When I began writing, I didn’t have any idea where it would go. I have always been a closet writer, but handing my work to the public to scrutinize was a bit frightening.

When I wrote A Rose For Jonathan, I wasn’t sure how it would be received, mainly because of the underlying currents throughout the book. So much of Religion has become mundane and robotic that I wanted to shake it up a bit by introducing some powerful imagery on the influence of prayer.

This book took off in ways that I never dreamed and I am so thankful for all the awards, TV and radio interviews, and speaking engagements that have evolved from this work. Besides the obvious desire to put you on your knees more, I wanted to inspire you to be an organ donor as well. The immediate response to the book eventually morphed into questions about a sequel.

Quiver is the answer to those questions and this book has made me more nervous than ever. I felt God’s hand on this work more than any other in the past, but this one was deeply spiritual to me. As you go through the story, you will understand what I mean. So many issues are addressed in this book and I hope that you will take time to do some soul searching as you move through the story. My goal was to make you think…and bring you closer to God.

Check out Quiver HERE

Check out A Rose For Jonathan HERE

I’m sure most people would say yes to that question! I remember as a child that some stores would have pretty little packages wrapped and for sale near the register. The contents were a mystery and you had to take a chance and buy one to see what was inside. I always wanted one and my mom would try to explain that this was a gimmick to sell something that wasn’t worth very much. As a child, all I could see was that wrapping paper, which only ventilated my desire to see what was inside. Finally, one day my mom let me purchase one with my own money. Needless to say, what was inside was far below the value that I paid and I was very disappointed.

Gifts from God are very different. The Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 about different spiritual gifts. Verses 4–11 are below:

4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gift of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous power, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

The verses following this continue the explanation of how we are all part of the body of Christ. When I was a child and saw that special little package, I was excited. Wouldn’t it be great if we were all excited about the gifts God has given us? Some of us have probably found some of our gifts, but I would bet there are many who have not or who have run from them.

Whatever your gift is, whether it’s subtle are glaringly obvious, I urge you to explore it and use it for the Glory of God. You will be blessed! Imagine your gifts wrapped and waiting to be discovered! With Christmas approaching, start praying for God to show you ways to use them.

My latest book, Quiver, is all a young man with a special gift that he both loves and fears and fights to learn more about before making a heartbreaking decision to leave the woman he loves. The fight in the spiritual world around him is intense because of the enormous value of this gift.

I wrote this book to highlight the value of all spiritual gifts and hope and pray that you will discover and use yours.

Quiver is the second in a series of books about spiritual warfare and is available HERE

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!

It’s Here!

Jonathan has discovered an incredible gift within himself; but he is forced to leave the woman he loves in order to protect her from the powerful forces that are trying to destroy him. Angels work to hide him as the demons are on the hunt for this one young man that threatens to bring the one thing that all demons fear the most.

Quiver

Available now HERE

Discover the three hidden secret meanings behind the title…

Just for fun!

Here is the first chapter of the sequel to the multiple award winning novel, A Rose For Jonathan.

Quiver continues the story in a new direction as it follows Jonathan through the development of a new and very powerful gift. Along the way, he must choose between forbidden love and the dangers around them both. His battles are not only on his knees, but also in his own heart as he tries to protect the one he loves. Find out what the Demons fear the most and how far the Angels will go as a supernatural battle unfolds to control the entire region.

Quiver

Release date November 11, 2016

Chapter 1: Final Days

Destin, Florida

The janitor’s cart rattled and then swerved as the right front wheel twirled in rebellion. Jonathan stopped and shook the cart to bring the wheels in sync. When he was satisfied, he moved forward again in a monotonous cadence as he peered through wisps of brown hair that swayed in front of his face. The tension escalated, constricting him as beads of sweat formed on his forehead; but he maintained his composure as he continued down the hall. His gray coveralls blended well with the drab blue walls of the hospital; and except for the sound of the cart, there was little evidence of his existence at all. He moved past three nurses who were too engrossed in their own gossip to notice him, as they compared fragmented reports of a scandalous affair between a doctor and another nurse.

Jonathan struggled to maintain his pace, fighting the impulse to run. He had waited for this moment and now the anticipation was fiercely annoying. As he forced himself to move casually along the wall, the rhythmic rattle of the wheels on the cart began to converge with his droning movements until they blended the perfect chords of anonymity. He kept his eyes downcast as an orderly rushed past for some unknown emergency. Finally, he neared the entrance to the young girls’ room and carefully pushed the cart into a utility closet and shut the door. He smoothed back the floppy strands of hair that hung over his eyes and wiped the sweat with his sleeve as he surveyed the empty hall in both directions; and then he ducked into the room, shutting the door quietly behind him.

A small light hung over Tia Marshall’s head casting a soft glow, while several machines faithfully reported her vital signs, which had been steadily declining, along with the hopes of her family and doctors. The tempo of the breathing machine created the backbeat for a macabre ballad of beeps and hums that expressed the final moments of a life bound to the power of electricity. Jonathan stood silently listening to this sad song and watching the young girl. Now that it was finally time, he was entranced by the moment.

Tia was connected to several tubes and a ventilator to help her breathe. The bed seemed to swallow her petite frame, which had only grown thinner as the end drew near. There were balloons still in one corner of the room from three days ago, when the staff had helped her mom celebrate Tia’s fifth birthday. Tia’s only response to the party that day was to open her eyes briefly and smile. Even though it wasn’t much of an interaction, the entire staff had cried. Young Tia had yet to open her eyes again and they had each counted the minutes until her death.

Cards and flowers with messages of hope and love filled the tables and shelves in the room. Beside her in the bed was a large stuffed dog with a pink collar. On the beside table was a picture of Tia from the year before at her birthday party. Jonathan saw the cross necklace around her mothers’ neck as she leaned in beside her daughter for the picture, hugging Tia as they celebrated both her age and her future for the last time. Her most recent birthday had been much less of a celebration and more of an accomplishment, since the doctors had felt sure she would already be gone.

