“Then Judgment” Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

“Then Judgment” is a thought provoking Biblical Fiction by author Caryl McAdoo. She uses her gift of writing and storytelling and offers her perspective on the days between the crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection. It is a beautiful story.

The author illustrates her knowledge of scripture throughout this book. It is a well researched, planned and written book. Her husband, Ron, assisted her with writing this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Biblical Fiction is one of my favorite genre when done in agreement with scripture. Much thought has gone into this book as well as many hours of studying the Bible. I was captivated.

I highly recommend “Then Judgment: The Three Days Jesus Did Not Spend In The Tomb” to everyone. It will stay with you long after finishing it. Readers who enjoy Biblical fiction will not want to miss this one. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

I received a complementary copy of “Then Judgment”from Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Then Judgement

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Biblical fiction

Release date: April 8, 2022

Then Judgement ebook

A story of the three days Jesus did not spend in the tomb.
The Son of Man was made sin, cast away from the presence of the Great I AM’s presence, and condemned to Hades to face judgement. What exactly happened during those three days from the Lord’s lifeless body of flesh being placed in the tomb and His glorious resurrection? Hints throughout the Scriptures give clues to what transpired—how He got to Paradise to be with the thief on the cross that same day. One thing is certain! He rose on the third day and now lives forever more seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father! Hallelujah!

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Jan 2022

Award-winning author Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and her best-selling stories—over sixty published—delight Christian readers around the world. The prolific writer also enjoys singing the new songs the Lord gives her; you may listen at YouTube. Sharing four children and twenty-one grandsugars (three are greats), Caryl and Ron, her high-school-sweetheart-husband of fifty-three years, live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas. The McAdoos wait expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

As many of you know, my husband Ron and I write together. When Simon and Schuster released our tenth title, the editor requested one name for the cover and since it was a historical romance, preferred a female’s. The arrangement worked so well for us that we continued only my name being on the cover after we went Indie!

Anyway, we have been talking about writing this book for years, coming across little clues for the story in Scripture studies now and again over that time. At last, God released us to write THEN JUDGEMENT based on the twenty-seventh verse of Hebrews, nineth chapter: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

I love searching the scriptures and telling a story that strictly adheres to God’s Book, His Living Word, the Holy Bible. I love His stories and so understand that His Word is bread to our souls, feeding us wisdom and knowledge of our Creator and His everlasting, never-ending love for us!

Creating Biblical fiction tales carries a lot of responsibility that I truly enjoy taking on, being a guardian of the Truth. I love to bring characters from those days gone by so long ago to life on the pages of my books! I do feel a bit like John when he said this, writing of our Savior.

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.” John 21:27

Biblical fiction could easily become my favorite genre—if it isn’t already. I do write more historical romance stories set in the 1800s (a favorite time period) in Texas (my favorite state)! And as much as I love that research . . . nothing compares to digging into the Word!

I pray you will enjoy living through the three days that Jesus did not spend in the tomb! May my story cause you to dig a little yourself, checking out our theory! I know this to be Truth: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Hallelujah! Glory be to His Holy Name! The righteous run into it and are saved! There is no one like unto Him! He alone it the Great King over all the earth! Worthy to receive glory and praise!
As always, I’m ‘Praying my story gives God glory!’
Blessings, y’all!

Blog Stops

For Him and My Family, May 11

Connie’s History Classroom, May 12

deb’s Book Review, May 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 14

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 15

Inklings and notions, May 16

Texas Book-aholic, May 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 21

Splashes of Joy, May 22

Mary Hake, May 23

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1db49/then-judgement-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Struggle for Love: The Story of Leah

Author Marilyn T. Parker has written an unforgettable fiction on the biblical account of Leah, Rachel, and Jacob. I will be the first to admit that I am very critical on novels written about people from the Bible. The facts should match up with the Bible. I am thrilled to say this one does and fills in the extra details beautifully.

This is the story of Jacob, son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. He has been sent to his mother’s brother to search for a wife, and he ends up marrying both Rachel and Leah, sisters. Jacob not only got tricked by his Uncle Laban into marrying both daughters, but he also had to work many years for his uncle.

The story in the Bible always made me sad. I could not fathom the deceit and consequences. Leah and Rachel had a loving, close relationship before Jacob. After the two marriages the three had so many issues to resolve. Parker put emotions to the story and shared her ideas on how everything might have happened. A few events were out of order, but that did not bother me nor the integrity of the scriptural account.

I thoroughly enjoyed the author’s style of writing. It was a seamless prose giving an in-depth relatable account. She obviously researched this story as well as the time impeccably. The details and dialog brought the story to life on the pages. I was so captivated in this rendition that I could not put it down. This book opened my eyes to other views on a tale I have studied multiple times.

I highly recommend this exquisite retelling. It has stayed with me days after finishing it. If you are in a Book Club, please recommend this title. The author has included notes and discussion questions at the end. I hope to see more Christian fiction from this gifted wordsmith. This book receives a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: The Struggle for Love

Author: Marilyn T. Parker

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: November 2, 2021

The Struggle for Love

Two sisters married to the same man. A man who loves only one.

