Author: Jessica R. Patch

Would You Rather with Karen Witemeyer!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

KAREN WITEMEYER
FACEBOOK 
WEBSITE
One of my all-time favorite authors is with us today! Karen Witemeyer! If you enjoy historical romance, Karen should be one of your must-read authors! I had the pleasure of meeting Karen at ACFW last year and she’s as kind as you might imagine. She didn’t even run from me when I gushed on and on about her books. 🙂 I also had the pleasure of reading Karen’s newest book, Full Steam Ahead! You can read my review on GOODREADS! 
Here’s a peek at the book and then we’re going to play a game with Karen, her heroine Nicole, and her hero Darius!
When Nicole Renard returns home to Galveston from an eastern finishing school, she’s stunned to find her father in ill health. Though she loves him, he’s only ever focused on what she’s not. Not male. Not married. Not able to run their family business, Renard Shipping.

Vowing to secure a suitable marriage partner, Nicole sets out with the Renard family’s greatest treasure: a dagger personally gifted to Nicole’s father by the pirate Jean Lafitte. Many believe the legend that the dagger is the source of all Renard Shipping’s good fortune, though Nicole is sure her father’s work ethic and honorable business practices are the keys to their success. Before she can board the steamer to New Orleans, Nicole finds her father’s rivals–the Jenkins brothers–on either side of the gangplank, ready to grab her and steal the dagger. Quickly, she decides to instead travel north, to Liberty, Texas, where she can decide what to do next.

Darius Thornton needs a secretary–someone to help him get his notes in order. Ever since the boiler explosion aboard the Louisiana, Darius has been a man obsessed. He will do anything to stop even one more steamship disaster. The pretty young socialite who applies for the job baffles him with her knowledge of mathematics and steamships. He decides to take a risk and hire her, but he’s determined her attractive face and fancy clothes won’t distract him from his important research.

The job offer comes at exactly the right time for Nicole. With what Darius is paying her, she’ll be able to afford passage to New Orleans in mere weeks. But Mr. Thornton is so reclusive, so distant, so unusual. He can create complex scientific equations but can’t remember to comb his hair. And his experiments are growing more and more dangerous. Still, there are undeniable sparks of attraction between them. But Nicole is leaving soon, and if she marries, it must be to a man who can manage a shipping empire. Darius certainly doesn’t fit that description. And the Jenkins brothers have not given up on kidnapping Nicole and seizing the Lafitte dagger for themselves.

BUY THE BOOK! 

Would You Rather…
…go way back in time and meet your ancestors or
go way into the future and meet your great grandchildren?
Karen: As much as I
love imagining life in the past, I would actually pick meeting my great
grandchildren. I would love to see how the legacy of faith we’ve worked to
instill in our children has trickled down through the generations. And it would
be fun to see what kind of grandparents my kids turned out to be. Wonder if any
of my books would still be around?
Nicole: Back in
time. I’d love to be in the pirate colony Campeche
when my grandfather, Henri Renard, took the bullet meant for Jean Lafitte. That
pivotal moment shaped my family’s history for generations.
Darius: Future. I’d
love to see all the mechanical advancements that take place in the shipping
industry. Maybe we’ll finally find a way to power our ships without those
blasted boilers.
…have a rewind button in your life or a pause
button in your life?
Karen: Pause – I’m
in constant need of more time. More time to write, more time to spend with my
family, more time to just relax. A pause button sounds heavenly.
Nicole: Pause – With
my father’s illness, I want to savor each moment I have left with him.
Darius: Rewind – I’d
give anything to go back to November 15, 1849 and warn the captain of the Louisiana to get his passengers and crew
to safety. I’ll always regret that I couldn’t do more to save those who lost
their lives that day.
…be a thief or a beggar?
Karen: Hmm – that’s
a hard one. I guess I would have to choose beggar. Swallowing my pride would be
excruciating, but it would be better than forfeiting my moral code.
Nicole: With all the
years I played pirate on the beaches of Galveston with Tommy Ackerman, I’d have
to say thief, but only if the situation were dire enough to justify such
action. For instance . . . if one needed to protect her family from certain
harm. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
Darius: Thief – when
it comes to providing for my family, I’ll do whatever it takes, go to any
length to see that they are safe. Thankfully, with my family owning King Star
Shipping, the likelihood of facing this dilemma is slim.
…reduce hours of sleep needed to 5 or need 10
hours of sleep, but you get to control your dreams every night?
Karen: If I could be
as fully rested after 5 hours as I am after 10, I would definitely choose the
5. Just think what I could accomplish with those extra hours!
Nicole: Between keeping
the accounts for Renard Shipping, watching over Jacob, and helping my mother
tend my father, I could use all the extra hours I could get. I’ll take the 5.

