The point of the story is to glorify God. I may have you re-write if I need to see that lesson more obvious in your words. I think it’s important to get these stories out there so others might be helped by the process in which you went through to forgive and heal. Your story remains yours after publication. I do have the right to re-post the story on my blog only without your permission.

I’ll need a photo and bio if it isn’t anonymous.

I don’t care if you can write. I’ll help you form the words. The important part is the story it tells to my readers. What can they glean from your pain? How can God redeem your pain?

Submit to nikolehahn@thehahnhuntinglodge.com

Bloggers wrote about how to get ahead in the world of literature by leaving comments with a link. As I grew in my writing, I realized that behind each blog post is a person. Bloggers take the time to write their heart or invest in their blog by giving us valuable and free information. My google reader filled with posts that I began to follow and leave comments. Then, I invested my heart.

Leaving comments like, “Great post,” or, “Good point,” or other vague words doesn’t encourage a blogger because those words don’t warrant further conversation or discussion. Not to say I would despise my readers for leaving short comments, but if it’s sincere, then I am glad. Still, ettiquette seems to dictate online that if one blogger visits us, we must visit their blog.

One blogger apologized that he hasn’t visited my blog in a while. I follow his blog because I got to know him as a person. There’s a real community of bloggers who care about each other and some who are just trying for their fifteen minutes of fame in a competitive world. I have encountered a few of them. They are the same or similar people I have encountered who want me to critique their stories, but don’t want to critique mine. There’s enough apathy out there to warrant that we think about why we do what we do, and it all comes down to Bonnie Gray’s post about each comment being a gift we give to each other.

You may not see my comment on your blog. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t there; it simply means I couldn’t think of anything worthy to say. I couldn’t gift you with the right words other than to promote myself. And I may not have read your blog, and you may be a faithful reader who, like me, likes to read blogs because you got to know me like a friend.

But I think we do need to change our way of thinking in this commercial lifestyle. I am still using you, but not to promote me. I am using you to grow me. Your stories, your life, your  lessons, and you mean a lot to me. Anger dehumanizes people. I see anger all of the time on the road and in the stores, even in church, but here we can be honest, call each other out on our untruths or misunderstandings. We can gift each other with comments that encourage deeper discussions.

So thank you, Bonnie, for being such a positive influence on all of us!

Are you a self-promoter? Why do you read blogs?

It’s billed as “the secret to receiving God’s supernatural abundance.” The book speaks about how to “break free from a poverty spirit,” and talks about the, “five principles for receiving God’s abundance,” “how you can bless others with His overflow,” and reads like an in-depth bible study guaranteed to challenge your notions of the word, “Abundance.” It’s most definitely not a book that teaches Prosperity Theology.

That was my first thought when I chose this book to review. I was looking for something to encourage my husband and I through these difficult economic times. I had never heard of Derek Prince. Apparently, he passed away in 2003. His ministry is still alive here. It was my hope that this book wouldn’t teach Prosperity Theology as I believe that is damaging and not biblical. Prince does not teach this theology. In fact, his idea of abundance does not match most people’s.

Abundance does not mean wealth. Prince talks about Abundance as the fulfillment of God’s promises. He speaks about stepping into those promises, owning them, and the conditions of those promises. I have often overlooked the conditions of the promises. God is not simply going to give His abundance to a man intentionally sinning. There are consequences.

“It is here that we turn to the administrator of our inheritance for guidance. As with many aspects of God’s promises, it is incumbent upon the believer to be sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit in appropriating what God has made abundantly available. Sometimes there is a timing issue. Sometimes there is a character issue God wants to deal with. So while we can move confidently into the provision God has promised in a general sense, that does not remove our obligation to hear from God in a specific sense in each situation we encounter. It is so important to follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit, avoiding presumption and any hint of a sense of entitlement.” (Pg. 79)

Prince backs his words with scripture. Poverty, he says, is a curse. This book could really educate some Christian occupy people (Is there such a thing?) who view wealth as bad and poverty as holy. Prince rails against this viewpoint and does not hold to class warfare. Jesus, he says, took the curse of poverty on himself on the cross so that we, as His children, can have abundance. I loved how Prince spoke about the promises of provision in the earlier chapters.

