Journal Jots – Blog

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

—Exodus 14:14

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

—Psalm 46:10, NIV

I don’t know about you, but being “still” is no easy task for a CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), especially one two and half month’s behind on impending deadlines. Heck, even in church, my leg goes a mile a minute until Keith very slowly and calmly places his hand on my knee, yet another gentle signal that I am driving him crazy. Again. Of course, I immediately freeze, staying still until a tic finally twitches in my eye and then I start kicking all again without even realizing it.

One time in the first grade, a nun threw a book at me because I wouldn’t be still, and as luck would have it, that hardback book grazed my eye. Of course, being the CDQ I am, I capitalized on that with a very effective bout of tears that coerced the nuns into sending me home so my dad (whom I very tearfully and wisely informed was an eye surgeon) could attend to me. Worked like a charm because I’ll tell you what—I may be a wired CDQ, but I’m not a stupid one.

And then there was that time when I was sixteen and crying in my bed late at night because I had something the doctor’s diagnosed as middleschmertz, which basically boils down to ovulation cramps at a very high level of pain. Well, there I was sobbing, writhing and moaning like I was dying when my little sister runs to get Daddy, who promptly “stilled” me in his usual no-nonsense manner. “Knock it off and lie still,” he growled, “and tell me where it hurts.” More effective than a stun gun, my ophthalmologist dad could paralyze all fidgets and hysterics with a single glance, forcing me like nothing else to just “be still.”

Well, this week I learned just how important God thinks it is to “be still” and you know what? It’s a good thing, not a bad thing. It’s that moment when someone or something is about to impart blessing to you in some way. Be it a teacher who needs you to zip it and be still so she can convey a truth or lesson … or a pastor who needs you to be still so He can convey God’s message. Maybe a parent who needs a child to lie still so they can get well … or a mom who needs a little one to be still so she can remove a splinter.

Be still. Not an easy thing for some of us, is it? It sure wasn’t for me until this week when I was so close to TILT that I broke down sobbing to my prayer partners, discouraged and ready to throw in the towel. That’s when God dropped the two Scriptures above in my lap during my morning devotional reading. The first one, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still,” is what God told the Israelites when they fretted over their enemies. And the second Scripture, “Be still and know that I am God,” is what He told me in the midst of my despair. But … it wasn’t until I read the Message translation of that very same verse that it hit me hard, not unlike that textbook the nun threw at me in the 1^st grade—“Cease striving and know that I am God.”

Cease striving. In anotherwords, stop it, Julie—all the worry, all the dread, all the fretting that you won’t meet deadlines or worrying those endless hours of promotion for your Christmas e-book won’t achieve squat. Cease it—now!

Yeah, right. Not an easy thing to do, God, I think to myself, and then all at once it hits me—hard. The second part of the message—know that I am God. The same God who pulled me from the mire when I was a hard, calloused, hopeless wild child of the 60s/70s on the brink of destruction. The same God who scooped me up in His loving arms and set this orphan from a dysfunctional family of 13 into a family where a godly husband cherishes her and godly children bless her. A God who wants me to quit my yapping and complaining and crying and … just … be … still. To let Him do what He does so well in our lives and what He has never failed to do in mine: defend us, empower us, heal us, love us …

To just cease our anal striving and let God be God, leading the way to that elusive peace, calm, hope and joy that this CDQ has experienced more times than she can count but all too often fails to remember.

So repeat after me:

I will cease striving. I will remember Who God is and what He has done for me. Then I will be still … and let God be God in my life, directing my path with His power and wisdom, not my own.

Even if it takes a bloomin’ straitjacket to do it …

 

FABULOUS GIVEAWAYS!!! (Note: Pic shows all the books you can win at the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt listed below.)

THE ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2012!

PRIZES GALORE  TO CELEBRATE SEEKERVILLE’S 5TH BIRTHDAY!!! Free books, Kindle Paperwhite, gift baskets, computer, gift cards and more, so stop in to win!