Leah didn’t want a marriage without love. A strong and capable woman, she had determined to live a life of service as a midwife, bringing other women’s children into the world, allowing her father to breach tradition and betroth her beautiful younger sister first. But that was not to be.

Forced by her father to pose as her sister, Leah goes to Jacob’s wedding bed. When Jacob awakens to find Leah instead of the beautiful Rachel, he tells Leah that he will provide for her and do what a husband must, but she will never have his love.

Rejected by her husband and her relationship with her beloved sister broken, will Leah be able to keep her faith in the God of Abraham through the tragedies to come? Will Jacob see Leah for the woman she truly is? Will these two wives of the patriarch mend their relationship before it’s too late?

Enjoy this beautiful story of a woman overlooked by history but not by God. In Genesis 29:31 the scripture says, “When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved—” God was watching over Leah. And He’s watching over you.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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Marilyn has worn many hats in her life: school teacher, pastor’s wife, mother of four God-loving children, and best of all—Grammy! She is presently the older member of a mother/daughter blogging duo with her wonderful daughter, Rebecca. They co-author Persevering Women, a blog full of inspiration to help women live above their circumstances.

Four years after becoming a widow, Marilyn married Peter Parker. Yes! She’s Mrs. Spiderman! Marilyn says she is truly married to her superhero.

When Marilyn and Peter are not traipsing around the country in their RV, they reside in Buckeye, Arizona with their monster dog, Mimi (don’t let the cute name fool you!). Marilyn’s greatest desire is that her work bring glory to God.

More from Marilyn

When I was seven or eight years old, I entered a writing contest for elementary students sponsored by the local newspaper. I won! Actually, I won two years in a row. I still remember some things about those stories. I remember that one was about a little girl who was so poor, she had to use fall leaves to make Christmas cards. Uh, kind of got my seasons mixed up there—but the storyline must have been good! That was the beginning of my writing career!

So why do I write biblical fiction? 

Can’t people just read their Bibles? Yes. Of course. But years ago, when I was reading through the book of Genesis, studying the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, one of Jacob’s wives caught my attention.

Genesis 29:31 When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved—

God was watching Leah. Can you imagine it? The God of the Universe leaning over the portal of heaven to get a better view of an unloved woman! I was hooked on the story right then. The scriptures were scant, but the story was hiding there in subtle hints. As I fleshed out Leah’s life from the Word, I fell more in love with the God who originally wrote her story. The Great Storyteller who knew both Leah and me before He laid the foundation of the earth, and who wrote our stories with love, promising us the best of all happy endings with Him.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 15

Girls in White Dresses, February 16

Texas Book-aholic, February 17

Blogging With Carol, February 17

Inklings and notions, February 18

For Him and My Family, February 19

Breny and Books, February 19

deb’s Book Review, February 20

Batya’s Bits, February 20

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 22

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 23

Pause for Tales, February 23

Connie’s History Classroom, February 24

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 25

Mary Hake, February 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 26

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 27 (Spotlight)

Spoken from the Heart, February 27

Lights in a Dark World, February 28

Genesis 5020, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $100 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1a45f/the-struggle-for-love-celebration-tour-giveaway

Witness at the Cross Book Review

Witness at the Cross: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Friday is an eye-opening look at Good Friday from author Amy-Jill Levine. It is an in-depth look at the cross from several people that were there. I found it enlightening and a must keep book for my reference library.

Author Levine has divided her book into six chapters along with an introduction and conclusion. She obviously has done extensive research to produce such a detailed book. I learned so much even though I thought I knew all about the crucifixion and resurrection. Her insights were eye-opening and shined a new light on things.

Levine has a style of writing that is straight forward and easy to understand. Scripture is referenced heavily throughout her book. Explanations are explained with references. She taught me so much about the temple, veil, and people. Her knowledge of Judaism from the time of Jesus made the events more relatable and understandable. Questions concerning laws about the Sabbath, the temple, the torn veil, and observation of the Passover feast were efficiently explained.

Author Levine is “Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, and Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt University.” She has written many books on Jesus.

I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to study Holy Friday. Whether you are a fledgling Christian or seasoned one, this amazing book will be an excellent tool to help you learn. It would make a beautiful Lenten group study. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

“The Crown of the Warrior King” Celebrate Lit Tour

“The Crown of the Warrior King” by author Henry O. Arnold is Book Two in his biblical fiction series The Song of Prophets and Kings. Book One is “A Voice Within the Flame.” This is actually the first book I have read by author Arnold. I enjoyed his writing style very much.

Biblical fiction can be a tough read for me. I do not want anyone to change parts of the Bible. Adding words and actions to historical characters after diligent research are well received, but making things up on a whim is not.