I had never thought about how God had provided ahead of time everything His people needed from Genesis to the New Testament. Food and shelter were provided at the place He told them to go, and that includes the Apostles when Jesus sent them without provision to unknown towns and lands. Everywhere they went they had abundance. God knew ahead of time where His people were going and as long as they followed His direction, they had provision. The conditions of God’s promises were enlightening. How could I ever worry again about the bills or where we are going when all we have to worry about is loving Jesus so completely that we honor Him with our choices, following His edicts as He directs in the Bible. Abundance does not mean wealth. This book is amazing in how it talks about tithing and offering. It talks about fiscal responsibility, not entitlement.

Entitlement is not biblical. I would recommend this book to anyone struggling economically. If you are having trouble tithing, let me know in the comment section of this post before January 31 for a chance to win a copy of this book. It will change your mind about money, reveal God’s promises, and stun you in the revelations that were there in the Bible this whole time.

*Publisher gave a free copy to me to review.

You Are My Inspiration

A true friend isn’t always one who accepts us; sometimes a friend ‘s job is to inspire us. Henry Van Dyke, a Princeton professor and clergyman, once said that the mark of a true friend is someone who makes you want to be at your bst when you are with him.

Are you setting up a social base that inspires you to be the best man or woman you can be? Or is your group of friends and advisors giving up and giving in to the most common spiritual enemeis of our age? Does your doctor address your symptoms, or does she address your decisions? Is your pastor strong enough to occasionally confront your disobedience?

We think the most loving thign we can do is to make someone feel good about themselves, no matter what, and the worst thign we can do is make them feel bad about themselves, but what if ignoring the truth is allowing or even encouraging a condition to continue that may take a decade or more off our friend’s life? Is that love as the Bible defines it?

*Book given by Zondervan to review. See yesterday’s post to read my review of this excellent book.

“For me, a diet—something unusual or temporary—held little interest. Most people come to realize that diets can be enormously successful in the short term, but over the course of a couple of years, they almost always fail; for the most part, people gain back the weight they lose. You see this particularly when celebrities—even celebrity Christians—succeed in losing weight, write a book about their breakthrough, and then, two or three years later, look just like their pre-diet selves. Besides, most dieting books ask, “What does my body need?” While it is an entirely appropriate question, an even better one is: “What eating habits are healthiest for my soul?” (Pg. 52-53)

Thomas talks throughout the book of getting fit, not to look good, be healthy, or to fit into that little black dress, but to get healthy and fit to serve God. If we’re obese, how can we effectively serve God? And what does our weight say about our witness? Our obesity causes other problems that directly impact our motivation, finances, and our future. Thomas describes the purpose of working out on the back of his book, “The goal in this pursuit is not sculpting thinner or more athletic-looking bodies. The goal is to cultivate stronger, well-nourished bodies that are primed to become, in the words of the apostle Paul, ‘instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.’ By looking at your body as an instrument rather than an ornament, you’ll find new and compelling motivation to embrace the kind of active lifestyle that fortifies your soul.”

This book changed my mind about my weight loss. I wanted to fit into a bikini for the first time and look good. I didn’t want to ever become so big that I lose motivation to even live a healthy life or be able to love others in an active way. I am thrilled by what I learned in it. Now I have a different perspective about losing weight and my lifestyle change in eating habits. I rated this book five stars. For anyone looking to lose weight, return those diet pills, ask for a refund from Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers, and let’s get back to common-sense eating and regular work outs. There is no magic formula for permanent weight loss except hard work and good habits.

*Zondervan gave me a free copy of this book to review. Currently, there is a blog tour happening. Review links are posting at http://zondervan.typepad.com/zondervan/2011/11/every-body-matters-blog-tour-review-gary-thomas-book.html

April 2009 - by December was 220 lbs.

