A Noble Groom by Jody Hedlund

Without a doubt, this has been one of the best fiction books I’ve read this year – and I’ve read some GREAT books!!!

Jody Hedlund inspires a beautiful “real-life” fairytale in this intricate and powerful story about a ‘prince’ who’s lost his courage and a ‘princess’ who has lost her dream. In 1880 Michigan, Annalisa Werner is a young widow in a German community where her marriage was cold and disappointing. If she had the choice to remain single and take care of her own farm she would, but single women were not given that choice. Now she’s forced to wait for a husband from the Old Country who is ‘supposed’ to rescue her from a harsh landowner anxious to retake his property and her livelihood.

Carl von Reichart worked hard…as a physicist and inventor, but his unusual occupation lands him in unexpected trouble with a guillotine. To escape his wrongful accusors, he escapes to a small German community in America where his manservant’s family live and works on Annalisa’s farm as he waits for a promise of ‘new life’ in Chicago.

What Carl finds is the courage to become a noble groom for an unloved woman and her child, but the promised groom from the Old Country and Carl’s secret may destory a happily-ever-after.

If you are looking for a FANTASTIC story and an even BETTER hero, you cannot go wrong with this book. Drama, humor, and a beautiful tug of God’s grace nestle your heart and pump your pulse with the story of Annalisa and Carl. Carl is one of the best heroes I’ve ever read. He squeezed my heart in nine places!! He is tender, funny, and has enough of his own insecurities to make him realistic. I LOVE the way he talks to God and wooes healing for Annalisa!

GO FIND THIS BOOK!!! This is Jody Hedlund’s best yet!

 

Painting Walls…and the Blood of Christ

God doesn’t just wait for Sunday morning worship to inspire His kids, you know. Moments happen all the time, and many times those simple, every-day moments are as poignant as a worship chorus or hymn.

As some of you know, my family and I  bought a new house. It had A LOT of wallpaper. I’ve stripped about 6 rooms and still have 2 to go!

If you’ve ever had the adventure of removing wallpaper (note my sarcasm) then you probably know that the state of the sheetrock/walls after removing the paper might not be so good. In all honesty, these walls were in pretty rough condition in some spots.

Now….I know that with the right putty (joint compound), in the right places, with just the right amount of sanding, I can prime the walls. THEN….I can cover over the whole ugly mess with a coat or two of paint.

They’ll look as good as NEW!

What’s even better about Jesus? Well, we’re broken and scarred on the inside. It takes a complete pulling out of our sin, a puddying up of His grace, and with his love of his blood, he covers over all our brokenness to make us whole, beautiful, worth ‘showing off’ to the world.

We’re new creations! Masterpieces of love!

So, all of this working, stripping wallpaper, repairing walls, and painting takes a new meaning with the right perspective – a heavenly one!

Having some fun with Julie Lessman!

So, I just finished reading Julie Lessman’s newest novel, Love at Any Cost – and I posted my review earlier.

Well, last week I had to pick up a costume for my youngest son’s musical, and while in the costume store I got…distracted!

I’m notorious for getting distracted. Look what I discovered!!!!

Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman

I’m a Julie Lessman groupie!

So when her newest novel, Love at Any Cost came out, I was eager to get a hold of it – and with usual Lessman flare, I was not disappointed. Julie introduces us to the spunky McClares, in particular the heroine, Cassie McClare – a penniless heriess who travels to San Francisco with a broken heart and a chip on her shoulder the size of her homestate of Texas.

Jamie McKenna, the rogue-acting, but sweet-hearted hero gets into Cassie,s line of fire and sparks fly – particularly around a game of pool (which is worth reading…and rereading….and….)

Jamie McKenna is a seeker – not just a seeker of a way to help his little sister, or a way to win Cassie’s heart, but he’s a seeker of truth. Cassie’s entrance into his life not only shocks his system with a few fiery kisses, but nudges his heart to reconsider his idea about what God’s love really means.

With Julie’s wonderful humor, addictive romantic tension, and fabulously animated dialogue, you can’t go wrong taking a trip to San Francisco with this Lessman novel.

