Don’t forget you can win a copy of Lisa Wingate’s Never Say Never this week just by telling me a fun blog to visit. You can see the contest instructions on Monday’s blog.  AND you definitely want to hop on over to SheReads where we’re giving away copies of Just Between  You and Me AND a huge basket of calorie-ridden goodies that I am dying to steal myself. You can find those contest details HERE.

I wrote a little devotional on fear for Proverbs 31 Ministries/She Reads that ran last week. It got cut down quite a bit because 1. It needed to fit the space.  2. Sometimes I can ramble. 3. Everyone needs to be edited. (In fact, I wish I had an editor with me at all times who would filter everything I ever wrote or said. Or wore. Or bought. Or ate. Or painted on my kitchen walls. Five times.)

I thought I would share the devotion in its entirety here.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” Matthew 14: 27-31

Do you strive for safety and security? Don’t we all. But God never commanded us to be safe.

While writing Just Between You and Me, I immersed myself in my Bible, studying the topic of fear, the central theme of my novel.  It was ironic and laughable to me, because I was and am the poster child for fears. I fear rejection, success, heights, strangers, choking while alone, being asked about the conflict in the Middle East, skinny jeans, and green peas. So much of my life has been dedicated to playing it safe.

While studying for this book, I kept going back to the Bible where Jesus would find his disciples in a state of fear. In Matthew 14, the disciples are in the boat, the winds are going crazy, and walking across the water is this dark figure in the night. Peter takes the lead and tells the figure if He is Jesus, then call him out with him on the water. Did Peter even know what he was asking for? You want to walk on water? In a storm?

Jesus does indeed call out to his friend, and things are going well. Until. . .Peter takes his eyes off his Savior and focuses on the wind. The wind that’s tossed the boat, made the night scary, and no doubt whipping through his hair and clothes. How could you not notice the wind?

The second Peter takes his focus off Jesus, down he goes.

I’m so thankful for the rest of that verse that tells me that Peter didn’t plunge straight down and become fish food. He didn’t even have to dog paddle against the waves and struggle his way back up. Jesus reaches out his hand, asks, “Why did you even doubt me?” and lifts him to safety. They get out of the boat, and the winds don’t just simmer down. They stop completely. Isn’t that like our God?

So many focus on Peter’s lack of faith when discussing this chapter. I always notice how cool the guy is just for getting out of the boat. Let’s be honest. I wouldn’t. Would you? I like safety. I like security. I’m the girl who double checks her locks before going to bed. I’m the neurotic who has a routine of eyeballing my stove and iron as I head out for work—whether I used them or not. Safety is comfort. Security is what lulls me to sleep at night. But. . .what am I missing by playing it safe? What are you missing by not climbing out of the boat onto the waves?

God has gigantic plans for us. In Jeremiah he tells us that he has plans to prosper us, not to hurt us. Yet, how often do my rules and sense of control get in the way? What about you? Would you have taken on the giant if you had been a young David? Would you have climbed into the fiery furnace with faith if you had been Shadrach? (Me? I would’ve been snot-crying in a squealing heap on the floor.)  And I have a feeling if we had been Peter on the water that night, many of us not only would have sunk as well, but we wouldn’t have gotten out of the boat in the first place.

The Bible is full of these amazing moments that required blind faith—faith in something unseen that simply defied logic and did not make sense. Yet moments where if that challenged child of God had let his or her fears rule, would’ve turned out so much differently. So much. . .less.

In 2005, I had my David and Goliath moment. I went out to meet my giant, and with gigantic faith—probably for the first time in my life—God rewarded me with a victory.

After reading the book Beyond Jabez, my idea of bold faith was radically shaken. Changed. I decided God didn’t want me playing it safe anymore. I had long held onto a dream of being a writer. But really hadn’t done anything about it beyond wishing. Wishing is safe. And tidy. So tidy, almost no one on the planet even knew I wanted to be a writer—that in fact, I had dreamed of it my whole life. I had prayed a lot about it—but hadn’t given my desire feet. Hadn’t made it a verb. Had barely even written.

After reading Bruce Wilkinson’s book, God really spoke to me. I was so burdened with the idea that living small, denying my big dreams was like saying to God, “I don’t believe you’re going to take care of me. I don’t believe you can whip up anything big for my life.” I wasn’t trusting God with all my life. I was the one in control. And frankly, it was boring me. So I gave the writing idea a shot.