September, 2011

…And I am almost in a size 10 now!

“These meats are so expensive!” She complains very loudly.

Her friend says something, but I can’t quite hear him. The slicing machine continues to whir as the deli attendant worked diligently with his back hunched and his left hand catching the sliced meats as they fell from the blade.

The woman walks over to the display next to the deli. “We’ll get these meats. Those at the counter are way too expensive. In fact, we’ll get Sargento cheese instead. It’s cheaper.”

The clerk doesn’t react as he places the meat on the scale. His fingers punch in a code. His dark eyes go to the couple and return again to the scale. I smiled extra big to him and said a little prayer for him that his day goes much smoother and he doesn’t have to deal with people like that woman.

The first thing my family taught me was not to yell out that something was expensive. Many times I’ll show Tony a price tag and raise my eyebrows, but I never insult the clerks that their products are over-priced. Personally, I really don’t think my grocery store is overpriced. The food is good quality. The meats in the other display case are the same price as in the deli case.

I’m frequently surprised over the years at the lack of common sense and grace. Even friends I know I have had to shush when they have unthinkingly blurted out that a product was too expensive. I believe every clerk deserves respect for the product they represent.

It is more polite to simply look and walk away. I left that day grateful for learning that lesson.

Have you ever said really loudly that something was too expensive?

“Savants like Kim Peek?” He’d researched thoroughly.

“What did you learn?

“Peek was missing a part that connects the two sides of the brain. Each of his eyes relayed independent information, so he read the left and right pages of a book simultaneously—and recalled over ninety-eight percent of the twelve thousand books he read.” He extended his pointer.

- Indelible; Waterbrook-Multinomah Book Reviews; Random House Publishing

Natalie Reeves is a sculptor, and not just any sculptor, but an eidetic. She has a prophets stare that makes people squirm because she can see past a person’s walls. She’s learned to avert her eyes and put up her own walls, because her gift of sculpting faces chases people away. It’s a gift to some; a curse to others who don’t wish to see the real them in clay. Trevor McDaniel, a former Olympian Skier and search and rescue volunteer runs the shop next door to her gallery. He was there when Natalie’s nephew was taken by a mountain lion, and rescued him before her nephew became that one’s meal. Media coverage of the event catches the attention of a stalker—a twisted man who was once a boy no one rescued.

The book formatting gave me trouble. It was an ARC—manuscript form and that perhaps might be the reason. In knowing this, I struggled to get a feel of the reading experience and the story. In spite of the confusion of the formatting, I couldn’t stop reading this book.

The way the characters developed through the chapters really attracted me to them. Natalie’s gift made her the favorite in the story. I enjoyed watching her learn, struggle with so many obstacles in her new life, and in her attraction with Trevor. Fleur, her blind friend, became my second favorite. I did like Trevor, but his character didn’t shine as much as Natalie or Fleur. That didn’t detract from the story at all. The way the stalker moved about in the story made it seem as if this was not a romantic suspense, but something supernatural. That threw me off a little.

Indelible was a page-turner. My husband couldn’t get me away from the book as I closed in on the last few pages. I would rate this book four-stars. Nearly perfect. I can’t wait to read “Indivisible”; her next book in the series where we focus on police chief Jonah Westfall as he attempts to penetrate the secrets that the town of Redford hides.

*A free copy of this book was given to review.

By Giselle Aguiar

It was 2002 when I was inspired to write a series of novels following Christian church history through the centuries. Attending Bible studies at my church, I always wondered what it would be like to live in the first century and be a part of the growth of the Christian church. I was fascinated by its history – from its humble beginnings with 12 disciples and a commission from Jesus to what it is today.

As I researched the Roman Empire and the early church the story fell into place. I also studied the publishing industry and how to write historical fiction. I joined a local writers’ guild and attended workshops, critique groups and seminars.

