Adjusting Listening Speed

I rarely listen to an audible book at the regular speed. Narrators tend to speak slowly and distinctly while I want to get on with the story. Even though I'm a Southerner, and we're known for our slow speech, I usually set my listening speed at 1.25. On rare occasions, where the narrator is particularly slow, like with the audible I just listened to, I set it at 1.5 times. I never set it above this because it's too fast for me to understand it all well.

I'm amazed at the number of people I talk to who don't realize they can do this. It's built into the audible program, so you can on most devices. I use my Kindle Fire or laptop most often, and it's easy to set the speed on those. Tap on the 1x on the screen that allows you to start listening to the recording. The speed options will show, and you can choose the one you want.

Doing this has increased my listening enjoyment, and I don't get as impatient with the story or narrator. You can always give it a try, and if it's not for you, go back to the 1x. The key is to find what works best for you and enjoy the book.

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Named Angels in the Bible

The Bible (KJV) tells us the given names of four angels: Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer,  and Abaddon (or Apollyon in the Greek). Two of these are good, following God's orders in order to help, and two bring evil. There are those who rebelled against God and no longer reside in heaven with Him.

Michael is the only one the Bible lists as an archangel, although many Bible commentators also consider Gabriel an archangel. In Daniel 12, Michael leads the angelic army to defeat Satan's rebellion and expel him and his followers from heaven. After Moses' death, he argues with Satan over Moses' body (see Jude 1:9). Michael is likely the archangel mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 to shout the second coming of the Lord. 

Gabriel is only mentioned by name in the books of Daniel and Luke. He is the messenger, sent to give God's instructions, directives, and explanations to His people. He helped in understanding the visions in Daniel. He appeared just before and after Jesus' birth to speak to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

Lucifer was an important angel who let his pride get out of hand and wanted to take God's place. With a third of the angels following him, he led a rebellion in heaven, was defeated, and exiled. He is also known as "Satan" or "the devil." His followers are now known as his demons.

Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek means "destroyer."  Revelation 9 tells us that demonic angels who have been bound will be released on the earth for a short period during the end times. Abaddon leads these demons. However, we know how all this plays out. God is always victorious in the end.

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Launch Day Was a Success

 

The new multiple-author project launched on the Sweet Americana Book Club Facebook page on June fourteenth. You can still see the posts by scrolling down the page. We refrained from revealing too much about the series until after this time. There are eleven books written by nine authors in the Old-Timey Holiday Kitchen series. The first book, Kris Kringle's Kuchen by Katrina (Elissa Strati), will publish on July 19. Not only will readers get an exciting, inspiring story, but they will also get the recipe for the featured food.

The other books in the series will continue in the same vein, usually publishing two weeks apart. All the books are standalones, but once readers start the series, I don't think they'll want to stop. Most readers will be able to read a book in the two weeks before the next one comes out. The last book will be Cider Cake by Cecily (Kandice E. Geddes) to publish on December 20, just in time for Christmas. I will share more about the individual books as they are released. 

My book, Walnut Cake by Wylene is set in a small town in Kentucky in 1873 and will publish on December 6. This will be the tenth book in the series. It is already written and has been professionally edited once. I'm planning on another editor getting it when she finishes with my last book in the Cactus Creek series to be released at the end of August. Walnut Cake by Wylene was a fun book to write, and I hope readers will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Doesn't all of this sound exciting? And you can preorder any of them right now!

Link to series - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096XKBML8?searchxofy

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 Two Sides of God's Will

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).

Believers may often fail to realize that God has more than one type of will. This may be the cause of people erroneously blaming God for all the bad things that happen in their lives. Bible commentators list many categories under God's will: sovereign, perceptive, preferential, directive, discerned, permissive, etc. But to simplify matters, let's look at the two most common ones -- His sovereign will and His permissive will.

And I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

Because God is sovereign, the things He decrees will always happen. We can count on them, The Bible explains His sovereign will. His permissive will includes what He wants to happen but doesn't force. When people go against what He wants, things can get messy. The bad things here come about because we live in a fallen, sinful world where God has given us the freedom to choose good or evil. He didn't want us to just be puppets under His complete control with no choice but to love and obey Him. When people choose to do evil, innocent people may be hurt. However, according to God's sovereign will, we can be assured that justice will come and evildoers who don't repent and accept Christ into their lives will be punished in the end.

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17).

Those people who say God's will is always done are only partially correct. His sovereign will is always done, and His will shall be established forever after time as we know it ceases to exist and into eternity. However, the people on earth now do not always choose to do His will, and that can cause hurt, chaos, tragedy, and other bad things to happen. But staying close to him can dilute the effects of such things on His people.

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A New Project

 I alluded to being involved in writing a multiple-author series in two of my recent blogs. My contribution, Walnut Cake by Wylene, will be published on December 6, but it's on pre-order now. Remarkably, I already had the rough draft written before I was invited to join the project. All I had to do was change the title and the name of the main female character. As a fellow author recently said, it was meant to be. 

