A Devotion: It's All About Love

    The Lord your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love, 
he will rejoice over you with singing.

 Zephaniah 3:17

What beautiful words of inspiration!

Let's talk a little about these words.

"The Lord your God is with you"

What wonderful assurance

BUT...

there's a condition.

The Lord YOUR God is with you.

You must be God's child.

"he is mighty to save"

Not just "he will save you"

but...

"He is MIGHTY to save."

He has the power, the strength to do so.

We can stay confident in what he promises,

that he will do and has abundantly the ability to do so.

"He will take great delight in you"

Why?

Because it pleases him to do so. 

It gives him joy to love you.

That, you can rest upon.

"he will quiet you with his love"

His love is so abundant and assured,

we can rest in his words.

No matter the turmoil in our lives,

in the world,

If we are his child,

His love is there,

forever,

with no end.

"He will rejoice over you with singing"

In fact, he so loves us that he rejoices by singing

He's so filled with joy at our love for him

that he bursts into song!

Can anything be better than knowing our God loves us so very much?

***

LOVE to Read?

I have a giveaway offer for you!

I'll be posting twice this month on Stitches through Time.

Just comment on both posts,

and I will choose one person to receive a Kindle copy of their choice of

one of my Appleton, WV Romantic Mysteries. 

(Sabotaged Christmas,

Knight in Shining Apron,

Undiscovered Treasures,

Toby's Troubles)

Here's the link to check them out:

https://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1492661357&sr=1-1

About Carole:

Besides being an active participant in many writing groups, Carole is an award-winning author and enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance, and whimsy into her books and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons? 

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Meet Starli from Knight in Shining Apron

Hey Ya'll! I'm so excited to be introducing the heroine from (one of our very own Stitches Thru Time authors) Carole Brown's book Knight in Shining Apron! I love character interviews, because they really help you get the know the character you'll be reading about. Carole has created a fascinating person named Starli, and we get to talk with her today. 

Welcome, Starli! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I come from a financially secure home. My parents were loving and allowed me to pursue any reasonable activity with which I professed interest. I suppose because they were extremely busy with their own activities, they were pleased when I found activities that interested me and kept me busy. I never doubted their love though. It was just the way our family was.

My hair is very blond and I have green eyes. I’m tall, and most of the people in Appleton assume I’m confident, a bit cold and aloof, when actually, inside, I don’t feel any of those things. But then, that’s what wrong decisions do to a person.

When my husband died, I took the insurance money, studied and built a restaurant geared toward classy, with live music and the best menu, staff, and chefs I could find. Surprisingly, it became very popular, and my plans are to expand in the near future.

I love the winter and any of the activities acquainted with the winter season. I love to ice skate, love classical music and piano. I like poetry and adore my two best friends: Antoinette (Toni) DeLuca Douglas and Caroline (Caro) Gibson.

I can’t think of anything else interesting enough about me to relate.  I will say that you need to check out Knight in Shining Apron, and don’t forget to review for my author. (It makes her happy!)

What made you decide on the restaurant business?

Believe it or not, I think it was a little bit of stubbornness that decided I would do something with my life that was entirely different from anything in my past life. I can’t cook--at least not much, so this was as different as I could get.

But I studied hard, and knew exactly what I wanted. I’m from West Virginia, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy classy, and that’s what I began with Apple Blossoms.  Live music, a top notch menu, loyal and excellently trained staff (especially Manny, my maitre de--my right-hand man!) and wonderful patrons.

What is your greatest fear?

It used to be the Strattons--my husband and his family. But now? Perhaps, it’s failure. I suppose because of Ryan’s constant reminders almost all of our married life of what a failure I was, the nagging fear of that still wants to play out in my life. But with God’s help and encouragement and Joel’s strength and love, I’ve overcome those feelings for the most part and enjoy peace.

My author, Carole Brown

If you could go back ten or fifteen years, what advice would you give yourself?

Don’t marry Ryan Stratton and continue on with my plans to be a concert pianist. I would urge straight forward thinking and plans to not waver in that decision.

Where do you see yourself being ten years down the road? 

Joel and I want to expand Apple Blossoms and see it grow but also to continue to have the high standards with which I built it. 

 I want to continue my piano concerts within reason and even do some benefits to help worthy causes.  

I also want to work hard at being the best mother and wife I can be. The second chance God has given me is a privilege to be all I can be, and I intend to do just that.