Darius: After being
tormented by nightmares for months, the thought of controlling my dreams is an
enticement that is hard to resist. Yet after meeting Nicole, my dreams are much
less troubling, and I really can’t afford to waste 10 hours of every 24 in
sleep. People are dying due to malfunctioning boilers. Sacrificing my comfort
to continue my research is a small price to pay.
Choose one or all and answer in the comments below! 

Thank you, Karen, for hanging out today!

The Power of “With”

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

 

 
It’s good
to be back after a long week of vacation. We took the kids to Branson for the
week and had a wonderful time. Experienced God’s beauty 174 feet below the
ground in an amazing cave. Marveled at the beauty of his mountains and lakes as
we drove and traveled by boat. And we were moved at His love for each one of us
as we enjoyed the Sight and Sound Theater’s performance of Jonah. Incredible.
The early mornings on the screened-in porch where I sipped coffee and spent
time in the Word breathed fresh life back into me. It was a vacation full of
precious memories.
 
 

 

 

This
morning during my study, I happened to glance down at two passages and they
spoke volumes to me.
 
Paul is
speaking in a letter to his young protégé Timothy. He says in 2 Timothy
4:17-18, “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the
message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might
hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will
deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for the His heavenly
kingdom…”
 
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me.
 
If you
know me well, you know that a simple phrase or word will strike up a song
inside me. A good friend calls me walking iTunes. It’s the running joke. So
naturally, I started humming, Stand by Me by Ben E. King.
 
When the
night has come
And the
land is dark
And the
moon is the only light we’ll see
No I won’t
be afraid
Oh, I
won’t be afraid
Just as
long as you stand, stand by me
 
Then it
hit me, the scripture didn’t say that Jesus
stood by Paul. It said, with.
 
The
phrase, “with me” in the Greek is moi. It’s a possessive pronoun of
mine in the first person. It states that which I have; what I possess
 
By isn’t
so bad. In Acts 23:11 Paul says, “…the Lord stood by me and said, ‘Be of
good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must
also bear witness in Rome.'” The Greek word for “by” is
ephistemi and it means to be present, to be at hand. Jesus was there to
encourage Paul when he needed it.
 
And yet…
 
With me says, “Because I am
with you, all that I possess. All that I
have is yours.” That includes His strength.
 
“But
the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…” Because what is His, is
yours when He is with you.
 
Look at
the verses above in 2 Timothy. Paul says in verses 9-15 that several left him
including Demas, Crescens, Titus. Only Luke was left. Alexander the coppersmith
did him much harm.
 
“At
my first defense, no one stood with me, but all forsook me.” (v. 16)
 
But the
Lord…!!!!
 
Whatever
you may be going through. No matter how abandoned you may feel. The Lord is not
only by you to encourage you, He is with you. All that belongs to Him is yours.
Including His strength.
 
Friends,
there is comfort in that!
 
“To
Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (v.18)
 
Knowing that all Jesus has is yours, how will that change what you do
today or how you think?
 
 

 

****I’ve set up a newsletter! You can get Patched In if you sign up.
Just click the link on the top right hand corner and enter your email address.
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****Karen Witemeyer is in the house on Friday so come back and play a few rounds of Would You Rather? with her and her main characters! 

Dancing with Fireflies

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
Buy the book! 

Our book club read the first story in Denise Hunter’s Chapel Springs series, Barefoot in Summer, and I truly enjoyed it (so did our book club!). So when this book released, I was excited to get my hands on it. 

Here’s the blurb:

 Jade returns home to Chapel Springs after years of protecting her fragile heart. Then along comes Daniel, making her long to dance again.