Seekerville Birthday Party Giveaway

THROUGH OCTOBER 22, 2012:

FIVE CHANCES TO WIN A Love Surrendered at a giveaway on THE BOOKCLUB NETWORK blog at:

The Book Club Network Giveaway

THROUGH OCTOBER 22, 2012:

YOUR CHOICE OF ANY OF MY BOOKS at Finding Hope Through Fiction at:

Finding Hope Through Fiction Giveaway

OCTOBER 15 – 19, 2012:

YOUR CHOICE OF ANY OF MY BOOKS at Sarah Forgrave’s blog at:

Sarah Forgrave’s Blog Giveaway 

OCTOBER 25 – 28, 2012:

Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt!! Please join me and 31 top CBA authors including Lisa Bergren, Liz Curtis Higgs, Kristen Heitzmann, Robin Lee Hatcher, Laura Frantz, MaryLu Tyndall, Tracy Higley and Tamara Alexander, to name only a few (entire list below) for an opportunity to win a Kindle Fire and 31 New Releases from these  authors. The hunt features exclusive material from each author about their new release, not found anywhere else and a wide selection of prizes from each author. 

My giveaway will be choice of any of my books, a $50 gift card and having a character named after you in my next book! The hunt begins at www.LisaBergren.com at Noon MST onThursday, October 25. The hunt can be completed anytime that weekend, so you have plenty of time to visit all 31 author sites and collect a clue. It’s fun … it’s easy … and it’s a great chance to win great prizes!! So remember … on OCTOBER 25 at Noon MST …click here to begin.

Here’s the author list and the pic to the left are all the books you can win, along with a Kindle Fire!!

•  Tamera Alexander
•   Ruth Axtell
•   Lisa Bergren
•   Lyn Cote
• Liz Curtis Higgs
• Margaret Daley
• Melanie Dickerson
• Melanie Dobson
• Laura Frantz
• Sibella Giorello
• Leslie Gould
• Winnie Griggs
• Robin Lee Hatcher
• Kristen Heitzmann
• Tracy Higley
• Sharon Hinck
• Vicki Hinze
• Ronie Kendig
• R. J. Larson
• Julie Lessman
• Judith Miller
• Nancy Moser
• Nicole O’Dell
• Marta Perry
• Sandra Robbins
• Susan Sleeman
• Janice Thompson
• MaryLu Tyndall
• Kim Vogel Sawyer
• Stephanie Whitson
• Jill Williamson

Happy weekend and Hugs,

Julie

 

SCAVENGER HUNT STOP #6!

WHOO-HOO … this is it!!! Your chance to win a Kindle Fire

and 31 new releases from 31 TOP CBA authors.

OR

$50 Amazon, B&N, CBD

or BookDepository.com gift certificate.

OR

Your choice of my books, a $50 gift card

and have a character named after you in Love at Any Cost.

PLUS

LOTS of individual prizes from each of the 31 authors in the hunt.

You game? Then let’s get started …

WELCOME TO THE FALL CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT!! The dates are Thursday, October 25 from noon MST … to Sunday, October 28 at midnight MST, so you have LOTS OF TIME to cover 31 stops where you will discover new and old authors with exclusive insights into their new releases. It’s fun … it’s easy … and it’s a great chance to win great prizes!!

 

Here’s the scoop:

1.) Collect the clues in RED on each post, beginning with Stop #1. Be ready to provide the completed clue quote, gathered from all 31 stops, within 24 hours of email notification or another winner will be randomly drawn. No need to email/submit it, unless you are notified on 10/29/12.

2.) Grand Prize is a new Kindle Fire, plus 31 new paperback novels! NOTE: You must comment on every Scavenger Hunt post in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize. 

3.) 2^nd & 3^rd Prizes: $50 Amazon, B&N, CBD or BookDepository.com gift certificate.

4.) Contest is open to international entrants. If the winner lives outside the United States, they shall win the equivalent in gift certificate funds to the prize in US dollars.

