Hello and welcome back to Life of Heritage Corner. I hope each of you is having a blessed Memorial Day. It’s definitely gonna be different, not going to the parade, but my family is amazing, making sure I have an awesome Memorial Day Birthday!

And as you can see from the title…A SONG OF HOME IS HERE!!!

*cough*

Well, not exactly.

Let me explain.

So, the original plan was to release A Song of Home on Memorial Day. My timeline was perfect. Everything was falling into place. Then I got sick for three days with allergies. Three days that would have ensured that this book was already at the press by now. So, yeah, my timetable was upset.

I also got the opportunity to visit with my sister’s family over the past week. I was able to get progress done on my final polishing edits while there, thank God, but who wants to stay on a laptop all day when you have adorable little people asking you to play with them, hold them and randomly telling you they love you? Not me! I had a blast, loving on my littles and helping my sister and just getting an overall change of pace. It’s actually helped my editing.

So, one of the things I got finished while there was the cover for A Song of Home. The little tweaks to the back cover and all. Would you like to see it?

While I know a lot of authors have more glamorous covers, I have to admit, I really like the look of this cover. My sister was a huge help and my mom helped me settle on the right plantation house picture. Thanks, y’all!

Above, I mentioned something about a blog tour…

Yes, I decided to do one. And yes, I realize this is in the middle of a series…actually past the middle, but who’s counting? Anyway, some lovely friends of mine talked me into going ahead with it, so over the next five days, I will be posting their links here along with some something about A Song of Home here on the blog. Oh and did I mention there is a giveaway? One recipient will be gifted a set of all four of the books in The Battle for Heritage Series in eBook format! International friends are welcome! You can enter here!

So that wraps it up for the day!
Have a lovely day in the Lord!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

PS. In Honor of this Most Blessed Holiday (that came about because of Southern Ladies following the War Between the States) I have linked my previous Memorial Day post below! Don’t forget to thank a Veteran!

Happy Memorial Day! (2018)

This is the last post of 2019. Hard to believe, even harder to write.

This year, my word of the year was Stand. I had no idea how special this word would be to me.

I was challenged in several ways to stand. I was privileged to stand for life through working with Pregnant Options, attending a Pro-Life Rally, and signing a few petitions that came my way. I have been challenged to stand even firmer in my stance that the King James Bible is the Word of God by seeing the increase of people turning away from it. I’ve been inspired to stand in my Baptist Faith by reading of the mighty work God has done through my spiritual ancestors. And I’ve even be challenged to stand by the fundamental truths of American History 😉 (Try answering the question “What do you think of Abraham Lincoln?” when the one asking is a very kind northern lady and you desperately want to avoid hurting her feelings but be honest as well! Praise the Lord, He gave me a kind answer and we both left the conversation happy!)
 
Now more than ever, we need to take a stand for what we believe in. The devil is fighting hard, and man continues to call evil good and good evil. But we must stand! We have no choice! The gospel depends on it!
 
I’m eager to share my word of the year with you in my next post, and I can’t wait to see how God uses it in my life.
 
Now, my December Favorites!

Bible Verse: Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Don’t ask me why, but even more so than the actual account of Jesus Birth, this passage gives me chills. This is Who He Is! Look at all the promises in these verses, just in the names given to Jesus! What a genuinely mighty God we Serve!

Song: Good Christian Men Rejoice. It’s my official Favorite Christmas Song this Year!

Event: Our After-Christmas-Family-Gathering! Almost everyone made it in for lunch, and it was so nice having all my siblings and their families in at the same time!

Book of the Month: The Christmas Carol Society by Rebekah Jones. She’s a new author to me this year, and while I don’t approve of all her writing (and the scriptures are not King James), this book was incredibly thought-provoking. Didn’t really expect certain of the plot twists. I greatly enjoyed it!

Ministry: We performed a Christmas Play for my former home chirch, among other meetings this month! We had a lovely time acting out “The Greatest Gift” by Majesty Music. (BTW!!!! If you are not acquainted with Patch the Pirate{Put out by Majesty Music| You really need to check it out! Their latest episode was so good…and tear-jerking…)

Writing Update: I’ve been working on some personal revisions for A Song of Home, but stay tuned for the January update…it should be far more satisfying than anything I can tell you right now, Lol!

A Book I am Anticipating for January: Speak Truth in Your Heart by Sarah Mally. It’s her newest book, and I am so excited about this Bible Study! I also hope to put a dent in Jefferson Davis, American and read my Paw-Paw’s copy of Killing Lincoln by Bill O’Reilly in preparation for book 5 rewrites…😉
 
And now for the whole reason you have stayed around this long…to see my list of 2019 Top Books!

Okay, so maybe that’s not why you are reading but, a girl can hope, right?

I specifically chose these books because they touched me personally, and I hope that if you read them, they will move you too.

10. The Real Lincoln by Thomas DiLorenzo.
This book showed me there are still people who know the truth about history, particularly about the War Between the States. The author is from Pennsylvania, giving him more credibility (though the region shouldn’t decide ones’ ability to serve the facts) and a larger platform than the average Joe could hope for. If you want the truth or some hope that real history can still be found, pick up this book.

