Web of Lies by Brandilyn Collins

The spiders that usually take up residence in the corners of my room are spindly innocent looking critters that hardly seem worth squashing, they look so harmless. That didn’t stop my heart from leaping in my throat when a strand of my own hair innocently touched my shoulders while in the shower. You got it. I thought it was a spider. What would a spider be doing in my bathroom? Absolutely nothing but I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time since I had just finished reading Brandilyn Collins’ Seatbelt Suspense, Web of Lies.

So, if you’ve never harbored a fear of spiders, watch out. After reading Web Of Lies, the newest release by author Brandilyn Collins that may change.

Web of Lies, fourth and final book of the Hidden Faces series. Web of Lies brings together Brandilyn's two suspense series into one chilling and climactic story. Below is a “sneak pique” of the back cover copy of the book.

BACK COVER COPY
She was washing dishes when her world began to blur.

Chelsea Adams hitched in a breath, her skin pebbling. She knew the dreaded sign all too well. God was pushing a vision into her consciousness.

Black dots crowded her sight. She dropped a plate, heard it crack against the porcelain sink. Her fingers fumbled for the faucet. The hiss of water ceased.

God, I don't want this. Please!

A nightmarish vision. A murder in broad daylight. How are they connected?

After witnessing a shooting at a convenience store, forensic artist Annie Kingston must draw a composite of the suspect. But before she can begin, she hears that Chelsea Adams wants to meet with her-now. Chelsea Adams-the woman who made national headlines with her visions of murder. And this vision is by far the most chilling.

Chelsea and Annie soon find themselves snared in a terrifying battle against time, greed, and a deadly opponent. If they tell the police, will their story be believed? With the web of lies thickening . . . and lives at stake, who will know enough to save them?
(Excerpt from Brandilyn Collins' website)

Link to Prologue and first chapter .

"Don't forget to breathe ..."

Sean Luke

Recently the brutal killing of six-year-old Sean Luke rocked my country. The heinous nature of his demise not to mention the cruel way in which he was assaulted prior to his death was something that was hard for anyone to take in. That two boys allegedly perpetrated these monstrous acts: one 13 and one 16 was even harder to swallow. The identities of the boys, because of their ages were never released in the press. Today however I received a picture in my e-mail that purported to be the one of the alleged offenders.

I don’t know what I was expecting but somehow I expected that a child that could conceive of such acts and perform them on another younger, more defenseless child would look somehow warped and evil and ugly. But he didn’t. And it hurt to look at that picture. I didn’t expect that but there it was: a wealth of horror, dread, pity? that startled me by its very presence and intensity. He just looked so normal. With his low-cut hair and smooth dark skin he could be my god-son in the next couple of years or any one of the Sunday school students I used to teach at one time. It was scary.

It’s for reasons like these, besides wanting to ever be with the Lord that makes my heart say ‘Come Lord Jesus come.’

SUDOKU

Okay, I confess it – deep breath –I am a puzzle freak. I tell you I absolutely love puzzles, especially crosswords. I’m not much into word finds but I also love letter-fit puzzles. How is it that I’ve only tried Sudoku today? I don’t know really but I did and now I’m hooked. So here I am trolling the Internet for some free downloads. Pathetic, probably but you probably have your own addictions. Don’t you?

The Ten Commandments, Ebonic Style

Sometimes you have to change the message's style to get it across.

Try this for some who don't understand the King James Version:

1. I'm God. Don't play me.
(I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt not have any
other gods before me.)

2. Don't be makin no hood ornaments
and charms outta me, or like me.
! (Thou shalt not have any graven images.)

3. Don't be callin' me for no reason
(Thou shalt not use the name of the
Lord thy God in vain.)

4. Y'all betta be in church on Sunday,
and not just the Sundays when
it's Mother's day, Easter
and Christmas
(Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy.)

5. Don't dis or cuss out yo momma.....
and if you know who ya daddy
is, don't dis him neither.
(Honor thy father and thy mother.)


6. no drive bys.
(Thou shalt not kill.)