In the book, Jackson Young brings the woman he wants to marry home to Kentucky to meet his parents, but Helen doesn't act like the same woman away from Boston. He's stunned by her selfish, snobbish attitude and shrewish behavior. As he reacquaints with people he hasn't seen in five years, he notices Wylene Ward and remembers the time he rescued her from a group of bullies when they were in school. She's turned into an attractive, caring woman who bakes the best walnut cake in the world. Suddenly, Jackson finds himself courting one woman but thinking of another. How can he remedy the situation and find his place as a new lawyer? Will it be in Boston as he originally planned or in Green Knoll, Kentucky, the place that still feels like home?

Virginia McKevitt designed the covers for all the books, and she did a great job. I have also taken auditions for the audible version of the book, and an exciting new narrator I haven't used before will be producing it. He will begin on it soon so that, hopefully, all the versions (Kindle, paperback, and Audible) will be released close to the same time. I can't wait!

Pre-order link for Walnut Cake by Wylene:  

https://www.amazon.com/Walnut-Cake-Wylene-Holiday-Kitchen-ebook/dp/B0964JF3P9

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 What Defines You?

When someone asks who you are, what is the first thing that comes to mind? After you tell them your name, what do you tell them about yourself? What defines you? Is it your job, your successes, your talents, or your family? These can often result in pride -- something the Bible warns against.

When we define ourselves as anything other than a child of God, we can be moving on shaky ground. Being a child of God means having confidence because we are in Him and trust Him but also humility because we know we are nothing without Him. We know that his love is unconditional and not based on our merit.

We might have been guilty of much, but we have been forgiven much. Our frailty and failures don't define us, but they help us extend love and grace to others. We are a child of the King and precious in His sight, becoming a conduit to let his love, mercy, and grace flow through us into others.

Seeing myself as the Lord teaches comes from spending time delving into His Word, meditating on Him and His teachings, and spending time with Him in prayer. It is walking with Christ each moment throughout the day and feeling his precious presence. Is this what defines you? It can be.

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26).

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 A Great Group Series Is Coming 

The Old-Timey Kitchen series is shaping up quite nicely. Each historical novel will feature a food somewhere in it and include the recipe at the end. Just looking at the book titles makes me hungry, and the names of the authors make me eager to read them all. 

There will be a book launch celebration on the afternoon of June 14 on the Sweet Americana Book Club Facebook page, and the lovely covers and more information will be revealed at that time. I'll also be posting more about this and the books on my author's Facebook page. Below you'll find a schedule of when the books will publish, and you'll want to get them all.

Book 1 – Jul 19 – Elissa Strati - Kris Kringle's Kuchen by Katrina 

Book 2 - Aug 2 - Kim Grist - Shoofly Pie by Selah

Book 3 – Aug 16 – Annee Jones - Charm Cake by Charity 

Book 4 – Aug 30 –Marisa Masterson - Lemon Pie by Lucinda

Book 5 – Sep 27 – Annee Jones - Pumpkin Pie by Patience 

Book 6 – Oct 11 - P. Creeden - Cranberry Cake by Cora

Book 7 – Oct 25 – Linda Carroll-Bradd - Ginger Cake by Glynna

Book 8 - Nov 8 - Kim Grist - Apple Pandowdy by Annie 

Book 9 – Nov 22 – Zina Abbott - Figgy Pudding by Francine 

Book 10 – Dec 6 – Janice Cole Hopkins - Walnut Cake by Wylene 

Book 11 – Dec 20 – Kandice E. Geddes - Cider Cake by Cecily  

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 Hiding Like Adam and Eve

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden (Genesis 3:8).

You remember the story. After Adam and Eve did the one thing God told them not to do and ate the fruit from the Tree of Good and Evil, they hid from God. They likely knew that this wouldn't work, but when we're ashamed, we tend to hide. We've all done it either physically or figuratively at some time in our lives. We want to hide our faults, weaknesses, and insecurities.

For whatever reason, like Adam and Eve, many are hiding from God today. Some hide because they don't want to give their lives to Him. They don't want to trust anyone but themselves, and they say they're doing just fine on their own. They believe Satan's lies. Others hide because they don't feel worthy or don't want to deal with their problems. It's easier to hide or pretend everything's all right.

Even some Christians hide, although often not consciously. They shove down some negative feeling(s) and try to bury it beneath a show of service and faithfulness. It can be buried so deeply it's totally forgotten. But there's always that underlying dissatisfaction and discontent. They know they should have joy because they have Jesus, but it's just not there. When you hide from God, you can't experience a close relationship with Him, and He wants that relationship. We need that relationship. So, we need to quit hiding and run to God - take problems to Him. He will comfort and help adjust any rogue attitudes, thoughts, or beliefs. First and foremost, He wants your love and for you to know how much He unconditionally loves you. That's where all change should begin - recognizing the love, mercy, and grace He offers.

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