It is apparent this author has written a well researched, well planned, and well organized book. The vivid descriptions take readers back to Old Testament times as we hear the tale of King Saul. Filled with action, grit, history, and both good and bad choices this book brings 1 Samuel to life. The relationships Saul and Samuel have with God are beautifully told. Each man has a different level of faith, and this will make readers evaluate their own. There are so many life and inspirational messages packed in this book. After reading this book, I have a better understanding of both men as well as other historical figures such as Jonathan, Nathan, and Abner.

I highly recommend “Crown of the Warrior King” to everyone. The book has stayed in my thoughts even though I finished it days ago. If you enjoy biblical fiction, you will not want to miss this one. A church library would benefit from keeping a copy. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book: Crown of the Warrior King

Author: Henry O. Arnold

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: December 1, 2021

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The desire of Israel…

the first to wear the crown is the warrior king

For decades the nation of Israel had no rest from her enemies. The people cried out, “Give us a king to lead us, to go out before us, to fight our battles.” And Yahweh hears the cries of the chosen. He plucks a king out of the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest of the tribes—Saul, son of a herdsman. The prophet Samuel anoints him as Israel’s first warrior king.

Under the banner of the wolf, the symbol of his tribe, Saul rises to prominence, winning the hearts and minds of the people of Israel with his success on the battlefield and benevolent leadership.

But when the nation of Israel cries out, “For the love of Israel. For the glory of Yahweh. For the honor of the king,” the praises of the people turn the humble heart of the warrior king into one filled with pride—a pride that has fatal consequences.

In this tale of triumph and tribulation, deepest love and burning rivalries, the new epoch is given a voice…and it is a Song of Prophets and Kings.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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Henry O. Arnold has co-authored a work of fiction, Hometown Favorite, with Bill Barton, and nonfiction, KABUL24, with Ben Pearson. He also co-wrote and produced with Steve Taylor (director) and Ben Pearson the film The Second Chance starring Michael W. Smith, the screenplay for the authorized film documentary on evangelist Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador, and the documentary film KABUL24, based on the book which is the story of western and Afghani hostages held captive by the Taliban for 105 days. He lives on a farm in Tennessee with his lovely wife Kay. They have two beautiful daughters married to two handsome men with three above-average grandchildren. For more information please visit: www.henryoarnold.com

More from Henry

After the golden age of theatre in the Greek and Roman times, the theatre went dark, very dark as in Dark Ages, and for centuries it was thus. But it was the church that brought the theatre back to life by staging passion plays on biblical subjects. Since most people could not read at the time, it was a great way to tell the folks some Bible stories. The world has certainly improved its literacy skills since then. The delight I have in reading and writing stories from the Bible or on biblical themes has been with me for a long time.

When I formulated the concept of retelling the stories of the first three kings of Israel and matching them with the leading prophets of that age, the title of the series, The Song of Prophets and Kings, was a perfect match for the biblical/historical fiction genre. The first volume in this series, A Voice Within the Flame, was released last year and features the life of the prophet Samuel up to and including the anointing and coronation of Saul as the first king of Israel. Now it is time for the second volume, Crown of the Warrior King. This second novel picks up where the last one left off.

Whether the reader or listener is familiar with the biblical stories or not, I have written these novels in such a way that makes these ancient stories come to life in the modern world. When the reader/listener dives into stories that are 3,000 years old, it will be surprising how we all can see ourselves in these characters.

These are biblical stories that I grew up with and have read and studied all my life. It is a joy to get to share them with you in this series, The Song of Prophets and Kings.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 13

Texas Book-aholic, January 14

Beauty in the Binding, January 15 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 15

For Him and My Family, January 16

Inklings and notions, January 17

deb’s Book Review, January 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 19

Splashes of Joy, January 20 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, January 21

Connie’s History Classroom, January 22

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, January 23 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, January 24 (Spotlight)

Cats in the cradle blog, January 25

Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 26 (Author Interview)

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, January 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Henry is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of the book and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/17c58/crown-of-the-warrior-celebration-tour-giveaway

Is Sorry Too Easy to Say?

Sorry. How often do you use this word? Some people use it regularly whenever a request is made. Others might even laughingly say, “sorry, not sorry” to make a joke. This simply word that contains so much heartfelt meaning has been overused, diluted, and sadly misused. Yes, it is one of my pet peeves.


I hear it often. “Sorry.” When someone pushes into me in a restaurant or store, they just use that one word. If someone declines an invitation, I hear “sorry, I can’t.” Sometimes I need assistance with something and hear “sorry, I wish I could.” Mostly I hear this when people learn that my husband is no longer living. People are so sorry. Pun intended.


The word sorry comes from the Old English word sarig, meaning pained or distressed. Our current dictionary defines sorry as:

1 feeling distress especially through sympathy with someone else’s misfortune

2 feeling regret or penitence

It can also mean:

1 in a poor or pitiful state 

2 unpleasant or regrettable on account of incompetence or misbehavior


Now, let me ask, when you tell someone you are sorry, are you pained, distressed, or penitent? Not many are. Don’t get me wrong, of course there are times we say the word with accuracy. However, how many times have we flippantly tossed out a “sorry” without a second thought?

