Once upon a time...again and again.

Is there such thing as reading too many books at one time? 

Or having too many devotions?

I am currently in the middle of a year devotion about the Women of the Bible. I love it. And each entry is pretty short - so I learn a little more each day about these women. Some well-known. Some I've never heard of before.

I just started my 90 day study of David. We're currently learning about Hannah and Samuel - which is great...but I'm ready to get to the heart of David!

I'm also - as my hobby - reading more Beverly Lewis. Francis Rivers is next.

And I have an amazon gift card. So I'm thinking of getting Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and/or 52 Ways to Wow Your Husband.

I just want to read it all. Get to know the characters. Get lost in the stories. There are so many great books out there...I can't stick with just one.

There's a reason this is my favorite scene in this movie.

I love the library scenes in this movie. And how she reads to the sheep! 

And, yes, there are many books that I've read more than twice.

Oh, and one more thing while we're on the subject...GO TO THE LIBRARY. Books there are FREE. Crazy, right? People laugh, because I still make frequent trips to the library. Don't knock it. I love it. The thrill of discovering new books. And, oh yeah, It saves me lots of money.

I had to add this video for my husband. And because it makes me laugh. 

Add some more to my list. 

What is your favorite book? Devotion? Marriage book? Fiction? 

What do I need to add to the list next?

Curl up with a good book and a great God...

This Christmas I got several devotion books from my moms that I'm excited to delve into!

 I started this one last night - and I'm excited to get to know David. The heart and spirit of this "Man after God's own heart". In the past, as I have studied the life of David, I see many flaws. And I see a passion for God. I want to know that. 

  

I have gotten to know Paul a little recently - thanks to a book that is featured below. I used to think he was overrated. But now I see his struggle and admire his triumph. This man of God gave up so much for the cause. I can't wait to get to know him better and, hopefully, to become a better Christian, a better witness, a better minister to others because of Paul's life and ministry.

I honestly don't know much about James. And I've never had strong feelings towards him one way or the other. I'm excited to get to know about him from beginning to end. 

Over the past month I have read several books that have touched my heart and helped me grow in my knowledge of Christianity. I would definitely encourage you to curl up with your Bible and one of the books below - and invite God to curl up next to you.

This book goes through Jesus' life as captured by Luke. You start out with standing in awe with Mary and end up praising your risen Savior. The chapters highlight Jesus' friends, Jesus' miracles, Jesus' experiences - and scripture passages walk you through the story.

This book gave me a soft spot for Paul - as it introduced me to his childhood, gave details into his struggle and his conversion, and laid out his ministry. You suffer with Paul, rejoice with Paul, minister with Paul, struggle with Paul, overcome with Paul, and fall in love with God all over again.

After a few devotionals by Beth Moore - I decided to take a break. It took me a little while to get used to the difference in writing styles, but I found this book to be interesting. A complete study of the lives of several "slightly bad girls" in the Bible. You'll take a trip back in time and get to know Sarai/Sarah, Hagar, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel a little better than you did before. You'll discover new things about these women of the Bible. And hopefully discover new things about yourself and the forgiving God who loves you just as much as He loved these women.

We all judge a book by its COVER!

I enjoy writing, and I pray that God will one day soon use my talents to inspire others and share the stories He has laid on my heart. I have had Secrets written for a while - it is a story that I am very much in love with and that means a lot to me - but I have lacked the confidence needed to get it printed. I am slowly making strides to get to that point; in fact, I shared this with you in May of this year. If you missed it, you can check it out here: Secrets preview. 

 

Now, I need your help with a cover! My dear friend Jessica Cruz designed the two covers below. I am in awe of her talent and in love with both options, so I need my readers to help out. I have included the "back of the book" information for you to read before voting...

Sometimes you have to run away from everything you know to find out what matters…

Victoria Ryan has spent the past five years filling her portfolio full of regrets.

At 18, she ran away from her Christian heritage in search of love and lost herself in lust.

Now, with her luggage neatly packed in the back of her sports car, she flees California in search of something better.

A single sign announcing “Room for Rent” catches Victoria’s eye,

and before she knows it, she’s searching for answers on a ranch in Texas.

Trying to deal with the past and figure out the future, 

Victoria soon realizes that she’s not the only one who has secrets.

Dean McAllister has lived on his Texas ranch his entire life and doesn’t seem

to care about anything else.

While Victoria is trying to deal with her shameful past and hidden sins, 

she realizes that Dean is dealing with his own demons.

Can Victoria find redemption or is the past too much to be forgiven?

Will she ever find out the truth about Dean or will she leave the ranch never really knowing the man she has learned to care about?

And will either of them reveal their secrets and learn that

God is the only one who can make them whole again?

A story of redemption and forgiveness, Secrets reminds of us that God is loving 

and merciful in the times we deserve it least.

