Another month had come and gone, and CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE! Need I say that this is one of my very favorite Holidays?!? November was busy as usual but in a good way! We had a lovely month, and I can’t wait to share a few things with you!

November Favorites

Bible Verse: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

This verse has become very special to me over the last several months, and even now, it has permanently become one of my favorites. The visual picture of God as the Father of Lights…it’s breath-taking and mind-boggling. We serve such a truly awesome God. All I can picture is the Northern lights. With our God being the Father and Creator of Lights like that, can you imagine what Heaven will be like? And knowing that every good thing that happens to us, all the blessings we receive, are special gifts just for us from God, is such a special feeling!

Song: I know…I’ve mentioned this song multiple times, but Every Good and Perfect Gift by Adam and Megan Morgan is still on my radar and was an especially loved song this past month.

Event: Getting to gather with my family for thanksgiving two weeks in a row! It was such a blessing to spend time with family, especially those we don’t get to see as often. We had a wonderful time!

Book of the Month: Worth Dying For by Rorke Denver. Mr. Denver is a Navy SEAL and this book…wow, it was profound. He explained why he thinks there is such a divide between military and civilians, how the problem can be fixed, and the whole reason Americans fight. Why we are so dedicated to what we believe in. It was a rare, raw glimpse at the Warrior’s Heart and is not something I will soon forget. His analogy about Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs was so good. Now, there were one or two words I had to mark out, but not used often. After editing, I would gladly hand this over to a 16-year-old. I’m not sure that I agree with everything that he said, but you know, few people agree on everything. Personally, I think every American should read this book, especially our politicians and our up and coming generation.

Ministry: Revival! We had a lovely week of revival with a pastor friend of ours in Liberty, N.C. We got to sing a new song for us girls, God of Wonders (ever heard me talk about that one? 😉). The services were excellent and God did a work in hearts.

Writing Update: We are still editing book 4 of The Battle for Heritage Series and am happy to report that it is going well. I am also drafting Book 5 and making headway. We’ll probably take a break due to Christmas, but we are right on track with our new goals! Also, since Christmas is such an inspiring time of year, I try to take some time to work on future Christmas stories, just for the fun of it!

A Book I am Anticipating for December: Quick note on last month’s anticipated read, The Real Lincoln was so good! 5 stars! If you are interested in that time era and learning some oft-hidden truths about the war, read this book! I’m really looking forward to all the Christmas books! I love this time of year, and I’ve heard about a few new ones I want to check out, as well as reread a few, like Wind Chimes by Victoria Minks and Behold by Faith Potts! Might even dig out my copy of Faith Blum’s O Come All Ye Faithful! And I just realized all of these are collections…
 
And Now, Some Writing Prompts…

That's all for now!
Merry Christmas!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

I love books! That should come as no surprise, given all the reviews I’ve posted here and the fact that I write books! But there are some story plots that I enjoy more than others! Here are five of my favorites in no particular order!

The Bad Guy Speech

Okay, this is probably one of the lamest movie/book clichés out there, but it is one of my very favorites! I can’t stand not knowing exactly what the bad guy is planning to do. I want to know every little detail and know how the hero stopped it from happening/got things back to normal. I also count the bad guy spilling the beans after they are caught in this category (Think Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys). Now, I know this is totally unrealistic, but sorry, I love it 😉

The Miraculous Recovery

I know this one can be over used and can seem convenient in some literature, but this is something that doesn’t really bother me. It’s also plausible; people can pull through near-death experiences. Now, I don’t want to read a book that uses this setting a dozen times, but two or three is all right.

Villains I Can’t Relate To
*blinks* I. Don’t. Like. Bad. Guys. And I don’t want to be able to relate to their feelings or their mind-set or feel sorry for them at all. So if you have no intentions of making your bad guy in the least way likable, I will probably like your story. If you are going to try and make me like that Nazi, he’d better be clueless as to what’s going on, a secret agent for the allies or going to see the truth at some point in the story and become a good guy. *takes a deep breath* Sorry, I do not want a villain in a story to have redeemable qualities or anything at all that makes me feel sorry for them. If he’s the bad guy, make him the bad guy.

The Slightly Crazy Sidekick

Okay, not literally crazy, but the one who provides a good laugh line, or suggests they take their mind off their troubles and just enjoy the moment. The one who can have a good time, but be serious when they need to be. The one who compliments the main character in the best possible way. Those sidekicks are the best!