5.) Bonus prizes—your choice of my books, a $50 gift card and have a character named after you in Love at Any Cost

 

IT’S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE KRISTEN HEITZMANN:

As part of this Scavenger Hunt, I have the honor of hosting one of the very first authors I ever read in the CBA and one of my all-time faves! Kristen Heitzmann is the best-selling author of historical and contemporary romantic suspense novels, including Colorado Book Award finalist THE STILL OF NIGHT and Christy Award winner SECRETS. She has a love affair with the Colorado Rocky Mountains where she lives with her husband, extended family, pets, and wildlife. Pick up a copy of Kristen’s book at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,   Christianbookcom or your local bookstore. Connect with  Kristen at http://www.kristenheitzmannbooks.com/ or follow her on Twitter at KFHeitzmann.

 

Here’s a quick summary of Kristen’s new release, The Breath of Dawn, releasing from Bethany House Publishers, November 1^st:

A grieving widower, and a courageous woman oppose a conman who plays a prophet—but he’s no saint. Quinn crossed him before, and now he’s out of jail. When the threat turns deadly, corporate mogul Morgan Spencer and Quinn Reilly, a woman he hadn’t planned on, choose an unorthodox solution with pitfalls of its own.

 

THE SCAVENGER HUNT BASICS:

After you have enjoyed Kristen’s interview below, your next stop is Kristen Heitzmann’s very own blog, so keep moving to STOP #7: Kristen Heitzmann to get to know her better and pick up your next clue!

But before you go, write down this STOP #6 clue: BETTER 

And now, a Scavenger Hunt Exclusive from Kristen—an interview with a character who won’t go away!

Some years ago, Morgan Spencer (one of my faves of Kristen’s heroes—hubba, hubba!) appeared in Kristen Heitzmann’s novel A Rush of Wings and earned himself the lead role in The Still of Night. Given that happy ending, readers want to know, Morgan, why you’re back again?

Morgan: I have a special spot in the author’s mind. It takes little to reinvigorate her interest. In this case, she listened to an old play list, songs I favored in The Still of Night. Just like that, there I was.

Did you anticipate the opening scene she created for you, the loss of your wife?

Morgan: Not in my wildest dreams. It was…heart-rending.

Some have suggested Heitzmann heaps tragedy on you. Any idea why?

Morgan: In her words, I suffer so superbly.

Surely that’s not all that keeps her coming back.

Morgan: No one’s accused me of false modesty, but I’d sound pretty smug saying the rest.

Come on, we want to know.

Morgan: Okay. I have qualities that attract people. I’ve been called the “success guru” because I take problems and turn them around. I find solutions no one else can see. It’s made me highly prosperous in business, but I can’t help applying it to life as well. If I see someone in trouble, I step in. Take Quinn for instance—that’s Quinn Reilly my co-lead in The Breath of Dawn. She asked for a sort of help I couldn’t give.

What sort?

Morgan: Uh, the illegal sort. Not that she realized exactly. She was scared and desperate to disappear. I came up with an alternative.

And she was happy?

Morgan: She asked if I had an antisocial genius disorder.

(Laughing) Okay then. What can we expect to see from you in this book?

Morgan: Well, because of the prologue, I’m not in very good shape to start with. Life’s pretty much as bad as it can get, except for my precious daughter Livie. Quinn starts to change that, but her problems create a crucible that puts us both to the test.

What crucible?

Morgan: There’s a really nasty guy out for payback.

So this is a suspense story?

Morgan: It’s suspenseful.

But?

Morgan: It’s also a love story. And a tale of family and purpose and meaning. It explores the nature of God’s love and our response to it. And the way we live out that love with one another.

Is it safe to say you’re happier about the end than the beginning?

Morgan: Can you see my smile?

 

BONUS GIVEAWAY!!!

If you’d like to be entered in a random drawing of a $50 gift card, having a character named after you in my next book, Love at Any Cost, a signed copy of that book and your choice of any of my other books, then leave a comment about your favorite Julie Lessman hero and why. And if you haven’t read my books, then tell me why and name another favorite literary hero.

