Yearly Archives: 2014

Sunday Brunch – Samson and Delilah!

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Did Samson’s lust affect his logic?

I’ve always wondered about this, so I decided to devote a Sunday Brunch blog post to this topic. In Judges, Chapter 16, the Philistine rulers approached Delilah since they knew that Samson was in love with her. They wanted to know the secret to Samson’s strength. The rulers offered to give Delilah money if she could tell them his secret.

What’s always stumped me was Delilah asked Samson FOUR TIMES, about the secret of his strength. The first three of those four times he lied to her, and, afterwards, he always fell asleep and found himself bound with offending material, and Delilah was always yelling about the approaching Philistines. Samson always easily escaped from the ropes, fabric, thongs, etc. since these items did not deplete his strength (although he’d told Delilah otherwise).

I’ve always thought that sometime during those first three times, Samson would’ve gotten a clue that Delilah had an agenda. It was so obvious considering the pattern of events. However, he ended up telling her the truth eventually, and that caused his downfall.

Do you think that Samson was so overcome with lust and love for Delilah that he couldn’t think clearly? He didn’t seem to be very smart!

I think his lust overcame his logic. Also, the scriptures mention that the Lord came upon Samson numerous times. Perhaps this was the way that the Lord wanted the events to occur?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

 

Redemption – A Devotional

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For a change, I thought I’d post the following devotional on my blog. My online writing friend, Lillian Duncan, tells us that our faith in God is all we need for salvation – works, being good people, serving others, etc. does not guarantee your salvation. Read on:

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REDEMPTION—A DEVOTION

Romans 3: 22-24

 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

 

The title of my newest book is REDEMPTION so it seemed to me a good topic to write about in a devotion. Dictionary.com defines redemption as an act of atoning for a fault or a mistake; deliverance or rescue; deliverance from sin; salvation; atonement for guilt.

The title came about as a result of Jamie, the main character being ashamed of things she’s done in her past as a consultant to the FBI. As a result she feels God can’t love her the way she is. So she seeks redemption by putting herself in dangerous situations to help other people.

But the redemption part of the story doesn’t stop there. Enrique, the tall, dark, and handsome FBI agent seeks redemption as well. From Jamie. Then there’s the bartender Jamie meets on her quest to find a friend’s missing child. He’s trying to overcome a lifetime of criminal acts. More redemption.

And then there’s the father of the kidnapped child—who is the kidnapper! Talk about needing redemption. No wonder this book is named REDEMPTION!

That makes for a good plot in a suspense novel, but it’s important to know that we can’t save ourselves through good acts, through helping others, or even being really good people. There is only one way to receive redemption: meaning salvation; meaning going to heaven to live with God forever!

We are saved through our faith in Jesus—and only through our faith in Jesus.

No amount of good works can earn us a ticket to heaven! It doesn’t matter how “good” we are, how much money we give to good causes (including the church), or how kind we are to others.

Only our belief in Jesus as the Son of God can save us.

And the reverse is true as well as Jamie discovers in my novel, REDEMPTION. Your past doesn’t matter. God loves you just the way you are. He won’t turn his back on you because of your past, present, or even your future mistakes.

And that is more awesome than I can say, but 2 Corinthians 9:15 says it best: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

 

To celebrate the release of REDEMPTION, I’m giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. So hop on over to TIARAS & TENNIS SHOES at www.lillian-duncan.com  to enter. Leave a comment on the post entitled REDEMPTION and you’ll be entered to win.

 

 

 

BLURB:

Others may think Jamie Jakowski is a hero, but she knows differently.

Haunted by her past, she seeks redemption by helping others in spite of the danger to herself. However, after almost orphaning her daughter, Jamie opts to retire. When a friend needs her, Jamie agrees to one last undercover operation.

She is determined to reunite a heartbroken mother with her kidnapped son. Used to working alone, Jamie’s not happy when she’s assigned a partner. And after a failed operation and their failed romance, Enrique Rodriguez is the last person she wants to work with—ever.

To succeed, Jamie must confront her past as well as the people who want her dead.

 

 

BIO:

Lillian Duncan: stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!

Lillian is a multi-published writer with several Amazon bestsellers, including The Christmas Stalking and Betrayed. Lillian writes the types of books she loves to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch or two of romance that demonstrates God’s love for all of us

Whether as an educator, a writer, or a speech pathologist, she believes in the power of words to transform lives, especially God’s Word.

To learn more about Lillian and her books, visit: www.lillianduncan.net. Tiaras & Tennis Shoes is her personal blog at www.lillian-duncan.com.