7. Stick to ya own Boo.
(Thou shalt not commit adultery.)

8. Don't be borrow'n stuff and
don't give it back.
(Tho! u shalt not steal.)


9. Don't be snitchin' on the otha' man to save your behind.
(Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy brother.)

10. Don't be eyein' (skeeming) yo homie's crib, ride, woman, or nuffin.
(Thou shalt not covet anything that belongs to thy brother.)

10 Best Things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk

10 Best Things to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk Number 1 is a favorite.

10. "They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen."

9. "This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time management course you sent me too."

8. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the Whiteout. You probably got here just in time."

7. "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new business strategy."

6. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."

5. "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory toward people who practice Yoga?"

4. "Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out how to handle that big accounting problem."

3. "Did you ever notice sound coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?"

2. "Who put decaf in the wrong pot?!?"

And the NUMBER ONE best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk.........

1. Raise your head slowly and say, "...in Jesus name, Amen."


P.S. Almost needed this yesterday :D

Return from Camp

We came home from camp today. Hope to post some pictures soon. It was a really great experience. Personally I didn’t do much hiking since I really wanted rest and relaxation. The house we rented was the perfect spot for this. Set on a hill it was blanketed by rolling green grass and surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Northern Range. It was with a sense of awe that I often stood in front of the house and gazed at them feeling God’s protection and love so strongly.

The most beautiful thing that happened in camp however was our Easter Sunday worship service. It was so beautiful. There were a lot of youths that came on the trip: those that had been there before or others that had heard of the fun we’d had on the first trip and wanted to be experience it. While we’d had devotions morning and evening since arriving on Thursday yesterday morning God moved in an awesome way and a lot of the undecided and cold surrendered their all to Jesus. We’ve had altar calls before that a lot of these same youths responded to and I can’t really explain it except to say that I know that God has started something beautiful. A lot of them testified that last night that they’ve never felt God’s touch so powerfully before and some said they hadn’t had such an experience in a long time. It was a time of rebirth and revival for all. Praise the Lord!

God is good

Today was a good day for me. I ministered in church for the second time in about three weeks. This time my voice didn’t tremble as much and I felt more comfortable with the congregation. It may seem a strange thing to say but I had fun. I think it’s because I was comfortable enough to be myself and attempt one or two jokes (yes, successfully). The brethren were very encouraging and I really thank God for the encouragement.

Not that you asked but the message was on Luke 15: the story of the prodigal son. The emphasis however was on the importance of doing things in God’s timing. The son was not mature enough to handle his inheritance and when he received it he squandered it till he had nothing. As children of God when we go out of God’s plan and season for our lives we mess it up and can find ourselves like the younger son, in a far off country, away from our father, with nothing. So it's important to understand where God has us now and what he requires of us so we don't mess it up.

HOW TO TELL THE SEX OF A BIRD

This Is AMAZING!!!

Until now I never fully understood how to tell,
The difference Between Male and Female Birds.

I always thought it had to be determined surgically.

Until Now.

Which of The Two Birds Is a Female???

Below are Two Birds. Study them closely...

See If You Can Spot Which of The Two Is The Female.

It can be done.

Even by one with limited bird watching skills.

A Family Forever by Brenda Coulter

This month Christian Fiction Blog Tours features A Family Forever by award-winning author Brenda Coulter. If you’ve read Ms. Coulter’s award winning book Finding Hope you will have high expectations regarding this new release. Trust me, it will not disappoint.

About the book
Three weeks before her wedding Shelby Franklin finds herself pregnant and without a groom. Her fiancée has died in a tragic accident, leaving her without a father for her unborn baby.

Tucker Sharpe, her fiancée’s brother, battling his own sense of guilt over his brother’s accident proposes a marriage of convenience in order to keep a promise given in his brother’s last moments to take care of Shelby.

In spite of her unease over the fact that Tucker seems to know her better than she knows herself , Shelby agrees to the marriage for the sake of her baby.

Read more about the book here and buy the book at Amazon.com.

You won't regret it.

Pink (Shades of Style) by Marilynn Griffith

This month on the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance the spotlight is on Marilynn Griffith’s novel, Pink (Shades of Style).

If you've ever felt torn between being accepted and being yourself you'll be able to relate to Raya's story.

