Gail Gaymer Martin's newest release!

A DAD OF HIS OWN

Gail Gaymer Martin

Love Inspired, March 2011

One Child's Wish

With his Dreams Come True foundation, Ethan Fox turns wishes into reality. Amazing trips. Meeting heroes. But Ethan has come to care deeply for a sick boy whose dream

is. . .a dad. And not just any dad. Ethan. Though little Cooper has a great chance of getting well, widowed Ethan can't chance loving---and losing---again. Yet he's spending time with the sweet boy and his lovely, single mother, Lexie Carlson. Could a little boy's wish for a dad of his own come true after all?

About the Author:

Multi-award-winning novelist and author of Writing the Christian Romance from Writers Digest, Gail Gaymer Martin, writes women’s fiction, romance and romantic suspense for Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing. She has forty-eight published or contracted novels with over three million books in print. Gail is a full-time novelist, popular keynote speaker and workshop presenter across the United States and abroad. She is the cofounder of American Christian Fiction Writers. Visit her website at www.gailmartin.com

Books will be in stores for one month beginning the end of February wherever good books are sold

Or order online or check it out here: Click to Order

Last Call to Win "No Greater Love" for Black History Month

No Greater Love is set in South Africa in 1989, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the overthrow of the Apartheid system that had kept the majority of South Africa's population living as second-class citizens for decades. A forbidden interracial romance, at a time and place where such relationships were dangerous and even deadly, kicks the book into overdrive from the very beginning.

In honor of Black History Month I'm offering a free copy of No Greater Love, the first book in the Extreme Devotion series, to certain commentors WHO ARE ALSO BLOG FOLLOWERS, though I'm not saying which ones. (I have pre-chosen the numbers and written them down; I'll continue the giveaway throughout the month, so leave a comment as often as you like WITH CLEAR CONTACT INFO, and be sure to become a follower if you aren't already.)

You can learn more about the book by watching the video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOx8FRSEheA or visiting my website at www.kathimacias.com.

Are You "Fully Persuaded"?

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised,

he was able also to perform (Romans 4:21, KJV).

It has been said of Abraham that he was a friend of God and the father of many nations, but what impacts me most about this biblical patriarch is that he was “fully persuaded” that God could and would fulfill His promises, regardless of seemingly impossible circumstances.

I suppose this statement about Abraham impacts me most because I so often question whether or not I am fully persuaded. Perhaps in my mind, yes, but my heart is so often wishy-washy about matters of the faith. How do I know this? Because I can so readily and emphatically proclaim faith in those matters, but when I hear of someone suffering or even dying to defend them, I wonder how quickly I would cave if put in the same situation. I therefore come to the conclusion that I’m “somewhat persuaded,” but possibly not “fully” so.

That concerns me because I believe much of the Church falls into that same category. But is it possible that the reason we are not “fully persuaded” is because we misread the verse and think that it is we ourselves who must be faithful to “perform” that which we’ve promised, rather than resting on God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises?

Abraham was so fully and completely persuaded that God was true to His Word that when the Lord called on him to sacrifice his son Isaac (the only son born of God’s promise), he immediately took his son up the hill and tied him down on the altar. Not only was he willing to allow his son to be sacrificed, but he was even willing to raise the knife and fulfill that sacrifice himself! Why? Because he knew that God had promised to bring forth a great nation from Isaac; relying fully on God’s promise, he resolved to be obedient to God’s command and trust God to fulfill that promise, however He chose to do so.

That’s some serious faith, isn’t it? Abraham could obey God because he was “fully persuaded” that God—not he, Abraham—was faithful. And what is the promise that God has made to us? It is a promise about which the writer of Romans said he too was persuaded: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39, NKJV).

May our proclamation today be that we are “fully persuaded” of this great truth of God’s unending, unfailing, unconditional love for us. When we understand that it is God’s faithfulness, and His alone, that will not allow us to be separated from His love, we can complete our earthly journey in the same confident faith that “fully persuaded” our father Abraham.

Contest in Honor of Black History Month Continues!

No Greater Love is set in South Africa in 1989, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the overthrow of the Apartheid system that had kept the majority of South Africa's population living as second-class citizens for decades. A forbidden interracial romance, at a time and place where such relationships were dangerous and even deadly, kicks the book into overdrive from the very beginning.

