In my devotional this morning, I was reminded to be thankful. During this busy season of buying gifts, wrapping them, decorating and attending get-togethers, I’m just passing on the word to be thankful. Any time that you enter into God’s presence during prayer or worship, you are entering “His gates.” So, take time today and everyday to be thankful. God didn’t have to make you, heal you and give you so many blessings, but He did. Just be the one who takes time to say “thank you, Lord!”

I am thankful today for being able to spend a few days with my grandchildren. What a blessing to be able to hold, cuddle and see how much they have grown since the months ago that I saw them last. Thank you, Lord, for grandchildren. Thank you, Lord for family. Bless your Holy Name for this joyous Christmas season in which we can celebrate you with our family members!

This is a sweet romance without any real surprises but lots of happiness in each page. Atticus is a lawyer from Texas who wants to expand his restaurant chain to Marietta, Montana. Specifically, he wants to take over the town’s bookstore and turn it into his high scale restaurant. He is thwarted in his plan when Rachel Mills shows up in town, the young woman who has been gifted the bookstore from her godmother Lesley, the same Lesley that has stalled a sale to Atticus. The humor between the two and their interactions is worth reading the book! Their love is subtle but present nevertheless, and the development of their acceptance of the love they share. Fans of light romance and Christmas love will enjoy this book.

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is a completely clean read that is available online or at your local bookseller now.

Do you know what this phrase means? If I draw a line in the sand, you will know that I want you to stand with me or “the other side,” whatever the other side may be. I stand on the side of Christ, of God and of the truth in the Holy Bible. There are many in today’s world that weave back and forth. They say that they believe in the Bible until it doesn’t match up with what they believe. I was appalled this week when the Hallmark Channel, a channel that prides itself on being family friendly, aired commercials showing lesbians getting married and kissing. I was saddened by their lack of sensitivity for their viewers who do not agree that gay marriage is sanctified by God and is, in fact, an abomination, to Him. I was further aggrieved when they took the commercials off and then reinstated them because of pressure from the LGBTQ society. This morning I read an article by Dr. Denison about the waffling of Hallmark and the concept of drawing a line in the sand. I enjoy the Halllmark Chrismas movies and the mystery channel…a lot! In fact, that is one of the few things that I watch consistently. When I shared my dismay online, my liberal son informed me that I enjoy murder mysteries and murder is a sin, just as I “think” that homosexuality is. Well, folks, the difference is that in the murder mysteries, the murderer is always caught and punished. It’s fiction! It isn’t a commercial to try to sway people to the belief that what God has called an abomination is okay. I wouldn’t mind the gay commercials so much if at the end of them, they had the Scriptures about what God has to say about homosexuality. My sons say it’s just a lifestyle that those who are gay cannot change. I say that it’s a choice, and the homosexuals have made the one that is on the other side of the line from God. So, now what will Hallmark do? I’m waiting to see, but I have expressed my dismay on every petition and in every way that I can. I’m more than a little dismayed that one of the few channels on the television that stood for family values is caving. I hope that a Christian station will replace it, complete with mysteries, Christmas movies and the like.

Photo from patheos.com

This is the article from Dr. Denison this morning.

https://www.denisonforum.org/columns/daily-article/hallmark-waffles-on-lesbian-brides-gods-call-to-serve-a-cause-is-worth-its-cost/

If you agree with me that homosexuality is a sin and that Hallmark should not be promoting it, please go to the site below to sign the petition.

https://onemillionmoms.com/current-campaigns/hallmark-announced-they-are-reinstating-zola-ad-sign-the-boycott-hallmark-pledge/

Blessings to all of my readers that you will have a day filled with special family moments and one in which God reveals His truth to your heart.

This is a sweet, clean romance that teaches the reader to be sensitive to the problems that others have, significantly depression and grieving. Elizabeth Holt disappeared seven years ago and not that Luke has found her, he brings her back to Haven Point to face her past and their past together. After all, they have two small children that Luke has been raising alone. He did not have any clue that Elizabeth had lost her memory for many years and was still struggling with the after-effects of an horrific car accident. Their story is told with empathy and compassion, set in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and when Christmas is coming, that magical time of the year when anything is possible. This is book number ten in a series, but I had not read any of the other books previously, and I was very enmeshed in the story from the beginning, with no difficulty understanding the plot or the characters. I really enjoyed this tale of forgiveness, second chances and redemption. It is the perfect Christmas read! Fans of romance and Christmas stories will love this book!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

https://www.amazon.com/Coming-Home-Christmas-Haven-Point-ebook/dp/B07L5PP2TG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1BDELDO8KY6YG&keywords=coming+home+for+christmas+raeanne+thayne&qid=1576504214&sprefix=Coming+Home+for+Christmas%2Caps%2C1145&sr=8-2

This clean read is available now at your local bookseller. I have included a link to buy it on Amazon.

