the 2011 Carol Award Winners!

American Christian Fiction Writer's Award for book of the year in each category. Congrats to all the winners ... and a few of the books are either free or SUPER cheap.

Long Contemporary
Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House) (KINDLE version is only $5)

Long Contemporary Romance
Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)

Long Historical
Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press) THIS BOOK IS FREE RIGHT NOW!

Long Historical Romance
Love Finds You in Homestead Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press) ALSO FREE!

Mystery
The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour)

Novella
A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour)

Romantic Suspense
The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press)

Short Contemporary Suspense
Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense)

Short Historical
Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired)

Speculative Fiction
König’s Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press) ($3.99 for KINDLE right now!)

Suspense/Thriller
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)

Women’s Fiction
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers)

Young Adult
Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell) (Book only $4 at Amazon!)

From last week...

I'm sitting on an "almost" empty convention floor of the American Christian Writer's Conference. Looking forward to coffee and quiet time I have Starbucks in hand and I found a corner where I can hide away.

Yesterday was the first day of the conference. I attended an early bird session by Stan Williams. If you're interested in writing I highly recommend his book and blog.

A few of the highlights: had a meeting with Sue and Alicia from Zondervan, sat in on an informational workshop with Becky Germany from Barbour, had lunch with Tamara Alexandar, Deb Raney, Gayle Roper, and Janet Bly, sat between Mary DeMuth and Camy Tang at dinner, and ended the night with the Books & Such crew for dessert. My wonderful agency got all of us authors Books & Such NIGHT SHIRTS! That we all donned for a photo. I haven't seen a photo yet, but I'm sure it's adorable!

Me and Mary DeMuth

All those are fun things, but what really hit me this morning is the impact Christian novelists are making for the kingdom of God. With these men and women in attendance, MILLIONS of novels have made it into the hands of readers, each one of those with messages of hope, truth, and faith in Jesus.

Today I'll be teaching a workshop with my awesome friend Cara Putman. Today other authors, editors and agents are doing the same. And as those who sit in our classes absorb the information ideas will be formed, books will be strengthened, writers will be prepared for their task of sharing the written word. It's an awesome task and responsibility.

Won't you pray that the attendees with absorb all they need to know through the power of the Holy Spirit?

And know as you also pray YOU become a part of the process. Your prayers just might impact a novel that you hand to a needy friend some day...and the TRUTH that is shared through story will be part of your doing, too.

There is nothing special about me...

Guest blog by Leslie Goyer

Do you ever think about lightbulbs? They play a significant role in our daily lives, and yet they're such a dependent object. Pick up a lightbulb by itself -- what is it? A glass bulb with some filament in it, designed in such a way as to conduct electricity and produce light.

But what makes the lightbulb really so special? Unless it is plugged in to a consistent energy source, that lightbulb is worthless. You can hang it from the ceiling, but the room will stay dark. You can rub it in your hands and wish for light, but no light will appear. You can even hang it above your head, but regardless of pop media, it won't create an idea!

Without a source of energy, a lightbulb is worthless. But, screw it in and something amazing happens: light radiates out of the lightbulb, affecting the entire area around it! And only with that constant energy source does the light stay lit.

Just like a lightbulb, we as people aren't anything special on our own. It takes the light of the Holy Spirit flowing through us to create beauty.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(John 9:5)

There is nothing special about me. There is nothing good about Leslie.

Sometimes people look at my life and want to commend me for something. Whether it be for school accomplishment, commitment to Christ, or dedication at work, people sometimes look at my life and say, "Hey, that's cool" or "you're such a nice person," but there is nothing good or nice or special about me.

Anything good or commendable in my life is nothing short of the work that Jesus Christ has done in me. All goodness is just a glimpse of who God is. I can tend to get puffed up about myself, thinking about how awesome I am, but then God uses my brokenness to remind me of who I really am. I'm nothing apart from Him.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

I challenge you to look at the verse above and see how it applies to your life. Do you believe that you can honestly look at that and say that you have all of the fruit of the Spirit shining in your life? Go through and put your name before each attribute:

(Leslie is love . . . Leslie is Joy . . . Leslie is Peace . . .)

I know that I sure don't measure up -- but the beauty of the matter is that Christ does! Where we fail, He fills. If we stay plugged in to Him, He will shine in our lives and hopefully people will see Him when they look at us.