Creative and complicated, Jade McKinley felt like a weed in a rose garden growing up in Chapel Springs. When she left, she thought she’d never look back. But now, pregnant, alone, and broke, she has no other choice but to return.
The mayor of Chapel Springs, Daniel Dawson, has been an honorary member of the McKinley family for years. While his own home life was almost non-existent, Daniel fit right into the boisterous McKinley family. He’s loved Jade for years, but she always saw him as a big brother. Now that she’s back, his feelings are stronger than ever.
As Jade attempts to settle in, nothing feels right. God seems far away, she’s hiding secrets from her family, and she’s strangely attracted to the man who’s always called her “squirt.” Finding her way home may prove more difficult than she imagined.

I gotta say, I loved it even more than the first book in the series! And isn’t that cover lovely? 

Denise Hunter’s hero was fierce and protective and super smart. I love smart heroes in dress shirts and scruff. Daniel was a fun character to get to know in the first book, but I feel head-over-heels in Dancing with Fireflies! There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Jade, the heroine.

Which brings me to Jade. Sweet but strong. Anxious over uncertainty in her life, yet determined to overcome. She was a heroine I could identify with. 

A believable cast of characters set in a community that feels like family and care about each other, I gobbled this book up in two sittings. Because, I do have to sleep a few hours! 

Hunter also weaves a theme of forgiveness and grace into the story that touched me in a real way. God truly does work things out for the good for those who love Him. We can trust Him and rely on Him to supply us with everything we need. It showed beautifully in this story. 

Now, where’s the next book? I encourage you to read both books in the series. You don’t have to read them in order, but I always like to. 🙂 

Thank you, Thomas Nelson, for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review. 

@DeniseAHunter
Website 
Facebook

Denise Hunter is the internationally published bestselling author of more than 20 books, including “Dancing with Fireflies” and “The Convenient Groom”. She has won The Holt Medallion Award, The Reader’s Choice Award, The Foreword Book of the Year Award, and is a RITA finalist.
Denise writes heartwarming love stories that are set in quaint, small towns. Her readers enjoy the experience of falling in love vicariously through her characters and can expect a happily-ever-after sigh as they close the pages of her books.
In 1996, inspired by the death of her grandfather, Denise began her first book, writing while her children napped. Two years later it was published, and she’s been writing ever since. Her husband says he inspires all her romantic stories, but Denise insists a good imagination helps too!
When Denise isn’t orchestrating love lives on the written page, she enjoys traveling with her family, drinking green tea, and playing drums. Denise makes her home in Indiana where she and her husband are raising three boys.

Have you ever chased fireflies (lightning bugs)? 
And have you ever read a book by Denise Hunter? 
Which one was your favorite?

***If you’re a Gilmore Girls fan, come by Melissa Tagg’s blog today. She’s hosting a Gilmore Guys summer series and I’m talking all things Logan Huntzberger today! Plus you can enter to win a Starbucks card, Logan magnet, and a Melissa’s newest release, Here to Stay! Gilmore Guys here!

Faith Readers Group Review: A Broken Kind of Beautiful

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Yes, we’re in the conference room, settled into plush chairs, a kitchenette off to the side where we can make fresh coffee and this night, we had warm Krispy Kreme donuts as we talked all things A Broken Kind of Beautiful, Katie Ganshert’s newest release.

Rarely do we all agree that we loved the same book. But Tuesday night, we did. See all those smiling faces? We looked like that all night. And Katie can attest to it, because we Skyped with her! This makes our 3rd time to Skype and our 3rd book of Katie’s to read. 

Everyone feels as if you’re just hanging out with a BFF while talking with Katie. She’s so much fun. 

Before we chatted with her, we went to her Book Club page fun and read the discussion questions, watched her inspiration YouTubes and took a peek behind the scenes. 

So, here’s a peek at the book!

Buy the Book! 
Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong
 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white. 
 
If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?
Out of 5 Stars: 4.5

I loved how Katie describes. It’s so visual, setting you right there but it’s not overly described. I skip overly described stuff.
I thought she had a lot of powerful phrases that were profound. 
I didn’t like Ivy at first, but I’m glad I stuck with it because it as it turned out, I loved the book.
I would have given it five stars instead of 4.5 because there were a lot of names to keep up with at the beginning and their relationships and I was a bit confused but then once I had it, I loved the book.
I identified most with Marilyn. She was a strong woman. I knew someone like her once.
I  wanted Davis to save the day! I didn’t see that coming! (I won’t give spoilers, so read the book)
Didn’t you just want to slap those men! The only good one was dead! LOL
Katie’s writing is poetic and I love that! (We agreed!)
Thanks, Katie, for another wonderful read. Us Faith Readers strongly recommend this book! 
@KatieGanshert 
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE
How would you describe beauty? There’s no wrong answer here! 

