Listening . . .
God, you love us all in spite of us. You see our beauty and our ugliness, our rights and our wrongs. You offer a way out of our sinfulness if only we will turn to Jesus Christ. We're desperate for you, Lord. We of every color, of every ethnic persuasion. We need you. Father, forgive us all for our sinful, selfish ways, and help us to find you, repent, and seek your salvation. Apart from you, we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
I like the cabinets, but the table/island is too much of the same color. It makes this fabulous kitchen look bland and one dimensional. It's (the table/island) so big there's very little room to move around it with the stools. I understand keeping to a "theme" and color because we've seen some with too much contrast, but this? It blends so much there's no distinction except for the brick which I like, but even the beams and ceiling are all the same. Your thoughts?
Lord, there is beauty even in the simple or mundane. You've given differences to us all and I can only imagine the eclectic beauty of heaven. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Brad Thor's latest Foreign Agent spills thrills and lots of blood. Not for the faint of heart, Foreign Agent is amazingly connected to what's happening in today's world of politics, terrorism, and espionage.
Scot Harvath is the man the president can count on to do whatever must be done. Scot's employed by a private intelligence company run by an old-school CIA guy. Harvath's position provides deniability for any who use his multiple former SEAL and espionage skills. A series of events with ISIS earmarks spanning the globe and winding up on the White House lawn send Harvath on a chase first to capture those suspected of organizing various attacks but pointing to a singular individual with a totally unexpected agenda. The problem is the agenda is killing too many Americans and diverting all efforts to discover whatever the end game is.
Thanks to the calm – and perhaps just slightly demented – interrogator with all kinds of strange toys designed to make prisoners talk in addition to the dwarf tech-wizard Nicholas, Harvath and his diverse band of assistants set out to accomplish the impossible. With the aid of a CIA drone, the constant threat of discovery and death in every improvised plan, Scot Harvath makes some heavy duty promises to a couple of locals who risk their lives right along with him and two warrior twin brothers with their makeshift crew of self-appointed soldiers. If Harvath can somehow make it out alive with these brave men, those promises will be kept.
Scot Harvath wastes no time with wicked men. He's become hardened to the games played by those who plan to kill in large numbers. His given window of opportunity to confess or explain the next plan of action is tight and narrow before the pain begins. If necessary, certain individuals end up in Malta – a particular location where no one would want to go. Others end up executed on the spot of their resistance.
In Foreign Agent Scot Harvath must travel to several locations using multiple contacts to capture various prisoners. Terror attacks, assassinations, suicide bombers, and double agents comprise the pages of this novel. It's an exciting but deadly journey at every event and nothing in this one is easy as the escalation of ISIS attacks lands in the front yard of the White House.
There's more cussing and a bit of sexual content in this one. Not unexpected or excessive – just more than in some of Brad Thor's other novels. Also considerable violence and blood spatter. Although Foreign Agent ends on a positive note, there seems to be a conundrum of choices ahead for Thor's protagonist. Although Harvath is a savvy agent with superfluous skills, the character seems to be in a catch-22 situation. He's in love, but he's a warrior patriot. He's hardened himself at one end of his personality but tenderized himself to the possible love of his life. The romance thread in Foreign Agent is thin, but it permeates the story well under the radar. As a reader, I can't help but wonder what this character will decide because in this story it doesn't seem like he will be able to have both.
Highly recommended for its amazing poignancy to today's events, the insights into terrorism and its players, and for continuing the well-established legacy of the Scot Harvath stories.
Father, you're all that matters in this writing biz. I pray Brad Thor would incorporate you into his work. I pray for continued inspiration for Brad and for protection from all harm for him and his family. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Related articles
When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people [Luke 6:17-49], he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Luke 7:1-10 (NIV)
Granted these are all celebrities who make these short "do's" look terrific, but some of us who used to wear our hair long cannot do so anymore. So these are some lovely looking ladies wearing some excellent short haircuts. I will admit I'm partial to blondes, but each one of these looks exceptional.
God, such beauty in your inspiration and creation. Such amazing unique differences and similarities. Thank you for them all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
My friend and author Brenda S. Anderson's new release Risking Love is now available for pre-order. Although her first love is writing Women's Fiction, she's written a series romance and this is the first book. An attractive cover that shouts romance, Brenda's "get to the heart of the matter" style will no doubt provide good reading for lovers of romance.
Father, you know how hard Brenda works on her novels, marketing, and all things fiction. I pray your abundance upon her and continued inspiration. Bless her, Lord, for all she does for others. Encourage her all along the way as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Compact but cool. Looks like there's more room around the corner and unseen from this view. I actually like it. I'm guessing there's more cabinets/drawers around the corner or out of view. Not particularly fond of the yellow island top. Would have preferred to keep the wood top as is pictured on the other countertops. I'm wondering if that's a fridge (because of the vents below it) in the rustic darker wood made to look like an icebox.
Father, thank you for all you do to present the ideas and allow people to create. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete." [Jesus]
Luke 6:46-49 (NIV)
I had lots of friends as a child and young girl but none like my two best friends, Verna and Debbie. Although I didn't pay tribute here to Verna on her birthday June 17th, I'm doing so today along with my other best friend from childhood Debbie whose birthday is today along with my oldest son's. July 2nd is a special day for me.
Debbie, we spent some of my best days in life together. We laughed and cried and swooned and danced and loved horses and dogs. Verna, the same can be said of us with you loving cats. As Debbie would type: hahahaha!
I love you guys with all my heart and I thank God he reunited us at the other end of life's spectrum. I will treasure you both until and while we meet Jesus in eternity.
Thank you for your divine friendship and the love we share for the Lord and each other and many memories. You're the best.
Happy Birthday, Deb!
Father, I pray your blessing over Debbie. I ask that the something you have for her this weekend would be manifested in a way she can understand. I pray you would give her your continuous gift of deep love that she can feel in her spirit. I pray she and Gary would laugh and cry and love deep. Please bless her, Lord, on this day you ordained for her birth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The picture above draws many images for different people. Those who have used these recall memories of times and events related to them. Those who have never used them have preconceived notions of what's involved in using them.
Writers can think of the well of inspiration and fear when it's run dry and rejoice when it overflows with that fresh, delicious saturation of words.
Inspiration makes perfect sense to most writers but hardcore authors insist a writer must press through those thirsty times and write anyway. "Writing anyway" is easier said than done. Some of us need concrete inspiration to create.
Christian authors are no different from other authors except for one important factor: they know who supplies inspiration, who gives them their stories, and who ultimately is responsible for any of their successes. The One who gives Life, the Creator of All Things, provides what's necessary to compose anything of value. They know who is the Wellspring of Life.
My well is low at the moment through no fault of my Creator. I have made my own interferences. I will get it in order because with His inspiration, I will complete the three stories I have started. Apart from Him, I can do nothing.
Father, thank you for every story, every post, everything in my life that you've inspired. If it's from you, it's good. Thank you. Please help me to be faithful to what you've called me to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