In June 2004, I took two weeks vacation from my job to finish the novel. I’m a night owl – my creative juices don’t start flowing till the afternoon. I easily worked till 2 a.m.

Mid July, I pronounced it finished. I sent out query letters to agents and publishers and the most popular rejection reason was that it was too short. It was about 40,000 words and they wanted closer to 80,000. I couldn’t see how to double its size!

That summer, hurricanes Frances and Jeanne hit the Florida Space Coast, two weeks apart, and I decided that there had to be a better place to live – Phoenix, Arizona. February, 2005, I drove cross-country with my two cats putting my life in God’s hands.

At a writers’ conference, I pitched the novel to an agent and heard the same thing – story sounds good, but it’s too short.

I persevered. I kept sending out query letters and wrote the screenplay.

September 2008, I lost my full-time job and was rather depressed when a Christian agent contacted me that she was interested in representing me. It was a rainbow in the midst of my storm.

But she also said, “It’s too short.”

I prayed for a solution and God sent me “Ten Years Later” – I took the characters to the time of Vesuvius’ eruption which made for a rather dramatic ending. I got the word count to 56,000 which was more acceptable.

With the economy the way it was, she had trouble selling it and I kept thinking that as soon as I got a job, I’d look into self-publishing.

October 2010, a friend invited me to the Women of Faith Conference in Phoenix. In the program was an ad for the Women of Faith Writing Contest sponsored by WestBow Press. It was free to enter. I had nothing to lose so I submitted it. A few weeks later, I got a job!

I forgot about the contest till I received an email saying that I was one of 30 finalists and winners would be announced on March 1. I had all my church friends praying for me.

The morning of March 1, I went online to see the results and I stared at my name and novel’s title next to “Second Place Winner” trying to fathom what this meant. My boss walked by my desk, I grabbed his arm and said, “Look! I won second prize!”

“Congratulations! What did you win?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.” I answered.

I contacted WestBow and found out I won a self-publishing package which included cover design and getting the title listed with book distributors (which is the hardest thing for a self-published author to do) – everything but marketing – what I did for a living.

Wow – after nine years I was finally published! I felt so blessed and grateful.

My mom said, “You’ve been lucky.”

I corrected her, “Luck had nothing to do with it! It was all God’s doing! My novel won the contest because it was good, not because it won a lottery.”

It was inspired by God. I was just His secretary. I give all the Glory to God.

As I opened the package with my first author’s copy, I thought – 9 years in incubation – my dream of becoming a published author came true!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Giselle Aguiar

Deo Volente! (God Willing): Love in the First Century, The Christian Centuries Series – Book 1

Giselle lives in Phoenix where she works as a freelance social media expert, blogger and is writing the second book in the series, “Follow Me: Love in the Second Century” – an epic adventure of two brothers, descendants of the first novel’s characters, who leave their home in Alexandria, Egypt to help a fledgling church in Spain.

Every so often I read a blogger and wonder if the person is ever really happy? I know I have my moments of moping and seeing the glass as half-empty, but why the long face all of the time especially when we know God’s promises? We need to believe in Jesus again, and it’s a book I am reading that has awakened that call.

I’m reading a book by Derek Prince called “Provisions of God.” I am stunned.

Everything I thought before of God’s promises went flying out the window. We’ve all heard in scripture how Jesus goes to prepare a place for us. Have you ever studied the scripture as thoroughly as Prince has because God through the Old and New Testaments has been preparing places for them and us, and not just in heaven!

He prepared places for Moses and his people. God has prepared places for every biblical character before they even knew they needed a rock for a pillow or a tent for shelter. Jesus even told the disciples to go without any provisions like food or water because He had all ready prepared the towns and people who would take care of their needs and then some.

So why the long face?

Own the promises and listen to the conditions of those promises. We pray for rain, but, like someone said, we don’t take an umbrella to the prayer meeting. It’s time we look at our words and actions. It’s time we listened to God and find the joy that seems just out of our reach. It’s time we actually believed in God again.

It’s time for a good belly-laugh.