Saturday, October 15, 2016

Where Is the Right to Life?

In school, I wrote the following paragraph as an assignment. After doing so, I decided to share it with you. Maybe you will find that this challenges you, as it did me in writing it.

Whatever happened to the inalienable rights of all men as given in the Declaration of Independence? Where have the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” gone? True, the American citizen possesses these rights, but what of the defenseless? What of those who have no voice? What of them who desire life, but are denied? What of the helpless babe in the womb? What of the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? The society of today has made exceptions to the rule granting all humans life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. When babies are killed, they lose their liberty and pursuit of happiness as well as their lives. They are discarded as waste, unimportant, and burdensome. Some even use these babies for their own gain. Most call it abortion, but it should be called what it is—murder. It has become lawful to abolish the right to life. Without a voice, babies are helpless to the horrors done to them. Few are standing up for the rights of the unborn. When American citizens refuse to stand up for the rights of babies, then they are giving up the rights that they themselves love without regard to the babies that will never be able to enjoy the experience of their freedoms. Because Americans call these “fetuses” burdensome, they cast them away without a second thought. Who is defending the defenseless? Who is fighting for the freedom of those who have no voice? Who is working boldly toward bringing life to those who so desire, but are denied. Who will help the helpless babe in the womb? Who will stand with the pregnant unwed woman who sees no option but abortion? If even Christians, who have a God-given mandate to stand up for them, will not do so, then how can they expect the nation—and the world—to do what they won't?

This isn't an easy calling. But it is right. Christians need to step out of their comfort zones and enter the pain of the world to come to the defense of those unborn. They are alive, and they need a defender. Will you—will I—take up the call?

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Favorite Books

A huge group of bloggers are participating in a book party at Rebekah Morris's blog "Read Another Page." It goes on until this Friday, the 30th. Six blogs (including Rebekah Morris's) are posting their top five favorite books in two genres each day. Every day they offer a prize, and to top it all off, there is an amazing grand prize. You can enter in numerous ways. I'm having a blast at the party so far, and I'd highly recommend heading over there to join in the fun!

Since this has thrown me into a bookish mood (which I'm always in anyways), I'm going to post a few of my favorite books in the mystery, historical fiction, and spiritual warfare genres. Enjoy and be sure to enter the giveaway!


For the longest time, mystery was my favorite genre. Lately, historical fiction and fantasy have overruled it, but I still love to immerse myself in a great mystery novel. I am, however, struggling to find good, clean, mysteries for teen readers such as myself. I love ones that keep you guessing and send shivers up your spine. Any recommendations? Following are some of my favorites from a few years ago.

The "Red Rock Mysteries" series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Chris Fabry are wonderful adventures full of twists and turns. I've thoroughly enjoyed each one I've read; my only complaint is that they are over too quickly!

Another series I re-read repeatedly when I was younger was the "No Place Like Holmes" books by Jason Lethcoe. They keep you flipping pages and are just the type that I described above. I wish they were written for my age level!

Yet a third series of delightful mysteries is the "Adventures of the Northwoods" by Lois Walfrid Johnson. They also qualify as historical fiction, set in Wisconsin. I really had fun with both the mystery, and the struggles of the times.



An abundance of these novels decorate my shelves. I can't get enough of good historical fiction. I don't have a specific time period that I enjoy most; I'll read whatever time period I can get my hands on!

At the end of 2015, I discovered Molly Evangeline and her first series, "Pirates and Faith." They are an exciting series set in the Caribbean Sea, 1702. I also appreciated the length of each book; there's nothing better than a good, long book that you can escape to!

Recently, I discovered book one in the "Out From Egypt" series by Connilyn Cossette. Counted With the Stars follows an Egyptian woman through the plagues and the Exodus. It contains a very unique perspective that I enjoyed. I don't agree with all the aspects of the book, but for the most part, it was in sync with the Biblical account.

Francine River's series, "The Mark of the Lion" is powerful! I did a post on how it affected me that you can read HERE. This is set a little after the time of Jesus in Rome and Ephesus. It is graphic, but an amazing series nonetheless.

On a lighter note, I also had fun reading the "Black Stallion" series by Walter Farley, and am now re-reading it with my sister. For anyone who loves horses, these novels are a must!

I've had a great time reading all of Susan Marlow's novels. She has several series for various age groups. Each series is centered around tomboy Andrea Carter living in Fresno, California in the 1880s. My favorite of her series is "Circle C Adventures."

