Journal Jots – Blog

“Mama said this was going to be the bestest gift of all, so was it?”

Brady’s eyes misted as he pressed a kiss to Molly’s nose.

“It’s pretty amazing,sweetheart, and it’s certainly up there,

but the best gift of all?”He turned to caress Lizzie with his eyes

before brushing his lips to her ear.

“It’s not even close.”

–– “The Best Gift of All”by Julie Lessman

from the Home for Christmas Historical Collection

The Best Gift of All???

Well … if you’re talking about Lizzie & Brady’s Christmas novella, then that would be getting it ON SALE FOR ONLY 99 CENTS!! And not just Lizzie & Brady’s story, mind you, but novellas by three other award-winning authors as well — the whole collection for ONLY 99 CENTS!!

And that’s not all!!

Charity & Mitch’s Christmas novella from last year, “A Whisper of Hope” from the Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection is ALSO on sale for only 99 cents — five more novellas from award-winning authors for ONLY 99 CENTS!!

AND it gets EVEN BETTER because there are contemporary collections on sale for only 99 cents too, so it’s a steal of a deal that could end up being “the best gift of all” for YOU!!

But don’t delay because the sale ends on December 11, so take advantage AND light up your Christmas with the O’Connors and other heartwarming Christmas stories!

PUT A LITTLE “HOPE” IN YOUR CHRISTMAS AS WELL with my new contemporary, ISLE OF HOPE, which is now available in PAPERBACK as well as ebook. Need a signed bookplate? I’ll be happy to send one to anyone who contacts me through the CONTACT JULIE tab of my website. I invite you to check out my Isle of Hope page as well as the reviews on Amazon to add a touch of “hope” to your holidays! Here’s the Amazon link and HAPPY READING!!

ISLE OF HOPE ON AMAZON

GIVEAWAYS!!

Okay, I only have a few giveaways left, so don’t miss out!

DECEMBER 1-7, 2015: Only one more day to join me on Alexis Goring’s “25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS STORIES” blog series with a fun Christmas interview and THREE GIVEAWAYS!  So come by for three chances to win one of my Christmas e-books—from the Seekers’ Home for Christmas Historical Collection OR Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection, to my Irish Christmas love story, A Light in the Window. There will be other author giveaways as well, so here’s the link and hope to see you there! 

“25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS STORIES” BLOG SERIES

DECEMBER 9-13, 2015: Join me for an interview/giveaway on Lena Nelson Dooley’s blog where you can win your choice of any of my e-books, including Isle of Hope. Here’s the link — hope to see you there!

INTERVIEW/GIVEAWAY ON LENA NELSON DOOLEY’S BLOG

CONTEST!!

There’s less than three weeks left to enter my Isle of Hope Contest, where you can win a character named after you in the next Isle of Hope book due out next summer, so I hope you check it out. ESPECIALLY if you have bought/posted a review for Isle of Hope OR for any of my Christmas novellas/novel because that will accrue you extra points in the contest. So here’s the link and GOOD LUCK!!

ISLE OF HOPE CONTEST

I’m praying your holiday season is little less crazy than mine right now because Jesus IS the reason for the season, so here’s hoping we ALL can focus on Him first and foremost!

Hugs and here’s to a happy, healthy, and holy holiday season!

Julie

“Thankfulness takes the sting out of adversity.

That is why I have instructed you to give thanks for everything.

There is an element of mystery in this transaction:

You give Me thanks (regardless of your feelings),

and I give you joy (regardless of your circumstances).”

— Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Ah, Thanksgiving … turkeys roasting, pies baking, families laughing and loving like one of those hearth-and-home Wal-mart commercials with the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. A day devoted entirely to be grateful for everything we have.

Only, sometimes we aren’t grateful for “everything” we have, at least I wasn’t this Thanksgiving.

Okay, I can hear the collective gasp right now. Julie Lessman isn’t grateful for everything she has???

Nope because there’s two things you need to know about me.

1.) I have blood in my veins.

And

2.) I am a brutally honest person.

You see, family is everything to me, and if you can’t tell that from my books, then I’m doing something wrong. Yes, families have problems and trials and OH, soooo much drama, especially mine. But deep down they love each other and can conquer all with a solid foundation of faith, right?