Months after reading the book, I traveled to my first writer’s conference. My family was shocked. Surprised. A little worried. What kind of ridiculous dream was I chasing? I went armed with nothing more than 20 pages of a book (and that’s all there was to it) and this supernatural faith built on months of prayer, claiming my dream, and relying on nothing but God. I knew, I just knew God was going to do what I began to call “the amazing.” I went to this conference expecting great things. And I think that is what made all the difference. Much like David and his Goliath. He went in knowing the battle was his. Knowing all he needed was God. He put his fears aside, and picked up one perfect stone.

It’s a long God-story, but that conference changed my life. I don’t know if I have ever been more prayed up and faith-filled in my life. And six months later I had my first book deal. The statistical chances of that happening given my lack of experience and writing? Zero. My chances of success in God’s economy? One hundred percent. But I had to meet the giant on the battlefield for that to ever happen. Had I continued to just sit and wish, I’d still be hoping today. And book-less.

What are you dreaming of today? Or maybe the last decade? Perhaps all your life? Like me, are you hiding behind safety? Are you living in your comfort zone? Don’t you want to be thriving?  What is God asking you to do today? What dreams have lingered with you that won’t leave you alone? Take your eyes off the raging waters, off all the logical reasons why not, and reach out your hand and slip it into God’s. He’s been waiting for you. He says, “Have courage. It’s me. Don’t be afraid. I’ve got you, kid. I’ve got you.”

Now you just have to meet him there.

Father, you have not called us to live a safe life, but a giant, faith-filled life where we face our fears to achieve the amazing things you have planned for us. Help us to reach out to you, even when we’re afraid, and keep our focus on you. Bind up any fear, any excuses, any obstacles in our way, and show us your will, your clear path. In the power and name of Jesus, Amen.

*****

So hop on over to SheReads and enter in the drawing for the calorific loot. And if you think about, I’d love for you to read some of the many comments left and say a prayer for a few of these ladies ready to step out in faith and leave some fear behind.

Before we even get started, you have to jump over to SheReads and get in the running for one mongo gift basket of yumness. I really really really want one of you guys to win it.  I would only ask for 50 percent of the calorie-laden loot. (As your friend, it would be my duty to make sure you didn’t eat enough to get cavities, sugar rush headaches, or muffin tops.)

Did you watch the Superbowl? Me neither. But I did watch the commercials. This was my favorite:

I love Betty White. She’s so good with comedy. She gets it, you know? Subtle.

I also liked this one by Career Builder. (Skivvy warning)

The Brett Favre ad was kinda funny. Even I got that one, and I don’t watch football. And the E*Trade baby? “Milk-a-what?!”  Loved it. You can now send Baby Mail. Check it out HERE.

Speaking of commercials, this one wasn’t on the Super Bowl, but I cannot stand a particular Kay Jeweler’s ad. Do you know the one?

Am I the only one who was just WAITING for that guy to pull out a meat cleaver? It’s so creepy. What a girl won’t do for diamonds.

So my friend Jocelyn is training her cat Crockett to use the toilet. Yes, seriously. And she uses a device called a CitiKitty. So I had to YouTube it. Instead of finding helpful vids, I found the most annoying cat owner ever. (and this is not jocelyn. I repeat: this is not jocelyn.)

This has been around the social media block, but have you guys seen this “Save the Date?”

You know that SkyMall catalog on planes? Where you can get bunion warmers and saunas for your dog? I saw THIS BOOK on Amazon and thought it looked even better.

Sometimes I pop into random blogs and this is one of them. The blog author, Brooke, is el preggo, and had a few things to say about it. But it was her husband’s take on it all that cracked me up.

That brings us to this week’s giveaway.

To win a copy of Lisa Wingate’s Talk of the Town, you gotta tell me a fun blog I should start checking out. My daily list of blogs has really dwindled (not sure that’s such a bad thing), and I need some new reading material. What’s a good blog to visit?  Leave me a suggestion or two in the comments. Winner announced Friday. Can’t wait to hear your suggestions.

I need to go. I’m expecting to be at work a matter of hours before we all get sent home for one heckuva winter storm. God bless you, El Nino. God bless you.

JEN

Have you ever had one of those days when you shouldn’t be allowed out of the house? This pretty much sums up my February. I think it’s the weather. It has me allajumble. Yes, that’s all one word. Like out of nowhere we get some light snow chances this morning. But did I wake up to school-closing snow? No, I did not. I barely woke up at all.