Who is your favorite concert pianist? 
In my novel that my author wrote about Joel and myself, Pierre Markus is my favorite. (Of course, remember, he is a made-up one, but in my story, real.)

Recently I heard Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii playing his composition “Elegy for the Victims of the Tsunami (March 11, 2011, Japan), and the ability he portrayed and his passionate response afterwards--bursting into tears--touched my heart. 

Carole and I enjoy many others but we’ll name a few that are favorites: Arthur Cortot’s rendition of Chopin’s Ballade #2 is excellent. Arthur Rubinstein’s passionate playing of Chopin’s Fantaisie Impromptu, Op 66 is awesome. Andrea Romano does an impressive job on Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata. There’s tons more that I really, really enjoy who have marvelous talent.

What a list, I'm going to go look all those up and listen to them. Any parting remarks?

I hope all you readers will check out Carole’s Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mysteries.



Book One: Sabotaged Christmas tells the story of Toni DeLuca, one of my best friends, and Perrin Douglas, college professor sans romance adventure author. Accusations at her dead father and sabotaged construction sites are both part of the intrigue of this story.


Book Two: Knight in Shining Apron



Book Three: COMING! Undiscovered Treasures (with an excerpt in the back of Knight in Shining Apron) is written and being edited now. Missing art work and perhaps even a trip to Paris might be in the works!


Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Starli!

Thanks for the invitation, Amber! It’s been a pleasure. --Starli

Readers, don't forget to leave Starli some comments to get your name in the drawing for this week's giveaway of Cloaked in Love by Elaine Manders!

Fun with Knight in Shining Apron by Carole Brown

I'd love to introduce the two protagonists in the up and coming book: KNIGHT IN SHINING APRON book two in the West Virginia Romantic Mystery series. I'm asking them three questions today. Readers,   FEEL FREE to chime in with questions of your own in the comment section.


ME:  Can you give us a brief description of each other. Starli Cameron, you go first in describing Joel.

Starli:  Sir Joel Peterman-Blair is a topnotch, famous and in-demand chef. He's volunteered hours serving those in third world countries. He's blond good-looking and trim, but with his sanguine personality, his teasing does get on my nerves quite a bit. He's too over-confident and too flirty, in my opinion.As a nephew to my matre de, I felt obligated to hire him, even when I know it will be a temporary job.

Joel: Tickled to get to describe my favorite person in the whole world, and by that, I'll glad confess I fell in love with the Appleton Ice Maiden, or as I prefer to call her, My Princess or Your Majesty. She's a bit haughty and seems cold to those who don't know her--and Starli, cover your ears, that's a good girl--but it's only because she hurts so much from the deceased monster who was her husband. She's an exceptional pianist and a really good ice skater. She loves the winter time. She's a white-blond beauty who trusts few people but those who are really close to her.



ME:  You sound perfect for each other, and I'm assuming you get together? No answer? Hmmm. Next question:  Why did you choose you particular careers?

Joel:  I've always loved to cook and create outstanding recipes. Once I graduated from cooking school, I've worked in several famous restaurants and have done a lot of charity work for those less fortunate. Having a lawyer as a father, naturally he wanted me to follow in his footsteps but I was totally not interested. Fortunately, Uncle Lawrence made sure I could do what I was called to do--create and cook.

Starli: I wanted to be a professional pianist, but gave it up to marry Ryan Stratton. When he died, I inherited his insurance and started Apple Blossoms, the classiest restaurant around Charleston, WV. I have live music, and insist on the best chef and food. Even though I can't cook--really!--I love my restaurant. It's my anchor.



ME:  When will this book be available?

Joel and Starli glance at each other, grinning. Together they say:  Late spring. More than that, we're not allowed to say. It's the second book in the series (Sabotaged Christmas is the first one), and we hope you enjoy our story! We do. :)



ME:  Thanks for joining us.  We hope to hear more from you two at a later time!

About Carole:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas.

She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?


Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown
Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Check out her books here

http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

THIS WEEK'S GIVEAWAY IS:

• PRUDENCE PURSUED    AN EBOOK BY SHIRLEY RAYE REDMOND. 
• IT RUNS THROUGH APRIL 10TH. 
• COMMENT ON ANY POST BETWEEN NOW AND THEN TO ENTER, AND REMEMBER, 
• THE MORE COMMENTS YOU MAKE, THE MORE ENTRIES YOU EARN!

    Winners will be announced in the Weekly Wind-up on April 11th.

 

CHECK OUT OUR PRIZES GALORE PAGE TO SEE ALL OUR GIVEAWAYS.