About the Book
High fashion meets romance in the Big Apple for a fresh, funky designer.

Raya Joseph wants to break free from the beige world around her and celebrate the color of the city. With a sassy pink style and a radical change of hair, she's off to conquer the design world. But it doesn't take long for Raya to meet her match--in style and flair. Flex Dunham, a personal trainer and one of Raya's clients, has got it going on.

As much as Raya would like to pursue a relationship with Flex, she has other matters on her mind--and on her heart. Then a blast from the past comes back to haunt her, and Raya can't help but wonder if she made the right decision in keeping her past a secret. Flex seems to be hiding something too. But what?

Woven with humor, heartache, and hip friendships, Raya's new life has a lot of colorful threads. But will the end result be a beautiful design? Or will it fall apart at the seams? Join Raya and her friends Lily Chau, Jean Guerra, and Chenille Rizzo as they untangle the threads in the Shades of Style series.

Read an excerpt from the book.

Buy Now!

What I’ve been up to

Not much really. Working hard. Getting my life back in order (New Year and all that). Just finished reading James Patterson’s Honeymoon (2005). It was so good I went to the library and found another of his books I hadn’t read yet (1st to die) and that, dare I say it, was even better. I must I admit that while I didn’t figure out whodunit in the beginning of the book, (1st to die: kudos to Patterson) I didn’t fall for those false clues cleverly planted in the script. So I did discover whodunit before it was actually revealed. Yep. *Plucks imaginary suspenders* I’m feeling pret-ty proud of me :D

Blessings

Another Reason I need a car

Another reason I need a car materialised at my side last night while I waited for a taxi to take me home.

“Hello, did we have words?” he asked.

“No, were you standing there? I didn’t see you.” This was truth. If only it could have stayed that way and been reciprocated. I sighed and began the obligatory greetings and pleasantries people exchange at the start of the New Year. That’s when he began THE TALK. THE TALK is the reason I wish he would cross over to the other side of the street when he sees me and the reason I strain my eyes hoping a taxi would appear on the horizon.

No such luck.

THE TALK began in response to my wish for good things for him in 2006. To which he responded that he also wished for good things for US.

US? I thought and tossed out a flippant reply, hoping to deflect the obvious direction of the conversation. Again, no such luck and still no taxi.

“I think I have deep feelings for you. Yeah, I’ve been thinking about you and I can’t seem to get you out of my mind. And when I can’t stop thinking about a woman it usually means something. Maybe God … yuh know .. who knows?”

You may be thinking awwww and that I am being such a (insert word for female dog here) but you have to meet him in person to understand the full extent of his annoyingness. You would have had to tell him many, many times that you are not in the least bit interested in him that way. You would have had to endure these types of conversations in maxis and taxis with other people listening in. In my defense I’ve never been unkind. I’ve shared the good news of God’s love and invited him to church. We’d get along just fine if he would just accept that there is no US and there never will be an US.

Okay, movin on. Did he just imply that God has a hand in my being on his mind? Puhlease. Of course on his next breath he asks, “Um, what’s your name again?”

I could not help it, I laughed heartily and asked. “Hold on, you have deep feelings for me and you can’t even remember my name?”

His excuse: “It’s a very unusual name.”

Seriously, I gotta get that car. If only I knew how to drive.

Tuesday & Wednesday

Tuesday

Okay I had started writing my post for Tuesday and my internet explorer crashed before I had time submit my entry. Of course this would happen the one time I had not previously typed and saved my entry prior to going online to post it. But no biggie. It was probably divine intervention since I’d had a crappy (pardon my English) day. Highlights: bad hair-day, no makeup, late for work, funeral and splitting headache. To put it mildly I was feeling a little blue. So I went to bed early and got up feeling much better.

Wednesday

Today was much better than yesterday. Hair-not so bad, makeup-yes, early-er than yesterday for work.