My point is, we need to apologize and seek forgiveness. Scripture says: “If you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go  —first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering”(Matthew 5:23-24). It is hard to make amends without using the word sorry, and that is why we must be careful to properly use it. We need to preserve that word’s integrity.

Choose your words carefully. Be sincere. Don’t overuse a word or phrase until its meaning is just a whisper of what it was. The good news is that this is just my opinion. I would love to hear yours.

Dig Deeper with Verse Mapping

Do you have a Bible collection? I certainly do. My dear late husband once told me I was a Bible junkie or at the very least had an issue with collecting them. He agreed that was in reality not a problem because I used them. Depending on the situation, a unique Bible type or version might be needed.

Have you ever heard of verse mapping scripture? Recently a friend invited me to new group she had started just for that. I baffled. What is this new to me study method? My mind jumped to cross-referencing and the Scofield Reference Bible. Wrong! Verse mapping is nothing close to that.

It is a method to really jump into a scripture and dig deep into its meaning. Discovering not only the author and year it was written, but how and to whom. Defining some of the English words back to the original Greek or Hebrew is eye opening. That is one of my favorite parts of the verse study.

There is a plethora of help on-line for beginnings. Many sites have free downloadable forms. The above is from outuponthewaters.com. I have found some instructions, templates, and other resources. Basically, all you really need is a journal or notebook, set of colored pens, and Bibles. If you only have one Bible, the Internet provides other translations.

Using Colossians 3:23, above is a comparison of just a few different translations. They are very similar yet slightly different. Verse mapping makes note of that.

If you are drawn to scripture and learning like I am, this might be for you. Everything I read said to pray first for guidance. Shouldn’t we do that anyway? Then choose your scripture. From here you will need a template or blank page to begin.

This is a new journey for me, and I have found it exciting. There are a few verses in the Bible that I do not fully grasp. Those scriptures will be on the top of my list to map. What verse would you like to really learn?

I would love to hear from you. Are you a verse mapper? Would you share any tips with us? Tell us how it has increased your faith or changed your walk.

Rahab’s Courage Celebrate Lit Book Tour

Rahab’s Courage by author Naomi Craig is a captivating retelling of Rahab’s story from the book of Joshua in the Bible. I am very skeptical when it comes to Biblical Fiction because some stray too far from the truth. When that starts to happen, I am finished reading. This one was wonderful and did not disappoint. 

Author Craig has penned Rahab’s story in such an inviting way that I was immediately invested. It did not matter that I knew the story well. I could not put this well written novel down. With vivid descriptions, biblical accuracy, and well researched details, I was transported back in time. I was able to get a new perspective on this story.

This is the story of Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho. It is a story of faith, love, hurt, and redemption. One thing that stuck out to me was the age that the author assigned to Rahab. In my mind it was far from what I imagined so I had to read the Biblical account again. Her age is not specified.

The author’s writing style is pleasing. The story flowed along at an even pace. She is definitely gifted. The characters were relatable and much as I expected the actual ones were like. Rahab was tough and yet vulnerable at the same time. My heart hurt for the things that she had gone through. This novel helped me see her in a different light.

The tension and attraction between Rahab and Israelite spy, Salmah, made this romance sizzle. The faith element was inspiring. Old Testament people had a true, strong faith. It made me question the strength of mine. I loved that this book moved me in that way. Nathan was the other spy. His character was written with kindness and caring. 

I highly recommend this breathtakingly beautiful view of Rahab and her journey to God. The Epilogue was especially touching so I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end. It would have been nice to have discussion questions for a reading group. Lovers of Biblical fiction will thoroughly enjoy reading Rahab’s Courage. I do agree with the author that this should be for older readers:

“Please use caution with younger readers or if this is something that would act as a trigger for you. If this book were a movie, it would have a rating of PG-13.  Naomi Craig, Author”

My rating is 5 out of 5 stars for this stunning retelling. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit, but these are my honest words. Grab a copy for yourself. You will be entertained, inspired, and edified.

About the Book

Book:  Rahab’s Courage

Author: Naomi Craig

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: August 17, 2021

A scarlet cord tethers one ruined woman to the salvation of mankind.

Harboring two fugitives in a city slated for destruction, Rahab has one small chance of escape. In exchange for their safety, she bargains for her own. Their agreement rewards her courage, and she flees Jericho and a life of prostitution for a new life among the people of Israel. Never again will she have to depend on anyone—especially men.

Except Salmah won’t take the hint.

High ranking soldier and leader of the tribe of Judah, Salmah is determined not to repeat his parents’ mistakes. He will keep the Lord’s commandments. Rahab’s growing faith fits right in with phase one of his plans: find a wife who loves the Lord and settle down in the new land.