9. Through the Tunnel by Rebekah A. Morris.
Foster kids have always touched me. Their lives are so sad in general. But this story provides hope. The forever home is out there, if not physically, then certainly spiritually. This is one of my favorite books by Ms. Morris.

8. Freedom by Faith Potts.
Now, this book will need editing for those who do not prefer Romance (like myself), but the message of this story goes far beyond any fictional relationship. This is about PTSD, a very real thing our servicemen go through daily. And it’s about another frightening reality: Suicide. Because of the romance content and suicide, I recommend this for 18+. But this book was so powerful. It was not written to entertain. It was written to educate, encourage and reach out to those in need. And most importantly, this book is about the most essential Relationship you could ever have: A Relationship with Jesus Christ.

7. The Auschwitz Escape by Joel C. Rosenburg.
This one is fiction, but so powerful. The ending wasn’t entirely satisfactory for me, but it was still so eye-opening. I’ll never think of the Holocaust quite the same way again.

6. Three People by Isabella Alden.
This is my favorite book by my favorite author. If you have never read any of her books, and need one to start with, pick this one!

5. Wedding Score by Amanda Tero.
This book was such an encouragement to me, particularly in the Bible Study section of the story. It was profound, compelling, and very touching. I hope to re-read it soon, it was so encouraging in waiting on God’s time in all things.

4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.
I’ve wanted to read this book ever since it came out. And this year, I did. It’s deep, and definitely not for young people without being editing first. But it’s a compelling story and one we can all learn from today.

3. Let’s Roll! by Lisa Beamer.
If you’ve read my testimony, then you know how much 9/11 has impacted my life. This book has only endeared the heroes of that day to me even more. I will never forget. I hope you won’t either. But this book will ensure that you don’t.

2. Worth Dying For by Rorke Denver.
It’s by a Navy SEAL…😊 But Seriously, this book explains some of the core values of the American Spirit. And in teaching us what things are worth dying for…He has shown us some things worth Living for.

And finally...





1. O To Be Like Thee by Kassie Angle.
I know you saw that coming, but this book really did touch me deeply. It’s powerful. Heart-wrenching…and real. For those of you looking for a Clean Military Read not meant to be forgotten…yeah, get this book ASAP.
 
And that, my friends, concludes the blog posts of 2019!
God Bless and Keep Standing!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22

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

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

Our School year has officially started and it’s going well thus far! Yay, Homeschooling! Hard to believe I’ll have a sister graduating this coming Spring and my little brother is in high school! The baby of the family just started middle. Hard to believe they are all so grown up! And Fall is right around the corner!

August Favorites

Bible Study: I am currently reading through the book of Exodus, and the story of the Israelites fighting with Amalek was part of my study. I’m reading a commentary on Moses and I am enjoying the study greatly. It showed how the raising of Moses hands was symbolic of lifting our hands to God in Prayer and also how it represents the power of God. And it shows that God keeps His promises. He promised to destroy Amalek, to wipe their nation off the face of the earth for their sin against God and for their hatred of the Jews. There are no descendants of Amalek today. It’s time for America to wake up to the seriousness of antisemitism (racism toward Jews). God doesn’t take it lightly and we shouldn’t either. The retributions could be fatal! “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:3 (King James Bible)

Did you know that you can help others by praying for the peace of Jerusalem? “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.” Psalms 122:6-8 (King James Bible) Don’t allow mainstream prejudice to mar your view of Israel and her people. God’s hand is upon them and it is our duty to pray for them, that they will hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in Whom they can have true Peace.

Song: Every Good And Perfect Gift by Adam Morgan. It’s a Thanksgiving Song, but I think it’s appropriate for everyday life! We need to remember where our daily supplied needs come from.

🎼 “Every Good and Perfect Gift comes down from the Father of lights, Who remains unchanged, forever reigns, Who makes His face to shine upon His Child!” 🎼

Event: My Grandparents’ 60th Wedding Anniversary! Both of my married sisters and their families came in for it so we had all six of the little ones in the house! The time spent with friends and family was amazing. Also amazing that we are still sane after having so many people in the house at one time! 😉

Book of the Month: It’s a tie between Let’s Roll by Lisa Beamer (Review coming soon!) and Protecting the Poor by Amanda Tero! (Click here for my full review!)

Ministry: My dad has had many opportunities to preach and share about FBN this month! We had a missions conference for one, but even our drop-ins have been a blessing, especially one specific Wednesday Night prayer meeting we attended a couple weeks ago. Now that was a Real prayer meeting!

Writing Update: We are back into the grove of editing! Mom has been hitting the chapters hard, and I’m just ahead of her, fixing a few things that have changed due to prior edits! God is good and we are moving forward towards the finish line 😊 And Y'all! The Land of Cotton is currently having it's 5th printing printed and bound!!! Thanks to all of you who made this possible!

A Book I am Anticipating for September: I did not finish Auschwitz Escape, but I did make progress! But I am looking forward to reading a series of books I am proofing for my brother, Soldier Dogs. There are four books I think (more coming) and I have all but #3. I know, reading out of order…I’m still looking for it. The books are set during WWII and spotlight the different uses of dogs in the service! So, yes, I’m looking forward to that!
 
And Now, Some Writing Prompts…

Have a Blessed September!
Ryana Lynn
Jude 22