In the corner of the room, a dark shadow stirred and slithered forward. Yellow eyes filled with hate watched Jonathan and waited. In an instant, Flint, a young but powerful angel, appeared and dared the beast to move again. The demon glared at Flint and backed away. Flint stepped forward and locked eyes with the demon, while spreading his wings to protect Jonathan and the girl. Sensing he was outmatched, the demon moved into the hall where he hoped to still be able to see what this angel so passionately guarded. Within an hour, a message ripped through the dark realm that this demon of Wrath may have found the one that they had been searching for now for over two years.

1 Corinthians 12: 4-6

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

It’s finally time!

Pre-order now HERE

The sequel to the multiple award winning A Rose For Jonathan has arrived. The new book is called Quiver and it will be released on November 11, 2016.

Jonathan is back…but he’s different and his gift is dangerous. Find out why the demons are after him and the angels guard him so carefully. When he finds his purpose and falls in love, he is confronted with a choice. Can he use his gift and keep her safe? A battle for control forces Jonathan to leave and discover more about himself and how to fully trust God; but the prayer support is failing and he is soon discovered. The demons pull together to engage the angels in a powerful battle to control not only Jonathan, but the entire region. In the end, the title of the book takes on three meanings.

Mr. B, the Martin sisters, Pastor John, and of course Mr. Roberts are all back with a few new characters as well. Humor is balanced with love and suspense to bring you a new message about the importance of your part in the body of Christ.

Cover change! Lot’s to tell you there, but that’s for another day!

I pray that this book brings you to your knees as it has me…

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Three awards and counting!

A Rose For Jonathan has now been honored three times:

Winner of the New Apple Book Award for Independent Publishing (Religion category)

National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) Finalist

Readers’ Favorite Book Award Contest Bronze Medalist (Religion category)

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Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
As I stand each morning before my closet and try to decide what to wear, many times I’m challenged and burdened with trying to find that perfect outfit for the day. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I go through several outfits before I decide what to wear. I usually check the weather forecast and balance that against what my activities for the day will be. A lot of thought usually goes into my choice.

As I read this verse today, it occurred to me that we should be working just as hard to spiritually clothe ourselves for the day. I wonder what our world look like if we truly clothed ourselves in compassion…kindness…humility…gentleness…and patience.

The world would most definitely notice…

Compassion: Do you like the feeling of compassion? Many do but some don’t. Maybe for you, compassion is more difficult. Is there someone in your life that could use some compassion?

Kindness: What about kindness? It’s easy to grant this to those we love; but what about to strangers? Those in need around you? Is there someone you know who is struggling and could use a kind word or act?

Humility: I think this is difficult for us all. Satan loves Pride. In my novels, I try to highlight that as much as possible. There is something so seductive about ourselves that it’s hard to deny ourselves for someone else. How can you display humility? Is there someone you need to forgive?

Gentleness: Are you too harsh with those you love? Sometimes I am. I want to be known to be more gentle. It’s not as easy as it sounds. Sometimes I expect or ask too much of those closest to me when they need more gentle responses.

Patience: I think I struggle here so much. In our day of instant everything, we have lost the art of waiting. Sometimes it might be the waitress who is having trouble handling the large number of tables when you’re in a hurry. Or the old man in front of you in traffic. It could be as simple as a slow internet connection that sends you over the edge.

Are you honoring God in all you do?

Take some time to review these attributes in your life and see if you are truly “clothed” in them every day.

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Turn on your TV and you are blasted with bad news. Turmoil and hate seem to be everywhere. I decided to do my small part to spread a little positivity and love, so I started the Daily Challenge. If you don’t follow me on Facebook @ The Green Author, then you can go there now and catch up!

Today’s challenge was a great one…I won’t spoil it…go check it out!

For tomorrow:

Challenge #6

Write a note to someone for no reason. You can say what you want; but here are a few examples:

Tell them you appreciate them

Tell them thank you for being a friend

Just wish them a happy day for no reason

Say you were just thinking of them

Whatever you decide to write is between you and them; but the point is to just give someone a boost with a little text or email or a written note.

Remember the last time someone did that for you? If you do, wasn’t it fantastic?

Happy Note Writing…don’t be shy about sharing your experiences here or on Facebook!

Let’s spread some joy together!

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Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual.

It takes a lot to stand strong in a world that pulls you in so many directions. Integrity, honesty, and strength all form a person’s character. To lead a family as the male or to just be a man takes an incredible amount of good character in order to resist all of the temptations of the world.

I was fortunate to be raised by a man with incredible character. Anyone who knows my dad knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. His character is strong and forthright. I was raised under that umbrella and taught right from wrong. I was taught to work hard and to be honest. Through his example and the loving guiding hand of my mom, I was raised in an unbelievably loving household.

I know how lucky I am. I know how rare that is these days. I also know that God has seen to it to bless me once again with a man as my husband with that same incredible character. Anyone who knows my husband knows of his honesty, his integrity, and his strength. He is also an amazing husband and father. Happy Father’s Day to all out there.

I challenge all men to live up to the character of the ultimate father. When I think of Father’s Day I also think of God. I think of his never-ending touch on my life and his guidance and love and strength. When you think of God, you need to remember His honesty, His integrity, and His strength.

He is the ultimate example of good character. The Bible says that He is love. When looking for an example of the best character, look to Jesus.

You will never be lead wrong.

The new book title has been announced:

                            QUIVER

This is the continuation of the story of Jonathan from A Rose For Jonathan. The book is due to be released summer 2016.

Tonight is the new cover reveal….here it is!