Verse of the Day

God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this. (1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT)

Maybelle in Stitches by Joyce Magnin

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Maybelle In Stitches

Abingdon Press (March 18, 2014)

by

Joyce Magnin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the Author:

I am the author of seven novels. Five adult novels and two middle grade readers. I never wanted to do anything else but write and every day I wake up astonished that I get to do what I always dreamed about. My days are filled with words and images along with the usual family stuff. I have three children, Rebekah who is married to Joshua. They have three of the most adorable boys on the planet, Lemuel, Cedar and Soren. My daughter Emily Kate is a lovely young woman anthropologist and my son Adam is fourteen and a student--he's a genius who loves frogs and lizards and fish and plants. He amazes me.

I have never eaten a scallop. I love cream soda. Drink way too much coffee. I do not like elevators but I do enjoy needle arts and of course books. I prefer jazz over country (no offense), milk chocolate over dark, but not roller coasters although my life has often resembled a roller coaster ride.

One of my life's desires is to meet Amy Grant so I can tell her she saved my life.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Maybelle can’t sew. But when she finds an unfinished quilt in the attic of her mother’s house, she gets the crazy idea to complete it. At first, it’s just a way to fill the lonely nights while her husband, staff sergeant Holden Kanzinzki, is away fighting in World War II.

Yet when Maybelle discovers that the quilt is made from scraps of material that can be traced back through her family heritage, the project is suddenly much more important. Then word comes that Holden is missing in action, and with little else to do, Maybelle clings to the quilt as much as to the hope that her husband is still alive. As neighborhood friends gather around Maybelle to help her through the unknown days and nights ahead, it is the quilt that becomes a symbol of her unflagging belief that Holden will return—to her, to their home, and to their quilt-covered bed.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Maybelle In Stitches, go HERE.


Margie's Comments: I enjoyed reading this latest addition to the Quilts of Love series, Joyce Magnin's Maybelle in Stitches. I love the setting of the story with the background of World War II, learning more about the home front about the women who went to war to help their men in uniform fight a global war. An excellent story with a good faith element made real by the struggles of the main character as she wanted to trust God and not worry but found it difficult with the reality of the uncertainties she faced.

Verse of the Day

The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. It is good that one should hope in and wait quietly for the salvation (the safety and ease) of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:24–26 AMP)

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. (Isaiah 40:31 AMP)

Verse of the Day

[Abraham] was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did—by his actions James 2:22 nlt

He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down ( relax My hold on you)! [ Assuredly not!] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5–6 AMP)

The Lord stood by me and strengthened me. 2 Timothy 4:17

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Verse of the Day

As for me, I look to the Lord for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies, for though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord himself will be my light. . . . The Lord will bring me out of darkness into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Micah 7:7–9 nlt

Verse of the Day

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. . . . I am holding you by your right hand – I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, 'Do not be afraid. I am here to help you.'"  (Isaiah 41:10, 13 NLT)

Poison Town by Creston Mapes

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Poison Town

David C. Cook (February 1, 2014)

by

Creston Mapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Creston has fond memories of his boyhood in Bath, Ohio, where he became enchanted with his future wife, way back in the fourth grade. His father, Bernie, owned and operated The Weathervane Furniture Shop in town. The whole family lived right upstairs in the century-old house known as "The Shop."

Creston studied journalism at Bowling Green State University, then began his writing career. During the past 30 years, he has worked as a reporter, corporate copywriter, creative director, freelance writer, and author.


ABOUT THE BOOK


There's More Than One Kind of Poison in This Town

People are sick and dying. Rumors are swirling. Some claim chemicals leaking from a manufacturing plant are causing the cancer that's crippling people on the poor side of Trenton City, Ohio. Yet nothing at the plant appears amiss.

The problem remains a mystery until reporter Jack Crittendon's long-time mechanic falls ill and he investigates. Soon Jack becomes engulfed in a smokescreen of lies, setups, greed, and scandal.

The deeper he digs, the more toxic the corruption he uncovers. As he faces off with the big-time players behind the scenes and tries to beat the clock before more people die, he realizes the chillingly unthinkable--he knows too much.


If you'd like to read the first chapter of Poison Town, go HERE.


Margie's Comments: This is the second book in Creston Mapes's Crittendon Files series. The book is high on action and complex in solving the main issue of corporate corruption. The characters are familiar, for those who read the first book, and they continue to grow and develop. What I really like about Poison Town, that while some things are carry overs from the first book, it doesn't matter if you read it. Poison Town is a great read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend this book for those who like non-stop suspense coupled with characters who have a genuine faith-walk with God.

Verse of the Day

"Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed! (Joshua 23:14 NLT)

A final word: Be strong with the Lord's mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10 NLT)

Verse of the Day

"I don't think the way you think. The way you work isn't the way I work. . . . For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think. Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, so will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them."  (Isaiah 55:8–11 MSG)

Verse of the Day

This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I have hope in Him." The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentations 3:21–26)

Verse of the Day

Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise . . . and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8–9 NLT

Verse of the Day

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:3–4 NIV)

Verse of the Day

God can do anything, you know--far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. (Ephesians 3:20 MSG)

Verse of the Day

The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less. That's why we live with such good cheer. You won't see us drooping our heads or dragging our feet! Cramped conditions here don't get us down. They only remind us of the spacious living conditions ahead. It's what we trust in but don't yet see that keeps us going. Do you suppose a few ruts in the road or rocks in the path are going to stop us? When the time comes, we'll be plenty ready to exchange exile for homecoming. (2 Corinthians 5:5–8 MSG)

Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. (Hebrews 10:23 NLT)

Verse of the Day

O LORD, I have come to you for protection; don't let me be put to shame. Rescue me, for you always do what is right. Bend down and listen to me; rescue me quickly. Be for me a great rock of safety, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this peril. Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in you alone. . . . My future is in your hands. (Psalm 31:1–4, 15 NLT)

Verse of the Day

Have you ever personalized Scripture? Today's passage lends itself nicely to this. It makes God's Word come alive:

[God]  found [me] out in the wilderness, in an empty, windswept wasteland. He threw his arms around [me], lavished attention on [me], guarding [me] as the apple of his eye. He was like an eagle hovering over its nest, overshadowing its young, then spreading its wings, lifting them into the air, teaching them to fly. [So has] GOD alone led [me]. (Deuteronomy 32:10–12 MSG)

Verse of the Day

God has given us his promise and his oath. Those two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with patience. This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6: 18–19 nlt

Don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Galatians 6:9 nlt

“The problem of getting great things from God is being able to hold on for the last half hour.” Streams in the Desert

Verse of the Day

But this precious treasure – this light and power that now shine within us – is held in perishable containers, that is, in our weak bodies. So everyone can see that our glorious power is from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. (2 Corinthians 4:7–9 nlt)

So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 MSG)