Sometimes I Write

Megan’s CD Close:

A.J. Kiesling’s Skizzer:

Congratulations ladies!  Thank you to all who participated and left comments for Megan, and A.J.  Don’t forget about the contest still being held on Amy’s blog for the $40 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice!  I think it ends June 14th, so hurry on over there.

“Something both terrible and wonderful has happened. I can’t explain now…” -Becca

After receiving news of her sister Becca’s abrupt disappearance, Claire Trowling must piece together the shadowy remnants of a past she’s long forgotten in order to find her. A cryptic note scrawled in Becca’s handwriting leaves more questions than it answers. When a stack of mysterious letters bound by a rare necklace is found, Claire races to discover the secrets that hold her family captive. Suspenseful and full of intrigue, Skizzer takes you on a transcontinental hunt for answers, weaving seamlessly between the distant past of childhood and the urgency of the present.

This was the first of my “summer of fiction” reads. While most of my blog tour books have focused on Chick-lit and Mom-lit, this one took me down the path of mystery and intrigue. A. J. Kiesling’s debut novel kept me turning pages as the story of two sisters and the secrets of their family’s past unfolded with heart breaking questions and discoveries mixed with hope in new beginnings, and the stirrings of reawakened love.

I was swept up into the adventures of the young Claire and Becca, imagining myself sitting on the lush grass of the beautiful English garden where they had visited as girls. I could see myself kicking up dust as I walked the dirt road to the old church on the grounds of the rectory. My heart beat faster while exploring the thick woods behind the house and meeting the old woman there. I smiled with appreciation at the awkward moments of young love and laughed at Becca’s dramatic and bold approach to life. I ached for Rainey (Becca’s husband) and his desperation to find her when she disappeared, and loved the friendship bond that Claire and Rainey shared as they worked together to track down the most beloved person in their lives. I cried at the revealing of Becca’s reason for disappearing and I thanked God for…wait…I’m not going to tell you. You’re going to have to read it for yourself. 🙂

I love a book that draws me into the story as if I’m a silent, invisible observer going through the events and emotions as they unfold right in front of me. A.J.’s characters are endearing while her descriptions of the landscape and settings of her tale made my heart long to remember my own childhood stomping grounds as well as the wish to visit someplace new and foreign to me – England’s tranquil countryside.

Skizzer was an adventurous, sweet, sometimes sad, and redeeming story and I’d love to give you the opportunity to win a copy of the book. Leave me a comment at the end of this post and I’ll put your name in the hat. This contest will be a bit shorter than usual because I leave for Camp Zenith on Saturday. I will announce the winner on Friday, June 13th along with the winner of Megan’s CD (It’s not too late to enter that contest – click here)

There is an additional contest being held at the tour host’s blog to win a $40.00 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice. Just visit Amy’s blog and leave her a comment answering this question:

What’s the most important thing you’ve ever lost and then found?

A.J. Kiesling will select the winning response based on originality and sizzle! Good Luck to you all! Amy also listed the schedule for the blog tour if you’re interested in reading what some of the other bloggers have to say about this book, which is available for purchase HERE.

A.J. (Angie) has worked in the Christian publishing industry since 1985 as an author and editor. She is the author of numerous books, including Skizzer (a novel, Revell), Where Have All the Good Men Gone? (Harvest House), Jaded: Hope for Believers Who Have Given Up on Church but Not on God (Revell), and Soul Deep: Prayers and Promises for Cultivating Inner Beauty (Barbour). She also ghostwrote Live Like a Jesus Freak (Albury), the popular follow-up to D.C. Talk’s bestseller Jesus Freaks.

Learn more about A.J. Kiesling and her other books on her website.