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16)

Win an iPad from Suzanne Woods Fisher

When I received my copies of my latest book, Along Wooded Paths, I smiled as I saw Suzanne's lovely endorsement on the front cover. "A captivating story...I couldn't wait to turn the page."


Well, Suzanne has a new release of her own that I can't wait to tell you about!

To celebrate the release of her first Christmas book, Suzanne Woods Fisher has teamed up with her publisher, Revell, to bring you the "Christmas in September" iPad Giveaway! The winner will be announced on 9/27 at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party! Details below. Tell your friends and join in the fun (9/7-9/27).

Oh and be sure to follow the blog tour here - many of the bloggers have copies of the book to giveaway! 

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

• A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

But, wait! There's more! The winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something *BIG* - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! Hope to see you there.

Courageous winner!

Last week I blogged about the movie Courageous and husbands/fathers.

Here's an excerpt: There was a time in my marriage when God started talking to me about this. He reminded me the pain of growing up not knowing my biological father. He reminded me the emptiness of trying to get the approval of a distant and closed off step-dad. If my husband was wanting to be an active presence in our kids lives … why was I fighting so hard? Sure, he had different ideas of some aspects of parenting, but it didn’t mean those ideas were wrong. The more I stepped back, the more John stepped forward. My kids not only have an amazing dad, they’ve also grown up without the power struggles that existed when they were toddlers. Read the rest here.

I invited you to share how you encourage your husband be a great father (read the responses here) and in exchange I'd giveaway a $25 Fandango gift certificate.

The winner is: Judy! Please email your mailing address to amy@triciagoyer.com.

Thursday on Living Inpsired: Shannon Stewart from America's Top Model

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen. Thursday at 3:00 pm Central.


For this week's Living Inspired I'm doing an encore show with Shannon and her husband Matt Ratliff. They'll be talking about being in the modeling world, sticking to their standards, how God put them together, and remaining virgins until their wedding day!

If you watched Season 1 of America's Next Top Model you most likely remember first-runner up Shannon Stewart. A dedicated Christian, Shannon made waves on the show when she stood up to her standards and refused to pose nude for one shoot. Through the episodes while other girls were fighting, arguing and causing drama, Shannon could be seen reading her Bible, listening to worship music and praying.

This season on America's Next Top Model is an All-Star season. Fan's favorite picks were brought back--including Shannon. Last week was the first episode and there was already conflict on the show when Shannon refused to wear underwear for the shoot. How will this God-girl stick to her standards while competing with other models again? I'll be watching to find out.

Shannon it's just a "reality TV star," she's also a friend of mine. We're actually working on a book together for teen girls. (More details to come when we find the right publisher!)

For more information about Shannon go to: www.shannonstewart.net

Interview with Shannon about Season 17.

Q&A with Shannon:
On Season One of America’s Next Top Model you refused to pose nude. Are you happy with your decision?

I am so glad that I did not pose nude or with those bands they offered me! I have always wanted to be a “supermodel,” for as long as I can remember. I wanted to win so incredibly bad, but it wasn’t worth compromising my standards for or becoming someone that I am not. I knew that refusing to do the shoot might hurt my chances of winning and I was ok with that. At the end of the day I have to be content with who I am as a person. I want to be able to sleep at night!!! Money and fame isn’t worth selling my soul for.

Is it hard being a Christian in the modeling world?

Yes, it is extremely hard to be a Christian in an industry where “sex sells.” I have high standards and will not do things that I do not feel comfortable with, no matter how much money I might be offered. I know that if the Lord has me in this business, then He is more than able to supply me with jobs that are “clean.” I do not need to pose in lingerie, wear see through shirts, or sell bottles of alcohol. There are countless others that are willing to do those kind of jobs, but I am not one of them. I have said no to several jobs that would have been great for my career and would have also made me alot of money. It isn’t easy to say “no,” especially in a business where everyone is saying “yes.” I have learned at a young age that nothing is worth selling your soul for. I have such a peace within and can rest my head at night. I have also made firm in my mind what I will and won’t do. I think it is important and really imperative that you have things that are “non negotiable.” I tell my agents up front so that they don’t submit me for jobs, or send me to castings for jobs that I will not do.

Did you date a lot growing up?