But it did snow for about 20  minutes a few hours after getting to work. Big, beautiful flakes. But I had to break school rules and RUN down the halls to see it because my classroom doesn’t have windows. Which is great if we get a tornado (hey, let’s all hang out in here!), but other than that, should be totally illegal. I mean what if my file cabinet catches on fire and we can’t get out the door? Where do we go? Out the windows? Nope! I would have to throw kids against the concrete block wall until one finally broke through to the  other side. (Some days that option doesn’t bother me so much…)   Anyway, snow chances again Monday night, which is also totally yanking my chain. Because they are saying it could be anything from a wintery  mix to seriously accumulating. Their uncertainty is keeping me up at night. Literally. Today I went into my classroom and had to explain to my students why an addiction to the Weather Channel was making their teacher turn into the bride of Darth Maul.

Some good news is that Just Between You and Me has been selected as the SheReads February selection. (It’s about time February made it up to me.)  You totally want to tune into that because they are about to unveil a KICK BUTT giveaway. As in I want this prize. My awesome publisher is providing it, so I can brag on it all I want. I didn’t make it myself. Which is lucky for everyone else. If it had been up to me, the prize probably would’ve been a stack of People magazines and a case of Fruity Pebbles.

So Ellen starts her gig on American Idol next week. ‘Bout time. So sorry to see Posh go. Really. . . pains me. And unlike Katy Perry, I don’t think Ellen is going to get into it with Kara and threaten to toss a Big Gulp in her face.

So what have you been reading lately? I ordered over 70 new books for my classroom and I’m pathetically counting the seconds ’til they arrive. In the meantime I’ve read a few things.

I read Jennifer AlLee’s The Pastor’s Wife.

It’s a sweet book about a woman who returns to her husband after a six year absence. Her husband was a devoted pastor–maybe a little too devoted–and made it easy to walk away. But the couple never divorced. Which is good. Because things are definitely not resolved between them. I enjoyed the accurate portrayal of a small town church–how everyone has an opinion on the pastor and his wife–and the interesting look at how wearing the job of preacher can be.

I got a sneak peek into Kristin Billerbeck’s first YA Perfectly Dateless.

Don’t you love that title? I know a ton of teens are gonna relate to that. This book doesn’t come out until this summer, but it will be worth the wait, girls. It’s good! This is the story of Daisy, a girl with uber conservative parents who don’t let her do ANYTHING. And Daisy’s got to go to her prom, right? Very funny stuff. Have you ever seen the Culps on SNL? Daisy’s hilarious parents reminded me of one of my favorite SNL sketches. Which is not available on YouTube (because it’s February?), but here’s the general idea:

I just started Same Kind of Different as Me.

I know, I ‘m way behind. It’s been on my shelf for at least six months, but I had yet to crack it open. But when women AND men tell you to read it, you know  Same Kind of Different as Me has to be good. And it’s going to be a movie. Starring Samuel L. Jackson Lawrence Fishburn. (who can tell them apart? I don’t even try.)

Finally, I just got this one in from Amazon.

I’ve been hearing for YEARS I needed to read Nick Hornby, but hadn’t. Seen a few of the movies based on his books, but hadn’t read the guy. So on the recommendation of Editor Jamie, I’m finally seeing what all the Hornby fuss is all about.

I also read Something to Talk About by Christian fiction author Lisa Wingate. You can more about this book after my signoff. The girl on the cover of the book totally reminds me of Kaley Cuoco from The Big Bang Theory.

Okay, that’s what I’ve been reading. What about you?

Have a great weekend!

JEN

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Never Say Never

Bethany House (February 1, 2010)

by

Lisa Wingate
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa lives in central Texas were she is a popular inspriational speaker, magazine columnist, and national bestselling author of several books. Her novel, Tending Roses, received dozens of five-star reviews, sold out thirteen printings for New York publisher, Penguin Putnam, and went on to become a national bestselling book. Tending Roses was a selection of the Readers Club of America, and is currently in its fourteenth printing.

The Tending Roses series continued with Good Hope Road, the Language of Sycamores, Drenched in Light, and A Thousand Voices. In 2003, Lisa’s Texas Hill Country series began with Texas Cooking, and continued with Lone Star Cafe’, which was awarded a gold metal by RT Bookclub magazine and was hailed by Publisher’s Weekly as “A charmingly nostalgic treat.” The series concluded with Over the Moon at the Big Lizard Diner.