And might I just add – the undercurrent of a secondary romance is breathtaking. Cait and Logan’s story carries fabulous tension and a tempting promise for more…

I just LOVE how she does that! Now, to figure out how I can write like Julie when I grow up

To learn more about Julie’s excellent novels, check out her website at www.julielessman.com

Happy 2013

Remember, my blog has moved to www.pepperbasham.com

Come by and check it out!!!

Twas the Night Jesus Came

Twas the night Jesus came and all through the town,
Not a person would guess The Messiah came down.
The earth gave no warning to speak God’s intent
But this magical night I would never forget.

The streets were all busy with strangers from far;
No time to hear singing or see the bright star.
As my young friends and I kept our watch o’er the flock
We had no idea we’d soon get a shock.

When out of the darkness there rose such a light,
I sprang from the hilltop to gaze at the sight.
An angel came shining as bright as noon-day,
More fearsome and brilliant than I’ve words to say.

At first he said, softly, “There’s no need to fear.”
Which I found hard to do since this host first appeared,
But he said, “Be of Joy! I bring you great news!
Your Savior is born, there is no time to lose.”

“This babe wrapped in cloths has no crib for his bed,
But rests his sweet head in a feed-trough instead.”
And then other angels, more than I can know,
Rejoiced through the dark with their songs and their glow.

Like millions of stars dancing down to the earth,
They lifted their voices in praise of his birth-
Singing, “Glory to God.” Through the stillness of night
“and peace to all men,” then they flew out of sight.

It didn’t take long to break out of our shock.
We ran down the hill leaving our field and flock,
And found the sweet baby inside a damp cave,
But could this be Christ – the whole world to save?

The donkeys and horses had left a foul smell.
The straw was all muddy, the manger as well.
But everything was as the angel had said,
A babe wrapped in cloths in a crude manger bed.

Then I know – it was clear. Where else would he be?
The Teacher and Healer to make the blind see.
The Savior who’d carry the sins of us all,
Where else would show love than an old cattle stall?

This baby, The Christ, would clean up all our messes.
He’d take on our curses and give us His blessings.
So as I adored Him, God’s Son, the true Light,
God seemed to be whisp’ring to all a “good night”

copyright 2009 Pepper D. Basham

Light in This Present Darkness

http://www.wallpaper4god.com

I don’t know about you, but I don’t do too well when the power goes out at night. If I know there is a storm coming, I prepare, of course – but in those few moments in my life when a power outtage came out-of-the-blue?  Well, it wasn’t pretty.

I stumbled around trying to search for a candle, flashlight, lantern…something to provide some direction. Especially when we lived in rural Virginia. It was DARK! In the process, I’d hurt myself by crashing into things, knock stuff over, and unintentionally break important things to me. And then there are times when other people in the dark collide with you. Not pretty!

All because….

I couldn’t see.

If this week has taught us anything, it’s that we live in a very dark world. And there’s a whole lot of people stumbling around in it. Some hurt themselves by their own actions and choices, others end up wandering about and getting hurt among other dark places in the world, or breaking things that are important to them, and then there are those who live so far in the darkness, they collide with us and leave a mark. Scar. Ever-present pain.

What do we do when the lights are out?

We look for a light.

Thankfully, for the darkness in our hearts and in this world, we didn’t know where to look – so God provided One. One we celebrate this time of year. One who came into a world just as dark as this one and brought an eternal hope. He fulfilled a Promise God had given from the dawn of time.

A Rescuer.

You see, because our greatest need wasn’t a ‘wise teacher’ – even though Jesus was one.

Our greatest need wasn’t a good Guide – even though He fulfills that description too.

Our greatest need wasn’t a comforting prayer or a set of beatitudes, although Christ provided those.

Our greatest need was to be rescued from the dark.

So….

Jesus came.

And he PIERCED the darkness on a rescue mission to break through thousands of sin-stained years.

He did not leave us to stumble and die in the dark.

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

a light has dawned.

Praise God for the hope of Jesus!

Hope for those carrying the wounds of dark choices.

Hope for those weeping from being lost. so long in the shadows.

Hope for those mourning from the pain left behind when the darkness breaks pieces of their lives.

 The Rescuer has come.