No, I actually did not! I wanted a boyfriend so bad, but I can see now, that the Lord was preserving me for my husband! It was so hard to watch others get cards, flowers, and gifts. I had to fight of jealousy at times, being insecure, and wondering what was wrong with me for no guy to want to date me. There were a few guys that liked me eventually, but the guys I liked, never liked me when I liked them! I got so frustrated at times! I also wondered if I was going to have to lower my standards. But, I am so glad to say that I did not! I also never dated a guy that I could not see myself marrying. I didn’t want to keep giving myself away to all these guys, for I wanted to be able to give ALL OF MYSELF just to my husband. I had imagined myself being this beautifully wrapped package. I didn’t want it to be handed around, causing the edges to become torn/worn, or for it to get ripped. I wanted the package, myself, to remain perfect, just as the Lord intended it.

The Bible is real ... even for preschoolers!

It's never to early to help kids understand that the Bible is real, interesting and applies to THEM.

I was excited when I spotted Tyndale's new My First Hands-On Bible for preschoolers. It's exactly what I was looking for to read with Alyssa as she grows. At 18 months, her favorite stor books are ones with fingerplays or songs. (Think Itsy-Bitsy Spider and This Little Light of Mine.)

My First Hands-On Bible has "actions" for you to act out with your child as you read the Bible Story. For example, for Genesis 1:1 it says, "Cover your eyes for a few seconds and imagine what the earth was like." And then for Genesis 1:3 it says, "Turn a light off and on as you say, 'Let there be light!'"

After each story there are also questions to guide conversation, hands-on activities, and a simple prayer. Here is a prayer from Genesis 45, "Dear God, help us remember to be like Joseph and forgive people who say and do things that hurt us and make us feel bad. In Jesus' name, amen."

What I also loved is the stories are from the NLT version. These aren't re-written Bible passages, but God's own words.

My First Hands-On Bible also has a big brother version for kids beyond the preschool years called (drum-roll please) the Hands-On Bible! In addition to the Bible text, it has ideas for science experiments, crafts, snacks and journals ... perfect for homeschooling for dinner devotions! Each book of the Bible opens with an overview of that book and a timeline for where that author/time fits into the Bible.

My only complaint is that some books of the Bible had very little dealing with that book. For example in Leviticus there is one section that talks about how sacrificed animals represented to the Israelites that the penalty for sin is death, but in the rest of Leviticus the "activities" focused on Bible heroes such as Jacob and Gideon and David. Come on, couldn't they figure out an activity that dealt with skin diseases and purification after childbirth? Then again, uh, never mind.

We do what we do because of people ...

Sometimes we forget that we do what we do because of people. Establishing mission is important. Believing in a cause is crucial, but when it comes down to it we'll grow tired and weary if we don't focus on the "him and her" behind what we do.

I have a passion to help teen moms, but what keeps me going is sitting around the table with a handful of young women and seeing their nods as they hear how to be better moms--seeing their eyes brighten when they feel valued.

John and I moved to Little Rock and joined FamilyLife because we believe in marriage and family, but the personal testimonies we receive via email every week, concerning people whose marriages were saved, keeps us steady on days when we miss far-off family and friends.

We attend a multi-ethnic, multi-economic church because we believe that the body of Christ on earth includes people of all color and backgrounds. We want to worship "on earth" as we'll worship "in heaven." But it's not about a cause. It's about our friends, our brothers and sisters in Christ. It's about seeing God in new ways through the eyes of someone from a culture not my own, and loving someone who is different but also wonderful.

We volunteer in children's church every week. We know that the future church is currently wearing baseball caps and pony tails. The mission of tomorrow is worthy. The mission of tomorrow is experienced today in a noisy, sweaty, excited, happy classroom. Knowing our teaching will plant seeds in small hearts is cool, but hearing Joel or Kimmy or Hannah remember that Esau forgave his brother Jacob (and that they too should forgive) is what it's all about.

I love researching and writing and sharing stories, but when I'd rather watch a movie than sit at my computer, I think about that reader who at the end of a long day wants to escape into a good book. I think about her friend too--who may not be a Christian--but will pick up a novel because she hears it's a great read. That inspires me to sit down and spill my heart onto the page.

I am one who is prone to desire gold stars and kudos. I like being like. I appreciate the idea of Facebook friends and Twitter followers, but not because of the numbers themselves. Those numbers represent people. Sure maybe a quarter of my followers may be spammers (I hope not that many, but perhaps it's true). About half of the rest of those followers might not read my posts. Another third may tune me out. But there are real people on the other side of the computer screen who DO read my comment, and if a Scripture I share encourages them ... hurrah! If one of my goof-ups brightens their day with a smile, then I'm smiling, too.