Lastly, Lauraine Snelling wrote a short novel taking place during the Mount St. Helens eruption called "What about Cimmaron?" I enjoyed the unique perspective of the characters.


I don't think that this is technically a "genre," but for my purposes it is. I haven't read too many of these, but I'll share the ones that I have because I've loved them!

Rachel Starr Thomson has a series called "The Oneness." While I've only read the first few, I've been intrigued by the way that the author portrays the spiritual realm.

I've read multiple books by Josh McDowell that are also jam-packed full of the spiritual. To name a few in "The Powerlink Chronicles:" Under Siege, The Deceivers, and Truth Slayers. All were very challenging. I'd recommend all three for teens and adults—mostly teens.

Perhaps this has helped you find more books to add to your to-be-read list. I hope so! If you have read any of the above mentioned books, I'd enjoy hearing your thoughts on them. What are your favorite books in these genres? I'd love to hear your input and make sure you go enter that giveaway right away!

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Why I Disappeared . . .

You may be wondering why I disappeared. This time, I have a good reason. :) Multiple, actually. I don't even know where to begin.

I suppose I should start with the biggest reason I've vanished from the blogging world. If you know me either in person or follow Andi's Blog, you should know that my family was threatened by the Chimney Fire. My area was put under mandatory evacuation and our power was out for multiple days. After about two long weeks of watching the smoke and then flames, the fire was stopped nearly a mile and a half away from my house. So, I was a little bit preoccupied and blogging was not on my list of top priorities. Prior to that and since then, I have had school work to do, and now I'm focusing on catching up. I'm also in the process of beta-reading two books for some great friends and trying to get back to my own writing project(s) after a rather long and unintentional break.

However, I am just so grateful that the Lord saved my home from the flames. Thank you to everyone who was praying for me. Those prayers had a lot to do with stopping the fire!

I've been writing a few posts, but felt like this one needed to be written first, so you knew that I was still doing well. :) Keep your eyes out for those upcoming posts!

Oh yes, and as a side note, today is National Buy A Book Day. An author I follow did a great post about it that you can visit HERE.

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Sisters In Christ Interview

Hello! I just wanted to drop in and let you know that Faith P. posted an interview with me on her blog this morning. Be sure to check it out and leave a comment! We would both love to hear your input!

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Nature Shots

I recently visited my grandparents in Pacific Grove and pulled out my camera. I only got a few photos of the ocean this time, but I got several of a seagull and my grandma's flowers. To view them larger, just click on the picture. Enjoy!



Isn't the expression cute?

I was so happy with the clarity of this one.


Believe it or not, I didn't take these in sepia. Aren't they cool?





This is probably my favorite of the flower pictures.

I like the framing and colors on this one.
All photos are © Bethany R.

What do you think? Which is your favorite? Any tips for me? Also, as a side note, now that Camp NaNo is over, if you would like to enter the writing challenge but weren't able, I will still be accepting entries for a few more days. Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, July 22, 2016

The Silent Blade Blog Tour

I am so excited for today's post. I am participating in a blog tour for the release of The Silent Blade. The author, Jesseca Wheaton, is a good friend of mine and a very talented author. I am honored to have been a beta reader for her and also to have written the back cover copy for The Silent Blade. That being said, I am thrilled to say that this novel is releasing today! Congratulations, Jesseca! I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for you. This is quite an accomplishment. :)
When I first saw the cover for The Silent Blade I was amazed. It looks so professional and does a splendid job of capturing the general feel of the story. Isn't it beautiful?
 
Jesseca Wheaton-Author

 ~Author Bio~
Jesseca is an 18-year old daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano.  And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home.


~Synopsis~
Dromiskin, Ireland. 925 A.D.

Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin's sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.
When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?
As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?

~My Review~
Reading The Silent Blade left me in awe. From the first page to the last, the book captivated me. It held everything that I had been hoping for—and more. From sword-fighting to a hint of romance, this novel was well-written and exciting. The plot—intriguing. The characters—well formed. The setting—realistic. The whole story remained true to the time period and proved to be well researched. It transported me into ancient Ireland. The plot was well-crafted and flowed easily from one scene to the next.