Rahab finds shelter and meaning in the Lord’s ways until her past comes back to haunt her. As her new faith is put to test, she finds herself alone. Isn’t that what she’d always wanted?

With her courage waning, only the Lord can turn Rahab’s life around again, but will He do it before she loses everyone and everything that really matters to her—to her heart?

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Naomi writes Historical Fiction set in Bible times.
She lives in a small town in the south-eastern mountains of Arizona
She is an avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and homeschool mom. 

More from Naomi

Matthew 1:4b-6a (NKJV)

Nahshon begot Salmon.  Salmon begot Boaz by Rahab, Boaz begot Obed by Ruth, Obed begot Jesse,  and Jesse begot David the king.

On the brink of war and conquering the Promised Land, The Israelites stand fierce and determined, ready to see God’s victory. This time they will not waiver.  This time, obedience will be their theme. But it wasn’t always that the Israelites stood with resolve as strong as Jericho’s impenetrable walls.

Rewind forty years. The Israelites have just been delivered from slavery in Egypt. 12 spies were sent into the land and brought back a good report. There were bountiful crops peace and giants.

Nahshon, as the leader of Judah (Numbers 2:3), should have been influential in his tribe’s decision to trust the Lord—especially since Caleb one of the two who trusted, was from Judah. Yet nobody believed. They all grumbled. So instead of what should have been a quick journey, it took forty years.

And the entire generation couldn’t enjoy the benefits of trusting God and His promise.

Enter Salmah.

He sees the penalty of his father’s disobedience. It shapes his life he adheres to the ways of the Lord. Plague after disobedience hardens his resolve. He will obey the laws of the Lord so it will go well with him in the new land.

So what is a man with this moral stature doing with a Canaanite? A harlot? Every sordid detail that makes up Rahab goes against his moral fiber.

But faith.

Faith that was spoken about all the way into the New Testament. Rahab steps out in sacrificial faith to a God she doesn’t yet know, for strangers who have no reason to trust her.

As such, the Lord honored her faith. As He does when you and I step out on that limb because we’ve felt that stirring in our soul.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Not only did the Lord spread His mantle of protection over Rahab, He also saw fit to include her in the lineage of His Son, Jesus.

Rahab’s Courage is a love story. A story of stepping out in faith. Of changing expectations of yourself and others. Of how the Lord can redeem and use any who are willing to put off the old and become that new creation.

***The scripture is clear that Rahab is a harlot. Due to the nature of this life, this story addresses prostitution, rape, and post traumatic stress. Please use caution with younger readers and if these subjects would act as a trigger for you. If Rahab’s Couragewas a movie, it would have a rating of PG-13

Blog Stops

Rebecca Tews, August 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 13

Inside the Wong Mind, August 14

Inklings and notions, August 14

For Him and My Family, August 15

Breny and Books, August 15

lakesidelivingsite, August 16

She Lives to Read, August 17

Boondock Ramblings, August 17

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 18

Betti Mace, August 19

Texas Book-aholic, August 19

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20

deb’s Book Review, August 21

Cats in the Cradle Blog , August 21

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 22

Through the fire blogs, August 22

Connie’s History Classroom, August 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 24

Labor Not in Vain, August 24

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 25

Back Porch Reads, August 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 26

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Naomi is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/11419/rahab-s-courage-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blood Moon Redemption Celebrate Lit Book Review and Giveaway

Author Judy DuCharme has written a captivating Christian suspense novel with Blood Moon Redemption. I don’t exactly know what I expected this book to be, but it far exceeded anything I imagined. It was phenomenal! Even the cover is intriguing.

This is a multi-generational story beginning when the Jewish people were driven from their homes in Spain. That was a time I had not thought about before reading it. I knew the Jewish people were driven out of various places in Europe, but this was the first time I thought about Spain.

This is the story of Bible prophecy and an artifact from the night the Jewish people fled from Spain in late 1409s. Teetering between modern day and the past, it weaves together the tale of the last tassel ripped off of a prayer cloth and the lives it has touched.

This is also the story of Tassie, a modern day woman. She is a wonderful character and easy to befriend. Unfortunately, she has been deceived by her boyfriend Omar. He is an unsavory character to say the least.

I absolutely love the writing style of author DuCharme. She gradually drew me into her spellbinding story and kept me turning page after page. At times I cross referenced my Bible to verify what it said about end times. The author has done an excellent job researching biblical information as well as details on Israel and the Jewish people. Books that have a Christian message (and this one does) and also teach me something (yes, again) are my absolute favorite ones.

I highly recommend this thrilling, suspense, end time novel. It would make a breathtaking movie. Book Clubs and reading groups would find this fascinating with so much to discuss. It gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.

About the Book

Book:  Blood Moon Redemption

Author: Judy DuCharme

Genre: Christian suspense

Release date: October, 2018

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An ancient relic, a puzzling prophecy, and a young woman tied together through the ages . . .

It was just a relic, and hers, just a name. Who knew what time it really was?