When it comes to World War II, there are hundreds and thousands of stories. If I were to travel the United States with my digital voice recorder I could spend all day listening to moving retellings, and I still wouldn't hear everything worth hearing. But God gave me a gift by introducing me to Charlie and Tony and Chet and Mac and John. I'll continue to connect with those guys--I'll continue to listen--as long as they're around to share.

I agree with the mission of homeschooling. I want to make sure my beliefs are passed down and my influence matters in my kids' life ... but laughing and chatting about economics or 1812 or weather patterns with my son--and seeing him growing to love learning and not just cramming for the next test--makes the time and effort worth it.

I want to obey Jesus when He tells me to care for the widows, but obedience to me means one widow, with very real needs. I know we need to care for "them" but for me ... at this moment ... what it's really about is Grandma.

In this world there are millions of children without a mom or a dad, but God didn't ask me to care for millions. He gave me the gift of one little girl. In my current season, loving her with everything in me means changing diapers and reading the same story over and over, and picking up toys, and having a tag-along on date night ... and she's worth it.

Life isn't so much about what we believe in or what we feel called to. It's about knowing the call only matters because of the people who are changed by our presence, our influence, and our love.

If Jesus loved everyone, I should too...

Do you remember the childhood Sunday School song, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world ..."?

I loved that song. It was one of my favorites, but sometimes I forgot that "all the children" really mean "all." And that if Jesus loved everyone, I should too.

In elementary school I was very much an ugly duckling. Lucky for me by the time I got to high school I transformed into a swan. I grew taller, slimmed out, and got contacts. But it wasn't so lucky for my friends. I used to hang out with the "unpopular" kids, and then seemingly overnight my social status changed. Looking back, I can't put my finger on the moment when I stopped hanging out with my old friends. In fact, I can hardly remember some of them being at the same high school. How sad is that!

A movie I watched recently reminded me of my "transformation." It's called To Save A Life and it's WORTH WATCHING. It's about a teen who forgot who his best friend used to be ... until he lost him.

I don't mean for this post to be depressing, but I do hope it'll make you think. God loves "all" the little children and "all" the teens too. Is there someone in your life that you've turned your back on?

Ask God about this. Ask him to show you who to open your life and your heart to. You may be surprised. Then again ... you might not be. You may have a feeling deep down that's been telling you exactly who you need to reach out to.

Earlier this year I was asked to be part of an amazing devotional book, Mornings with Jesus. 

Here is a sneak peak of the cover for the direct-to-consumer cover. Isn't it beautiful?

I'll have more details about where you can purchase the book soon!

It takes smarts to be a wife.

I've benefit from learning about The Five Love Languages, about Love and Respect, and about His Needs Her Needs.

My friends Bill and Pam Farrel helped me understand that Men are Like Waffles and Women are Like Spaghetti. This one concept alone has made communication in our home 100% easier.

But being a GREAT wife takes more than smarts. It takes wisdom.

I can never know enough or see clearly enough to love John as I should. Too many times I'm swayed by facts and feelings. Thankfully God comes to me through His Spirit to show me how and when to apply my smarts. When I turn to God, it's His Spirit that whispers "go to him", "give him space", "give him grace", "reveal your heart."

Thankfully wisdom is available to all of us. We only have to ask.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5, NIV.

Need marriage smarts? I highly recommend the books above. They are my all-time favorites.

Need wisdom? I HIGHLY recommend that too. Go to God and ask Him. God gives generously after all!

P.S. Also be sure to check out the marriage book I wrote. I took the smarts I've learned and prayed for a lot of wisdom as I wrote it!

Thursday on Living Inspired Jay & Beth Loecken and Ken Bevel from Courageous!

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen. Thursday at 3:00 pm Central.


Don't miss Thursday's show - I'm talking with Jay and Beth Loecken and actor Ken Bevel about his recent appearance in the movie everyone's talking about - Courageous! First the Loecken's, they were an ordinary family searching for meaning in their lives while living the American Dream. They owned their dream house, drove nice cars, and from the outside seemed to have all they needed. Yet something kept pulling at them—a stirring, a sense that they were being called to a greater purpose in life. They couldn’t escape the feeling that there was more to life than the relentless pursuit of material possessions. In Passion to Action: How God Uses Ordinary People in Extraordinary Ways, the Loeckens share the remarkable story of how they rediscovered another dream and how it turned their life upside down and fulfilled them more than they ever thought possible.  It will inspire readers to discover their own passions and put them into action.