 

Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

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Chasing Hope by Kathryn Cushman

Have you ever had a dream that was lost? Did your faith suffer because of your lost dream?

Sabrina has transferred colleges because it’s hard for her to stay at her former school. A former star runner, she finds it hard to be around others who excel at sports, and since her dream has been shattered, she’s unsure about how to put the pieces back together in her life.

Her faith has dwindled, and her life drastically changes when arrangements are made for her to coach a Brandy, a juvenile delinquent/talented runner. Brandy’s off-putting attitude makes Sabrina cringe, plus, it’s initially hard for her to embrace the role of coach.

Chasing Hope is about trying to strengthen your faith after your dreams have been lost. I liked how the theme of running played throughout the story. The characters were real and vivid and Koen, Sabrina’s boyfriend, sounded like a really nice, good-looking guy! The romance was not the main focus of the story, but, it hovered in the background.

So have you ever had a dream that was lost? How  did you deal with it?

Sunday Brunch! – Reuben’s Promise!

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Genesis 42:37 Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”

Have you ever been puzzled by that scripture? What was going through Reuben’s mind when he made that promise to his father, Jacob?

The land was in the midst of a horrible famine. The only way for Jacob’s family to obtain food was for Joseph’s brothers to travel to Egypt to purchase grain from Joseph. When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph recognized his brothers, but, they did not recognize him. Joseph took one of his brothers hostage, (Simeon). Joseph then sent the rest of his brothers on their way, with grain for their starving household. He also demanded that the rest of them (his brothers) return with Benjamin (Joseph’s full brother – born of the same mother and father).

Meanwhile Jacob mistakenly thought his son, Joseph, was dead. And when they again ran out of grain, he was hesitant to send Benjamin back to Egypt with the rest of his children – after all, he’d already lost Joseph, his favorite son. Should he suffer and lose his other supposedly favored son, Benjamin?

Then Reuben tells Jacob that he can put his two sons to death if he did not return with Benjamin??

What??

I continue to be puzzled reading the Old Testament. I know it’s mostly historical information, but, sometimes, I wonder if people’s emotions were just different back then? What do you think?

I mean, do you honestly think that you could put two of your grandchildren to death, if your one of your sons breaks his promise, and doesn’t return with your child? It’s almost like Reuben is risking sacrificing one child in exchange for two children. What goes through your mind when you read this scripture?

This scripture reminds me of another weird Old Testament promise. Remember when the angels visited Lot, warning him to leave Sodom and Gomorrah? Some of the townsmen knocked on Lot’s door, wanting him to send the good-looking men outside so that they could have relations with them? Lot then offered his two virginal daughters to the crowd of men! Why?

What do you think? Were adults just not as emotionally bonded with their children as we are today? The people that I’m referring to are godly men, following the Lord. How could they be so cold and unfeeling towards their children?

Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

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Family Affair by Debbie Macomber

Lacey has been hurt, badly. Her husband had an affair, ending their marriage so that he could marry his mistress. After her divorce, Lacey relocates, and Jack, her handsome next-door neighbor in her apartment complex, has been after her for a date. She can’t go out with him – she’s not over her ex, plus, she doesn’t trust men. Besides, Jack is a womanizer, right? She hears him arguing through the wall with his girlfriend, who always leaves his apartment in tears. No way can she trust her heart to her womanizing neighbor, right?

This story takes a nice surprising turn when she discovers Jack’s true nature. I also loved the role that the cats played in the romance. It added a cute twist to the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this, just as I usually enjoy Debbie’s books!

Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

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Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber

Have you ever seen an angel?

Addie has returned home for Christmas. She’s been gone for six years – she quit high school and now she’s back, taking a literature class at the local college to earn her GED. Her father has recently died and her widowed mom is planning to take a cruise with her friend. Addie will be alone for Christmas, but, when she learns that Erich, her nemesis and next-door-neighbor, needs her help over the holidays, she finds herself busy being Erich’s caregiver.

Erich is distressed about his accident and now he needs to lean on Addie for support. Both Addie and Erich have old feelings that are rekindled over the holidays.

You also see a quirky cast of characters in Addie’s college class, in addition to Harry Mills, her teacher/angel. Harry’s mission is to make sure Addie and Erich fall in love. Will he be successful?

This was a simple, lighthearted read that’s enjoyable for the holidays. You can probably finish this holiday tale in one day. Overall a nice read.

So, have you ever seen an angel? Have you ever met someone whom you thought may have been a heavenly being?

The Rancher Next Door by Darlene Mindrup

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The Rancher Next Door

Have you ever fallen in love with your next-door neighbor?

