#WednesdayWordswithFriends

Good Morning Friends!

Well, my guest today was unable to participate so you get to hear from me again. Since nothing much has happened in a week, I thought I'd share with you an article I wrote years ago for The Wordsmith Journal (now TWJ Mag) in my Pamela's Ponderings column....

The Quest

I’ve been on a spiritual journey since the day I recommitted my life to Christ in 1989. Back then I attended the Catholic Church. Although I love and respect the heart of the Mass, I always felt there is so much more to God and Christ than what can be found in doctrine and the traditions of organized religion. 

Scriptures that said “the same Spirit that raised Christ is in you” and “let the mind of Christ dwell richly in you” and “that you may know the fullness Christ” backed by Jesus’s claim that the works He did I should do also and more, sparked a burning desire to know Him more fully, more intimately and that the fullness of Christ be evident in my life.

Thus began my quest.

I listen to Christian music, watch and listen to various teachers of the Word on radio and television--absorbing their messages, and I read voraciously books by ministers and spiritual leaders of all denominations as well as some who profess no religious beliefs – only the true nature of God (of Love).

Sometimes I feel as if I’ve grown in the past thirty years, and yet, at other times I feel like a babe in the woods.

Alas, spiritual growth and maturity is a continual thing, an ongoing journey to my highest vision of God and the grandest version of who I am in Him.

Over the next few months (or years as God deems) I’d like to share with you some truths I’ve discovered about who God is to me and how those truths have illumined my mind, opened my heart and changed my life.

Some may be articles I’ve written for other publications, others may seem like random thoughts. Many of the things I share will resonate with you, others will seem whacky or far out or like ‘new age spiritualism’ or worse, heretical. But I assure you, at the heart of all these lessons and every question is to know Him, to be like Him and to reflect His teachings and His truths in my every thought, word and deed.

Hopefully these ponderings will make you think, question and search for your own truth about what God means to you, who He is in your life, and how you can become more like Him….more like Christ and more like the great spiritual leaders of all time whose message is, was and remains….God is love and he who dwells in Love, dwells in God.

Well, friends, I hope you enjoyed this post and that

Although I haven't contributed in quite a while, the column is still up at TWJ Magazine. I hope you'll check it out and that you'll join me later when I share more Pamela's Ponderings. And of course return weekly for Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Summer Fun!

Good Morning!

Well, school is out (or nearly out) and summer is well on it's way. Many moms out there work so, other than vacation, this time is just like the rest of the year.

Some mothers are blessed to be home with their children during the summer months.

In either camp, those who read are always looking for great books to devour when they want to curl up and relax in the evenings and/or they're not running kids to ball games, swimming lessons, and water parks.

If that's you, then I've got just what you're looking for!

TWJ Magazine is hosting a 13 week Summer Social Media Blitz with a lineup of more than 50 books brought to you by 22 authors and 2 publishers!

The books will be featured on TWJ's Twitter, Google+, Facebook and Linked In accounts as well as Good Reads.

But....lucky you can check the titles out HERE!

So if you're looking for some great reading material for the summer or even later in the year, look no further!

Meanwhile....Have a Blessed Day!
PamT

#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Cynthia Ruchti!

Good Morning and Welcome to the first Tuesday Treasure of September, 2015!

Boy this year is just moving right along isn't it?

Today I'm happy to bring to you Cynthia Ruchti and something she treasures....

RESTORATION

One of the joys of life as an author is writing about experiences, settings, or adventures we may never enjoy in real life.

Even though the circumstances that exiled my main character—Emmalyn Ross—to a small island in Lake Superior among the Apostle Islands are far different from what I face every day, I have to admit I enjoyed vicariously rehabbing a run-down cottage through her.

I’d always thought it would be fun to restore a large Victorian home to its original grandeur…as long as my role was to provide ideas, and both financing and elbow grease came from someone else. Emmalyn’s husband’s hunting cottage was far from Victorian grandeur. When she arrived on Madeline Island, it was dark, dusty, rodent-infested, and had a tree sticking out of its roof because of a recent windstorm.