For extra entries, “LIKE” some or all of the following by clicking on the link, then return via back arrow and tell me how many you did in your comment, 1 pt. per LIKE. NOTE: I WILL RESPOND TO EACH COMMENT, SO BE SURE TO CHECK BACK!

NOTE: PLEASE leave an e-mail address in a spam-free manner such as janedoe(at)gmail(dot)com or I cannot enter you in the contest. 

WINNER OF MY BONUS CONTEST WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MY NEXT JOURNAL JOT (THIS PAGE) POSTED NEXT FRIDAY, SO BE SURE TO DROP BY!

1. KRISTEN’S FACEBOOK PAGE
2. KRISTEN’S BREATH OF DAWN ON AMAZON
3. TRACY HIGLEY’S FACEBOOK PAGE
4. TRACY’S ISLE OF SHADOWS ON AMAZON
5. JULIE’S FACEBOOK PAGE
6. A LOVE SURRENDERED ON AMAZON
7. A LOVE SURRENDERED ON BARNES & NOBLE
8. A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW ON AMAZON

 

GET READY, GET SET … GO … to  STOP #7: Kristen Heitzmann to pick up your next clue! But before you go, write down this STOP #6 clue: BETTER. 

IF YOU ARE JUST STARTING THE HUNT,
click here to begin.

 

HAVE FUN AND MEGA HUGS!!

JULIE

 

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers:

for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 

—Hebrews 13:2

Angels unawares …

Mmm … you know what? I met one of these this week, and I gotta tell you—seldom have I been touched by the love of God more than through the hand of this very unexpected “angel,” who literally flew into my life.

You see, I am privileged to be a part of the amazing CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT to be held OCTOBER 25-28—a fun event involving 31 of the CBA’s top authors and LOTS of giveaways!! Not only will you learn exclusive tidbits never before revealed from each author, but you will be eligible to win TONS of wonderful prizes, including a grand prize of a Kindle Fire PLUS the latest release from each of the authors listed at the end of this blog.

But I digress—let’s get back to the “angel.” Her name is Tracy Higley, a Christy-Award nominee author who has written Biblical fiction a la Francine Rivers and Jill Eileen Smith for Thomas Nelson and B&H Publishing. I strongly encourage you to check out her books here: http://tracyhigley.com/books/.

Most of you know that when it comes to the Internet and computers, I am a virtual illiterate, bumbling my way through blogs, FB and Twitter, and don’t even get me started on Goodreads and Pinterest! In fact, I can’t count all the money and time I’ve spent paying people to do things like putting RSS feed on my Journal Jots or streamlining my blog so it is user-friendly. Other than the roller-coaster of emotions that comes with book sales, contests or bad reviews, the technical aspect of being an author has been my biggest handicap and pain in the tush.

Enter Tracy A.U. (Angel Unaware) Higley. In this very sophisticated 31-author scavenger hunt, each of us are sponsoring another author on our blogs, so I will be sponsoring Kristen Heitzmann here on Journal Jots and Tracy will be sponsoring me. It didn’t take long to see that Tracy was a technical whiz. You see, for my “exclusive” tidbit on Tracy’s blog, I wanted to post a Charity/Mitch scene that was deleted from A Love Surrendered when my editor asked me to cut 50,000 words. Trouble is, I not only write long books, I write long scenes, so too long of a post was a no-no that could cause the sponsoring author problems. Uh, not Tracy, apparently. She told me to send it in its entirety, which I did.

And this is where it gets good … You see, unbeknownst to me, Tracy checked out my website and noticed a lot of things that could cause me problems including the fact that Journal Jots loaded reallllllllly slow, which meant a lot of people might not wait for it to open. She is SO savvy technically that she was able to determine what the problem was, actually took the time to run a “load-time test” — AGAIN, totally unbeknownst to me — then looked to see what website company I was using, which is Squarespace. She then sent me a VERY detailed e-mail, giving me actual Squarespace links that she took the time to look up, which gave step-by-step tutorials on how to do what she said I needed to do.

