Spiritual Sunday "Hope"

Chalotte and Ginger host these great Spiritual Sundays. To join in just post and add your name at  http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

"When you say a situation or person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God."  Charles L. Allan 

In April 2008, something happened....triggering memories I had fought hard to forget....

I started writing.....needing to get those memories out. I wrote in the third person.....in the dark...sometimes all night.....and most of the day.  I forgot to eat....even forgot to feed the kids. I struggled with why God would let me remember when I wanted so much to forget. I ran in the hills near our home....in the rain...in the heat.....everyday......desperate to outrun the pain.. There I heard His gentle whisper....'you're stronger now.....it's time to tell.' 

More than 400 copies have sold.....it won a national book award and was one of three books that recieved an honorable mention to The Word Guild's highest award. It's in nine bookstores in the province where I live and available in five hospital libraries.  I've recieved tons of gifts, dolls, jewelry, cd's, books, notes, emails.....people telling me....my story....my words....inspired them....gave them hope....

Janet

Wow. What an awesome book! I read it in two days. I"m not a reader so for me to read it that fast it has to be good. I was reading at work on nights and I had to get up and go to another room at one point, tears were falling down my face...your book has helped me to open up and gave me so much hope! It has made a difference in my outlook on my situation. 

Lisa

I got your book yesterday afternoon...I read late into the night and this afternoon....yours is such a beautifully written book, one that resonates with me on so many levels. I loved the descriptions, felt like I was right beside you, experiencing every situation with you. At times it was hard to breathe. Other times, I was moved to tears. Many times I was frightened for your safety, touched by your endless bravery. And then I was inspired.....I found the detail of the coaching advice affirming the very processes I am currently working on in order to change my own negative belief systems. I don't believe in co-incidence, your book came to me as a message of hope.  

Wanda

.....as I read your book...hidden wounds over my own wounded past began to surface and I KNEW that I would have to deal with them. I had come such a long way (I thought). I had written books about the healing of a soul....but reading through the section covering the time with your counselor, I felt I was there and she was gently leading 'ME' out of a dark hole into the light. Your book will touch many lives....I know...it has turned my world upside down. 

 
I had kept the secrets......choosing to live with the crippling shame and fear rather than to tell.....worried what others would think.  But I learned  - He redeems everything....and uses our worst experiences to bring hope....

My daughter fiddled around and made a short video trailer for my book. It's her first attempt. Funny thing.....I won't let her read my book until she's 18. She's only 14. 

Winner of Book Giveaway

"We read to know we are not alone." C.S. Lewis 

I've been blown away by all the people interested in wanting to win a copy of my book. I wish I could send everyone one. My daughter wrote down the names of everyone who commented on the three blogs and then pulled out the name of the winner. 

Jane of the Jungle won the copy. I'll pop it in the mail today. Way to go. 


And for anyone is interested in purchasing a copy of the book, I've posted some excerpts of reviews: 

1....Her story is compelling simply because she should not be where she is now: she should not be alive, she should not be whole, and she should not be thriving in society. But she is! As I journeyed through her story, I became aware of a burning passion at work. It is a story of the loving Creator wooing a lost soul. 

I cried as I read of her traumas. I rejoiced as I read of both the miraculous deliverance and the painstaking recovery. And I will continue to celebrate as society’s lost are found through her words and ministry. Anyone who reads this story will have no doubt that God’s love conquers all and trumps even mankind’s best efforts.

- Donna Dawson, author of The Adam and Eve Project, Redeemed, and the double award winning novel, Vengeance
  
2.....I began reading her blog and could gather by her postings that she had endured very painful events in her life.I did not understand the full magnitude of the pain and suffering she endured until I read her life story, In The Eye of Deception. In The Eye of Deception is a powerful book about enduring, surviving and overcoming .... It is a powerful story of redemption....a powerful story of how God can turn what is meant to destroy us into something which uplifts us and glorifies HIM. I give In The Eye of Deception 5 out of 5 stars. The book is awesome. The book is fantastic. The book will indeed set you free.
Valerie: http://simply4god.blogspot.com

 3. As a Child and Youth Worker, it amazes me that she is still alive after what she lived through. Many youth and adults have far fewer problems yet give up because life seems just too difficult. If anyone had a reason to give up, she did, yet God perserved her life and gave her a desire to bring hope and healing to others. May this book change your life as knowing her has changed mine. 

Debbie Thorkildsen: CYW 

Writing for Blest Atheist

One of my blog friends is traveling and asked that I guest post. Here is the link. 

http://www.blestatheist.com/2009/10/blest-guest-wednesday-2-like-dream.html