Scripture for the Fifth Thursday in Lent

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. ~ John 5:36-38 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus is Your Son and my Savior, and I believe that You are the Sovereign Lord of the Universe. Thank You for sending Jesus to take away my sins and the sins of the whole world. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Writing Contest: Bedtime Story

One of the best ways to get your creative juices flowing is to use a a picture, a situation, or an opening line as the starting point for a story or essay. Aggie Villanueva at Visual Arts Junction has created a writing contest that invites you to look at Bedtime Story, the photo art on the left, and write a 500 word story or essay inspired by it.

Aggie has asked me to be a judge, and I’m looking forward to reading lots of creative entries. There are Professional and Amateur categories, so whether you’re a beginning or seasoned writer, you can enter.

Visit the contest page for complete rules and a list of prizes. You can win some great books and exposure on a number of Web sites/blogs. Each judge will tell you what she liked best about your entry and what she thought could be improved, valuable feedback for any writer.

You have two weeks to write and polish your entry. I am eager to read your story.

Scripture for the Fifth Wednesday in Lent

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. ~ John 5:25-29 (ESV)

Almighty God, thank You for giving Jesus the power to resurrect into eternal life all those who follow Him. Guide me to follow His footsteps and carry out His will. In His name I pray. Amen.

Scripture for the Fourth Tuesday in Lent

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. ~ John 5:5-16 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, lead me to always focus on serving Your people and spreading Your love and Your Word, not on following rules. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Review: An Axe to Grind

An Axe to Grind
F.M. Meredith

Oak Tree Press
January 2010
Paperback, 178 pages, $12.95

Also available in Kindle edition

Crime fiction

This is the first book I’ve read in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, but after reading An Axe to Grind, I intend to read the rest of the series. I want to know what happened to bring the characters to where they are now. Though Rocky Bluff is a fictional location, the town and the people seem very real.

If you like to read while you’re eating, as I do, you might want to avoid starting this book at meal time. The first scene—when the police are investigating the crime scene with a decapitated body and massive amounts of blood—is  pretty gory. However, that’s the only part of the book that will make your stomach a little queasy.

The main storyline involves the investigation and solution of the crime, but the relationships of the police officers and their personal lives are interwoven into the mystery. Readers who enjoy relationship stories will enjoy An Axe to Grind as much as lovers of crime fiction.

Detective Doug Milligan and fiancee and fellow police officer Stacey Wilbur are so wrapped up in their respective cases—his the murder of a stalker and hers a molestation case involving the son of a friend—that they don’t have time to plan their wedding. When Doug disappears while trailing a suspect, Stacey goes looking for him, and finding time to plan a wedding pales in comparison to finding Doug in time to save his life.

Author F.M. Meredith is currently on a blog book tour for An Axe to Grind. I recommend you check out the other stops of the tour for interviews and excerpts.

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Bio of F. M. Meredith

F. M. Meredith, who also writes under the name Marilyn Meredith, is the author of nearly thirty published novels. An Axe to Grind is the newest from Oak Tree Press. No Sanctuary was a finalist the mystery/suspense category of the Epic best in e-books contest.

Marilyn has taught writing and is active in industry organizations. For over twenty years, she lived in a beach community similar to Rocky Bluff.

You can visit the author at Fiction for You and on her blog.

Scripture for the Fourth Monday in Lent

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way. As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering. So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household. ~ John 4:46-53 (ESV)

Lord, give me the faith to believe Your Word without doubt or question. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

Scripture for the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ~ Luke 15:8-10 (ESV) 

Thank You, Lord, that You care for me as if I were Your only child. You rejoice over me as the woman rejoiced over finding the lost coin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for the Fourth Saturday in Lent

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” ~ Luke 18:9-14

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, be merciful to me, a sinner. Amen.

Read an E-Book Week Coming to an End

Tomorrow is the last day to download free or discounted e-books for Read an E-Book Week.

You can find all my books on my Smashwords page.

I’ve been intrigued by the number of times different books have been downloaded as of early Friday morning. The books I’m giving away are listed below in order of popularity so far this week:

• Trapped by Love: A Novelette—a short romance that is always free 
• Fern’s Fancies—contemporary romance
• Dream or Destiny—romantic mystery
• Stroke of Luck—contemporary romance
• The Secrets of Fantastic Houseplants—plant care guide
• Preserving Memories: How to Write a Family History—how-to guide
• Finding the Information You Need: Research Tips for Your Family, Business, or Personal Pursuits—how-to guide and resource

Among the fiction titles, with one exception, the shorter titles are downloaded more often than longer titles. In fact, the last time I checked, Trapped by Love has been downloaded 456 times, and the other six titles have been downloaded a total of 456 times.  The exception is Stroke of Luck, which is shorter than Dream or Destiny but has been downloaded fewer times.

The same pattern holds true in the nonfiction. Coincidence? I wonder. It would be logical to assume that people would choose how-to guides on the basis of topics of interest. Houseplants probably have more general appeal than writing family histories, but I was surprised that the research how-to was at the bottom of the list. It includes nearly 100 links to helpful sites, three case studies of different types of research, and lots of tips on finding information from other people, in the library, and online.

If you have any insights on whether shorter books are, in fact, more popular in general or if this pattern is mere chance, please share your thoughts in comments.

If you haven’t downloaded your free or discounted books yet, be sure to do it by the end of the day on Saturday. You can find free books at Smashwords and Read an E-book Week as well as individual author and publisher Web sites.

I hope you download my free e-books this week. If you enjoy them, consider leaving a review (or at least at rating) on Smashwords or a community such as Goodreads.

If you don’t like them, post a review anyway. You might write something like this: “This book was worth every penny I paid for it.” Every free book is worth at least what you paid for it, and mine are no exception.

Scripture for the Fourth Friday in Lent

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions. ~ Mark 12:28-34 (ESV)

Heavenly Father, I love You with all my heart and soul and mind and strength, but I don’t always live like I do. Forgive me for letting the cares of the world come between us, and help me to focus on You and serve You. I need even more help, Father, with loving my neighbor as myself. Some neighbors are difficult to love, but those are the ones who need it most—the ones You want me to love the most. Forgive my failures and help me to reflect Your love to my fellowman. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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