Incredibly nice person, huh? No! Incredibly amazing angel who not only offered to do it for me, but ACTUALLY went in and fixed tons of other things as well, then offered to do whatever else I needed. HOLY COW … she even set it up so you can EASILY subscribe to Journal Jots with a click of your mouse (top right corner of page), which means when I post, you will get an e-mail telling you so!! All of this—simply out of the goodness of her heart, following a leading from God. OH MY … truly God’s tender hug to me during a very difficult time, telling me more effectively than He could have any other way that, “yes, Julie, I love you with an everlasting love and today—through an angel named Tracy—I am showing you that.”

Okay, where’s the Kleenex???

Angels unaware. A kind word, a gentle touch, a smile to let you know they care—all signs you’ve encountered an angel in your life, sent by God to show you HIS individual love for you. But a person who gives of their time and their heart just to bless you? That, my friends, is not just an angel, but a true gift from God, embracing you with His boundless love in a way few other things ever can.

Tracy—you, my friend, are a gift from God to me, healing my heart with the balm of His love. There is no way I can adequately express my gratitude, but as God is my witness, I will never stop trying. Bless you, dear friend, from the depths of my drama-queen heart and soul!

WHOO-HOO … LOTS going on, so don’t miss the giveaways this week because they won’t last forever!!

OCTOBER 1-19, 2012:

Right now Revell is giving away FIVE copies of A Love Surrendered on The Book Club Network, so here’s the link where you can leave a comment to win one:

http://www.bookfun.org/group/revell-books/forum/topics/october-2012-featured-author-julie-lessman-a-love-surrendered-5-b

ENDS TODAY, FRIDAY, 10/12 (my giveaway only; other prizes continue all month)!!!

Have a character named after you in my next book or win a $50 gift card and signed book at my Seeker blog entitled “KISS-ology 303,” which features a “caveman kiss” you won’t want to miss!! PRIZES GALORE ALL MONTH … FREE BOOKS, KINDLE PAPERWHITE, GIFT BASKETS, COMPUTER … IT’S SEEKERVILLE’S BIRTHDAY, SO STOP IN TO WIN!!

http://seekerville.blogspot.com/2012/10/kiss-ology-301-love-scenes-mega.html
 

ENDS SATURDAY, 10/13, 2012:

Win your choice of any of my books including A Love Surrendered and my Christmas e-book A Light in the Window at a giveaway at OVERCOMING THROUGH TIME WITH GOD’S HELP blog at:

http://cfpagels.blogspot.com/

OCTOBER 15 – 22, 2012:

Win your choice of any of my books including A Love Surrendered and my Christmas e-book A Light in the Window at a giveaway at SARAH FORGRAVE’S blog at:

www.sarahforgrave.com/blog

 OCTOBER 25 – 28, 2012:

CHRISTIAN FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT!! Books and prizes and fun from each of the 31 authors below including the chance to win a KINDLE FIRE and 31 NEW RELEASES from said authors. HINT: My giveaway will be choice of my books, a $25 gift card and having a character named after you in my next book.

It all starts at Lisa Bergren’s blog on OCTOBER 25 at the following link, so BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!!

http://www.LisaBergren.com

Here’s the author list:

Tamera Alexander

Ruth Axtell

Lisa Bergren

Lyn Cote

Liz Curtis Higgs

Margaret Daley

Melanie Dickerson

Melanie Dobson

Laura Frantz

Sibella Giorello

Leslie Gould

Winnie Griggs

Robin Lee Hatcher

Kristen Heitzmann

Tracy Higley

Sharon Hinck

Vicki Hinze

Ronie Kendig

R. J. Larson

Julie Lessman

Judith Miller

Nancy Moser

Nicole O’Dell

Marta Perry

Sandra Robbins

Susan Sleeman

Janice Thompson

MaryLu Tyndall

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Stephanie Whitson

Jill Williamson

Happy weekend and Hugs,

Julie