Then during the second half hour I'll be talking with Ken Bevel who is one of the leading characters in theyet-to-be-released movie, Courageous. We'll hear Ken's personal testimony and how working in these films has made him take a look at his own faith journey. 


More about Ken: Ken Bevel is an American Marine Corps officer and actor who stars in the 2008 film Fireproof and the 2011 film Courageous. Like many actors in the film, his work was performed on a voluntary basis.[1] In Fireproof, Bevel portrayed firefighter Michael Simmons,[2][3] and portrays police officer Nathan Hayes in Courageous.


More about the Loecken's: In the summer of 2007, the Loeckens headed to Africa on a mission trip with three of their four children.  That trip changed their lives.  When they returned home to their comfortable lifestyle, they all knew they wanted something more.  In April of 2008, the family made the daring decision to sell their home, purchase an RV, and begin traveling the country serving communities in need: crushing cans for a senior center in McCall, Idaho, cleaning used books for a program in Portland, Oregon, and

 serving meals at the Rescue Mission in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Being in Africa gave us a true and new understanding of what it means to have a sense of community.  The people we met and mingled with for those two weeks really rely on one another.  They work together and share everything and don’t just think about themselves.  They instinctively put others first,” says Jay.  Upon returning home, the family realized that they had abandoned their dreams, so they made a u-turn, deciding to recreate what they had found on the other side of the world: purpose, joy, simplicity, and service.

The Loeckens knew they were not just called to live their dream, but to encourage others to do the same through their Passion to Action ministry.  Their mission is to inspire others, empower them with tools and resources, and mobilize them to put their faith into action.  While reading their story, including excerpts from their children (Ben, Bekah, Abigail, and Noah), readers will witness remarkable courage and see how far God can lead us to places we never imagined.  Their book includes ten challenges for readers to complete on their own, such as identifying their passion, conquering fears, and helping someone who is different than them.

Passion to Action is more than just a story about the Loecken family; it is a movement that encourages action in discovering one’s life passion and beginning to live it.  According to Beth, “There is a God-given dream in each of us.  That dream looks different for every person, but it is definitely there.  For some, perhaps the dream is to write a novel, compete in a marathon, or work with disadvantaged kids.  Deep down, we all have a dream.  But sadly, most people will never act on it.”
Visit http://passiontoaction.org for more information about the Loeckens and to watch videos from the road.

Leave a comment (HERE) for a chance to win a copy of the Loecken's book. Winner will be notified next week via email.

Research Writing Trips ... Bud's Car Rental

It seems every time someone asks about my recent research trip to Alaska I start off by telling them about Bud's Car Rental. I have to preface my story by sharing what I read on the Gustavus Visitor's page:

Once you arrive in Gustavus, you'll need to get from the airport to wherever it is you're staying... Most of the lodges and guesthouses will provide shuttle services to pick you up, provided they know when to expect you. You could also rent a car here, (unlimited mileage!) or call a taxi, but most guests just prefer to borrow a bike to get around town.... or put out your thumb. 

Put out my thumb? Since it was supposed to be rainy and we had a 17-month on tow, we decided that rental car would be a great choice. It had unlimited mileage, too. How can you beat that?

I called the car rental "company" and Bud answered. It took a few minutes for him to get his paperwork. He was really great and said he'd have the car at the lodge for us at 9:00 a.m. He didn't need anything but my name. He said he'd get my credit card information when we met.

John's the one who met Bud at the front desk. Bud handed over the keys and asked John to give him a ride home. It was Bud's car, you see, that he rents out. It was an older mini-van with 190,000 miles. It hadn't been vacuumed in a while (which was okay because of all the rain, mud and sand). It had no licenses plates either. Gustavus is off the grid. You can only get there by plane or the occasional ferry. There is no law enforcement. The speed limit is 35 in most places, and up until recently many of the cars in the community of 300 people didn't have brakes. (Or so we were told.)

You'll hear a lot more about this community in an upcoming novel I'm writing with my co-author Ocieanna Fleiss, but the story about the rental car is a great example of what we discovered in Gustavus, Alaska.

1. It's a place where you really can put out your thumb and feel safe. Everyone waves and they'll strike up a conversation with you if you pause and offer them a smile.

2. There's no need for a show. What you see is what you get ... and you'll get only exactly what you need. It would be silly to have a fancy car to drive when there is only about 20 miles of paved roads. It would be crazy to vacuum out the car when you're just going to dirty it up the next time you get in.