I didn’t realize that my assigned blog tour date was on a Tuesday, so I’m committed to 2 posts on the same day. I thought I’d post my Gratituesday topic a little early. 🙂

I LOVE books. Mysteries, chick-lit, mom-lit, suspense, epic tales, allegories, fantasies (think LOTR and Narnia), non-fiction, literary classics and spiritual growth. You name it, I’d probably read it…and blog about it. lol I have been in love with the written word since I learned to read at three years old. I love libraries both public and private. I love the feel of old leather covers and the slickness of shiny new book jackets. I love the smell of books, both the paper and the ink. I love my library card. I love bookstores. I love thrift stores that allow me to support my habit on my limited budget. I love the research, the hard work, and the creativity that goes into each story I read. I love the emotions books evoke in me and the growth and change that takes place as I reflect on truths I encounter in the pages I turn.

When I was little, my Mom told me that books could take me anywhere. It’s one of the things I’m most grateful for – her teaching me how to read. Books have taken me to far off adventures and unexpected places of brokenness within myself. They have lifted me to new heights of imagination and possibility and plunged me to the depths of human suffering and the places God comes to meet us. Books have challenged me to change who I am to become more like Christ and they’ve affirmed that I am who I am, a deeply loved creation willing to learn and then take the new knowledge gained and pass it along to others through my own gifts and story. Books can merely be an entertaining way to pass time and have a good laugh or cry.

The first book printed on the newly invented Gutenberg printing press in the 1400’s was the Bible. I love the many ways in which story has emerged, from the oral traditions to print, to music, and now movies. With all of the above, I look for Christ and His messages. I’m grateful for what books have been and continue to be in my life. A vessel for truth, entertainment, and the endless tales of what life boils down to…relationships.

I know that I am who I am partly due to the books I have read.

Want to join us for Gratituesday?

Head on over to Laura’s blog – Heavenly Homemakers and link up.

I met Megan last summer through Dr. Zack and instantly knew we’d be friends. I believe we actually prayed her into our lives, but that’s a story for another day. She is one of the sweetest people I know and I’m glad to call her friend. Back in January when she was one of the first to find out about my miscarriage, she didn’t offer advice or answers, she just hugged me and told me she was sorry. She has continued to encourage me the past few months when we see one another each week. I bring this up because I have her CD and several of the songs really touch my heart. One in particular has been very healing for me. She wrote it long before we met, but the first time I heard it I wept like she was singing it for and to me. I’ve tried to figure out a way to put the song in this post, but I guess wordpress won’t allow the file. So the words are printed below and I’ll send you to her myspace page where you can listen to the song (and others) and even purchase it if you so choose. Her CD is also available on iTunes.

She has an amazing voice and heart for people and I’m so glad to know her! She’s currently working on her second CD project and God is growing her as a musician as she grows closer to Him, so please keep my friend in your prayers. When we had her over for dinner a few weeks ago, I grilled her about her music and life so I could write about her here, but her bio is so well written that I decided to use that instead.

Award-winning songwriter and lead worshiper Megan Isaacson is all about connecting the thirsty to the River of Life. Megan knows what it means to thirst. Growing up in a broken home, Megan tried to fill her emptiness with religion and music, but soon learned that only Jesus Christ could heal her wounds and satisfy her thirsty soul. She began to let the joy of the Lord be her strength and that joy has fueled a music ministry that has taken her all across the U.S. and beyond.

Megan hit the road with her music for the first time in 2000, when she traveled to Australia with the Continental Singers and has been on the move ever since. For four years she toured as an actress and worship leader with Dare 2 Share Ministries, Intl. She also served as the youth worship director at Grace Church of Arvada in Colorado. In 2005, Megan released her debut album, “Close”, produced by guitarist and producer Dave Beegle. This project included the song, “My Worship”, which was named Song of 2005 at the Gospel Music Association’s Music in the Rockies seminar. The following spring, Megan was honored to perform alongside Chris Tomlin, Third Day, Barlow Girl and others in the Songwriter Showcase during GMA Week in Nashville, Tennessee.

