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My Faith

5 Minute Friday — OVERCOME

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Giving the 5 minute prompt a try again this week!

The word is OVERCOME

The first thing that pops into my mind is Mandisa’s Song “You’re an Overcomer.”  Love that song, and I ran to it regularly when I did a couch to 5K Bible study.

I was overcoming my fear of running, my fear of making a fool of myself in a running group, and my fear of not being able to do it.  

It’s not on my current playlist, but if I hear it, my mind goes straight to the memory of that group, and the new friends I made while in it.

Mandisa’s song “Overcomer”

Then, my mind is drawn to all of the things that overcome me…

-I am overcome by fear
-I am overcome by anger and bitterness
-I am overcome by my obstacles
-I am overcome by my bad habits.
-I am overcome by worry

But every writer knows you get RID of the passive voice!  Use strong verbs!

So that needs to flip!

-I overcome fear.
-I overcome anger and bitterness.
-I overcome obstacles.
-I overcome my bad habits.
-I overcome worry.

BUT HOW?

A verse come to mind…

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good!” (Rom 12:21)

That verse gives a strategy –Good overcomes evil.  Kind of like fighting the negative with the positive.  

(My inner voice says…But I lack the strength to do that!)

So I keep searching the Scriptures… love this verse!

Jesus said “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”   (John 16:33)

As my time limit draws to a close, I’m summing it up with…

Jesus = key to overcoming–being an overcomer in his strength and not our own!

Now to go live it!  I’ll tell you how it goes, if you tell me how it goes for you 🙂

Book Review and Author Interviews

Cover reveal for TRUE HORIZON by Laurie Winter

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You may remember Laurie from a blog post I did a few months ago.  Laurie and I have the same literary agent.  That is one of the best things about this publication journey.  Meeting new friends along the way.

This weekend Laurie is revealing the cover for her next book featuring main character Heath Carter.  Looks great, Laurie!  Best wishes!

Buy True Horizon on Amazon

Back Cover Blurb:

Back home on her family’s Texas Longhorn ranch, Grace Murray is busy preparing for her wedding. After a scruffy tattooed drifter saves her life, she takes on the mission of helping her savior, Heath Carter, find peace. The steady friendship and unconditional acceptance she receives from him encourages her to trade an old dream for a new one—a dream true to her heart. When she calls off her wedding, Grace is finally set free to fully love Heath.

After a decade of military service, Special Forces veteran Heath Carter is living with war’s tragic consequences. Struggling with PTSD, anger, and guilt, he travels through Texas, solitarily moving from job to job. Working with Grace on the ranch, Heath’s guilt over his past actions make him feel unworthy of her love. As their paths lead them in different directions, Heath needs to discover the courage to fight his toughest battle yet—the one inside himself.
My Faith

5 Minute Friday DISCOVER

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Today I’m trying something new–or should I say “discovering” something new!

It is called a 5 minute write.  I’m hoping it will help me dive more deeply into “Blogging World.”  
I’m actually scared to death to post this because this is my writing. On display. And probably to other blogger/writers!  But here goes:

The word today is DISCOVER.
What am I discovering?
How insecure I am?…  Nah.  I knew that already.
How much I still have to learn?  Maybe… 
Or, how refreshing it is to try something new…learn something new…find out something new!

New things for me happen constantly…
1.  In the World Language classroom as I shift the style of my teaching practices and try new techniques. (I teach Spanish)
2.  With my teenagers (I have 3 of them–talk about another culture) as they try to teach me what it is they are saying, doing, and buying.  
3.  Technology…need I say more?  (Look at me today…attempting to embed my post on someone else’s blog…incredible discovery about to take place!)
4.  Conversation connections that surprise me–I am amazed at what I discover I have in common with the least likely candidates.
5.  In Scripture…I discover a thought that gives me the strength to meet the day.
What about you?  What are you discovering? What keeps you from discovery?
Well, my five minutes went quickly!  (I have to admit it was more like 15…but hey this is my first attempt) 
Author life, Mouse's Christmas Gift, Uncategorized

Countdown to Publication…11 more months!

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Would you like to help me on my publicity team?

Here is a Google Form that will help me to connect with you:
Marketing sign up for Mouse’s Christmas Gift

Only 11 months until my manuscript becomes an actual book!  (Although it has been almost a decade since I started down this path!)

If you are willing, here are a few of the ways you can help me in the next year as I continue to build my social media platform:

1.  Go to my Facebook Author page and like it, share it, and comment on anything and everything.  It is helpful if you invite others that you think may be interested to like my page.  The address is:

2.  Twitter.  Retweet things like my blog posts and tweets, especially as things get rolling and I do my cover reveal and other promo tweets like that.  My twitter is @mindybakerbooks

3.  I am now on Instagram.  (mindybakerbooks) You can follow me there, too!  I don’t know much about it, but I will be learning.

4.  Goodreads and Amazon.  I will tell you more about this as time gets closer.  I hope to do some give-aways.

5. Become a follower on this blog (SO GLAD YOU ARE ALREADY HERE).

You may wonder where we are at in the publication process (and it is a lengthy process!)

The illustrator is Dow Phumiruk.  She is so talented!  You can see samples of her artwork on her website www.artbydow.com.  I have seen the cover and it is adorable!  I am really looking forward to the big reveal for that!

Dow’s art

I want to thank you again for your interest, friendship, and support.  It means the world!  I am counting the days until October, 2018!

Book Review and Author Interviews

Review of SNUGGLE TIME CHRISTMAS STORIES by Glenys Nellist

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If you have a toddler or are a grandparent of a toddler, you will want to add SNUGGLE TIME CHRISTMAS STORIES to your Christmas book collection.  The beauty of this book is the word choice.  It is “just right” for little ones, helping to instill God’s beautiful story in their hearts at a level that makes sense to them.  I can also see this book being used in toddler classes in churches everywhere.  

It is a beautiful padded board book–very eye appealing with foil and glitter.  There are 13 short, individual poems that each include a reference from Scripture.   My favorite poem is “Hee-Haw, Said the Donkey.”

Hee-haw, said the donkey.
Squeak-squeak, said the mice.
Cheep-cheep, said the chicken, 
This baby is so nice!

Moo-moo, said the cow.
Baa-baa, said the sheep.
Shh-shh, said the pigeon.
Jesus is asleep! 

I have been around toddlers enough to know that animal noises are a hit!  And I can picture all of the little darlings acting out the noises and then rocking baby Jesus to sleep in their arms.  So precious!

Thanks, Glenys for another beautiful book that will impact little hearts with the beautiful message of God’s love for them!

Amazon link:  Snuggle Time Christmas Stories

About the author:  GLENYS NELLIST was born and raised in a little village in northern England.  Her stories and poems have been published in children’s magazines where her writing reflects a deep passion for bringing the Bible to life for young children.  Glenys lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband, David.

Glenys Nellist’s Website

Twitter: @Glenys Nellist

Facebook: Glenys Nellist: Author