Giving Thanks!

By Debby Giusti

  

Today, I give thanks for all of you, the writers and readers who frequent Seekerville. Over the years, you’ve shared your joys and your sorrows with us. You’ve commented on our blog posts, read our books, left reviews, told your friends about our stories and have supported us with your encouragement and, most of all, your friendship.

Thank you, dear Villagers, for being a part—the most important part—of this blog. You are the reason we write and the reason we blog. I hope you know how special you are to us. Together, we have grown into a community of sisters and brothers united across the miles by our love for story.

During this Thanksgiving season, my heart is filled with gratitude for God’s many blessings. Everything I am or have is because of His mercy and love. He gives me life and sustains me as I try to follow Him. Luke 17:11-19 comes to mind. Jesus had healed ten lepers but only one—a Samaritan—returned to give him thanks. At this special time of the year, let’s offer thanks to the Lord for all He has given us. I’ve asked the charter Seekers and our newer blog sisters to write about that for which they are most grateful in a short Thanksgiving reflection.

Missy Tippens…

I'm so thankful for each of you today! You bless my life every day as I visit the blog or meet up with you on social media. I pray that each of you has a blessed day with family and friends, full of love and gratitude. I hope we'll all reach out to those who may be lonely or hurting today. I pray God will be with each one to give peace and comfort. Happy Thanksgiving my friends!

 

Erica Vetsch…

This year, I'm giving thanks for the way God has led our church, bringing us an interim pastor after our previous pastor of 20 years left our church. I'm thankful for my ladies' Bible study, and the way they have encouraged me. I am so thankful that my husband continues to be cancer free and to tolerate his daily chemo well. I'm very thankful for all the traveling mercies I've experienced this year. And I'm thankful for Seekerville and my Seeker sisters who encourage, pray, laugh, and support one another with such grace.

Annie, AKA Just Commonly…

I'm extremely thankful for this bookish community, for the many great friendships introduced that I know will last long, if not for a lifetime.  I've been loved, supported and even humbled this year, sharing of God's love and grace. So thank you to every one of you.  

  

Glynna Kaye… For many of us, giving thanks for life’s many blessings isn’t a once-a-year event, it’s a daily way of life. I’m acutely aware that I am one of the most privileged people on planet earth—given clean water, a comfortable home, good food on the table, close family and friends, freedom to worship God, and countless other blessings I’ve done nothing to deserve. Most of all, though, I’m thankful that we are loved so much that God sent His one and only Son to bridge the gaping hole between us and our Heavenly Father. He, by his willing sacrifice, freely washed away the deep-set stains of our disobedience and welcomes us into an eternal relationship with Him. My prayer this season is that we would all take time to give thanks for—and accept—that unfathomable gift.

Pam Hillman... Giving thanks. Where do I start? How do I end? I look at all areas of my life and realize how blessed I am. I am blessed with health, financial stability, a home, healthy, beautiful, and perfect grandchildren, a Godly husband, a close knit family, dedicated church family, good friends to laugh (and cry) with, and good old country living in my little corner of the world. Should I dare to taint my glowing praise with a hint of juggling bills, health struggles, disagreements, those minor things only serve to shine a brighter light on how good God has been to me and mine. There’s no beginning and no end to His goodness, and all my thanks goes to Him.

Julie Lessman…

Oh, goodness, if I listed everything I’m grateful for, this would be longer than one of my old Seeker blogs! So instead, I’ll just compartmentalize in Reader’s Digest-style. Spiritually, I’m eternally grateful for God’s love and salvation. Emotionally I am forever grateful for children, grandchildren, friends, and Keith, the love of my life. Physically, I’m beyond grateful that I can see, hear (albeit marginally), walk, and write. And gastronomically, I’m utterly grateful for turkey, dressing, pumpkin pie, and Lindt’s Salted Dark Chocolate. THANK YOU, GOD, FOR YOUR MANY WONDERFUL BLESSINGS!

Myra Johnson…

With our two daughters and their families living so far away—one on the other side of the country and the other overseas—the holiday season makes me especially grateful for the wonders of the internet. Thanks to Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, and other forms of instant communication, we can keep in touch and maintain those important family ties.

Mindy Obenhaus…

I love that we take a day to reflect on that which we are thankful for. In today’s busy world, we often forget to pause and give gratitude.