The blood moons were always surrounded by great persecution and great provision, great trial and great triumph

When the Jews were expelled from Spain and traveled with Columbus, only a tassel from a prayer shawl remained with them to signify their faith. That tassel, handed down, stolen, and hidden, became a marker of God’s protection and now is the focus of a terrorist scheme and a young woman’s destiny.

Blood Moon Redemption is an end-times thriller that will keep you riveted until the very last moonrise.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

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Judy DuCharme grew up with Lake Huron next to her back yard and has always loved the water. She, her husband, daughter, and son moved to Door County in 1984. After teaching 5th Grade at Gibraltar School for 22 years, Judy followed the calling that tugged at her all her life to write. Blood Moon Redemption is her 6th or 8 published books and she is the recipient of numerous awards. She also writes for Guideposts Magazine. If you visit Door County, you may find her hiking in the woods, jet skiing on the bay, worshipping at her church, teaching a Bible study, cheering for the Green Bay Packers, playing with her amazing grandson, or sitting outside enjoying the beauty around her.

More from Judy

My brother, a lawyer, is a voracious reader and likes to write reviews. When he wrote of Blood Moon Redemption, he stated: ‘Most novels have pacing that gives you natural places to stop for the night but this one runs right through the stop signs.’  Current, Historical, and Prophetic, Blood Moon Redemption is a riveting novel following the suspenseful and gripping journeys the characters must travel to find their true destinies. My hope is that you are intrigued enough by all the prophecies, history, and stories here-in, that you will further explore the amazing truths that Tassie, her friends and family discovered.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 23

CarpeDiem, June 23

Texas Book-aholic, June 24

Inklings and notions, June 25

cats in the cradle blog, June 25

For Him and My Family, June 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 27

Blogging with Carol, June 27

deb’s Book Review, June 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 29

Aryn The Libraryan 📚, June 30

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 30

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 1

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 3

Mary Hake, July 3

Rebecca Tews, July 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 5

Pause for Tales, July 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Judy is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10e01/blood-moon-redemption-celebration-tour-giveaway

The Rabbi’s Touch Celebrate Lit Book Tour and Giveaway

The Rabbi’s Touch, Ten Encounters with Jesus that Changed Everything by author Annetta Lammers is a small book that packs a mighty punch. This is a biblical fiction that may be used as a devotional or even Sunday School or Small Group lesson. It is that well done.

This book examines ten different times that people cry out to Jesus for healing. Can you relate to this? I certainly can. Many times I have asked Jesus for His healing for myself or a loved one. Haven’t you?

We read story after story about how Jesus heals people with a touch or word. Each one is different, but all of them are extremely thankful. Their lives are forever changed. In this book the author whisks us away to Bible Times so that we might experience what those miracles and their results were like. It left me awestruck.

The author does an exceptional job keeping to the Bible in her retelling. Her style of writing drew me in even though I knew the stories. Each titled chapter begins with a scripture before the short inspirational story. After reading this beautiful book, I was led to read the biblical account again.

I highly recommend this. It would make a great small group ten week lesson. Seekers and seasoned followers of Christ will be encouraged and moved by this. It will make a nice gift, and I will revisit it around Easter for a Lenten devotional. Celebrate Lit provided a copy, but these are my own words. It receives a 5 star rating from me.

About the Book

Book:  The Rabbi’s Touch

Author: Annetta Lammers

Genre: Biblical Historical Fiction

Release date: Sept, 2020

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Ten Gospel Encounters

What if you could live in the story? What if you could meet Jesus and have His eyes meet yours and know His great love for you?  What if you could feel his healing touch and know your body was well?   Author Annetta Lammers explores ten encounters with Jesus found in the gospels and tells their stories. Through reflection, study of the Greek and living each story she retells the encounters of Jesus touch, voice and power.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Author photo

Annetta Lammers is a wife, mother, homemaker, and educator. She savours quiet walks in the woods, the texture and colour of pottery and reading Biblical fiction with a cup of coffee. Her fascination and love of God’s word has motivated her to study over the years. You will find more of Annetta’s reflections at annettalammers.com.

More from Annetta

I counted my journals, wondering. A drawer filled with thirty-three journals. The years of words held in those pages cover countless seasons of living and following Jesus. Even the gaps of silence speak volumes in the journey.

This passion for writing, evident in that drawer of journals, has had the dream of a book tucked within it.  And, quite by surprise, a book has formed and grown these past years. The Rabbi’s Touch began innocently with the study of Blind Bartimaeus. His miracle took shape in my imagination, taking on sounds, images and emotions.  Notes and reflections about his healing found their way in the current journal. Hidden Greek meanings fed my imagination until I was Bartimaeus meeting Jesus. That encounter took on words that needed to be put down on paper as his story.  Bartimaeus’ story led to another short story, which led to another.  Each story was driven by the desire to enter the lives of those who met Jesus and were healed. Each story was written with the longing to encounter Jesus for myself, as if I had never met Him before. Perhaps I would grow in knowing Him.  And I did.