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14

Now that you know a little about the book - check out the two beautiful cover designs below. (And, yes, I realize that I am still Renee Johnson - the name change is simply in anticipation for the upcoming wedding and release of the book)

Comment on here or post on facebook whether you like 1 (fence and cowboy boots) or 2 (black, white, and pink) better. Feel free to tell me why you chose the one you did! Happy voting :)

 #1

#2



Stay tuned to hear more about the book - and learn how you can get copy.
Interested in being on the waiting list to receive one of the first signed copies?
Let me know! 

Within the Words

Books and CDs are two of my favorite things. And, while the rest of the world may be going to e-books and iTunes, I like to have the hard copy within my grasp. To touch it. Feel it. Own a piece of the art.

I still have a library card. And use it.

Today, I bought 10 books for $3.50 at a used book sale. I am excited to delve into each one.

Recently I needed a new devotion, so I searched and searched on Amazon until I finally decided on two - one about the women of the bible and one featuring practical ways to respect your husband. My total for these two books was around $20. I needed to add one more thing so that I didn't have to pay S&H. Brad Paisley's new CD came out that day, and I haven't had a new CD in a while.


   

I waited with anticipation for the arrival of my new stories, new challenges, new wisdom, new adventures. And they finally arrived. There is nothing like that moment when you open a book for the first time or hear the first few notes of a song. You are about to fall in love with new characters. Hear new stories. Travel to new places. Learn about yourself. Become a better person. Get lost in the music, the scenery...see the world or change your life. All in the words of a new book or the lyrics of a new song.

I can go to the Amish country (and I have many times). I can experience what it's like to be a widow after 9/11. I can be part of the Baxter family. I can fall in love a million times and live in a hundred different places.

I can learn about the differences in men and women. Hear many different voices of advice on respecting my husband. Prepare for my marriage. And become a better woman for my man.

I can spend 90 days with Jesus. Experience the life of Esther. Become acquainted with all of the women of the bible - and be a witness to their courage. Take a trip to heaven and see how the world ends - looking forward to being in the arms of Jesus.

I can fall in love with Ol' Alabama. Get marriage advice from Brad Paisley. Tear up when I think of everything that terminally ill children go through and everything St. Jude's does to help. Heck, I can even follow the life of a prostitute, go to Mexico, and find pride in where I come from.

Words can break hearts and mends hearts. Challenge and uplift you. Take you to the moon and back... There's nothing like the anticipation as the first few chords begin to play. Wondering if this will be your new favorite song, if this will be the one that makes sense of everything, the one that changes the moment.

There's something about reading a book or listening to a new CD that is like falling in love. Curious, at first. Anticipating and unsure. You learn something new and unexpected with every word. Your feelings rise and fall. And pretty soon you have a favorite song. Or a favorite chapter. The moment that you look forward to. Then you learn the words, memorize the story...it becomes comfortable. It's still magical but in the way that an old friend is magical and safe and warm and familiar. That is what music and literature is. It's falling in love over and over again.

So, to end this post, I say: Go fall in love.

Secrets

Today is a good day in so many ways. Work is going well. My walk this morning was relaxing. My meeting with my boss was very encouraging. I had a wonderful date with my Daddy last night. I get to see my future husband and share time with him and his family tonight - as we worship our Savior at church and watch Jericho (our newest netflix obsession). I am beyond blessed.

Another thing that makes me happy with anticipation...Secrets is almost ready to be printed! This book has been written for a couple of years. And is never far from my heart and mind. But I was missing the inspiration and peace to get it published. Thanks to a wonderful little lady who had the passion to write a book at 85 and Monday night dates with two close friends who believe in me, I feel that the time is almost here to introduce this story to the world.God is almost ready for His message to be told.

To me, this book is far better than the first book that I published. The story is stronger. The characters have stolen my heart; they are real and raw. And it's not simply a love story...it's a story of redemption. A story of coming home.

One day, I will introduce you to the characters. But, today, I want to give you a small peek at their lives. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Sunday morning came too early for Victoria. She was used to sleeping in on Sundays. After a week full of parties, fashion shoots, interviews, and trying to keep up Phil’s demands, Sunday was the one day that Victoria had for herself. Today, due to the early bedtime she was becoming accustomed to, Victoria woke up an hour after the sunrise. She lay in bed for half an hour trying to fall back asleep, and then decided it was hopeless.

She went in the bathroom and turned on the faucet. It spattered out brown and dirty, before washing into clear, refreshing water. She poured in lavender bath salts and let the aroma fill the air. It was soothing. And it reminded her of middle school.