Rags to Riches

But only when done the right way. I love seeing a story where the person is poor and works their way up in life honestly, but even more so, I love seeing a person, ‘poor’ because they are unsaved, then through the story, come to know the Savior and become an heir of heaven. That is my favorite manifestation of Rags to Riches. But if you want a story with both, check out Isabella Alden’s Three People. It’s my 2nd Favorite Book ever! (The Holy War by John Bunyan is my 1st favorite 😉)

Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Hello, and welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner! Today I’m continuing a tradition I started 2 years ago, listing some of the top things I’m thankful for this year!

*Life! This year more than ever, I have come to appreciate the gift God has given us by giving us breath! Thank God for pro-life parents and siblings! Thank God for Eternal Life found in Him! And Thank God for caring about every sparrow (and every unborn baby)!

*Family! Family is one of the greatest blessings God gives us! I am blessed to live in a large family (Dad, Mom, 7 kids, 2 brothers-in-law, and 6 nieces and nephews!) with potential to explode the population of the United States as the rest of us marry and have kids 😉 I can’t imagine life in any other family!

*Friends! God has blessed me with so many good friends over the years, and this year, I’ve learned that taking them for granted is a big mistake. You might not always be as close as you were. Life comes along, and people tend to drift away and make new friends. Enjoy the time that you have together!

*America! I probably say this every year, but hey, I love my country! I cannot stress enough what my country means to me! She’s the greatest nation on the planet, and I am humbled that God chose to allow me to be born here!

*Our Military! Yes, this is another repeat, but this year, I met a sweet young author, and she has opened my eyes to a little more of what our guys go through daily.   It’s heartbreaking seeing exactly how PTSD affects every serviceman in one way or another. It doesn’t always show in flashbacks or nightmares, though these definitely happen. There’s the guilt complex, mood swings, the “100-yard stare” or the everyday memories of that horrifying experience they went through. We owe them a great debt, not only for risking their lives and giving their time to protect us, but sacrificing a “normal” life so we can keep ours.

*Music! This year I got to attend the Majesty Music Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. And believe me, this conference gave me a brand-new appreciation for Godly music! Such an encouragement!

*Conservative Values! My family has always taught my siblings and me to seek God when it comes to anything in life. What does God say about Marriage? About Life? About Capital Punishment? Because in the long run, it doesn’t matter what man thinks. It matters what God thinks. I praise the Lord for parents who have guided me to God’s views of the world around us, and the conservative values taught in His Word!

*The Pro-Life Movement! Speaking of Conservative Values, I am so grateful for those who are willing to stand up for the unborn, the mentally handicapped and the elderly! Just this year, I was blessed to begin working for Pregnant Options, a website that allows women in crisis to find the Care Center closest to them. These Care Centers help them prepare to be a mother, offer classes on Motherhood, provide medical services, and if needed give referrals to adoption agencies.  It’s a blessing to see everything these centers provide to those who want to choose life for their child! And it’s a joy to help with the editing of articles that have potential to save lives and offer hope to those in hard situations!

*Books! Good books! This year, I have read so many good books, whether it be a physical copy, eBook, or audio, there are so many good books out there! I love a story that challenges me personally in my spiritual life or in some other aspect (getting organized, writing advice, etc.). I also love an informative book. Like a biography, history, or even a cultural study (like The South Was Right! There is so much more to this book than the title reveals!) But there have also been those books that didn’t turn out so great…the ones I couldn’t finish. Which makes me appreciate the excellent books even more!

*Cooking! This year, I’ve actually gotten to play around in the kitchen a little bit…and nobody has died, and nothing has caught on fire 😉 I have cooked in the past, but Sarah is our main cook, so getting the opportunity to try my hand at culinary arts is always fun! Chicken Gyros anyone?

Have a Blessed Day!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

It’s officially Fall (has been for over a month 😉)! My favorite season of all! I love the cold weather, the leaves, the scents, the colors…*happy sigh* I can finally enjoy the long-sleeved shirts that I’d packed away months ago! And I have much to share today, so let’s hop right in! (P.S. Happy International Redheads Day to all my Ginger friends out there!)

