Thursday, December 06, 2007

Dear Loved One,

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a
celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be
repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are
many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world
everyone is saying that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think
of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At
first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them,
but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family
and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the
meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The dinner
table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and
chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped
gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest
of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for
me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in
my face .... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.

In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close
their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without
making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking;
there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They
were having a grand time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red
wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk.
He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: 'Santa Claus,
Santa Claus' ... as if the party were in his honor!

At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms
waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know ... no one hugged me. Suddenly
they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great
expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for
me.

What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did
not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly
left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts,
the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow
me to enter into your life. I would like that you recognize the fact that
almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on
the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your
heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party,
I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever
imagined, a spectacular party.

I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many
invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend
and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters
in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the
party. Those who don't answer the invite, will be left outside.

Be prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great party.
See you soon.
I Love you!


JESUS

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Tangerine

Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith



This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is posting about Tangerine (Revell, January 2007) by Marilynn Griffith (fellow CFBA member, blogger, writer, and mother of *GULP* seven!)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marilynn Griffith is wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. Her novels include Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006), Pink (Revell, Feb. 2006), Jade (Revell, June 2006), and If the Shoe Fits (Revell, 2007). Her other credits include Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Cup of Comfort Devotionals and her Shades of Style series (Revell, 2006). She lives in Florida with her husband and children. To book speaking engagements or just say hello, email: marilynngriffith@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Tangerine is the third book in the Shades of Style Novels.

Fans of Pink and Jade will eat up Tangerine, the third book in the cutting-edge Shades of Style series. Jean Guerra, a designer at Garments of Praise design firm, doesn't like surprises. These days though, the unexpected meets her everywhere. Since Jean's return to the church a year ago, her God-encounters occur with increasing frequency, along with thoughts of her husband-the one she vowed to divorce and gave up on long ago. The one nobody at work knows about, not even her best friend, Lily, or her boss, Chenille. But when the designer assigned to work with Jean on a line of men's suits shows up, her heart flips. It's her husband, Nigel Salvador. Jean is finally rendered speechless. Can her bruised heart become whole enough to love again? Or will she remain in the trenches of loneliness forever?



The book link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0800730429


Marilynn's website link: http://marilynngriffith.typepad.com/rhythmsofgrace/

THE 3RD COVENANT - a Comparison

The following table shows where THE 3RD COVENANT stands against 7 top authors and 14 other books.

Title

Author

Times out

times per month

Judge and Jury

Cold Moon

Death Dance

Promise Me

The 3rd Covenant

The Camel Club

Violet Dawn

3rd Degree

The Collectors

Web of Lies

The 12th Card

Words of Silk

Above and Beyond

Entombed

No Second Chance

James Patterson

Jeffery Deaver

Linda Fairstein

Harlan Coben

David Brollier

David Baldacci

Brandilyn Collins

James Patterson

David Baldacci

Brandilyn Collins

Jeffery Deaver

Sandra Brown

Sandra Brown

Linda Fairstein

Harlan Coben

CHO 9

CHO 17

CHO 17

CHO 16

CHO 11

CHO 21

CHO 4

CHO 34

CHO 2

CHO 2

CHO 17

CHO 29

CHO 30

CHO 19

CHO 31

2.25

2.43

2.43

2.28

1.83

1.71

1.3

1.08

1.00

1.00

.94

.94

.91

.82

.72