I Repent!

When people tell me:

• they are sad about,
• they wonder why, and
• they refuse to accept 

my comment that Touchable God might be my last book,

I want to do something drastic. So . . .

I repent!

Yes, we've had a hard year in our family, my faith has been tested to its breaking point and I don't feel like I have another book in me. But I'm still young, right? And I want to give God a vote. So I will say that if the Lord wills and if he gives me ideas, I will write and publish books until Jesus returns to get us out of here.

Speaking of Touchable God, the winner of an autographed copy from last week's contest is Diannah! Congratulations, Diannah. I hope you enjoy this peek into my prayer life and the prayers for friends in crisis.

Have you had to repent lately? Did you feel better afterwards? 

Three Ways Blogging Helps You Become a Better Friend

If you've blogged for awhile, you may have

noticed three important factors in a good blog that will help you become a better friend.

1.      1. The more concise your post, the more readers you attract.  Most bloggers visit dozens of blogs. They don't have time to read and comment on long posts.

As you exercise self-control in writing tight, short posts, this discipline slips into your conversations. You find yourself getting to the point in fewer words, leaving room for others to chat, showing them the respect they need.

2.      2. Asking questions at the end of each post engages your reader, and makes them feel important. You can blather on about your vacation to Colorado and bore your reader for 500 words, or give us a 200-word run-down, then ask, “Where have you vacationed that you’d love to return to?”

If you ask questions of friends while talking with them, you make them feel important. They are important. But now they want to hang out with you because you showed an interest in them.

     3. You learn more by listening than talking. When you visit others’ blogs, you pick up trends and tips that help you, whether it’s a new recipe for chicken chests, a better way to parent, or a link to help you market your book.

So it is with conversations. You already know everything you know. So, the more you listen, the more you learn. And grow. And become a more interesting person. 

Did I leave anything out? How has blogging helped you become a better friend?

P.S. The winner of Diana Savage’s devotional 52 Heart Lifters for Difficult Times is Quiet Spirit of Following My King. Congratulations, Quiet—I know you will love this book; it is one of my all-time favorites! 

Five Habits of Happy People and Winner of Mercy's Rain

Would you like to be happier this time next year than you are today? Me too. Here are five habits that will make you happy, or twisted around, five things happy people don't do...

1. Happy people don't live in the past or the future. They receive God's forgiveness and look forward with hope, but they never dwell on past mistakes, or ruin their todays by thinking, "When I get my raise..."

2. Happy people don't read into what others say and do, taking it personally. They realize that the universe doesn't revolve around them. If Boo-boo didn't say 'hi' this morning in church, it may be because he or she is worried or distracted.

3. Happy people don't have super-sized expectations of others, which usually lead to disappointment. They expect God to move on their behalf, but they let others make mistakes, and treat them with grace.

4. Happy people don't hold grudges. They realize that bitterness destroys the one who holds onto it, and do whatever it takes--praying for, blessing, giving gifts in secret--to forgive those who've wronged them, so they can move on with their lives.

5. Happy people never give up on themselves. They continue to sing in the rain and whistle in the dark, holding out their hands to God, trusting in His love to turn even horrible circumstances into trophies of his mercy.

Speaking of Mercy, the winner of Mercy's Rain is...

Elaine Miller! Congratulations, Elaine! I hope you enjoy this debut novel from Cindy Sproles.

Are you happy today? 

Which of the above Habits can you apply to your life to make yourself happier? 

Encouraging Quotes Game and Winner of I Love My Blog Followers Drawing

 

Do you love encouraging quotes? Me too. Can you match the speaker to his or her quote? See the end of this post for the answers, along with the winner of the I LoVe My BlOg FollOwerS DraWinG.

1. "Success is never final. Failure is never final. It is courage that counts."

2. "Easter means you can put truth in a grave, but you can't keep it there."

3. "You must do the thing you think you cannot do."

4. "All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen."

5. "Just because something is hard doesn't mean it isn't God's will for you. Just because something is hard doesn't mean you can't do it."

A. Eleanor Roosevelt

B. Ralph Waldo Emerson

C. Joyce Meyer

D. Winston Churchill

E. Veronica, Ann Lamott's pastor

And now,  THE winner of the I LoVe My Blog FollOwers DraWinG:

One of the Best Devotionals
I've Ever Read!

Quiet Spirit from Follwing My King blog. Congratulations, Quiet Spirit! I am so happy for you! I will mail 52 Heart Lifters, white chocolate, and heart-shaped sticky notes to you.

Thank you to all who entered the drawing. I appreciate you!

If you chose the following speakers for these quotes, you are a winner, too!

1. D
2. E
3. A
4. B
5. C

Which was your favorite Quote?

Favorite Home Remedies and Tips

Just Try Bathing a Cat!

 

When I moved from Los Angeles to rural Illinois fourteen years ago, I learned about some home remedies I'd never heard of before:

If someone in your family is allergic to cat dander and you adopt a stray kitten, you can alleviate the dander by bathing the cat in distilled water. Have you ever tried to bathe a cat, especially a stray? How did that work out for you?

