Squee!!!!!
Sorry, but this is the boy-crazy juvenile delinquent in me coming out, because today … TODAY … I am going to give you a link that gave me heart palpitations.
Okay, I guess it’s a little crazy for a woman my age to feel that way, but when you see older pix of the male model who personified your first hero in your debut book, well, I’m sorry, you have a tendency to swoon. Or at least I did when I saw older pix of “Collin McGuire.” Not all of them, mind you, but one or two definitely ramped up the sigh factor for sure.
So … are you ready??? Deep breath … here’s the link, but make sure you come back:
Whew!
Yes, some people are downright gorgeous, but you know what? Most of us are just downright normal with all kinds of human failings going on like the crooked teeth I had in my 20s before I got braces after I got married, or the gray hair beneath my Loreal Paris 6G Light Golden Brown. Sigh. Makes a girl feel downright old, you know?
And then … I read the following line in my devotional yesterday morning from Jesus Calling, which I don’t mind saying is one of THE BEST devotional books EVER!
Open your mind and your heart to receive
My heavenly smile of approval.
WOW. I read that, and immediately the tears began to well because the truth is all of us are looking for approval, desperate to know that someone really and truly loves us JUST THE WAY WE ARE, gray hairs and all.
And you know what? I suddenly realized ALL OVER AGAIN that God loves me — and you — with an unconditional love so real and pure that it’s not based on how pretty or cute we are or how much money or success we obtain. Nope, instead it’s rather like a mother giving birth to a child. All logic and reason says that anybody who causes a mother that much pain in giving birth (with or without an epidural!) should be hated rather than loved. But what happens? The minute the pain is gone, mothers are enraptured, bewitched, and completely besotted by a tiny, wrinkly little being who sleeps, cries, and poops around the clock.
So why do we love them? Most babies are not particularly good-looking or kind or loving or anything we would covet. Instead they’re work and pain and sacrifice, inflicting a lifestyle change unlike most things we could ever encounter. And yet, loving them is as natural as breathing because they are blood. Just like we are to God, sons and daughters saved by the precious Blood of Jesus.
I don’t know what your insecurities are right now, but I do know mine, and in the face of Jesus’ unfailing love — which, incidentally, is the title of book one of my Isle of Hope series — they are nothing. Because we are loved — just as we are — by a God Whose love never fails and never ends.
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
— Psalms 36:5
I have loved you with a love that lasts forever.
And so with unfailing love, I have drawn you to myself.
— Jeremiah 31:3
So, sometime today, stop and take a moment to look up and tell Him “thanks” for all He has done for you, not the least of which is to cherish you … treasure you … and die for you.
Hugs and Happy Weekend!
Julie
FUN AND GIVEAWAYS, SO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
OCTOBER IS BIRTHDAY MONTH IN SEEKERVILLE!!:
Question: Why should you care??
Answer: Because besides finding some realllly great articles on writing and Christian fiction, you could also win one of FOUR $50 gift cards and iPad Mini! ‘Nuff said. 🙂 Here’s the link:
http://seekerville.blogspot.com/
OCTOBER 20 – NOVEMBER 8, 2014:
Join me on Margaret Chind’s blog, Creative Madness Mama, for an interview and giveaway of winner’s choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 6, 2014:
Join me on the Relz Review blog for an interview and giveaway of winner’s choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
NOVEMBER 14, 2014:
Join me on The Journey blog where you can win your choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
NOVEMBER 17, 2014:
Get lost in a story with me on the “Get Lost in a Story” blog where you can win your choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
http://getlostinastory.blogspot.com/
NOVEMBER 24-DECEMBER 8, 2014:
Join me on The Artist Librarian blog for an interview and giveaway of winner’s choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
http://theartistlibrarian.blogspot.com/
DECEMBER 1-7, 2014:
Join me on the Carole Jarvis’ blog for an interview and giveaway of winner’s choice of any of my books, including my latest release, Surprised by Love!
http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com/
OCTOBER SALES!!
In honor of my latest release, Surprised by Love, my publisher has put the two prior books in the “Heart of San Francisco” series on sale as well, at savings of 66% for Dare to Love Again to 80% for Love at Any Cost, so take advantage!! Here are the links:
LOVE AT ANY COST (Book 1):
DARE TO LOVE AGAIN (Book 2):
CHRISTMAS IS COMING AND A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW IS STILL ON SALE!! My Irish Christmas love story, A Light in the Window—winner of three awards—is only 99 cents, so PLEASE PASS THE WORD, and here’s the video to help you! ALITW Video.
MITCH & CHARITY CHRISTMAS NOVELLA RELEASES NOVEMBER 10 AND AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER FOR ONLY $2.99! WHOO-HOO … I am very excited to announce that I am part of a Seeker Historical Christmas novella collection called Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection that not only features a story on Mitch and Charity, but novellas by Mary Connealy, Ruth Logan Herne, and Myra Johnson.
In addition to this historical collection, The Seekers are also releasing a contemporary Hope for the Holidays Contemporary Collection as well, so be sure to check both out on Amazon November 10.
Here’s the blurb for Mitch and Charity’s story, which is called A Whisper of Hope:
Christmas is the season of hope, which is exactly what Charity O’Connor Dennehy is counting on. Since the birth of her twins twelve years ago, she’s prayed and hoped for a houseful of babies to love, but it wasn’t meant to be. With a husband dead-set against adoption, there’s barely a whisper of hope to change his mind, but if hope doesn’t disappoint … could it be enough to find a precious bundle under her tree?
