Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Chilled in Chattanooga

Deborah Malone has a winner with her cozy mystery, Chilled in Chattanooga. I just loved the distinctive and sometimes quirky characters. Her research in Chattanooga really paid off in making this story setting come alive. You'll enjoy the sights as you travel the town with Trixie and her mystery-solving goal. A must-read for any cozy mystery lover.




Why I wrote Chilled in Chattanooga.
Chilled in Chattanooga is the fourth book in the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery Series. I had been writing about cities that were interesting places that people enjoyed traveling to. I have loved going to Chattanooga for many years now. Even though Chattanooga is not in Georgia, Rock City and Lookout Mt. are in Georgia. All of these are incorporated in the book.
I had fun researching for the book. I took a day trip to Chattanooga and spent an entire day exploring the city and taking pictures. I must have taken over 200 pictures. It was fun eating at several of the well known restaurants and visiting the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Most of the places that I mention in the book are real and you could visit them if you wanted to. I already have someone who told me they wanted to visit the English Rose Tea Room across from the Chattanooga Choo-Choo. I hope you find a place you’d like to visit too.
All of my books are humorous and I hope that when they are read that they give the reader a little time of respite from the stresses of the day. There is encouragement between Trixie and her best friend Dee Dee and they also help each other strengthen their faith. But I don’t take a baseball bat and hit you over the head with a particular message. I just want the reader to enjoy a good clean mystery without having to worry about compromising their morals while having a little fun.




Check out more about Deborah on her website.

Deborah's Website Link

Saturday, January 24, 2015

All in God's Plan

January first I began to read the Once A-Day Bible. I've read these read-through-the-whole-Bibles before and decided to embark on it again.

I'm convinced because God has made His Word living and active, that is why I always get something more from reading it.

Currently, I'm reading about Joseph. What a story! This guy endured the scorn and jealousy of his brothers. They went so far as to hitch him up with a slave-trader. He's hauled off to Egypt. And, just when you think he's received justification, some rejected woman gets Joseph thrown into prison.

Now, I can confess here that I would have been bitter and probably sulked. But, what does Joseph do? He continues to do his best job and follow God. Then when it looks like he might have a way out, Pharoah's servant forgets to mention him.

A while later, it finally dawns on the servant that he forgot to mention good ol' Joseph who he met in prison. Joseph is brought out and after a good bath, interprets a dream for the ruler. Now he rises to an even higher rank in power than before.

When faced once again with those brothers who sold him, he rises above the norm. he doesn't make them pay for what they did to him. In his status, he could have thrown them in jail or had them killed. But, he ends up telling those brothers, who end up shaking in their boots at recognizing him finally, that what they meant for harm, God meant for good.

What a perspective! He could look back on the trials and struggles and recognize God's hand. It was all in God's plan.

So, when I feel like I'm spinning my wheels or being treated unfairly, I need to keep true to God's leading. Even though what I'm experiencing right now might be the pits, God brings people out of pits and uses them mightily.

How about you? Have you seen this "Joseph perspective" work in your life?

Saturday, January 17, 2015

My Word for 2015 - REVIVAL

Revival - make or become fresh or strong again. Renew, reinvigorate, rejuvenate.

This is the second year I've adopted a word instead of a list of resolutions for the new year.

The word revival can be applied in many areas of my life. I believe that a spiritual revival would be foremost.

Psalms 51:10-12
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." (NIV)

My relationship with the Lord can always be strengthened. And, my commitment to His Word can be rejuvenated.

I can get into a rut and just go through the motions, losing that intimacy to truly experience the joy of my salvation.

Thus, the first application of my one word for 2015 is to freshen and strengthen the areas of my spiritual life.

How about you? Have you chosen a guide word for 2015? Or, have you established goals? Did you include your spiritual life? How?