Would You Rather with Katie and the Cast!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
@KatieGanshert
FACEBOOK 
WEBSITE 
Hey everyone! Last night our book club had the chance to chat with Katie
via Skype, making it our 3rd time since the ladies love her books so
much that we’ve read each and every one! It was a lot of fun, as always. Our
group review will be up on Friday, so come back for that!
Today, I’ve asked Katie, her hero, Davis and her heroine, Ivy to answer a
few Would You Rather questions. Here are their fun answers!
Would You Rather…
…have $100,000 cash or $100,000 Amazon gift cards?
Me: $100,000! I would move my family to the Congo so we could live with
our daughter until the Congo government lifts their suspension.
Ivy: $100,000. Amazon is trying to take over the world.
Davis: $100,000 so I could open the art program for my sister without
having to pick up my camera again.
…go left where nothing is right or go right where nothing is
left?
Me: Go right where nothing is left, because I’ve discovered that in those
places, God meets me most profoundly.
Ivy: Go left where nothing is right. I guess I’d rather be wrong than
empty. I’m tired of being empty.
Davis: I feel like I’ve done the first and since the repercussions of
those choices still haunt me, I guess I’d opt for the second option.
…be half your height or double your weight?
Me: Oh my goodness, those are both horrible! I guess I’d go with half my
height. I’d slap on some pointy ears and figure out how to grow some hair on my
feet and move to the Shire.
Ivy: Either one would put my career in the grave once and for all. Do I
really have to pick one?
Davis: Double my weight.
Great answers, although, Ivy, I think not answering is
unfair! And Katie, the shire? Bahahahaha!!! Thanks for joining us today.
Answer
one or more of the questions in the comments.
Here are my answers:

I’d go with $100,000. Amazon can’t sell everything…can it? I
agree with Katie. I’d go right where nothing is left. When nothing’s left it
make room for God to sweep in and make everything right! And that really is a terrible question. I’m going with weight b/c I can always lose it right? And I’m already only 5 feet tall so…
Buy the book! 
Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong
 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

For Freedom with Katie Ganshert

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
@KatieGanshert
FACEBOOK
WEBSITE 
So glad to have Katie Ganshert with us today! Katie’s newest novel, A Broken Kind of Beautiful, recently released. It’s one of the most touching and yes, beautiful, books I’ve read. Today, she’s sharing a devotion that relates to a spiritual theme in her novel. Thank you, Katie, for being here today.
Also, Katie will be with us on Wednesday for a fun game of Would You Rather? Not only will she answer questions but her hero and heroine will also answer! Friday is our Faith Readers book club review of her novel. Take it, Katie!

It is
for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
If you’ve been in
church world for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard the story of the
prodigal son.
He rebelled against
his father and squandered his inheritance and hit rock bottom before realizing
that his father’s servants were living better lives than he. And so he returned,
hoping to work as one of those servants, knowing he was no longer worthy to be
called a son. Imagine his surprise, the overwhelming gratitude he must have
felt, when his father ran to him and gave him the best clothes and ordered the
servants to prepare a feast. Because this son of his that was once lost, was
now found.
It’s a story the
exemplifies God’s lavish, amazing grace.
But what happens if
we change the ending?
Let’s imagine for a
moment, this same story with a twist.
The father runs out to
greet his son. He offers him his best clothes and a celebration feast. He
offers him sonship. But the son refuses the gift. He declares himself unworthy
and works in the pigsties alongside his father’s servants instead.
It’s ludicrous,
right?
And yet, how often is
this us?
How often do we wear the
shackles of shame and regret, even though those shackles are no longer locked
in place? God offers us forgiveness. He wipes away our sin, as far as the east
is from the west. Are we embracing this gift? Or do we add a yoke to our necks
that He’s no longer asking us to carry?
Jesus came so we
could walk in freedom.
Are you?


Lord Jesus, thank you for the stories
you told when you walked this earth. Thank you for the truth they speak into
our lives. Help us to be children who embrace your grace and forgiveness. Help
us to walk in your freedom, so that we can help others walk in your freedom,
too. 