I started this year feelin out of sorts with myself, my Father and most people around me (especially at work). All the textbooks teach you not to bring your personal life to work with you and I agree this should be so. However, my faith is such a large part of me that if something’s not right then it affects every area of my life. I become short-tempered and frustrated and things I would normally be able to handle I blow a fuse over. In short I’m miserable. It’s funny how things could be bothering you and affecting your life without your really acknowledging it. That’s what was happening to me and I didn’t even recognise it. I was harboring unforgiveness for some ‘friends’ and it was making me unhappy. But I got a breakthrough today (read more about it here) so that my smile doesn’t feel forced and fake anymore. (Thank God for small mercies.) That really was not my style. I might have wished for a fabulous hair day but this was so much better. Praise the Lord!

New Year, New Beginning

It’s a new year. I did say I would not make any new resolutions this year seeing as I’ve so little to show (in my own estimation) for the year past. I still don’t know how to drive, have yet to read the entire Bible and have gotten caught up in mistakes I swore never to make again. Resolutions? Not for me.

However, I have reconsidered. I think it would help to have something to work towards and if I fail… well at least I tried and did not just wander aimlessly along to end up nowhere. So here goes:

From yesteryear
1. I can’t get close enough to God so hopefully the close of this year will find me in a closer relationship with my Father
2. read the bible (I am beginning a ‘bible in a year’ program but I am not holding myself to the finishing of it – I will be satisfied with just spending more quality time in the Word)
overcome sins that so easily beset (impossible by myself but with God all things are possible)
3. learn to drive (important - I hate public transport and need a car)

New possibilities
4. Ministry – I haven’t been involved in much work in church because of my schooling but that’s over now and I want to get more involved in the work of ministry.
5. Writing - been torturing myself with ifs, buts and maybes for months now. This year I will put pen to paper and seriously try – what the worse that could happen?
6. Business – have been exploring a business idea for the past 2 months or so. It may not be possible right now but it can’t hurt to have all my facts and figures in place.

Happy New Year!!

Hi again. It's too late for Christmas greetings but not too early to wish everyone all the best for the upcoming year. So I want for you what I want for myself: a closer walk with God, happiness, peace, prosperity in all that you do within the will of the Lord and fulfillment as you walk within His will for your life.

Blessings

Have A Good Weekend

Well, I'm going to my sister's in a little while. Sadly she has no computer and no internet. Noooooooooooo! We're going shopping tomorrow for Christmas curtains and such and later it's off to our church dinner. I'm really looking forward to that. So I'll be back on Sunday afternoon. I hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

Thinking of You

The following I started to write as a 'Thinking of You' type greeting card. It didn't quite turn out as expected. I can't really see anyone actually sending this to an individual. Nevertheless here it is.

I'm thinking of you today
And of things that could never be
Of words I could never say
Words I hold inside of me

Am I your friend, or is there more
That I see in your eyes
In the gentle touch of your hands
And the sweetness of your smile?

Do you know I wonder, can you tell
Whenever I find you near
How my heart trembles inside of me
And I'm sure its not with fear?

If only I could reach out my hands
And draw you close to me
And feel your heartbeat next to mine
Beating in harmony.

Impossible, these dreams I know
They could never come true
But still I find myself ...
Thinking of you.

Meditations of my Heart

I’ve started a new blog, Meditations Of My Heart, the sole purpose of which is to share my reflections as I study the Word of God. I love to read devotions and hope to be able to write them also. This will be good practice I think. Honestly, it will also serve as an incentive to keep studying the Word of God.

Important Life Lesson

Below you will find an important lesson that we should all take heed of.

Enjoy!

Jesus Is The Reason for the Season

It's the first of December and Christmas is that much closer. I must admit I love Christmas: the music, the shopping, the movies, the love, the excitement, the decorations...I could go on and on. But I also don't want to lose sight of the fact that it's all about Jesus. Jesus who was born so that one day He could die for my sins. So as I start my countdown to Christmas I wanted this to be the first thing I posted, to remind myself in everything I do that it's all about Him. The following letter was found on Shelley 's blog and it very eloquently reminds us never to forget Him as we celebrate

Remember My Birthday?

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated.

During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me.

As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.

Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"... as if the party were in his honor !

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other ; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one ? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation? it is by extending it to others whom you care for... I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year... See you soon ....

I love you !

Jesus