Now, as founder of River Wild Ministries, Megan is single-minded about inviting God’s people to quench their thirst with living water. In her words:

“My dream for this ministry is Psalm 69: 30-33: ‘I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. The poor will see and be glad — you who seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.’ (emphasis mine)

“We live in an age of boredom, depression, apathy – sometimes especially when it comes to Christianity. Even people who have been believers for years find it hard to ‘find God’ from day to day. To these hungry, tired, broken people, I believe God says ‘come.’ This is my heart’s cry: to reconnect the thirsty to the river of life – Jesus Christ. What does that have to do with worship? Everything. Only when we restore God to his rightful place – the center of our universe – and give him the glory he deserves, can we truly be satisfied. And I believe with John Piper that, wonder of wonders, ‘God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.’ Although we are strangers in a foreign land, we have not been forgotten by our God, who longs to satisfy us completely.”

Isn’t she amazing? I’ve been so excited to share my friend and her music with you. While her website is currently under construction, you can visit her myspace page and listen to a few of her songs there. She’s also on Youtube.

Her album “Close” made me laugh and cry. It’s available for purchase, AND I’m giving you the opportunity to win a copy of it here on MY Journey. Leave me a comment or email me to let me know you want it. As an added bonus, the first person to tell me what the song “You Had Me At Hello” is about, will get their name entered in the drawing twice. We’ll draw for a winner next Thursday, so go check her out on myspace, tell your friends and family about her, enter the drawing, and don’t forget to listen to the song that’s been a healing balm to my heart the past few months. Here are the lyrics:

Overrated
By Megan Isaacson

(Verse 1)
Tears form, you turn away
Words just won’t reach far enough
To explain away the pain
Your eyes search mine for answers
But all I can offer is this

(Chorus)
Answers are overrated, clichés fall short
When your world comes tumbling down
Even though your heart’s breaking this one thing’s sure
That the One who holds the universe is
holding your hand in His own

(Verse 2)
Fear and uncertainty
Fuel arguments made by your mind
Against your heart’s agony
But this battle’s not over
Sometimes the victory’s found in surrender

(Bridge)
I know it’s dangerous to dream of love
Or dare to hope for peace
But He who sees your pain has called your name
And purchased your release

Most of my gratitude can be traced back to some kind of provision from God.  From the big stuff like life, breath, and my family and friends, to the little stuff like finding $10.00 under the seat in the van or the neighbor having eggs when I run out in the middle of baking something yummy.  I thank God for all the ways He provides for me.  He is amazing.

This week I’m thankful for air conditioning.  It has begun to warm up here in Colorado and while MANY people in this state don’t think we need air conditioning, it is a luxury I’m extremely grateful to have.  We live in a double wide mobile home and the thing holds in heat in the summer whether or not we have windows opened or closed or running the air conditioner or not.  We have central air, not the window unit variety, but it’s still sort of like living in a big tin can.  We knew we had a problem two weeks ago when it was the middle of the night, 64 degrees outside and 81 in the house.  The air conditioner was broken and our ceiling fans weren’t cooling us off.  Nobody was sleeping well.

Two weeks and $3500 later, we have a brand new unit installed outside and we’re still trying to get the air circulating like it needs to be to cool the entire house.  I’m grateful for the cooler air before the 100 degree days arrive.  However, I’m most grateful for what needing a new air conditioner has done for us.  You see the man who came to install the electrical for the new unit discovered that our wiring in our house at the main box wasn’t tightened down.  As he was doing his thing – checking whatever needed to be done, the wires fell out towards him.  It’s not a good thing to hear an electrician say, “Uh oh!”.  He told me that we needed to shut off the main breaker so he could tighten everything up.  Only when it was finished did he tell me that we had live wires that at any moment could have touched something and set our house ablaze.  All house fires are bad, but mobile homes burn faster than stick built homes.

I’m grateful for cool air AND peace of mind knowing we are physically safer in our home today than we were before.

Want to join us for Gratituesday?

Head on over to Laura’s blog – Heavenly Homemakers and link up.