I appreciate being part of the #HarlequinHolidayBlogTour!

Tobias is healing internally and just beginning to accept that he is worth something after spending thirteen years in prison for shooting Atticus at a party when Tobias was a young teen and Atticus was a boy. Then Harper Devlin comes to town and the electricity between the two of them sparks a desire that cannot be quenched. The fact that Harper is still married to rock star Axel Devlin complicates things and adds to the plot. This is a romance, but it is also all about having the adventure of a lifetime and being able to forgive others and yourself. It is a beautiful story of redemption and the love that awaits everyone who believes in the magic!

Disclaimer

Disclosure of Material Connection: I own two copies of this book, one a paperback from Brenda Novak’s book box and the other an e-book purchased from Apple Books. I was not required to write a positive review.

Please note that this book has graphic descriptions of sexual encounters. It is part of the Silver Springs series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I was part of the blog tour for this book, so I appreciate Harlequin for allowing me to share this book on my blog. https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Silver-Springs-Brenda-Novak-ebook/dp/B07L79PD4H/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Christmas+in+Silver+Springs&qid=1576502629&sr=8-2

Posted on December 13, 2019 by Vickie Watts

Stu at SomethingtoStuOver has tagged me in December: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Tag. Purple Rose and her daughter Dollfaced Writer created tags for 2019, one for each month of the year.

Here are the rules for this tag:

1. Thank the person who tagged you and link their post to yours.

2. Link the original post so the creators can read them.

3. Use the original featured image and include it in your post.

4. Copy and paste the meaning of the tag into your post.

5. Answer the questions.

6. Tag at least two people.

7. Have fun and enjoy the rest of your month! ❤️

The meaning of the tag:

“LOVE THE GIVER MORE THAN THE GIFT.”-BRIGHAM YOUNG

Here are the questions:

1. If you could be a character in a holiday movie, who would you be?

I would be Mary, George’s wife in “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

2. What kind of holiday shopper are you? Black Friday? Christmas Eve? Yearlong hoarder?

None of the above. I do my shopping as soon as my children and grandchildren have wish lists ready for me. I do most, if not all, of my shopping online.

3. What colors are your favorite holiday decorations?

blue and white

4. Would you rather build a snowman, go sledding, have a snowball fight, or stay inside drinking hot cocoa?

I’m an inside person, all the time! But I drink hot tea instead of cocoa.

5. If you were Santa Claus, what type of cookie would you want to be left out for you on Christmas Eve?

A sugar cookie with lots of sprinkles

6. If someone offered you a gift card to any store you wanted, which one would you choose?

I do a lot of shopping at AMAZON and I’m a prime member, so that’s the one!

7. Name three words that best describe Christmas for you.

Family-I get to see children and grandchldren and talk to distant relatives.

Smiles-Christmas makes everyone lighter at heart and happier, so smiles are everywhere.

Hope-Everyone is hopeful of getting a good gift or that their gift will be a wonderful surprise for someone. I am hopeful that many will recognize the reason for the season and accept Jesus as their Savior!

For this, I am tagging:

From the Darkness Into the Light

Gail Loves God

The older I get, the more I ponder the question and why I am still here. Don’t get me wrong. I am very grateful to God for allowing me to stay on earth this long, enjoying more time with my husband, children and grandchildren. On the other hand, I have so many physical ailments that I wonder why I’m still here while others much younger than I am pass away. I think I got the answer to my queries this morning in my devotional.

If I am to continue living, it is because my work for the Lord is not finished yet. I think that I knew that all along, kind of in the back of my mind. But now, it has been confirmed once and for all. I like this verse so much that I think I will make it my special verse for the New Year. Of course, Paul is speaking to each of us in this verse, each Christian, that is. We are all called to bear fruit for the Lord, in our own lives and in the lives of others with whom we share the joyful message of His life, death and Resurrection. Blessings to each of you for a fruitful day!

My time is limited today as I have appointments to go to. However, in my devotional this morning, I found a verse to share with you all. This verse is my prayer for you.

God bless you all with His grace and may you seek to understand what that grace means to you personally.