Buy the book!
Sometimes everything you ever learned about yourself is wrong
 
Fashion is a fickle industry, a frightening fact for twenty-four year old model Ivy Clark. Ten years in and she’s learned a sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she looks beautiful for the camera. This is the only life Ivy knows—so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means moving to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina, to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—an irony too rich for words, since Ivy is far from the pure bride in white.

If only her tenuous future didn’t rest in the hands of Davis Knight, her mysterious new photographer. Not only did he walk away from the kind of success Ivy longs for to work maintenance at a local church, he treats her differently than any man ever has. Somehow, Davis sees through the façade she works so hard to maintain. He, along with a cast of other characters, challenges everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. Is it possible that God sees her—a woman stained and broken by the world—yet wants her still?

Meant to Be Mine

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
BUY THE BOOK!

You ever read a book that makes you want to gush and ramble on about how great it was? Yeah, that’s my predicament. I’ve been reading for a long time. And I’m a super-fan of romance. Becky Wade is at the top of my inspirational romance author list. Here’s a peek at her newest contemporary romance, Meant to Be Mine.

Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school–irresistible. When their paths cross again after college–still irresistible. This time, though, Ty seems to feel exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel. 

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia’s ready to be Ty’s wife, but Ty’s not ready to be her husband. He’s a professional bull rider, he lives on the road, and he’s long planned to settle down with the hometown girl he’s known since childhood. 
Five and a half years pass. Celia’s buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty’s achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the eyes of the woman he couldn’t forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.
How much will Ty sacrifice to win back Celia’s trust and prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Why is Becky Wade at the top of my list? Because as a reader there are few things I love and Becky packs it all into one story for me.

A setting that feels real.
Small-town Texas. Quirky characters filling it up and great descriptions that plunk me down in the hubbub of it all. Yep. I felt the heat, the smells of the bakery, the hay and sweat. 

Heroes that know how to be a man.
Protective, generous heart, rough around the edges. Not afraid to whip somebody for messing with his girl, or his family. I love it. I love heroes who can provide for the one he loves and is willing to sacrifice anything to do so. I like tough exteriors and gooey insides. I like flawed. I like charm and flirty behavior. And Becky Wade gives me everything I want. 

Heroines who know how to be a woman.
I like strong and yes, stubborn heroines who can take care of themselves but also would like to be pampered and spoiled by the hero even if they won’t admit it at first. I like to see tenderness and some fire. Again, I get a well-crafted and real heroine in this story!

Loads of Romantic Tension
This comes in the form of looks, touches, even knock-down drag outs when they don’t get along (and by knock-down drag out, I mean bickering–never actually hitting one another lol). I love witty, sharp banter that’s laced with serious flirting. Yep, you give me that and I’ll sink down and love you like a loyal puppy. I like lots of “almost” moments. It drives me nuts in a good way. And yep, Becky Wade gives me page after page of this! 

Spiritual truths that naturally develop
When it comes to inspirational fiction, I want to see faith but I want to see it happen naturally as situations come up. Characters won’t always make the right choices or say the right thing at every given moment. And they don’t always spout scripture or even open a Bible. But sometimes, they do. Depending on how the story develops. Becky Wade knows how to do that. It never feels like she’s inserting Christian faith elements simply because it’s her job and she has to find a good place to do it. Nor does it feel like the story is a big platform for her to toot her faith. It’s simply real fictional characters struggling and making every day choices. Sometimes letting their faith guide them and sometimes not. I can relate. 

If I could star it over 5, I would. I’m looking forward to the next story in her Porter family series. And I thank Bethany House for the copy in exchange for an honest review. All of my opinions are well, mine.

@BeckyWadewriter
Facebook

What kind of heroes/heroines do you like in a romance?




Open Up and Say…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

…not Aaaah!

I’ve been doing a Bible study, which I hope you all are in some kind of personal Bible study. As I was working on my study, the subject of things we grip tightly and won’t let go of came up. Some things could be sin, or maybe just weights and hinderances that keep us from moving forward in our relationship with God.

Yes, I know this to be true but this time something smacked me in the face. A one-two punch.

Bitterness. And offenses. (Those are the negative things we cling to.) Keep them fisted right in our hands until our knuckles turn white and the circulation stops, sending pins and needles racing up our arms and yet still we hang on.

