Friday, November 21, 2014

Eucharisteo, Give Praise to God


“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6

Last year I read a book—1,000 Gifts, written by Ann Voskamp. She caused me to think about our gifts from and our praises to God. She taught me a new word: Eucharisteo (u cha ri STE o) it comes from the Greek and means to give thanks.

We often overlook the simple gifts God gives us. We often want the big, shiny gifts we can boast about but for this reading let’s concentrate on the small ones He gives us.

God’s Presence in your Lives
Have you felt God’s presence in your life? Did you feel the Father’s presence as you read His Word? Has He kept you safe as you went through your day?

God’s Guidance
Have you entered a new phase of life and don’t quite know what to do? Has God guided you through a decision-making process that you felt was difficult? Do you have friends whom you know God has guided?

God’s Blessings
Have you felt God’s blessings on you and/or your family? Have you achieved a goal that made you feel good? Have you seen any rainbows in the sky? Have you heard a child’s laughter? Have you seen someone smile?

All the questions asked above are questions that remind us to praise God for the good gifts He gives us. However, we have times when we might not feel like praising Him. The Apostle Paul tells us to “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) At our church one Wednesday night, the pastor asked the question, “What is the sweetest praise?” One lady answered, “The one that is hardest to give.”
When we give thanks to God, we praise Him for his gifts to us, even the ones that are hidden in adversity.

Have you had time when you praised God when it was hard to do?

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Heart of Humor, What People are Saying


As a humor writer, Jeanette Levellie knows how to make people laugh. A gifted and talented writer, speaker and singer, she has just published a new book: The Heart of Humor: Sixty Helpings of Hilarity to Nourish Your Soul with Elk Lake Publishing.

In her entertaining, uplifting style, Levellie weaves forty-five funny stories with articles, lists, and quotes that prove adding humor to our lives leads to better health, both emotionally and physically.
She has been described as the Erma Bombeck of Christian writers by some of her fans, including Dean Christensen from the California State University.  “Her many humorous anecdotes drive home a serious message,” says Christensen.  “God in his grace loves and accepts each of us unconditionally through Jesus Christ."

James Watkins, an assistant acquisitions editor for Wesleyan Publishing House, describes her as, I discovered Jeanette at a writers’ conferences several years ago. Well, you don’t really “discover” Jeanette. You experience Jeanette! The energetic red head with a flair for fashion bursts on the scene with a wake of joyful laughter trailing behind her. You simply cannot ignore her.”

This book, Heart of Humor, will make you laugh, probably right out loud. In it she includes 45 stories that speak of God and of humor. : Sixty Helpings of Hilarity to Nourish Your Soul is a hilarious journey of 45 short stories with titles like Quit Pinching my Fruit, Confessions of a Jailbird, Swimsuit Shopping Stress, and I Love My Hips. Nestled among the stories are comical drawings by a professional animator, articles, and lists revealing the superpowers of laughter such as Got Pain? Laugh it Away, Everybody Loves Dummies, and Ten Ways to Help Yourself Laugh, for a total of 60 short chapters.


She says, “We shouldn't take ourselves too seriously.” She believes this, as you will see when you read her latest book, “Heart for Humor”. She has an infectious wit that comes across in all her writing. I am certain you will enjoy this, her latest book.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Catching up with Jeanette Levellie


Jeanette Levellie, Author

1. Tell us about your newest book.
The Heart of Humor: Sixty Helpings of Hilarity to Nourish Your Soul is a hilarious journey of 45 short stories with titles like Quit Pinching my Fruit, Confessions of a Jailbird, Swimsuit Shopping Stress, and I Love My Hips. Nestled among the stories are comical drawings by a professional animator, articles, and lists revealing the superpowers of laughter such as Got Pain? Laugh it Away, Everybody Loves Dummies, and Ten Ways to Help Yourself Laugh, for a total of 60 short chapters. My goal is to give readers hours of amusement, scores of ideas to add laughter to their lives, and encouragement to trust a God with the sense of humor that gives a 90-year-old lady a baby.


2. You have a specific genre you write in; can you tell me how you chose it or did it choose you?
I write humorous non-fiction with embellishments that give the stories a fictional flair. I didn’t really choose this genre; I started to write devotional columns for our local newspaper fourteen years ago, and discovered that people love it when I tell on myself. So I developed my style of Redeemable Ditzy Doings.

3. I believe this is your third book, is that right?
Yes, it is the third book I’ve written, but the second book published. My first book is Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top, available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Two-Scoops-Grace-Chuckles-Volume/dp/0983319618/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332286157&sr=1-2 and Barnes and Noble: : http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/two-scoops-of-grace-with-chuckles-on-top?keyword=two+scoops+of+grace+with+chuckles+on+top&store=book. My third book to be published, Shock the Clock: Task Management for Time-challenged Writers will be available in the spring of 2015.

4. Please tell us about your family, your husband, your children and grandchildren.
My family consists of one husband, two grown children, three grandchildren, and four babies in cat suits. My husband pastors a church in rural Illinois, where we moved from Los Angeles in 1999. During the day, I manage an office supply store, and I write at night. No wonder I’m goofy!

5. How do you get your inspiration for your books and articles?
All the stupid things I’ve done and the myriad ways God has rescued me give me constant inspiration. I also tell stories about my family, my pets, anything that amuses me—which is most everything. The worst mistake a Child of God can do is to take themselves too seriously.

6. Is your new book available on line? Where? Yes, it is. It is available on Amazon. Here’s the link for it as an e-book. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PNRC9S6 in a few days, the print book will be available. Here’s that link:


            As always, it has been nice to talk to you, Jeanette. It was also nice getting to pray with you recently. May God continue to bless you in your writing.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...