Really? I can make my cookies at home?

When baking several different kinds of cookies, first bake those calling for lower temperatures, then work up to the highest setting. You mean a person can bake their own cookies? The little elves don't bake them during the night, then put them on the shelves in the store before the sun comes up? Aha.

If you get a splinter, put a bit of bacon on it to draw it out. This might have worked fine if the splinter I acquired hadn't gone in at an angle, and if I didn't work at the front desk of a bank, where customers thought we had added to our "Super Extra Checking" by making breakfast for them!

Do you employ home remedies? What is your favorite from the list above, or one of your own?

P.S. The winner of my drawing for Chicken Soup for the Soul Devotional Stories for Wives is Karen Lange from Write Now! Thank you, all who entered, and congratulations, Karen! I will mail your book out after September 10, the official release date.

What Does it Take to Be a Winner?

In your opinion, what does it take to be a winner. . .

 

In a friendship?

 

As a spouse?

 

In your career?

 

As a parent?

 

In life?

I'd love your input on this one! I'm always striving to discover others' secrets to success, so I can emulate them. Please leave your comments below.

And speaking of winning, the winner of my basket of office products from the I Love My Blog Buddies Drawing is Terri Moore from Terri Moore's Art. Congratulations, Terri! I hope you enjoy all the goodies I picked out for you.

Have a great weekend, everyone! Thanks for your comments on being a winner!

Grace and Laughter,

Free Books and Study Guide

When I got the idea to write a study guide for my humorous devotional book, Two Soops of Grace with Chuckles on Top, I was going to add it to the text of the book. But my publisher said, "Offer it FREE to anyone who wants it, and then offer a free book to leaders of Sunday school classes or reading groups that want to read the book.

Since giving gifts is one of my love languages, I jumped on it like hot fudge sauce on a double dip of vanilla. So. . .

If you would like a FREE copy of  twelve weeks of study questions for Two Scoops, or

You teach a Sunday school class or lead a book group that wants to read Two Scoops and would like a FREE book, please email me at jeanette(at)jeanettelevellie(dot)com and I'll send it right away.

And speaking of FREE books, if you like to win them, you know how Rose Chandler Johnson from Write Moments with God feels as the winnner of A Heart Out of Hiding, Jan Cline's debut inspirational book full of sweet encouragement. Congratulations, Rose!

May your heart be FREE in the love of God and His Son, Jesus Christ this week.

Grace and Laughter,

Recognize Bad Advice and Winner of Ditzy Doings Prize

Bad advice. At least once, we’ve all listened to it, then wished we’d spit it in a bucket somewhere.  

As serious writers, musicians, parents, or friends, we are forever looking for ways to improve our skill and reach more hearts with our lives. We read books, attend conferences, and go on as many blogs as we can, to get the best advice possible.  

But sometimes we come across a bit of bad advice. If we know it’s bad, good. We can spit it out like a cow spits out the stubble, only swallowing the grain. If we’re unaware that it’s bad, then not good. We can go down a wrong path in our career, or at the very least, waste precious time.  

A frustrated writer once told me not to read craft books, stating that my writing was good enough and those books would only confuse me. Had I listened to this bad advice, I would be a much poorer writer than I am today. With the help of all the craft books I’ve read, in spite of that poor advice, I believe my writing is improving every time I sit down to type, or get out my journal to muse.  

Have you ever read or heard some bad advice concerning your writing, or another skill? Did you know it was bad, or did you listen to it, later realizing it wasn’t sound? How do you sift advice to weed out the stubble from the precious grain that nourishes?

And now, the Winner of our Ditzy Doings Prize goes to...

GLENDA CHILDERS of  Gg-notes on the journey

Congratulations, Glenda, for making us feel so smart, and for being courageous enough to share your fun moment!

If you'd like to see what ditzy doing won Glenda a tropy and a $5 gift card, click on this link: Win a Prize for the Most Ditzy Doing!

Good Advice-filled Day,

My Quiet Friend

Congratulations to my Quiet Friend, Cecelia Lester,  who won Katie Ganshert's Wildflowers from Winter novel. Congratulations, Cecelia!

Because I am a communicator--I refuse to say I'm loquacious--I lean towards quiet people. And I hope that I meet a need in their life as well. If I talk, I fill the sometimes uncomfortable silence.

Do you have a Quiet Friend? Or, are you the Quiet One?

It is What it Is: Why You Won't Hear Me Say This, and a Contest Winner

Stupid saying 1. It Is What It Is

                Our lawn is tickling our nose, we need an undertaker for our marriage, and our checkbook hasn’t balanced since Reagan was prez. But this stupid saying gives us the perfect excuse to leave things alone, and be as lazy as we please.  

Stupid Saying 2. Good Luck

                If someone says this to me, I politely respond, “thank you.” But under my breath, I counter it with, “I don’t need luck. I have God on my side. He will protect me, help me, and give me wisdom.”  I don’t do luck. I do faith in a God who has promised never to leave me alone.