3. Everything's a bit untamed. The forests, the animals, the climate, and even the people. We saw a bear right by our lodge. We hiked through a thick, lush, damp forest to view an airplane that had crashed years ago. The rain changed from a sprinkle to a downpour before you could whip out an umbrella. And around town most things were closed Saturdays and Sundays. The local folks weren't there to cater to the tourists ... they had lives to live and adventures to take and by golly if you need something it can wait until after the weekend!

I've never been to a place like Gustavus, Alaska before, and I'm reminded again how tense I can get over things that don't matter. It also made me appreciate the people in my life more, too. Old friends and new friends alike.

Bud wasn't the only one we met. We were invited to a home church. (We loved it!) We listened to stories of folks who grew up there ... and were invited into their home to just visit for a while. We chatted with the librarian and a retiree who's 86. We were welcomed immediately by everyone we met. Life--this community has discovered--isn't about what you have to show for yourself. It's about sharing what you have--and who you are--with others. Bud was the first example of that ... and dozens of more people followed.

And as for sticking out my thumb. I think I might try it next time. It seems that I can guarantee whoever picks me up will be someone I'll soon be calling "friend."

These young mommies loved the idea of dreaming.

With the start of the school year, our Teen MOPS year has also started. Our first meeting we had five young moms--three young women returning from last year and two new mommies! I was the speaker at our first meeting and we talked about dreams. I shared how I was a teen mom--just 17 when I had Cory. I shared how I turned my life over to God and how He transformed my heart. I also shared how, with God in my life, I once again started to dream of a good future. I NEVER dreamed that I'd be a writer, speaker, spokesperson, etc. but I did think I could have a good future with God on my side.

These young mommies loved the idea of dreaming. They talked about going to college and getting their degrees. They talked about getting married, having more kids, having a career. All of them spoke of traveling and seeing the world outside of Little Rock, Arkansas. For these young women--many of which were raised by single parents and grew up on public assistance--the dreaming isn't the hard part. It's the daily steps that are the struggle.

One young mommy who I had a chance to talk to attends college classes, cares for her baby and works at night. She walks nearly two miles to her job and has to be there at 10:30 p.m. Her boyfriend walks with her, taking their baby in their stroller. She gets just over $7 an hour and is happy when she can get 4 hours of work a night--every little bit helps. She was excited because she's starting a new job this weekend, passing out food samples.

I'm so proud of her! And she's just one example. I'm so proud of these young women who come to the meetings to learn to be good mommies. Most of them have been raised with tough life circumstances, but they keep fighting--doing the best for themselves and their child.

It makes me think about how easy it is to talk about the "problem" of teen pregnancy, yet few of us really understand it. Yes, these young women made a poor choice to become sexually active as a teen, but that poor choice is followed by hundreds more GOOD choices that people don't often applaud:

-to have their child

-to continue going to school

-to work minimum wage jobs to pay for diapers

-to walk away from relationships with friends who are poor role models for their child

-to start going to church

-to join support groups

-to learn to be a good mommy

Thinking of all this--knowing all this--makes me want to help them more. And knowing that I may be one of the only loving, caring, encouraging people in their lives brings their names to my lips in prayer throughout the day.

Just yesterday I saw an online post from one of my former teen moms that broke my heart:

Why is it that some people get the best family possible while others are forced to raise themselves because their parents are too drunk/high to even notice they exist....Why are some people so LOVED when others have no one to love them....?

That's a good question. I also wonder if God HAS brought someone into their lives to love them … but that person just hasn't taken the steps to do so.

Do you know a teen mom? Maybe the person God brought into her love to encourage her is you.

Do you see a teen mom struggling? Maybe God made you aware so you can help.

Do you wish teen moms had more support? Maybe you're the one He's called to begin a support group or offer to babysit.

Do you know a young woman who's looking for love in all the wrong places? Maybe you're the one to show her love like she's never known … and point her to Jesus, the Lover of her souls, who will never leave her.

I'm so thankful for those men and women who took the time to encourage me, help me, offer me support, babysit and point me to Jesus. Without those people in my life who knows where I'd be?

Because of those people in my life … my life, my kids' lives, and the lives of those I influence will never be the same.

Be Inspired

It's hard being creative. When there is people and paperwork and piles to manage. When I look around my house and see the walls that need to be painted and the cupboards that should be organized. When my inbox is cluttered with notes I need to answer about work stuff and volunteer stuff. When output is more than input.