One area of novels that is always crucial for me to enjoy a story is in the characters. Jesseca went above my expectations. Each of the characters are so . . . real. As I read, I got to know them. I saw into their heart and fell in love with them. They weren't made perfect, but rather with faults and little personality quirks that make reading about them so much more enjoyable. The way that they handled situations was God-honoring and refreshing.


~Summing it Up~
I am so glad that I have been able to read The Silent Blade. I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to all who enjoy reading Christian historical fiction. To celebrate its release, Jesseca is hosting a giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also, below is a list of other fans participating in this blog tour. To read what they have to say about this outstanding book, I encourage you to click on the links. Thank you for reading my thoughts on this wonderful novel. Now, pay a visit to Amazon and order The Silent Blade.

Wednesday, July 20th

Mikayla H.at The Bubblegum Ballerina --Review
Blessings Counter at Counting your Blessings One by One --Author Interview
Ivy Rose at  Lakeside Publications --Review, Spotlight
Mallory Beth at Renewed by Grace --Review
Thursday, July 21st

Lydia Dyslin at Through the Wardrobe --Review
Rebekah Eddy at Rebekah’s Remarks --Review, Interview
Abigayle Allison at The Left-Handed Typist --Review, Spotlight
Friday, July 22nd (Publication Day!!)

Blessings Counter at Counting your Blessings One by One --Review
Rebekah Ashleigh at Rebekah Ashleigh --Spotlight
Amanda Tero at  With a Joyful Noise --Review, Interview, Spotlight
Deborah O’Carroll at The Road of a Writer –Review, Spotlight
Kaitlyn K. at Prairie Gal Cookin’ --Review, Spotlight
Bethany R. at A Great God and Good Cocoa --Review, Spotlight
Deborah C. at Reading in June --Spotlight, Review
Emily at A Purpose and a Promise --Spotlight, Review

Saturday, July 23rd

Kellyn Roth at Reveries--Review, Interview
Jason McIntire at Elisha Press--Interview
Natasha H. at Looking Through my Lens --Review
Faith P. at Stories by Firefly --Review, Interview
Monday, July 25th

Jesseca Wheaton at Whimsical Writings --Blog Tour wrap-up post


Once again, Jesseca, congratulations. I loved reading The Silent Blade and I'm so thrilled for you. Thank you for allowing me to participate in the blog tour, be a beta reader for you, and write your synopsis. I'm so proud of you! Now you can finally go sit back, relax, and enjoy your accomplishment. Super job!

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Happy 3rd Birthday, Blog!

*cues confetti*

I made it through three years of blogging! Hurray! This has been a wonderful way for me to make friends, share my life, and have a creative outlet. Through these three years of blogging I have "met" many people and learned that yes, you can have friends over the internet. Each of the people I've gotten to know through blogging have truly impacted my life. Being homeschooled, I am not out and about making too many new friends so having you has been wonderful.

You are what really keep me blogging. I have been one of the most inconsistent bloggers that I know, yet you continue stick with me. Your comments make my day. I love how you are so encouraging, and I can only hope that I am the same to you. You have made my blogging experience most enjoyable. I cannot thank you enough for sticking around. I really appreciate your participation. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Friday, July 15, 2016

Summer Days and Lost People

Quite an interesting title, I know. How do they relate? They really don't. :) So please, bear with my rambling.

I am not overly fond of summer. It gets hot. Where I live in central California, temperatures are usually anywhere from the 90s to the one hundred and teens.  And I don't particularly enjoy heat. Give me rain and cold any day.

Of course, there are benefits to the season. Our pool is often like a jacuzzi. And naturally, no school. :) Most of our summer is busy nonetheless, but there are those days when you have practically nothing to do. Yesterday was one of those days. I read about 500 pages! I read nearly all day, and let me tell you—it felt wonderful. Just lounging around, immersing myself in another world, another time period, another land. It is an escape from reality, but in some cases, also a call to face reality.

So it was with one of the books that I read most of yesterday. An Echo in the Darkness by Francine Rivers is the second book in the Mark of the Lion trilogy. It is set in ancient Rome and Ephesus shortly after Jesus walked the earth. Reading Books One and Two of this series was very enjoyable, but it also a bit depressing at times.

