Breach of Trust By DiAnn Mills

Do you want to read a suspenseful page-turner? DiAnn Mills’ Breach of Trust is it. Conflict and tension arise on every page.
Paige Rogers, a former CIA operative, has hidden her identity to protect her family. Her quiet life as a librarian in a small town has been her refuge. She is threatened to come out in the open or else. Her parents believe she died seven years ago. Her new found friends and boyfriend may find out she has deceived them all these years. Will they be able to forgive her if they do? Lives are on the line if she doesn’t “give in” to the blackmail of her former partner, who has betrayed once her before. But does she want to trade her loved ones and her soul to the enemy? Can she save her friends, family and her own life? Or will she lose everything trying?
If you like romance, suspense and danger wrapped into one book, you will love DiAnn Mill’s Breach of Trust.

Awaken My Child

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:8-11

I have trouble waking up in the morning. Even when I make myself get out of bed, I’m groggy for a while. I used to tease my former boss by saying, “I don’t wake up until 10:00am.” He knew I meant not to expect me to carry on an intelligent conversation with him or answer any important questions until then. After I had fully awaken, I would feel better, think better and probably look better.
In my prayer time one morning, God told me that I’ve been spiritually sleeping for some time. For awhile before then He had put me into a rest, so He wasn’t scolding me. It was like He was gently saying, “Awaken my child.”
During the last days before Christ’s return for His bride (the church), the enemy will be rampant. We need to be fully awake so we may feel, think and look better in order to withstand the enemy’s schemes.
Luke 9:30-32 says, “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.” Just like Peter and the disciples, we need to be fully awake to see Jesus in all His glory. Moses and Elijah were preparing for Christ’s departure. We should be preparing for His return.
Matthew 3:2-3 John the Baptist says, “‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’ This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” We must be like John the Baptist, “prepare the way of the Lord.”
Matthew 25:1-13 tells us about ten brides. Five of them were wise and took oil with them to keep their lamps burning. At the midnight cry, the five foolish brides’ lamps were going out, so they had to go out and buy more oil. When they returned the door had been shut. When they asked for the door to be opened, “he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.’” We should keep our lamps (hearts) burning with His heavenly fire so that at the midnight cry we will be ready and so He will know us.
In order to be prepared and awake, we must be open to what the Lord is doing in our lives and the lives around us. God’s light must shine in us for others to see. We need to be sensitive to His voice and obedient to the call on our lives. As the Psalmist did, we should, “...awaken the dawn, ...praise [Him] among the nations, ...sing of [Him] among the peoples, ...exalt [Him] above the heavens, let(ting) [His] glory be over all the earth.” Awaken my child.

Peanut Butter Candy

How to Make Peanut Butter Candy
By Debbie Gail Smith

Years ago a friend gave me a recipe for a pan layered chocolate covered peanut butter candy. They turned out similar to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups but had a delicious, home-made flavor.
It seems as though every year since then another friend has asked for the recipe. Either he loses the recipe or it doesn’t come out right when he makes it. Every year I send him a slightly different dish that requires baking. I didn’t realize until this year that I’ve been sending him the wrong recipe.
It was when my mother described how she had to alter her recipe because it wasn’t turning out right that I took a second look.
Try making these easy peanut butter candy and friends may be asking you for the recipe for many years to come. Of course, keep the correct version on hand.

You will need a 6 x 10 or 8 x 8 dish, a double boiler, medium bowl, a fork, some plastic baggies and the following ingredients:

Peanut Butter Bars

1 stick of butter (softened)
1 cup peanut butter
1 Cup powdered sugar
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
12 oz Semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Allow butter to sit at room temperature until softened. To crumble graham crackers, put them in a plastic baggie (make sure it is securely closed) and pound with the palm of your hand. Mix the butter, peanut butter, powdered sugar and graham cracker together in a medium bowl with a fork. Transfer to a 6 x 10 or 8 x 8 dish and flatten with finger-tips.
Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Pour on top of peanut butter mixture.
Refrigerate for 10-15 minutes or until chocolate is hard. Cut into squares and serve.

The peanut butter cup is a relatively recent invention: It dates to the Roaring ‘20s. Peanut butter itself is only slightly older, debuting in 1904 as—of all things—a high-protein food substitute for people who could not chew meat.

The H.B. Reese Candy Company began manufacturing a product made with specially processed peanut butter and HERSHEY'S Milk Chocolate in the 1920s. The name REESE'S has a unique heritage established by Harry Burnett (H.B.) Reese, a former dairy employee of Milton S. Hershey, founder of Hershey Foods Corporation. Reese was so inspired by Mr. Hershey's success that he left the dairy business to make his living in the candy industry. Find out more here.