What can you do when you need an extra "spark" of inspiration? Here are a few things I do.

Call a fun/funny friend.

Sit outside. Breath in fresh air. Listen to birdsongs. Watch busy ants.

Open a book of poetry. Absorb the symbolism and fresh word combinations.

Open a cookbook and find a recipe of something you'd like to make but never tried before. (Then go shopping.)

Go to YouTube.com and watch old dance numbers like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdxCx7GilbQ&feature=fvst

Visit www.etsy.com and take their Taste Test: http://www.etsy.com/tastetest/ Enjoy the fresh colors, textures, ideas

Play with Visuwords: http://www.visuwords.com/ Follow word trails and see where they lead you

Have a visual feast at http://www.istockphoto.com/

Pray and thank God for His creativity. Thank Him for your favorite places, people, tastes and the beauty of nature.

Read your favorite Bible verses in a Bible version you normally don't read. Here is my favorite Bible verse in The Message Version:

"Don't be afraid.
Dear Zion,
   don't despair.
Your God is present among you,
   a strong Warrior there to save you.
Happy to have you back, he'll calm you with his love
   and delight you with his songs."

Write a greeting card verse and email it to a special person.

These are only a few of the things that spark my inspiration. What about you?

My Script

Looking back at my drama-filled teen years I now wonder … What was I thinking?

The truth? I wasn’t. I lived from day to day on every wave of emotion. Some days excitement and passion partnered up, pattering wildly within my heart.

Other days, depression and anxiety were my silent friends. I lived each day as it came, with no plan for my future, for my relationships, or for my heart.

I lived my life completely unscripted … and, well, it didn’t go well for me. Teen pregnancy and a broken heart were only two consequences. There were more. Even after all these years I still struggle with insecurities with pained memories. Looking back I wish I would have had a better grasp of my future. It would have helped me make better decisions for sure!

What do you want for your future? Here's an exercise to help you figure it out. Write down your answers in your journal. Think through your dreams and goals. Pray about them.

Your Name:
Today’s Date:

3–6 Months

What is one way you can improve yourself over the next few months?
What is something you need to commit to pray about?
Who would you like to build a better relationship with? How can you start?
What can you do in the next few months that will help your future?

6–12 Months

How do you imagine yourself in a year?
What can you do to prepare for that "improved" person?
What one Scripture verse can you memorize to help you in your growth?
What relationships do you need to walk away from? Who is holding you back from becoming the person you want to be?
What can you start today that will help you plan for your career path?

Beyond 12 Months

How can you become a more positive impact in your church over the next year?
What does God desire for your future?
Who can encourage you on your path?
How can you improve your relationship with your parents?
What friends will help you grow in your faith? In what ways can you help them grow?

5 years from now

Where do you see yourself? In college? On the mission field?
What steps can you take to get there?
What type of person do you need to be to attract the man of your dreams?
These are just a few things to get your started! Feel free to talk about these to your friends, your mentors! The more we think, plan, and pray, the closer we will get to achieving God's dreams--wonderful dreams--for our lives!

Time to be COURAGEOUS (and giveaway!)

One of the hardest things about being a newlywed was seeing my new husband as my father’s son. As a single mom before we got married, I’d gotten used to making all the decisions. I thought I knew what was best. After all, I was the mom. The truth is that things didn’t get easier as more children were added to our home. I was with the kids most of the time and I struggled with giving over control.

There was a time in my marriage when God started talking to me about this. He reminded me the pain of growing up not knowing my biological father. He reminded me the emptiness of trying to get the approval of a distant and closed off step-dad. If my husband was wanting to be an active presence in our kids lives … why was I fighting so hard? Sure, he had different ideas of some aspects of parenting, but it didn’t mean those ideas were wrong. The more I stepped back, the more John stepped forward. My kids not only have an amazing dad, they’ve also grown up without the power struggles that existed when they were toddlers.

For some of you married moms, this message might hit home. For others you may be thinking, “I wish my husband would take the initiative. I wouldn’t fight it at all!”

The truth is that in many homes even if a dad lives at home there’s a disconnect between him and the kids. Maybe your husband is more interested in work or sports. It only makes sense. This dad thing is hard stuff, especially if there wasn’t a good role model, especially if he feels more confident in other areas. Many men focus on their jobs and hobbies because they KNOW they can excel in those. This fatherhood business … that’s scary stuff! It takes courage to step into the unknown, uncertain, and overwhelming territory of being a dad. It means putting your life on the line day after day for your kids.