Yes, I still believe that, but unlike the picture-perfect Wal-mart commercial, it doesn’t always come easy. For instance, take this Thanksgiving I just celebrated with my family — in the midst of all the laughter and love (and there was plenty, trust me), there was also an open wound festering. A hurt someone inflicted on me that teetered on the precipice of taking me down. And it did. For a full 24 hours — darkening my mood, damaging my soul, and in the end, wounding the God I adore as much as it wounded me.

And then God reminded me of a lesson I learned OH so long ago when He first saved my sorry soul and gave me His first assignment:

Love your father.

Love my father? The same father who beat me and demoralized me and told me not to think I was anything special as a woman because “any whore can get them excited” ???

Yep, that father. Which is exactly what my new book, Isle of Hope, is all about. How I learned to do that through the grace of God and come out on the other side with more joy, peace, and freedom (he whom the Son sets free is free indeed) than I ever dreamed possible.

Because like our header quote above so beautifully states, we give God thanks in “everything” regardless of our feelings, and He gives us joy (and success) regardless of the circumstances.

He did it for me with my father, and he will do it for me with this new wound that’s been inflicted. I will thank and praise Him for this situation, fully trusting that He will turn it around like He always has before when I apply His precepts.

But it doesn’t end there, you know, with just giving thanks. Nope, you have to pray for that person who wounded you after you praise and thank God for them as well.

And then comes the reallllllly hard part — You have to put feet to your faith. That means loving them unconditionally like Christ did for us whether you like them or not, whether you feel like it or not. A kind word. A kind note. A kind action. A piece of duct tape on your mouth if you have to. And doing it ALL without expecting anything back from them, just out of sheer obedience to the God you love to show HIM that you actually DO! You may not be able to stand this person who’s hurt you at the moment, but you ADORE God, so do it for HIM. That’s called unconditional love, and that’s what Isle of Hope is all about.

But you know what the real irony is about this book? I get to apply it ALL OVER AGAIN to the very situation that wounded me this Thanksgiving. And I will … because I know first-hand that it works. because like Tess, the secondary older heroine in Isle of Hope says to the primary heroine, Lacey Carmichael:

“Just remember, Lacey …” Her gaze was suddenly somber. “It’s not about you, honey, it’s about your father. Allowing God to use you and your burgeoning faith to shine His light and love into the dark and desolate world of a man who is so very lost.” She blinked several times, dispelling a sheen of moisture as she stroked Lacey’s cheek. “And I promise you, darling, with everything in me, that through your hard-won obedience, God will heal you both in the process, unleashing untold blessings that will bring so much joy into your lives.” With a gentle pat of Lacey’s arms, Tess pulled away. “You’re welcome to come back after if you like, but if you decide to go home, I’ll expect a full report the next time you come for dinner, understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Lacey gave a crisp salute as she picked up the ice cream, her grin misty. “Wish me luck?”

Tess’s smile was soft. “Oh, honey, you don’t need luck if prayer and faith are involved …”

And you don’t! Just God, His Holy Spirit, and His Word.

So Happy Thxgiving, maybe a day late … but  right on time for me to relearn a valuable lesson. And maybe … just maybe one you need to learn too.

Hugs,

Julie

THE ISLE OF HOPE PAPERBACK IS FINALLY HERE!!!

Yes, it’s true, you can now purchase the paperback for Isle of Hope, and trust me — it’s a whopper! And like I said on Facebook, if you don’t like it, you can always use it as a door stop! 🙂

SO … I would appreciate it GREATLY if you would spread the word about Isle of Hope, and if you purchase a paperback copy for yourself or someone else and would like to have it signed, just let me know, and I will send you a bookplate signed to you or whomever you give it to, okay? Here’s the link:

ISLE OF HOPE IN PAPERBACK

SALE ALERT!!! BOTH O’CONNOR CHRISTMAS NOVELLAS ONLY 99 CENTS DECEMBER 5-12 ONLY!!!

Yes, you heard me right. If you haven’t read Mitch and Charity’s novella “A Whisper of Hope” in the Hope for the Holidays Historical Collection OR my brand new novella, “The Best Gift of All,” which is Brady and Lizzie’s novella that’s part of the Home for Christmas Historical Collection, then NOW’S YOUR CHANCE! Because both novella collections (which also include novellas by other award-winning authors as well) will be ONLY 99 CENTS DECEMBER 5-12, 2015 ONLY!

And DOUBLE BONUS! Did you know you can get extra points in my Isle of Hope Contest for both the Christmas novellas too? Well, you can, so be sure to check out the CONTEST tab of my website for all the details and HAPPY READING!!