In honor of Black History Month I'm offering a free copy of No Greater Love, the first book in the Extreme Devotion series, to certain commentors WHO ARE ALSO BLOG FOLLOWERS, though I'm not saying which ones. (I have pre-chosen the numbers and written them down; I'll continue the giveaway throughout the month, so leave a comment as often as you like WITH CLEAR CONTACT INFO, and be sure to become a follower if you aren't already.)

You can learn more about the book by watching the video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOx8FRSEheA or visiting my website at www.kathimacias.com.

The Upside of Downsizing!

From the author of Gettin' Old Ain't for Wimps (and boy, can I relate!) comes one of the most practical books I've come across in years: The Upside of Downsizing.

My not-quite-five-foot-tall grandma used to say, "Good things come in small packages." This book is the poster child for that statement! A small book that fits comfortably in a purse or briefcase, this pint-sized, power-packed tome can be read in sound bites at nearly any lull in your busy life--and especially if you're at the age when your earthly journey is winding down and you're getting ready to "graduate" to heaven.

If you're ready to tackle the clutter and wondering what to do with all that extra space since the kids moved out, bestselling author Karen O'Connor has the advice and encouragement you need, all boiled down to simple, manageable suggestions to help you get the most out of the "golden years" of life. To order this book and/or find out more about Karen and her other books and speaking, go to www.karenoconnor.com. And while you're at it, get a copy for each of your friends or family members who might also be facing some of these inevitable decisions!

Is it ever okay to judge?

“Do not judge according to appearance,

but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).

Have you noticed that one of the most popular and oft-quoted verses from the Bible is some sort of mutilation of the admonition not to judge? This is particularly popular with those who are not familiar with the Scriptures and/or want to justify their own behavior. But does the Bible really teach us not to judge, or does it simply give us guidelines in how to judge correctly?

Jesus said very clearly in John 7:24 that we are not to “judge according to appearance” but to “judge with righteous judgment.” That doesn’t sound like a ban on judging of any sort, does it? It does, however, sound like a warning not to jump to conclusions based on what we see (or hear or feel), but rather to draw conclusions based on God’s judgment, since He is the only One among us who is righteous.

So how do we do that? The entire discourse by Jesus in this section of the Gospel of John is a reminder to the Jewish people that they already have the Law of Moses as their only dependable and allowable guideline for proper judging. He also warned them against ignoring or perverting that scriptural guideline to suit their own purposes, something we are all tempted to do on occasion.

As believers who have God’s Spirit living within us to guide us in our actions and correctly interpret scripture for us, we are called to “judge righteously,” according to God’s Word. We have no right to make judgment calls based on our own opinions or self-imposed standards, but we do have an obligation and responsibility to reach our conclusions—about ourselves as well as others—based on the standards God has detailed in the Bible.

Does that mean we assault people with those judgments and wag our finger in their faces, screaming at them to repent? Of course not. But it does mean that we refuse to fall into the trap of situational ethics that basically says, “I’m okay, you’re okay,” regardless of behavior, and therefore enable people to remain lost in their sins and separated from God. We are called to preach the pure and uncompromised Good News, which does not deny sin but rather offers the only remedy—the shed blood of Christ at Calvary. That is the righteous judgment we must all proclaim, in word and deed, regardless of the response or consequences.

And, finally, it must all be done in love, with a heart that longs to see others forgiven and restored, as we have been. No one said it would be easy, but we can’t shy away from doing what is right for fear of offending others and being accused of judging. We are all guilty before a righteous God, and that’s not a judgment declared by fallible humans but rather by an infallible Creator who is ultimately the Judge of the entire Universe. How grateful I am that the only Son of that Judge is also my Advocate when I stand before the heavenly Court after my final breath! May I be found faithful to have judged righteously and proclaimed that righteous judgment during my sojourn on earth.

Black History Month Giveaway Continues!!!

No Greater Love is set in South Africa in 1989, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the overthrow of the Apartheid system that had kept the majority of South Africa's population living as second-class citizens for decades. A forbidden interracial romance, at a time and place where such relationships were dangerous and even deadly, kicks the book into overdrive from the very beginning.