That’s where the movie Courageous comes in …

I was privileged to watch a pre-release copy of this new movie a few weeks ago. The movie is from the makers of Fireproof (which I loved), so I had high expectations. I was not disappointed. I’d watch the movie again today if I still had the copy. I’d laugh and cry all over again.

The story centers around a group of police officers who put their lives on the line daily, but after a tragic event soon realize the front line they need to be facing is the battle for their kids. (This was especially meaningful to me because my stepdad was a police officer during my growing up years.)

Fatherhood is upheld in this film. The impact of dads on future generations is displayed through a moving story–not only by the men who take steps to embrace the calling, but by the conflict that comes through the young men and women who have no father figures in their lives. The statistics say it all:

According to 2009 U.S. Census Bureau data, over 24 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (33%) children in America. Nearly 2 in 3 (64%) African American children live in father-absent homes. One in three (34%) Hispanic children, and 1 in 4 (25%) white children live in father-absent homes. In 1960, only 11% of children lived in father-absent homes.

Children who live absent their biological fathers are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents (Source)

While the problem of fatherlessness is huge, there are small steps we can take to help men in their role.

1. Let them lead. Give them space to be the dads God designed them to be, even if it means they make mistakes now and then.

2. Watch Courageous which releases on September 30 and encourage your friends to do so. It’s a movie that reminds all of us that every father who fights to be in his child’s life is a hero! It’s worth watching and worth telling your friends about! In fact, if you can watch it on opening weekend please do. Those box office numbers will impact how many additional theaters will pick it up in the weeks to come!

3. Pray. Pray for the men in our lives–our husbands, fathers and sons. Also pray for the fatherless. Pray God will bring good role models into the lives of young men and women and consider your family–your man–of possibly being the answer to a young person’s prayers.

GIVEAWAY- How do you encourage your husband to be a great Father? Leave a comment for a chance to win $25 gift certificate to Fandango so you and your hubby can go see Courageous! (ends 9/16)

Thursday on Living Inspired: I Used to Be So Organized by Glynnis Whitwer

To listen to the interview: go here and click on the player in the upper right corner of the screen. Thursday at 3:00 pm Central.


I'm super excited about this week's guest. Just the title of Glynnis' book, I Used to Be So Organized makes me want to say AMEN! Glynnis is part of Proverbs 31 and we'll be hearing more about Glynnis' background, why she wrote this book and hopefully get a few tips from her about being effective in our mess and getting a 'handle on our lives'.

For a chance to win a copy of Glynnis' book, leave a comment {HERE}. Winners will be notified next week via email.

More about Glynnis: Glynnis Whitwer is on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries as the Senior Editor of the P31 Woman magazine. She is one of the writers of Encouragement for Today, the Proverbs 31 e-mail devotions, with over 500,000 daily readers.  Her newest book, I Used to be So Organized, has just been released.  Glynnis, her husband Tod, and their five children live in Glendale, Arizona.

Visit www.GlynnisWhitwer.com or www.HerOrganizedLife.com to learn more.

More about the book: If you’ve given up on getting your schedule, office orhome organized, Glynnis Whitwer’snewest book, I Used to Be So Organized, will help.  In it, Glynnis addresses the frustrations many women feel when they can’t get a handle on their lives.  The truth is, getting organized in today’s reality is like being hired for a job and given no training.  Old ways of organization are ineffective given our world of information overload, increased expectations and technology advances that won’t slow down.  Thankfully, we can learn new ways of managing life.  Glynnis combines encouragement with lots of tips on how to bring peace and order to your life.

Have you ever wondered how a book cover gets made?

1. The character. When I first started writing my Big Sky Series I wrote a character description sheet for my publisher. Marianna Sommer was petite with dark hair and gray eyes.

2. The image. For the book cover Along Wooded Paths we knew we wanted a scene with Marianna walking in an area with meadows and trees. We had to make sure she had the right kapp. The right coat. The right dress and apron.

3. The look. My publisher and I decided we wanted a "contemplative, yet sweet look" on Marianna's face. We used the same model as novel #1, Beside Still Waters. She posed in front of a blank background. 

4. The decision. The model did a great job. We had a hard time picking which image we liked best!

5. The finish work. The amazing designer Diana added the background and softened the photo. Here is the final result!