Part of my research—anything but woe-is-me—was creating a sweet, warm, inviting cottage from that initial mess. I got to choose the flooring, the wall color, the furniture, the kitchen décor. In my imagination, I decorated two beach-themed bedrooms and a charming bathroom with a claw foot tub upstairs. I used recycled materials where I could, as long as they were adorable, and kept clutter to a minimum so the stunning view of Lake Superior wouldn’t be obstructed. 

Emmalyn and I sat together in her cozy living room the other night and had a good, long chat about how refurbishing the cottage held so much symbolism in her story. She was as much of a mess when she arrived on Madeline Island as the sorry-looking hunting cottage had been. She, too, had to have years of regret stripped away before she could become what God intended her to be, what she longed to be. As the cottage had, Emmalyn began to shine under the tender loving care shown her.

Maybe that’s why my desire to convert messes into something beautiful extends beyond that Victorian mansion I’ll probably never own to the characters who surround me in my novels…and in my life.

Wow...you're right Cynthia, restoration of anything, be it a cottage, Victorian home or a soul is definitely something to treasure!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in Hope through her novels, novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry. Ruchti has 15 books in print and has received numerous awards and nominations.

She serves as the professional relations liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers and speaks frequently for women’s groups and serves on her church’s worship team and Creative Arts team. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in the heart of Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.

To keep up with Cynthia Ruchti, visit www.cynthiaruchti.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook (CynthiaRuchtiReaderPage) or follow her on Twitter (@cynthiaruchti). 

Catch an interview with Cynthia at TWJ Magazine HERE.

As Waters Gone By (Abingdon Press) can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and on Kindle.

Hope you enjoyed today's treasure! Check back later this week for a special guest on Thursday Thoughts and then Saturday Spotlight on another wonderful author and her book!

Until later...take care and God bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: More on Contests

Good Morning!

On June 4th I talked with you about contests. Well there's not much else we can say about them...except everybody loves the idea of getting something for FREE!

So today I want to tell you about a great contest TWJ Magazine is having in which they are giving away an Android Tablet loaded with Wholesome Entertainment....

Yes that's right.... Books and Music for your reading and listening pleasure and All you have to do is sign up to receive the newsletter!

Actually there are two ways to enter so visit the PAGE and get your name in there today.

Good Luck!

Also, this is not actually a contest but I wanted to let you know that my Tempered series E-Bundle is on SALE at Amazon & Smashwords for 50% off thru July 31st so....if you haven't read these books yet, now is a great time to get them!

Not much else to chat about...busy, busy, busy as usual so I'll bid you ado and Blessings!

PamT

Saturday Spotlight: Jericha Kingston & Waiting for Lily Bloom

Good Morning Friends!

It is my pleasure to bring to you a brand new Pelican Book Group Author, Jericha Kingston with her debut PBG title, Waiting for Lily Bloom, one of the annual Easter Lilies releases!

Jericha Kingston--tomboy gone rogue--loves the visual, performing, culinary, and literary arts. She's married and has two sons. Her Easter novella, Waiting For Lily Bloom, releases as an eBook from Pelican Book Group on April 18th. Ousting her inner tomboy has been futile, so Jericha appeases her by fishing, camping, and hiking with her Australian Cattle Dog. You can find Jericha at: www.twitter.com/JerichaKingston, www.facebook.com/jericha.kingston, www.quidproquills.com, or via e-mail at jerichakingston@yahoo.com

James Bloom has prayed three years for rain and five years for a wife. His dreams are demolished on Palm Sunday, 1935, when a catastrophic dust storm hits Oklahoma. His neighbor's niece has to ride out the storm at his house overnight. The next day, he's forced to marry her, an East coast city girl who can't speak. Could this be God's plan? 

Lily Driggers left her Georgia home to visit her aunt and uncle in Oklahoma, but when a dust storm traps her with an unmarried farmer, Lily's uncle makes her marry the stranger, condemning her to a future in the dusty wasteland. She longs for her home. Yet somehow, her new husband is the only one who understands her silent pleas. As Easter approaches, Lily and James wonder if there is hope after the storm.