Wise Men Seek Jesus

And when they (the wise men) were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of Christ, let’s consider what it was like in that country at that glorious time. The wise men originally went to Jerusalem after seeing the star in the east to find Jesus “king of the Jews.”
It began when King Herod and Jerusalem found out Christ had been born. They were “troubled”. King Herod demanded of the chief priests and the scribes where Christ was to be born. When they told him Bethlehem, he sent the wise men to find Christ. He deceived them and told them he wanted to worship the king. Jealousy and pride indwelled in Herod. He feared his position, as king of Judea, would be jeopardized. He wanted the baby king dead. The wise men set out to follow the star which led them to the young child. “lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Matthew 2: 9, 10 The wise men were elated. Not because they saw a star. They knew it was “the star” that had been prophesied for generations as written in Numbers 24:17. They knew it was the Messiah-the King; the one who would save the world.
However, the star was a miracle in itself. It moved from north to south. Natural objects in the sky always move from east to west. This star led the wise men to a particular place – the stable where Jesus was.
When they saw Jesus they fell down. They didn’t just fall to one knee, like we see in modern manger scenes. They fell lying prostrate on the ground. For these wise men from Ancient Persia, this was a sign of great respect that was often showed to a king.
The gifts they presented to Him—gold, and frankincense and myrrh—were not just rare and valuable items for that time period, they have a symbolic and prophetic meaning.
Gold, of course, is mined from rock and holds a lot of value even by today’s standards. It symbolizes virtue and kingship on earth. Frankincense is an aromatic resin obtained from the Boswellia tree. It was used in incense as well as in perfumes. It is an emblem of prayer. Myrrh is a resinous material taken from a Commiphora myrrha tree. It was used as an anointing oil and embalming oil. It was a custom of the Jews to give those who were condemned to death by crucifixion "wine mingled with myrrh" to produce insensibility. It symbolizes suffering and death, which Christ would endure later in His life.
The child—the son—born this day was given to them and to us today and “the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Today we are given the same invitation that the wise men had; to follow the star—light—to the particular person of Jesus Christ. We must ask ourselves, “When was the last time we rejoiced with exceeding great joy for Christ Jesus, fell prostrate before him in worship, or presented him with gifts? Gifts? Have we no gold, frankincense, or myrrh? Have we put our faith in Christ and made Him king of our lives? Crowned Him with “gold” virtue, prayed with the sweet spirit of “frankincense”, and anointed Him with “myrrh” and allowed His suffering and death to take away our sins?
This Christmas let us follow the star so we can be like the wise men. Then every day we can celebrate the risen Savior and rejoice with exceeding great joy.

Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins

“Ever hear the dead knocking?”

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she’s rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan’s town two women have been murdered, and she is about to discover a third. She’s even more shocked to realize the culprit is her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief’s son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he’ll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell’s muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan’s plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks . .

Brandilyn Collins has done it again. She’s taken me out of my routine life and put me into one of her seatbelt-suspense novels; a run-for-your-life mode where wisdom must prevail.
If you like symbolism in a story, Dark Pursuit is full of them. Starting with the cover of black and green silk fabric. Green represents life, black – death, silk – richness. I’ll leave the rest for you to figure out.
Although, a twist-ending, anxiousness thrives throughout the book. Personally, I like to have clues throughout the book of “who-dunit.” Brandilyn wraps the ending up nicely. If you’re up for an all night page-turner, this is it.
Brandilyn’s Big Honkin’ Chicken Club rates this book with two chickens. I admit I haven’t read her three-chickens books, but I’m a bit of a chicken. I've only read her two-chickens books. If Dark Pursuit is a two-chickens, it’s a high two. I say to all you chickens, “Try it – I dare you.” www.brandilyncollins.com/bhcc

To those of you who have been reading my newly created blog:
I am starting to review books I have read. I will still be posting inspirational articles, but you will also see my thoughts on books I like to read.

Living Waters

…If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38

In Sour Lake, Texas, 1890, about the same time oil surfaced, there was a different discovery of a slight lesser importance. The people who lived in that area noticed natural wells or springs of water. These wells each had a different taste. From a bitter acid to a sweet taste. (Talk about homemade lemonade.) Each had its own use. People came from near and far to visit these springs which owners had opened up as spas for medicinal purposes. These waters completely cured stomach ailments, asthma, rheumatism, skin diseases and various other illnesses. The owners of the springs also shipped jugs of these waters to customers in other parts of the country and the world. (And you thought bottled water was a new concept.) General Sam Houston is one of many prominent people to have visited Sour Lake. His injured “San Jacinto Ankle” constantly bothered him until his death. He said the most relief he ever had was from the treatment at the Sour Lake Springs.
There was a water well in another part of the world about 2000 years ago. This was an ordinary well with ordinary water. However, a visitor who came to this well was the most extraordinary person of all time. The place – Samaria; the person – Jesus Christ. What was so amazing about Jesus visiting this well? This is where he invited a Samaritan woman, and essentially everyone, to come and drink from the well of living water. Water is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Living water - the Holy Spirit living in and through us. Jesus repeats the offer of the Father, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters" (Isaiah 55:1). Jesus fulfills the role of God, who "will guide them and lead them beside springs of water" (Isaiah 49:10). His offer shows he is far more than just a prophet or man; he is God, Himself, who offers us life.
God created us with a spirit that thirsts for Him. Our sinful nature doesn’t understand this desire, so we search for something to fill this need, many times, in the wrong places. We try to be fulfilled with material things, hobbies, other people, etc. These things may be rewarding and desirable, but they do not make us feel complete. We are still spiritually sick. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we drink from the cup of living water. II Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” We will not be satisfied/healed until we drink from the cup of living water.