Seventh grade. She had had a crush on Bobby Wheeler, but Bobby told her that she wasn’t pretty, and he didn’t like her. Victoria had gone home that night with tears running down her face. She wouldn’t tell her mom the details, so Ginny Ryan simply turned on the bathwater, poured in a handful of lavender salts, put on her favorite country CD, and left Victoria to bath away the pain… every since then lavender baths and Patsy Cline were the only things to help heal Victoria’s heart. It was like her mother was there with her, and she was forgiven and whole again, if only for a little while.

            Now, she crawled in the warm water as it cascaded over her cherry red toes. Closing her eyes, she sighed. The water was a blanket over her body, tucking her into memories and thoughts of California. At that time the week before she was in bed beside Timothy Hayden. At a party the night before, she had clung to him. He was handsome, easy to talk to, and enough of a gentleman to trust. By the end of the night, she had convinced him to let her come over. They had spent the night talking and then fell asleep next to each other.

            It was something she did almost every weekend, anytime there was a big party, anytime she could. She would find a guy who thought she was beautiful and get him to take care of her. It was easy enough. All guys wanted to be the hero to a damsel in distress. It was the jerks that she slept with. The gentlemen she just slept next to. Either way, it was her way of getting away from Phil.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

            Dean looked up at the choir, angry tears threatening to fill his eyes. He wouldn’t let himself cry. He never let himself cry. The choir was singing Amazing Grace, and it sounded beautiful. But he couldn’t help thinking about how that was Annie’s favorite song, and she deserved to be up there singing it with them. And she would have been if only he had…

            His eyes found Doc on the last row in the choir loft. Doc was singing out, a joyful smile on his face, believing every word he sang and not focusing on the negative. No, not Doc. Doc wouldn’t be thinking about how Annie should have been up there. Instead, he would be singing for Annie. He had told Dean before that he could just see Annie up in heaven, looking down, and smiling at the beautiful music, smiling at the worship. Dean wasn’t sure if he believed all that.

            Every Sunday of his life, Dean had attended Wilderness Baptist Church. There were several times, when life seemed to be crashing in around him and God seemed to be letting it, that Dean thought about skipping church. He never did though because going to church was habit for him, and he liked the people there. And a little bit at a time, he had begun to like God again too. Just like his parents would have wanted. Just like Annie would have wanted. And just like Doc.

            The sermon was about God’s love. About His understanding. The preacher even threw in a little about how God provides everything we need. Dean still doubted God on that one though. He needed Annie. He needed her to love him.

            But God had taken that away from him. Then he thought about the verse in Job…what did it say? The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord?  Dean didn’t understand why God would give someone something and then rip it away from them. It was something he thought about every day. He hadn’t found the answer yet, and he didn’t think he ever would.

Book Review

Just finished reading Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggrichs. This book lays out the biblical command for husbands to love their wives (and gives pointers on how women need love) and for wives to respect their husbands (and shows wives how men desperately need respect to be shown). Going through three different possible cycles in this process, Eggrichs breaks down the core of these desires, the differences between men and women in this area, and principles to move forward loving and/or respecting. 

It was written based on an amazing principle, but I was disappointed. Maybe I just had high expectations because of all the hype...but I expected something more. Don't get me wrong - it has some great principles. Anyone who is struggling in their relationship should definitely pick up a copy and make time to read it. It is definitely biblical based. I didn't disagree with any of the points presented. For some people, the love and respect concept is new - and I think it's an important one to grasp.

But I felt like 60% of the book was redundant. I would have enjoyed the book more if it had just been chapters 16-21 (which focus on respecting a man's desire for conquest, hierarchy,authority, insight, relationship,and sexuality). I did appreciate his point that the marriage relationship is just as much about your relationship with God as it is about your spouse - and I pray I can remember that.

I prefer, and would suggest to anyone in a serious relationship, Becoming the Woman of His Dreams by Sharon Jaynes. This book focuses on seven qualities that men long for in a wife. The woman of your man's dreams: prays for him, respects him, adores him, is his friend, safegaurds her marriage and home, encourages him, and sexually fulfills him.  Sharon gives quotes and opinions of real men, and she also includes ideas of ways to show adoration, encouragement, things to build you husband up, things never to say to your husband, etc.

I thought that Jaynes covered everything that Eggrichs did - but she didn't tarry too long on one topic. She gets to the point, provides plenty of detail and support, and gives some great advice and ideas. She gives real world examples (Eggrich does too) and also gives ideas of how we can follow through (I did appreciate the points at the end of the Love and Respect chapters as well). I found Jaynes to be an easier read - and the fact that she's a woman writing to women may be helpful in relating to her.

So which one should you read? Both. I believe you can never be too good of a girlfriend, fiancee, wife, or woman. Both of these books have some great points, and even if it only helps in one or two ways - it's still going to help you become a better person, a better husband, a better (future?) wife. So grab a highlighter and curl up with a good book.