In honor of Black History Month I'm offering a free copy of No Greater Love, the first book in the Extreme Devotion series, to certain commentors WHO ARE ALSO BLOG FOLLOWERS, though I'm not saying which ones. (I have pre-chosen the numbers and written them down; I'll continue to giveaway throughout the month, so leave a comment as often as you like WITH CLEAR CONTACT INFO, and be sure to become a follower if you aren't already.)

You can learn more about the book by watching the video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOx8FRSEheA or visiting my website at www.kathimacias.com.

Guest post from Lisa Harris

One of the things I love about traveling and living in different countries is that it has widened my worldview and given me a greater understanding into the lives of other people. Because of this, I’m so thankful for the chance to share some of what I have discovered--the people, culture, and setting--through a fictional story.

In February, Zondervan will release book two in my Mission Hope series, Blood Covenant. While the first book dealt with the very real issue of human trafficking, the second is another fast-paced suspense novel set primarily in a refugee camp.

As I started doing the research for Blood Covenant, though, I began to wonder if my readers would find the plot unbelievable. Surely the story of a humanitarian crisis dealing with so many issues—from cholera to measles to rebels—could only be fabricated and would never happen in today’s world. Yet as I read story after story of individual refugees I found myself weeping with them over what they experienced. And I realized that, if anything, I had sanitized my story to make it more believable, because the facts tell another story.

According to the international aid organization Doctors Without Borders, there are forty-two million people in the world who have been displaced by war and violence. You read it right. Forty-two million.

So while the story behind Blood Covenant, including the setting, is fictional, the issue of those being forced to leave their homes with nothing more than the clothes on their back is very real. But in spite of this tragedy, I didn’t want to stop the story there. Drawing from my own experiences across Africa over the past twenty years I tell a story that goes beyond the adversities to give readers a message of hope.

Here’s more about the story from Zondervan’s website.

“From the explosive first pages, Lisa Harris weaves a tale of heart-stopping suspense and adventure with her second book in the Mission Hope Series.

When fighting erupts between government forces and renegade Ghost Soldiers deep within the Republic of Dhambizao, thousands are forced to leave their homes. Dr. Paige Ryan, who works with Volunteers of Hope International, is sent to lead a team to set up a refugee transit site—where the immediate needs for shelter, water, sanitation, and food are critical. Nick Gilbert, a bush pilot for Compassion Air, joins the team to help fly supplies in and out of the area.

With the refugee camp already experiencing overcrowding, raids, and uprisings, a group of American mountain climbers is attacked by the Ghost Soldiers. Paige’s medical team responds immediately, rescuing survivors and taking them into the camp. When it’s discovered that one of the trekkers is carrying an infectious disease, the harrowing conditions of the camp are forgotten.

In desperate need of vaccines and the Ghost Soldiers blocking the only road out until their demands for amnesty are met, it won’t be long before the disease is out of control … and there is nowhere to run.”

For more about life in Africa, stop by my blog, http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.comr or my website www.lisaharriswrites.com.

To watch the video go to: http://player.vimeo.com/video/18967279

While we were still sinners...

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us (Romans 5:8, NKJV).

We often toss the word “love” around lightly, equating it with a “feel good” emotion or the fact that someone (or something) meets our need and therefore is worthy of our love. But Jesus demonstrated to us, by way of a painful and undeserved death, that love is not a feeling—it is an action word, one that places the needs of others above our own.

“While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Is there any statement anywhere that more powerfully captures the truth and illustrates the selflessness of authentic love? Jesus suffered and died for us “while we were still sinners.” He didn’t wait until we repented or were baptized or performed any sort of religious act at all; in fact, He died for us when while we lived in the pigpen, rejecting and mocking Him, spitting on Him even as His tormentors did 2,000 years ago. For you and I were right there with them, calling for His crucifixion and even pounding the nails into His hands and feet. And yet He looked at us and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Even in the midst of our willful ignorance and selfishness, God demonstrated His love for us through a sacrifice too horrible to imagine. Our only response can be one of eternal gratitude and joyful service. May the unconditional love of Christ be the catalyst that spurs us to worship Him by living in such a way that others see that same love in us as we offer it to them without condition of limits.

Black-History-Month Giveaway Continues!

No Greater Love is set in South Africa in 1989, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the overthrow of the Apartheid system that had kept the majority of South Africa's population living as second-class citizens for decades. A forbidden interracial romance, at a time and place where such relationships were dangerous and even deadly, kicks the book into overdrive from the very beginning.