As the stories grew, so did a quiet desire for others to meet Him as I had. Perhaps others could meet Jesus on their dusty road, make eye contact with Him, hear His voice and feel His healing touch?  Perhaps a conviction of what He can do will grow, and they, too, could be determined to press in to receive what is His to give?  Perhaps they also will cast aside the veil they have been hiding behind and walk free? Perhaps you can meet Him, too?  So, here it is, a collection of first-hand stories, ready for you to encounter Jesus.

Annetta Lammers – Author

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, June 9

Texas Book-aholic, June 10

For Him and My Family, June 11

deb’s Book Review, June 12

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 13

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 14

Inklings and notions, June 15

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 16

Artistic Nobody, June 17 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 17

Connie’s History Classroom, June 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 19

Simple Harvest Reads, June 20 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, June 20

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, June 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Annetta is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book (fulfilled through Amazon)!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10d51/the-rabbi-s-touch-celebration-tour-giveaway

Greek Word Study Celebrate Lit Book Tour & Giveaway

My Thoughts

Greek Word Study: 90 Ancient Words That Unlock Scripture by author Chris Palmer is an educational tool for those wanting to delve deeper into scripture.  It is a great starting point for learning Greek words and delving deeper into scripture.

This is a fabulous resource.  Author Palmer has done detailed research and presented it in an easy to read and understand form.  His book has ninety words, and I can only hope to learn them all in time.  For me, this brought much more depth to scriptures that I have studied many times before.

Each chapter is dedicated to one word.  It is listed in English and Greek along with the definition for each.  In the end of the book is an index of Greek – English Index and an English – Greek Index that contain the chapter number of the word.  That makes it easy to refer to certain words.

The author uses everyday terms and items to help explain the words.   I liked that this is a book for everyone.  It is not just for Bible Scholars.  Anyone wanting to learn will definitely learn when reading this.  It is a book that will be used many times.

I highly recommend this excellent study tool.  Everyone that owns a Bible should read it. It will shine new light on scripture in a deeper way.  Every church library should carry at least one copy.  This would make a fantastic study for any age.  It definitely gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me.  I received a copy from Celebrate Lit but this is my honest opinion.

About the Book

Book:  Greek Word Study

Author: Chris Palmer

Genre:  Christian Non-fiction, Educational

Release Date: July 17, 2020

“Flour. Sheep. Coins. Wheat. Jesus never abandoned the familiarity of His time because what He had to say was so celestial or deep. Instead, He took advantage of what people already understood. In doing so, He didn’t just leave a way of salvation for us, but also a pattern of teaching to follow. This alone was my inspiration for how I chose to write Greek Word Study.”—author Chris Palmer

In a follow-up to his highly acclaimed book Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation, the Rev. Chris Palmer has written Greek Word Study: 90 Ancient Words That Unlock Scripture. With wit, humor, grace, and scholarship, Chris offers biblical insights while teaching Koine Greek words and phrases one delightful bite at a time. Unlike other books that overwhelm readers with Greek grammar, word formation, tenses, and the like, Chris makes the language accessible to anyone, using modern stories and analogies that engage readers and draw them into the Scriptures. Learning some Greek words and phrases helps you read the Bible in high definition!

“You don’t need to be scholar to read this book and you don’t need to know an ounce of Greek either. In fact, you don’t even have to really know much about the Bible at all,” Chris says. “All you need to do is just kick back and enjoy.”

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

The Rev. Chris Palmer is the founder and pastor of Light of Today Church in Novi, Michigan, and founder of Chris Palmer Ministries. He is host of the popular podcast, Greek for the Week, seen on several Internet platforms. His first book with Whitaker House, Letters from Jesus: Studies from the Seven Churches of Revelation, has received dozens of five-star reviews from readers.
Chris began in full-time ministry in 2006 and began to preach internationally in 2009, helping many congregations grow, flourish, and expand. His desire for missions is to train and educate pastors, encourage congregations, support the vision of local church, and show the love of God to the culture. He has done this successfully for a decade in over forty nations of the world in Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean, working with both traditional churches and the underground and persecuted church.
Chris earned a B.A. in Pastoral Studies from North Central University and an M.A. in Exegetical Theology, magna cum laude, from Moody Theological Seminary. He is a sought-after Greek scholar for his ability to make God’s Word come alive from the Greek in a unique way. Chris is often invited to present Greek and hermeneutics workshops at Bible and ministry schools. He recently began working on his Ph.D. at the University of Wales, Bangor, in the area of Johannine literature, particularly the book of Revelation.
His previous books include the self-published Living as a Spirit: Hearing the Voice of God on Purpose, The 85 Questions You Ask When You Begin a Relationship with God, The Believer’s Journey, and Escaping the Haunting Past: A Handbook for Deliverance.