Lisa is now working on a new set of small-town Texas novels for Bethany House Publishers. The series debuted with Talk of the Town and continued with Word Gets Around and Never Say Never. A new series is also underway for Peguin Group NAL, beginning with A Month of Summer (July 2008), and continuing with The Summer Kitchen (July 2009) and Beyond Summer (July 2010). Lisa’s works have been featured by the National Reader’s Club of America, AOL Book Pics, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, American Profiles and have been chosen for the LORIES best Published Fiction Award. In 2009, A Month of Summer was nomiated for the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award.
ABOUT THE BOOK

Kai Miller floats through life like driftwood tossed by waves. She’s never put down roots in any one place–and she doesn’t plan to. But when a chaotic hurricane evacuation lands her in Daily, Texas, she begins to think twice about her wayfaring existence.

And when she meets hometown-boy Kemp Eldridge, she can almost picture settling down in Daily–until she discovers he may be promised to someone else. Daily has always been a place of refuge for those the winds blows in, but for Kai, it looks like it will be just another place to leave behind. Then again, Daily always has a few surprises in store–especially when Aunt Donetta has cooked up a scheme.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Never Say Never, go HERE

Did you all watch the Grammy’s? I thought they were semi-entertaining. Here’s the rundown.

Lady GaGa: I’m not a fan. I was at first just because she was so unique and the songs were catchy. But it drives me nuts how many times she works her own name into her performances. I think Lady G is a product of some men in suits who got together and decided to create and market something “different.”  And now the poor girl can’t even meet the Queen of England without looking like space trash.  She’s imprisoned by her own brand. Or the one they stuck on her. But when she sat down at the piano with Elton John? Fabulous. Elton has STILL got it. Which is a huge relief. The voice is like everything else–it gets saggy and wrinkly too. I’m a huge Motown fan, and I saw Smokey Robinson this past summer. Smokey was a little disappointing. Or maybe I was just too blinded by the sparkly tight pants. No, Mr. Robinson, no!  Anyway, Lady GaGa (stupid name, btw) and Elton? GREAT.

Beyonce: I’m not a fan of backup dancers who look like members of the bomb squad. But I like Beyonce. She is a solid singer. The crotch grabbing did nothing for me. That should die with Michael Jackson. RIP, crotch grab. She also swung that hair around a lot. It kinda cracked me up in places. Check out minute 2:40-2:53.

Black Eyed Peas: I like them a lot. They need to clean up their lyrics, but their music is fun. It’s not amazing art, but it’s fun. Though again, what’s with the army of inner-galactic soldiers? Creepy. But Fergie, thanks for making sun visors cool again. My grandma appreciates it and wants you to consider wearing Keds.

The Michael Jackson tribute: I liked it. I can’t help it. Even Celine Dion didn’t bother me. Though Carrie Underwood is REALLY skinny.Or maybe it just looked that way WITHOUT my 3-D glasses. Who knew? I felt so left out.

Zac Brown Band: LOVED it. If you hate country, it would’ve made you miserable. Major bluegrass going on. Highly instrumental. But awesome harmonies. They have a new band member, and I’m loving their sound.

Taylor Swift and Stevie Nicks: Um, wow. I like Taylor and have her CDs (i’m not ashamed). But girl gets a LOT of help sounding so good on her CDs. We all know this. So why put her with a 70s powerhouse? Stevie was banging that tambourine like, “What am I doing? Why, God, why?” It’s things like this that make rockers turn to the bottle.

Pink: Didn’t love the show or the outfit (flesh colored unitards just never seem to catch on, do they?), but that is my favorite Pink song of all time. It’s one of those you hear and immediately script the entire video in your head. It belongs on Broadway and it’s a weird cut for a Pink CD.

Mary J and Andrea Bocelli: Fabulous. Omg, YouTube it. I LOVE Mary J Blige.

Eminem and Lil Wayne: I wouldn’t know. Ninety percent of it got bleeped out. I’m gonna start trying that in my class. Or family dinners.

(Topic Change!) I had my class write an essay about a favorite possession they could bring to class. I’ve had some funny lines:

I am the owner of an amazing piece of iPodness.

As long as you are hooked up to wi-fi, you can text your BFF and be all OMG all night long.

The item I chose was my basketball. It’s small and round, but it can beat up a video game system.

I was just a wee lad when I got my first basketball. I got it in the middle of the war. The war on me fighting boredom.

My favorite possession is my silver Kodak camera. I took it to school, and the second day I had it, I dropped it in the sink. My sister got the same camera on Christmas, so I stole hers.

When my old phone, Frank, was decapitated, I didn’t think I could ever love again.