In honor of Black History Month I'm offering a free copy of No Greater Love, the first book in the Extreme Devotion series, to certain commentors WHO ARE ALSO BLOG FOLLOWERS, though I'm not saying which ones. (I have pre-chosen the numbers and written them down; I'll continue to giveaway throughout the month, so leave a comment as often as you like WITH CLEAR CONTACT INFO, and be sure to become a follower if you aren't already.)

You can learn more about the book by watching the video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOx8FRSEheA or visiting my website at www.kathimacias.com.

Blessings!

A Fantastic New Book from a Very Talented Author!

Just had to tell you about this great new book (and author) I've discovered. Trust me when I say, you'll be hearing a lot more from this lady. Meanwhile, here's the info on her newest book, which received four stars from Romantic Times. (Check her out and at www.lauriealiceeakes.com or go straight to http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Mist-Laurie-Alice-Eakes/dp/0800734521/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296749577&sr=1-1 to order the book):

“Lady in the Mist brims with tension, intrigue, and romance.”—Julie Klassen, bestselling author of The Silent Governess and The Girl in the Gatehouse

By virtue of her profession as a midwife, Tabitha Eckles is the keeper of many secrets.

Dominick Cherrett is a man with his own secret to keep: namely, what he, a British aristocrat, is doing on American soil working as an indentured servant.

In a time when relations between America and England rest on the edge of a knife, Tabitha and Dominick cross paths, leading them on a journey of intrigue, threats, public disgrace, and . . . love? But can Tabitha trust Dominick? Finding true love seems impossible in a world set against them.

With stirring writing that draws you directly into the story, Lady in the Mist takes you on the thrilling ride of love’s discovery.

Are You Blooming Where God Has Planted You?

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much”

(Luke 16:10, NASB).

I was a brand new Christian when I first heard the saying, “Bloom where you’re planted; maybe God will move you to a bigger pot.” I smiled at the imagery but really didn’t get it. Now, nearly forty years later, it is one of my most often shared pieces of advice.

Because I teach at women’s retreats and writers’ conferences, I meet a lot of Christians at various stages of their spiritual walk who are up against some tough circumstances. (Yeah, I know. When I was a new believer I thought all that would go away too.) What I hear most often is, “All I want to do is serve God, but how can I do it when 1) I don’t have any money; 2) my family is falling apart; 3) my health is so bad,” etc.

My heart goes out to these people, and I totally relate because I’ve asked the same questions over the years—many times. But the bottom line is this: Those very questions imply that God has called us to serve Him and then allowed us to get mired down in circumstances that prevent us from doing so. If only He would get busy and blast us out of those negative situations and flood us with blessings and provision, THEN we could serve Him effectively!

Really? Probably not. As Jesus indicated in Luke 16:10, it is those who serve God under the most adverse of circumstances, often with little or no provision beyond their passion to reach the lost with the unconditional love of Christ, who would also serve God effectively if their problems suddenly disappeared and they were inundated with God’s blessings.

“Bloom where you’re planted.” Don’t like where you’re planted? Pot too small, too constricting, too invisible? Take it up with the Gardener who knows exactly what He’s doing—and why. Meanwhile, bloom in the Light of His love, regardless of how dark it seems around you, and others will be drawn to that Light. And isn’t that the purpose of all we do, no matter the size of the pot?

In Honor of Black History Month

No Greater Love is set in South Africa in 1989, just prior to the release of Nelson Mandela from prison and the overthrow of the Apartheid system that had kept the majority of South Africa's population living as second-class citizens for decades. A forbidden interracial romance, at a time and place where such relationships were dangerous and even deadly, kicks the book into overdrive from the very beginning.

In honor of Black History Month I'm offering a free copy of No Greater Love, the first book in the Extreme Devotion series, to certain commentors WHO ARE ALSO BLOG FOLLOWERS, though I'm not saying which ones. (I have pre-chosen the numbers and written them down; I'll continue to giveaway throughout the month, so leave a comment as often as you like, and be sure to become a follower if you aren't already.)

You can learn more about the book by watching the video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOx8FRSEheA or visiting my website at www.kathimacias.com.

Blessings!