Read an Excerpt

Study 12: Immeasurable: Hyperballō; ὑπερβάλλω)
And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might. (Ephesians 1:19)
Over the years, I’ve been privileged to travel to many lands and countries to preach the gospel. One of the best parts about this is experiencing the different cultures, particularly their food and cuisines. Meals are times of joy and jubilee, when the hosts go all out to make me feel at home.
This is especially true in Sicily. I’ve often joked with my Sicilian friends that eating is a full-time job there. Sicilians take pride in making sure you are well fed, and you’ll often hear them say, “Mangia” (eat) or “Mangia qualcosa” (eat something), even right after you’ve just eaten. Food is of the utmost importance there and the answer to many of life’s problems. I understand this because my grandparents were of Sicilian descent.
There’s a joke in Sicily about a young man with a guilty conscience who tells his mother, “Mama, I’ve robbed a bank.” She says, “Well, that’s not good.” Then, he says, “And I’ve stolen a car.” His mama says, “I see. That’s not good either.” Then he says, “And I haven’t eaten today.” And she jumps up from her seat and screams, “What! You haven’t eaten? What’s wrong with you!?”
I once invented a joke of my own that the Sicilians found funny. I said, “After studying God’s Word, I’ve discovered the disciples of Jesus were Sicilian.” They looked perplexed. While they were still scratching their heads, I had them turn to John 4:31, which says, “Meanwhile the disciples were urging him [Jesus], saying, ‘Rabbi, eat.’” I think that joke has been making its way around Italy ever since.
Needless to say, there’s never been a time when I’ve been disappointed with mealtimes. I’ve been to Sicily twelve times and I can’t think of one instance when I didn’t have more than enough food placed before my eyes. I will never forget the first meal I had in Sicily. It was on a Sunday afternoon after church. I was told we were going to have “a little something” before dinner that evening. They brought out course after course after course. I was stuffed to the gills before the main course even arrived¾and this wasn’t even dinner.
My translator told me later, “Chris, the Sicilians go all out for every meal. You are never going to survive if you try eating everything.” If I’ve learned anything about the wonderful Sicilian people over the years, it’s that they don’t mess around when it comes to food: it’s always going to be over and above, more than enough, and plenty left afterwards.
The apostle Paul talks about God’s power this way in Ephesians 1:19. Here, Paul was sharing with his church in Ephesus what he prays for them. He tells them that he prays they will know the hope that God has called them to and the riches of God’s “glorious inheritance in the saints” (verse 18).
The hope that God called us to represents the beginning of the Christian life. While we did call upon God to be saved (see Romans 10:13), He first called us. He called us to belong to Christ and have a new life free from sin, to be holy and separate from the world, and be part of God’s celestial family.
The riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints alludes to the end of the Christian life. It is our total inheritance, which we will receive when the fullness of time comes. Until then, we are waiting for it with patience. In short, verse 18 speaks about the beginning and end of the Christian life.
At present, we find ourselves in the middle. Our Christian life has taken off, but we have yet to receive the totality of God’s promises. As we make our way toward receiving this final inheritance, we find our path strewn with all sorts of challenges, difficulties, and suffering. To push us past these and over the goal line, God has given us His power—“what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.”
The Greek word for “immeasurable” is hyperballō. It is a two-part Greek word that comes from: hyper (above, over, beyond, more than) and ballō (to throw or cast). It literally meant to “throw beyond” or “surpass.” Over time, it came to express other means of excessiveness such as outbidding someone at an auction, extreme heat from a fire, unbearable pain, and the intense brightness of stars. Hence, it was a word used for something that stood out, excelled the norms, and went beyond the standard amount.
The idea in this Scripture is that God supplies an over-and-above ration of His power to help us overcome the obstacles and challenges we face so we can receive the full inheritance promised to us. Not just a little, just enough, or even more than enough, but an over-and-above, highly excessive amount, like a meal in Sicily. We can stuff ourselves with God’s power and never come close to exhausting it. It’s all around us and is ours for the taking. And we aren’t to be stingy with it because there is enough to go around and plenty to take home.
Perhaps you are wondering how you can tap into this smorgasbord of power. The way Paul tapped into it: through prayer. When you come into prayer, you stand before a banquet table that is heaped with everything you could possibly need to overcome your troubles. And you are free to take.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 13

Through the Lens of Scripture, August 13

For the Love of Literature, August 14

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 15

deb’s Book Review, August 15

Texas Book-aholic, August 16

Just Your Average reviews, August 16

Inklings and notions, August 17

Just the Write Escape, August 18

CarpeDiem, August 18

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, August 19

For Him and My Family, August 20

Quiet Workings, August 21

Batya’s Bits, August 22

Mary Hake, August 22

Godly Book Reviews, August 23

KarenSueHadley, August 24

Captive Dreams Window, August 24

Lis Loves Reading, August 25

Artistic Nobody, August 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

As He Leads is Joy, August 26

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Chris is giving away the grand prize package of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/fec0/greek-word-study-celebration-tour-giveaway