Excerpt:
“Lily.”

She faced the front porch where James stood, his face leached of color. “Walk toward me as fast as you can.” His voice cracked.

A rabbit lunged past, and she watched its urgent flight.

“Now, Lily.”

What? The bully was at it again, this time issuing orders. She sighed and stepped off her rung on the fence. James was about to learn she didn’t obey tyrants. She released the top plank and would’ve turned to go, but something in his voice startled her.

“Don’t look back, Lily. I’m begging you. Come to me.”

She glared at him.

His face crumpled, and he bounded off the porch and ran toward her.

The beast was chasing her! And he looked…crazed. No. Terrified. The only other time she’d seen such a look was when—

“Lily!”

Everything turned red. She was enveloped in a cloud. Fine dust stung her eyes and throat, choking her. She gasped, inhaled dirt, and coughed. Her mouth snapped shut, sand grinding between her teeth. She closed her eyes and hid her face behind the flimsy sleeve of her dress, protecting her nose and mouth. But it was no use.

Shaking. The earth was shaking. Wind gusted, shrieked and moaned, almost as loud  as her racing heart. Surely it would burst right through her chest. What’s happened? Is this a tornado? 

Wind-driven sheets of dust blasted into her flesh like piercing needles. She tasted dirt, smelled dirt, cried dirt. 

“Lily, grab the fence.” James coughed and sputtered. “The fence!”

She tripped over her own feet to reach the corral and latch on. She clung there, wind and dust swirling around her, lifting her braid up into the air. Please, God, help me!

Sounds like a great story to me! Again, Waiting for Lily Bloom will be available next Saturday and will be 50% off on that day only!

Well Friends, I hope you enjoyed this spotlight as much as I did. It is always a pleasure to bring to you a fellow author and even richer for it to be a PBG author. 

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday which begins Easter week. I pray you take some extra time to spend with the Lord during this special time in our Christian faith. 

Don't forget, today is the last day to enter TWJ Magazine's Virtual Easter Basket Giveaway!

Stay tuned next week for another Eggcerpt Exchange on Tuesday Treasure, more Thursday Thoughts and of course, another Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time....take care, God Bless and remember....Regardless of your mistakes~God LOVES You! Therefore walk tall, proud & in confidence that HE is on your side.

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge! ™

Thursday Thoughts: More on the movie Noah

Well Friends, 

Time for another Thursday Thoughts and today, as in the past few weeks, I'm sharing more information on the movie, Noah.

This from Grace Hill Media....

There’s been a ton of controversy surrounding the movie – some people love it while some people hate it, but even in the midst of all the back and forth, there’s been one positive to arise from the movie that I think we can all agree on. 

According to YouVersion Bible App, reading of the story of NOAH in Genesis is up 300% in the US and 245% worldwide! If you’re interested, I’d love for you to share this story with your readers. We are pairing the news with a video from Kim Walker Smith’s SPIRIT BREAK OUT featuring faith leader quotes from the video sent last week.

You can check out the news from YouVersion HERE.

Here is a link to the video for Spirit Breakout Godtube Exclusive – NOAH Christian Music Video from gracehillmedia on GodTube.

I haven't seen this movie but have heard mixed reviews of it myself so I won't comment on it. What I will comment on though is the movie God's Not Dead! I saw this one and it is a truly excellent film.

Another upcoming film I can hardly wait to see is Heaven is For Real. I read that book and must tell you it was a great story and from what I can tell of the previews, the movie will be even better.

It is so good to see so many more Christian/Biblical based films in the theaters instead of just made for TV.

That's about all for today. Oh wait! I can't believe I forgot to mention TWJ Magazine's Virtual Easter Basket Giveaway! UGH... anyway, it's a virtual basket chock full of Real, Wholesome entertainment....Ebooks and MP3 music downloads. 

Sorry I'm so late telling you about this but it's not too late to enter! Do so HERE but hurry, the deadline is Saturday!

Until later...take care and God Bless!
PamT