Whenever Rivers described the cities, I felt as though she was discussing America today. Tolerant of everything, all lifestyles, all sins. It opened my eyes to how many people are searching for answers but don't know where to look—or they do but won't humble themselves. They worship whatever god they need at the time, and then move on to the next idol. Their lives are purposeless, without meaning. They engage in anything to please themselves, without thought to consequences or right and wrong. Their motto is live for today. Whatever is right for you is right for you. Supporting and praising sin. Abortion. Transgender bathrooms and locker rooms. Not staying pure until marriage.

I know that America is only one of many countries who have fallen into deep sin. Reading this novel and the first one made me look around. How could I help these lost people? Many times I wonder if anything I do could even make a difference. How can one person change lives? Again, this book helped me see how much difference one person can make, even when he/she doesn't think they are making a change. In this book, Rivers actually used a non-Christian character to convert someone! Talk about God working in mysterious ways.

Okay, I think that's enough for now. To sum this all up: we live in a world headed for destruction. But God has placed each of us in a specific place for a special purpose. Don't neglect that purpose or forget that no matter our circumstances, God has a plan and you can always reach out to others. He will use difficulty to bring others to know Him through us. By trusting God in all things and sharing Him with others, each one of us CAN make a difference in a lost and dying world.

And just a reminder, don't forget to check out my new summer blog design and enter the writing challenge! The deadline is July 22. Thank you!

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Writing Challenge #6!

Today I come before you with another writing challenge. I look forward to reading the entries I shall receive! As a refresher, here are the rules:

1) I give you a "moral." (See below)
2) You write a 500-600 word story that reflects this moral.
3) Send it to me via the "Send Me an Email" gadget on the right sidebar of my blog. (Or just through my email if you have my address.) Please include your name or an alias.
4) The due date is July 22. Shortly thereafter I will post the entries.

Your moral is . . .
 Sometimes remaining silent is the best option.

I'm super excited to read what you write! If you are participating in Camp NaNo but you still want to participate in this, you can make your story shorter than 500 words if need be.

And finally, check out my newest summer blog design! Let me know what you think!

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Discipline

No, I'm not in trouble. :) Let me begin to explain the title: I went to L.I.F.E. Camp last week (June 13-16) and we studied a few of the various spiritual disciplines. Before I talk about that, let me recap a bit of my week of camp.

I was pretty nervous about going to camp this year in particular because it was my first year attending the high school camp. There were only seventeen campers and I knew very few of them. As the week went on, I learned more about studying the Bible and I made several new friends. The awesome thing is, many of the friends I made had actually been attending the camp for the exact number of years as I had. In the small group environment, we finally "met" each other and became friends, for which I was so grateful. Making these friends changed the course of my week and made camp so much more enjoyable for me. (Thanks, you guys! You're the best!)

As far as the activities at camp, we did tomahawk throwing, swimming, slip 'n slide, capture the flag, Apples to Apples (SO MUCH FUN IN A BIG GROUP!), lazer tag, an after-dark hike, and so much more. It was amazing. The staff had all been at previous years of L.I.F.E. Camp and I knew them all. They were wonderful mentors for us!

As I mentioned above, the focus of the teachings was the spiritual disciplines. As a group we made a list of them. They are in no particular order.
  1. Prayer
  2. Silence/Solitude
  3. Fellowship
  4. Bible Reading
  5. Encouragement
  6. Resisting Temptation
  7. Fasting
  8. Scripture Memorization
  9. Meditation
  10. Speaking
  11. Preaching
  12. Worship
  13. Testimony
  14. Celebration
  15. Service
  16. Rest
  17. Accountability
Of course, this list could include many more areas, but these are the ones we came up with. I found this series of teachings to be very fascinating and a great reminder of the things we should be doing. Some of these are easier than others depending on the person, but all are equally important. This is why they are called spiritual disciplines. We have to discipline ourselves in all these areas.

Even Jesus was disciplined. At age twelve in the temple he studied with the teachers. The important thing about learning these disciplines is that they take work. None of them will be easy at all times, and most take training. Jesus also demonstrated this.

Looking at this list, I shake my head. How am I supposed to do ALL THIS?? But I can, it just takes work. If you wish, join me in trying to train toward being better at all these disciplines. Let me know and we can encourage each other! And keep each other accountable. Hey, that's two of the disciplines right there!

Hopefully sometime in the semi close future I can bring you up-to-date on everything going on, but next week I'll be gone at camp again—this time as a counselor! (It's my first time counseling and I'm the youngest counselor.) I'm super nervous and I'd really appreciate all your prayers. Thank you all!