October Favorites

Bible Verse: Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:3

This verse has been special to my family for many years, especially when my dad was going through some health issues. (He’s fine now, btw!) Sometimes, we need to step back and just be still and know that He is God. It’s easy to say, but when the truth of that verse really gets into your heart, it’s so special. HE IS GOD! He is in control!

Song: I know I have shared about this song before, but my sisters and I just learned God of Wonders by Adam Morgan, and I absolutely love it!

Event: Attending the Ark Encounter in Kentucky!!! During a Missions Conference in Ohio, we were able to drive over to see Ken Ham’s Ark replica, and oh! It was breathtaking! I hope to do an entire post on it soon, so stay tuned for that!

Book of the Month: Three People by Isabella Alden. 5 STARS!!!! This is my favorite book by my favorite Author! I reread the book this past month, and I enjoyed it so much! It’s the story of three young men, born the same day and how the world seeks to destroy them with the demon rum, but how God has other plans. It shows how we are called to temperance, and while you may have help held out to you, not all will accept it. Oh, read this book!

Ministry: I have 3 events to report on! First, our Ohio Missions Conference! It was such a blessing! We got to mingle with our fellow missionaries, meet the Church members, listen to sermons by Dr. Don Sisk 💚 and got to help the church with a canvasing mission (we picked several streets and went door to door inviting people to church and gave them special edition John and Romans booklets and FBN material)!

Next was our Fall Share-a-thon! The Lord blessed mightily, and we were able to raise enough money to cover us through March, plus we were able to raise enough money to pay for over 5,000 bibles to be printed and sent to countries asking for them, including Myanmar, Russia, Mexico, Africa, and Haiti!

And finally, we come to the Ambassador Baptist College Missions Conference. The guest speaker, Bro. Ron White was such a blessing, and getting to share FBN with the students at Ambassador made for an enjoyable time. I was asked to give my testimony in the ladies’ dorm devotions, which I had never done before, so I was quite nervous. I also was getting over Laryngitis, which gave me a lovely voice, as you can imagine 😂 But God helped me through it, and I enjoyed the opportunity!

Writing Update: WE ARE EDITING AGAIN! Consistently, my mom has been finishing chapters and turning them over to me! A Song of Home is getting closer and closer to the finish line! It’s so exciting to see the story taking shape into something that actually looks like a book! 😉 And Book Five is in the drafting stage and making steady progress! For those who love Jeremy Calling…well, I’m working on his scenes! You’re welcome 😉

A Book I am Anticipating for November: I’m really looking forward to reading The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo (Author of Lincoln Unmasked). And I can’t wait to start finding some Christmas books to check out. I love the Christmas season, so I’m eager to start early getting in the mood!
 
And Now, Some Writing Prompts…

That's all for Now! Have a Lovely Week and I'll see you Friday!
In Christ,
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

Emoji art supplied by Emoji One

I’m so excited about today’s post! Kassie introduced herself to me earlier this year, and I have enjoyed everything I’ve read from her thus far. So when I had the opportunity to help her with her newest project, I jumped at the chance! And today, Kassie is revealing her gorgeous cover with the world! But first…a little information about this project!

The synopsis:
 
Some scars can't be seen. And some can't be hidden.
 
Layla Trent's life is pretty much perfect, except for the little matter of a dog of her own-- and maybe a brother. So why does a random nightmare of a princess dress, a hospital, and a stranger who's definitely not her daddy feel more like an aching wound? And can a broken, glassy-eyed puppy somehow help her release the pain she didn't even know she was carrying?
 
Corporal Andrew Reyes has proven he has what it takes to be the best-- a US Army Ranger. But when a double tragedy rocks his world, his resolve is shaken to the core. What's left for a man to live for when he's lost everything he ever wanted to be? And is the sudden appearance of a teenage girl with a three-legged therapy dog a cruel joke or a divine appointment?
 
Some scars can't be hidden. But some don't need to be. 

Kassie’s bio:
 
Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e., debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unsuspectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing at SoldierGirlStories.com.
https://soldiergirlstories.com
 
And just because Kassie has been annoyed with this question so much, I will clarify that this book is definitely not a romance! The soldier is older than Layla, and there is absolutely no romantic hinting in this story at all.
And now that you’ve been so patient, here is the beautiful cover!

Isn’t it perfect? I just love it so much! And the story (as far as I’ve gotten to read) is so good! I can’t wait to get my own personal copy of this beauty!

That’s it for now! Have a blessed week!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22