Stupid Saying 3. It’s All Good

            Oh, really? Are the people who say this blind, deaf, or both? If we’re at Baskin Robbins, Wilbur Chocolate Factory, or Starbucks and you say this, okay. Otherwise, nothing is ALL good except Jesus and Heaven, and we’re not there yet.  

You didn’t know I was this sarcastic, hmmm?  Do any popular sayings irritate you?

And now that I'm done griping, I'm pleased to  announce the winner of Love on the Range drawing by Jessica Nelson..

Kerry from A Lamp, a Light, and a Writer. Congratulations, Kerry! I will mail this sweet historical romance to you within two weeks--I know you'll love it!

An Airline Joke and a Winner

"Only twelve seconds airborne?" said Orville to his brother, Wilbur Wright. "But my luggage is stuck in Denver!"

The winner of my Choose Your Prize Drawing is..........

Carol Garvin a romance writer from Canada. Congratulations, Carol! I hope you enjoy your prize.

Have you ever had your luggage "rerouted" when you traveled? To where would you most love to fly? What kinds of prize drawings most entice you?

Winners and Wranglers

The Winner of Patti Lacy’s newest book, The Rhythm of Secrets, is Rhonda Schrock from The Natives are Getting Restless, a warm, humorous blog about Rhonda's adventures in raising four boys.

Congratulations, Rhonda! I know Patti’s brilliant writing will bless and inspire you.

I believe all readers and writers are winners, because words contain the power of life and death. God said that. He also said to live at peace with everyone, as much as it depends on you. However…

Do you ever wrangle with your spouse, parent, sibling or co-worker about silly issues? Kevin and I got in a dumb argument this morning over how the foam insert in my post-surgical boot was constructed. By the time he dropped me off for work, I was so mad, I was ready to head for Colorado and wrangle a herd of horses!

What is the silliest argument you’ve ever had?

Here Comes the (Preacher's) Bride

It tickles me to announce the winner of the CBA bestselling novel, The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund:

CECELIA LESTER of Following My King blog. Congratulations, Cecelia! I know you will love this poignant, dramatic story, and the preacher's bride you pass it on to will gather strength and courage from it.

If you are NOT tickled because you did NOT win, you may order the book at Amazon, or Jody's website.

Thank you, all who entered the contest or commented about Jody and her amazing gift of writing. I appreciate you!

Winner of Red Ink by Kathi Macias

Congratulations from the Panda Twins!

The winnner of Kathi Macias' book Red Ink is...


Joyful Chaos. Congratulations!!! Please email me with your address so I can send your prize to you right away.

Thank you to all who participated in the contest.



May the Lord protect and defend you, and grant you His peace that passes all understanding. May today be filled with His glory, and may He cancel every evil plot of the evil one, in His wonderful, powerful Name: Jesus.

With Love in the Lamb,
Jen

P.S. Please join me tomorrow to enter my 3rd annual I Love My Blog Followers Prize Basket Giveaway of Office Products!!!

Winner of Thin Places

I prayed that God would lead my hand to choose the person who most needs this message of hope, and I believe He led me to...


Andrea Bowling Perdue of Arise 2 Write. Congratulations, Andrea! May God use Mary's words to deepen your walk with Him.

Thank you, all who entered the drawing.

Please join me Friday for a special message about Talking to Yourself.

And next week we will have another prize giveaway in conjunction with my interview of author and speaker Michelle Medlock Adams!

Two Woohoos! and Five Winners!!

My two “Woohoos!!” for today are:
I had a check waiting for me in the mail when I got home from work today. This is for an article I sold as a result of meeting with an editor at a conference in November, 2008. It’s the first article I’ve sold this year! Thank you, Lord!
I won Jaime’s contest on her blog, for writing a story about how me and my husband met. I am so excited I can’t stand it!!! But we must go on for this important announcement:

The winners of my Pitch Critiquing contest:

Jody: I appreciate your idea about using some chapter titles in the pitch for my first book; why didn’t I think of that? Thank you!

Jessica: I was so jazzed when you said my WIP sounds like a reality show, and plan to work it into my pitch. What a great hook! Thanks!

Angela: Your idea to show enthusiasm and excitement is very helpful. I will improve on that. Thank you!

Karin: I needed to hear what you said about selling myself to an agent or editor, with just a couple of sentences about the books as a hook. Holley Gerth had told me that awhile ago, and I’d forgotten it, so thanks for the reminder!

Susan: The changes you made in the pitch were perfect! Thanks for your input and willingness to do this, even though you can’t post on the blog. I appreciate you!

And the grand prize winner is….

KARIN!!!
Although you did not change my pitch per se, the advice to sell myself was just the thing I most needed at this time. I tend to focus on all the details, and forget the main point, which is how I come across to people. So, this was valuable and God-sent.

To everyone who entered, I appreciate all your time and effort in reading and critiquing these! I am sorry I didn’t have prizes for everyone! Thanks for your kindness and help.

To Jody, Jessica, Susan, Angela and Karin: please email me your addy’s and I will send your prizes right away. Well, after I get paid on Tuesday of next week, that is! My email address is jeanettelevellie(at)gmail(dot)com. Thanks again for your help!

Blessings, Jen