GIVEAWAYS OF ISLE OF HOPE!!

DECEMBER 1-7 for an INTERVIEW/GIVEAWAY ON ALEXIS GORING’S “25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS STORIES where there will be THREE drawings of your choice of e-books of my two Christmas novellas OR A Light in the Window. Here’s the link and hope to see you there!

INTERVIEW GIVEAWAY ON ALEXIS GORING’S “25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS STORIES

“Through faith we understand that

the worlds were framed by the word of God …”

— Hebrews ll:3

One day last week, I was praying with my daughter Amy about something that upset her greatly, and of course my heart was torn along with hers. After I hung up the phone, I stared aimlessly from my veranda into the sky, silently beseeching God to comfort my girl.

All at once, the cove I live in came into view with its gently rippling waters kissed by a southern breeze and the blue of the sky reflected along with the final glory of a sugar maple across the way. Birds flitted back and forth from each of our two bird feeders, and I found myself playing a game I used to play, where I’d squint at the scene before me like it was a picture in a frame.

“That’s what I am to Amy,” a still, small voice whispered in my mind, “a ‘frame’ that surrounds her life — every trial, every heartbreak — is transformed by My love, My hope,  My peace, into a work of art out of something that held no beauty before.”

Like a flash flood, saltwater immediately swelled in my eyes, because I knew that I knew that I knew it was true. The same God who “framed” the worlds in our quote above has “framed” every situation in my life and my family’s with a holy hug that not only holds us together, strong and secure, but creates a priceless work of art when He is done.

In that moment, I had no doubt whatsoever that His love was encircling not only my daughter, but her mother as well, with an assurance that no matter what, we can trust the God Who “framed the worlds” not only with His Word, but with His “unfailing love.”

Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, Oh Lord,

for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go,

for unto You I entrust my soul. — Psalm 143:8

We are Christians. Jesus Christ is not just the Lord of our lives, He is the frame that holds us together, the finishing touch that turns our lives into a truly beautiful work of art. May His “unfailing love” frame every situation in your life — today, tomorrow, and all the days of your life.

I hope you have enjoyed some of the pictures we took this week of our cove at night and while on a hike at Ha Ha Tonka State Park last weekend — every one a picture I’d like to frame because each reminds me of the beauty and blessings of God … and His unfailing love.

AND … speaking of “unfailing love” … Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love will be released in paperback SOON, December 1st, God willing, so if you haven’t read it yet, maybe you can put it on your Christmas list?

If you haven’t read it yet, I encourage you to check out the ISLE OF HOPE PAGE of my website where you can read the first chapter, see celebrity pix of the hero and heroine, read review quotes, book quotes, and extra excerpts, plus enter the Isle of Hope contest.

I’ve been blessed to receive a 5-star rating on Amazon so far with 50 reviews, so if you’ve already read Isle of Hope and posted a review, THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! Please let me know so I can enter you in my newsletter contest, okay?

And for those of you who HAVE read it but have NOT yet posted a review , I have a HUGE FAVOR to ask. Reviews are critical to an author, especially on an independently published book like Isle of Hope. So if you liked it, I’d be SO grateful if you would consider posting a really a short review (2 or 3 lines simply stating you liked it). And if you do, not only will I enter you in my newsletter contest to have a character named after you in my next book, BUT … you can earn five extra points in the Isle of Hope Contest as well. How?

Simply click on that option in the Rafflecopter box on my CONTEST page, and the points are yours. PLUS … you can also accrue points by getting someone else to post a review as well if they’ve read IOH. Simply choose that option in the Rafflecopter box on the contest page, and they get ten points in the contest and YOU get an extra five. THAT’S how important reviews are to a new book AND to me!! Thank you SO MUCH!!

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE UPCOMING GIVEAWAYS!!

DECEMBER 1, 2015:

Join me for a Christmas interview on Alexis Goring’s “25 Days of Christmas Stories” blog tour, where you will have the opportunity to win one of three Christmas giveaways of your choice of any of my Christmas novellas or an ebook of A Light in the Window or Isle of Hope.

http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/

DECEMBER 7, 2015:

Three different blogs for three different opportunities to win your choice of any of my ebooks, including Isle of Hope, so check back next week in my Friday Journal Jot when I have blog names and links for you, okay?

Till then, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, one and all, and I thank God for each and every one of YOU!!

Hugs,

Julie