The best thing about my colorful alarm clock is that it has a huge silver button labeled…snooze. Just like that. In all caps.

My favorite possession is my phone. I bought it in the bathroom at school.

My favorite possession is my truck. It symbolizes freedom. With a truck, you can just jump in and take off when your parents are mad or when Officer Smith is chasing you.

One night my father and I took a trip to Walgreens, which is very unordinary for a Wal-Mart devoted family.

My most prized possession is my scrapbook. It reminds me of the past, gives me something to laugh about, and helps me remember how cute my siblings were so I don’t kill them.

Friday is the day I get to drive my mom to the store with my legit permit and go buy groceries.

You know how a baby needs milk to grow? Well, I need Cheezits.

I got my pillow at Wal-Mart while they were having their big “after Christmas” sale. The store was crowded like piranhas  around a lonely fish. I saw that pillow and it was like nothing else existed. Not even the peanut butter filled Santa Claus in the cart.

Finally, sometimes they say things that aren’t funny, but still mention-worthy. I read this line five times.
(About his Bible) People say “If I could just hear from God every once in a while, I would believe.” Well,that’s God talking. Sometimes people say that that if they “hear” God it would be different. The truth is, they have heard Him all their lives and never said anything back.

Ninth graders are simply the best.
This week.

See you Friday!
JEN

As mentioned Friday, I am SURROUNDED by “snow days are bad!” negativity. The Snow Day Prejudice is becoming an epidemic around here as today marks our seventh snow day. And there are certain unnamed people who are right now at this moment poking pins in voodoo dolls with curly hair and short legs.

Thus was born my idea to write The Snow Day Manual. Because this unnatural hated, this bias against frozen precip has cut me to the core. But then I got a revelation from the Lord. And he said, “Jen, they don’t hate because they dislike snow. They hate because…they don’t understand. Go, therefore, and teach. Teach them the 12th commandment, found in the book of (the signal faded here…) that states ‘Love Thy Snow Day As Thyself.’”  And I said, “Okay, Jesus.”

So if you find yourself disliking The Snow Day maybe it’s just because you don’t understand it. Because you don’t know what to do with this iced in time. Fear not. Me and The Snow Day Manual (available soon from my printer and the back of my Honda) are here to make sure you endure this time effectively.

Friday we covered Sled Day rules.

But not everyone is about jumping on a sled  and zipping down a hill. You people are weird, but I can still work with this.

1. Tip Number 1 for Being Stuck (Blessed to be) Indoors: You Have a Dress Code

Just remember the three word rule: PJs and sweats. Any questions?  Actually I like to wear my running pants and running shoes. Because it reminds me of what I’m NOT doing. And that right there is plenty reason to love a snow day.

2. Tip Number 2: Do not let paranoia set in. Fight it. You do this with:

a. Cookies
b. A well stocked fridge
c. boas
d. Hulu
e. The soundtrack to Urban Cowboy
f. Caffeine
g. A close personal relationship with a lady named Little Debbie
h. Cereal (cannot contain: vitamins, minerals, or fiber)
i. Cheetos
j. Books (no classics or manga)
K. At least one lampshade
L. People mags (which contains about the only crossword I’m smart enough to do).Ignore the “what’s different in these 2 pictures” page. You will lose your mind.
M. Access to your Halloween wig collection

Tip Number 3: Lazy is the law
If your butt doesn’t make an imprint on the couch, you’re not doing it right.

If I had had five minutes alone (in a rated G fashion) with Jack from The Shining, that movie would’ve ended in a choreographed musical number complete with confetti and jazz hands. Don’t fight the snow day. Embrace it.

Finally, I was able to break out Saturday and sled with some friends. Highlight of my winter.

My friend Snow Loving Holly. She is a torpoedo

About where the photo cuts off is where the hill drops and you get a little air. This would be the spot I would also get a mouth of snow and spend the rest of the descent facing the opposite direction.

Me and the sweet little girl I plowed into.

She is a trooper. Even with a snow boot in her back.

Sometimes the life of a sledder is hard.

Don’t worry. She’s not dead. At least not in that picture.

Okay, that’s all my advice for now. I don’t want to give away all the good stuff before my book The Snow Day Manual hits the shelves. (And if you are an editor or publisher, let the bidding war begin.)

So how about you guys–what’s your favorite thing to do on a snow day (or whatever has you stuck at home and workless/school-less)? If your tips are really good, I might list you as a contributor. . . So let’s hear it.

JEN