Jenny is struggling to raise her twin siblings, alone. Orphaned, the small family moves into a cabin inherited from Jenny’s relative. At first, their new home appears a mess, but, Jenny is optimistic about fixing up their new abode and finding a job. However, her mood is altered whenever Mitch, the rancher next door, is around. This tall, good-looking man becomes a father figure for her siblings.

But, Jenny’s been hurt before, and Mitch has had his share of pain, too. Can both of them learn to love again?

I enjoyed this novel. I especially liked Jenny’s courage – taking care of two teenagers, alone, is a lot for a young woman to do. I also liked how she was determined to make a home out of their small cabin. Overall, a very nice read.

So, have you ever fallen in love, or had a romantic relationship with somebody who lives next door (or near your house)? What happened between the two of you?

Hope In My Heart – A Collection Of Short Stories

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Hope In My Heart by Alexis A. Goring

This was a nice book of heartwarming short stories. Most of the stories focused on finding love. There were three tales in this collection and each of the characters had to overcome some sort of obstacle as they searched for romance.

In Love Unexpected, a car crash surprisingly brings two lovebirds together. In spite of her animosity, Chandra sees potential in Sebastian.

In The Best Gift, Christina wants to lose some weight to fit into the bridesmaid’s dress for her sister’s wedding. Meanwhile, Jordan’s mom is desperate for her to get married, and gives her an ultimatum: bring a new beau home for Christmas, or, get sent to Sweden. When she re-encounters her old boyfriend (Brian), old sparks are rekindled. Meanwhile, Joshua is shocked when his girlfriend breaks up with him. She doesn’t like that Joshua’s life centers upon her. Joshua realizes he needs to strengthen his relationship with God – God needs to be the center of his life.

In Peace and Love, another Christmas-themed story, three people are seeking some kind of joy over the holiday season. Elle is an unemployed artist and she’s searching for the perfect job. Eric, a divorce attorney, is still reeling from the pain of his parents’ divorce – his parents split when we was a child and he’s never forgiven his mom for abandoning him. Kristine was adopted and before she gets married to Derek, she’s determined to find her birth mother. She’s hired a private investigator to help with the search.

These wonderful stories would make good reads during the holiday season! You can finish a story in one sitting. Such a nice treat for the holidays!

 

 

 

Sunday Brunch! Joseph – The Favorite Child!

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Have you ever felt that your parents favored one child over the others? If so, have you ever wondered why they loved one child more than the other(s)?

In Genesis, Jacob (Israel), favored Joseph over all of his other sons. The Bible states that Jacob loved Joseph more because he had him in his old age. However, I kind of feel like he may have favored Joseph more because he was Rachel’s child. Jacob obviously loved Rachel – he worked fourteen years just to have her. He’d also been tricked into marrying Rachel’s homely sister, Leah.

Also, initially, Rachel was barren. I felt she desperately wanted to have a child, which was why she asked Leah for some mandrakes. Jacob probably thought his favored wife would never have children, so, when she surprisingly had Joseph, Jacob was probably joyous. Due to his deep love for Rachel, he favored Joseph over his brothers, causing deep animosity between the siblings.

So, have you ever felt that your parents favored one child over the other? If so, have you ever figured out why?

Genesis 37:3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. 4But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Sunday Brunch! Does The Lord Speak To Us In Our Dreams?

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Photo courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti

Do you think that the Lord can speak to us in our dreams? Do you usually remember your dreams?

In Genesis, Joseph foolishly tells his brothers about a dream he’s had. In his dream, Joseph reigns over his brothers – they bow down to him. Then, in prison, Joseph accurately interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker. Joseph tells them that his ability to interpret dreams comes from God:

Genesis 40:7So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”8And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

Do you think that currently some dream interpretations belong to God? I also wondered about the cupbearer and the baker’s statement regarding seeking an interpreter. Did people, back in old testament times, seek out interpreters for dreams? I’m wondering if Joseph had not been available, would the cupbearer and baker have sought out a magician or sorcerer to interpret their dreams after they got out of prison?

Do you remember your dreams? Do you feel that God is speaking to you through your dreams?

 

I’ve always been fascinated with dreams, wondering why we dream as we do. Why do we dream? What do our dreams mean? I was so fascinated that I did a paper in high school about dreams, finding out that they’re linked to our subconscious. While sleeping, dreams can sometimes help us solve our problems, give us insight about ourselves in a symbolic manner.

So, do you think that God still speaks to some of his His believers through dreams? Do you think that God currently uses some of His followers to interpret the dreams of others – just as he did with Joseph in the old testament?

Please share your thoughts!