And I thought about a prior situation/s that happened in my life. I thought of the bitterness that had settled from that offense/s. I gave that bitterness to God a long time ago. I’m not bitter anymore. 

But what I realized was I still kept the offense in my grasp. Was it a legitimate offense? Yes. Was I reading more into what happened than was there? No. It happened. To me and to my husband. Over time, my heart grew cold and callused. Then rock-solid toward those who played a direct hand in the hurt. Did they intentionally mean to hurt us? I don’t think so. Not every person involved. But still…

As I thought about those offenses that wracked up over a course of two years over–one right after another, I realized while I wasn’t necessarily bitter anymore, I still kept the offenses in my fist.

And the Lord spoke to my heart. “When You give it to them, they gather it up, when You open Your hand they are filled with good things.” Psalm 104:28

I flipped to the Psalm and read the verses prior to that. 

O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honor and majesty,
2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment,
Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters,
Who makes the clouds His chariot,
Who walks on the wings of the wind,
4 Who makes His angels spirits,
His ministers a flame of fire.
5 You who laid the foundations of the earth,
So that it should not be moved forever,
6 You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
The waters stood above the mountains.
7 At Your rebuke they fled;
At the voice of Your thunder they hastened away.
8 They went up over the mountains;
They went down into the valleys,
To the place which You founded for them.
9 You have set a boundary that they may not pass over,
That they may not return to cover the earth.

The context prior to this is about how grand and majestic our God is! Look at how powerful He is! Yes, the creatures rely on God to feed them, but we do too! At least we should.

I read verse 28 again and saw my hand. Tightly fisted around rocks. Tough, dirty. Rocks that

wouldn’t mold into the palm of my hand but instead cut into the flesh leaving bloody wounds and possibly scars if they dug in too deep. Rocks that did not benefit me, and yet I carried them–those rocks–those offenses–as if they were treasure, as if dropping them to the ground would leave me empty, desolate.

And then I saw, in my mind’s eyes, a gentle, yet powerful hand slowly pry open that fist.

Finger by finger. 

One rock after another began to plummet to the ground. Until not one was left. 

When my hand was empty, the dirt from the rocks washed clean. The wounds healed. Something happened.

The hand that released those offenses, those rocks, began to pour a rainbow of color into my hands. 

 

M&Ms! Not just M&Ms but my favorite kind! Peanut M&Ms! I giggled as they filled my palm and thought, “God, this isn’t exactly nutritious!” But the point was, M&Ms are sweet to the taste, something to delight in and they come in all varieties and colors. 

Exactly like God’s blessings. Like all the wonderful things He wants to fill our hands with.

But you can’t fill already full fists.

The question is: Are you willing to drop what doesn’t benefit you so God can fill you with what does? 

I answered yes. How about you?

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Chatting with the cast of Here to Stay and Melissa Tagg!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
@Melissa_Tagg
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Today, I’m beyond excited to once again have my amazing friend and author Melissa Tagg hanging out. Anytime she’s here is going to be loads of fun. So prepare to laugh, ya’ll. Melissa’s second contemporary romantic comedy just released and I can tell you, it’s one for your bookshelf! You can read my REVIEW on Goodreads.
JP: You said the idea for your first
novel, Made to Last, came from watching Christmas in Connecticut. What inspired
you or helped inspire the masterpiece, Here to Stay?
MT: Well, mainly the inspiration for
this story was Blake. He first appeared in Made
to Last, playing more of a secondary role and a total goofball. But a lot
of people said he was their favorite character and the longer I worked on Made to Last, the more I realized this
guy had a story of his own to tell. And though the story itself doesn’t exactly
mirror a movie like Made to Last,
Autumn, the main female in the story is loosely inspired by George Bailey from
It’s a Wonderful Life—one of the greatest movies ever.
JP: I was a huge fan of Blake in book 1
and fell further in love with him in Here
to Stay! And you’re right, It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the greatest
movies ever. Since Blake was a minor character and a reader fave in Made to Last, who would you consider to
be your favorite minor character in Here
to Stay?
MT: Ah, good question. Blake and Autumn
felt so huge and real to me writing Here
to Stay, so thinking of a favorite minor character is harder. You know, I
really like Ike the flight instructor. He’s only in a few scenes, but he’s this
calming force in Blake’s life…but he also sees Blake’s deeper desires, his
hopes, and he says just the right things. Like when he tells Blake he doesn’t
have to see every open door on the way to his future…just the next one in front
of him. I resonated with that quite a bit.
JP: I did too! It was great insight. I
loved Harry. He made me laugh and I’d like to see Autumn’s sister have a story.
She lost so much, it’d be nice to see her find love and purpose, hint hint.
Well, we’re talking peeps, do you have pictures of who you would cast as Blake
and Autumn?
MT: Actually…I saw the cover for Here to Stay before the characters had
fully formed in my brain. So I picture Autumn and Blake from the cover as THE
Autumn and Blake. I can’t even picture anyone else in place of those models!
JP: I can totally see Autumn as the
cover model, but in my mind, I see Blake bigger with flippier hair. J Okay, it’s time
for a round of Would You Rather with you, Autumn and Blake!
·       
What
is your favorite TV show? The one you can. not. miss.
Me: I can’t decide
between 24 or Sherlock. Sherlock is smart…24 has the nostalgia factor for me.
So, instead I’ll say Gilmore Girls. LOL!
(Jess—Yes! Gilmore Girls!)
Blake: I am seriously
not the TV watcher type at all. But if I had to pick something, I think I’d watch
From the Ground Up starring Randi
Woodruff just so I could say to people, “Hey I pretended to be married to her
for a month once.” (Am I allowed to pick a fake show for Blake?)
(Jess—I guess. It was pretty clever
actually!)
Autumn: That one show
on PBS with the guy who travels different places and tells you about it.
(There’s a show like that, right?)
(Jess—Dr. Who???? Lol I don’t know. I
don’t think so rofl!)
·       
When
you’ve had a bad day, what is your go-to food?
Melissa: It’s a toss up
between pizza and Chinese.
Blake: Lasagna made by
yours truly.
Autumn: Pop-tarts. Or
really basically anything as long as my friend Betsy makes it.
·       
What
is your guilty-pleasure movie?
Melissa: What’s Up Doc.
NOT because I feel guilty about the movie itself. It’s one of the greatest
movies ever. The guilt comes in when I realize just how many times I’ve watched
it. I mean…it’s ridiculous.
Blake: Wild Hearts
Can’t Be Broken. Don’t tell anyone.
Autumn: Nacho Libre.
LOL!
(Jess—These are hilarious!)
·       
If
you had one last day on this earth and you had to spend it doing one super-fun
thing, what activity would you choose?
Melissa: This question
makes me sad! But if I did have just one last day, I’d definitely want to hang
out with family…and maybe just go on one long road trip all together. Maybe
through the Appalachians. Because that’s my favorite place and car rides with
the family are always hilarious and fun.
Blake: I would take
Autumn flying. J
Autumn: I would tell
Blake to take me flying. J
(Jess—Aaaww! I love that! Great
answers.)
Thanks for hanging out today, Melissa.
It’s been so much fun. Everyone, you really should buy Here to Stay. I know you’ll
love it as much as I did. Lots of grinning, swooning, out-loud-laughing, and
thinking…yes…thinking. Weaved into this story are some amazing truths to
consider.
Buy the book! 
After playing nomad for five years, Blake Hunziker has finally had enough of adventure. Not sure what reception he’ll get from everyone back in Whisper Shore, he’s stunned at not only a warm welcome from his hometown but also a job offer. The job is his if he can successfully pull off the annual Christmas Festival. If only he knew the first thing about coordinating events…

If there’s one thing Autumn Kingsley knows, it’s Whisper Shore. For years, she’s been stuck running her family’s inn when all she wants is to see the world. Now she has a visit scheduled from a potential investor who could take over the inn, as well as a dream job offer in Paris. But with just two weeks to whip the inn into shape, her chance at escape is a long shot.

The Hunzikers and the Kingsleys may not get along, but Blake knows Autumn’s the only one who can help him. She agrees to a trade–she’ll help with the Festival and he’ll help with inn repairs. But what was meant to be a simple deal quickly becomes much more than that when the guy who’s done running away joins forces with the girl who can’t wait to leave.

Okay,
your turn! Answer one or all of the Would You Rather? questions in the comments.
 Have a great weekend!