I am thankful for so many things. My family, friends, God’s provision and countless blessings, no matter how big or small. I’m thankful to be a part of Seekerville, not only to share my love of writing, but the opportunity to get to know both readers and writers alike. To share in their goals, triumphs and disappointments. To offer encouragement. God knows we need each other and Seekerville is safe place where we can gather and share our love of books. May you all be blessed beyond belief this holiday season.

Janet Dean…

I’m so very thankful that I have the privilege of talking to God, and amazingly, that He wants to hear from me! If you’ve ever noticed someone you’re talking with seem to stop listening, letting his or her gaze roam the room, maybe even settle on the televised game or nearby phone, then you realize how precious it is that the God of the Universe listens to every word. If only I could listen better to what He wants to say to me! The huge blessing is that even when I fail, God still wants a relationship. I think I’ll make LISTEN my One Word for 2019 and work on keeping my eyes and ears on Him.

Mary Connealy…

Being a writer is a solitary business. Usually those involved are solitary people so it’s okay. But once in a while I get a letter, usually through my website email address thanking me for some book, the laugher, the adventure, and I am so thankful for that. To take the time to find an email address, write a note, is so thoughtful. And I fail to do things like that for others far too often. I am thankful for so many things about being an author but today I want to thank those who write authors notes.

I am encouraged and uplifted by notes from readers. And since many of them hang around Seekerville…thank you Seekervillagers, have a wonderful thanksgiving and God bless you.

Carrie Schmidt…

I am thankful for so many things this year - my dad's improved health (after a scary cancer diagnosis), family, Jesus, story, BOOKS, Seekerville. I could go on and on - even in the midst of great grief this past year, there has been Joy and Peace as only Jesus can give. Yet, I want to mention specifically today how thankful I am for my friends, for the 'ride or die' (I really don't know what that means but everybody uses it so it must be cool or something lol) ladies that God has placed in my life. From the two friends I've known since 2nd grade to the bookish sisters I've met over the past three years - new and (ahem) old friends alike - I'm so incredibly grateful for their love and grace and laughter and wisdom. We cry together. We pray together. We LAUGH together. We swoon together. We praise Jesus together. We READ together. Love them so much. They are a true gift.

Ruth Logan Herne…

We are so blessed. There is so much to be grateful for in this country, with our health and our families but the thing I am most thankful for... the thing that shores me up and that holds me down when I'm about to say or do something stupid... is my faith. My faith in God. My faith in his son, Jesus Christ. My belief that the Holy Spirit guides us and loves us and challenges us... and that Christ's mother Mary was put in a position to set the very best example for us all. The example of sacrificial love. Of what it means to be a mother. Of that walk, to Calvary, and that cross. I am so blessed by that gift of faith because everything else, every other gift, stems from that. And that makes Thanksgiving perfectly beautiful.

Jan Drexler…

I could fill an entire book with the things I'm thankful for, but I'll be brief: my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; my dear husband; my family; every word I write; my readers; my church family; God's call on my life; the beauty of His world... I could go on and on. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Audra Harders…

How do I begin to list the people and things I'm thankful for? When the noise of life is deafening, it's the quiet moments and low voices of friends and family that encourage me to focus and press on. I'm more than thankful for my loud, boisterous, unconventional family who make me run the gambit of my emotions, yet every night, there are hugs and "I love yous" scattered throughout the house. My Seeker sisters who laugh, love and pray for me. The people God brings into my life for special purposes I won't understand until the day I see Jesus face to face. Oh, and wait! I can't forget Dobby and Hank, our faithful dog kids whose sloppy kisses let me know everything is all right. God bless you all!

Winnie Griggs…

I am so very thankful for the grace that has allowed me the joy of being in the circle of a large, loving family, extended family and sweet (and spicy!) friends.

Thank you, Seekers, for those lovely words of gratitude!

Villagers, add your own words of thanks in a comment to be entered in a drawing for the fourth and final book in my Amish Protectors series, AMISH CHRISTMAS SECRETS.

May the Lord bless you and your families with peace and joy and health throughout this beautiful season of gratefulness. I thank God for each of you and the many ways you bring joy to my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you abundant blessings,

Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com

AMISH CHRISTMAS SECRETS

By Debby Giusti

Safe Haven for the Holidays

The thrilling Amish Protectors conclusion

Leaving the nursing home where she works, Rosie Glick’s accosted by a man demanding incriminating evidence her murdered boyfriend stole—until Ezra Stoltz scares him off. Now with a killer dead set on silencing the Amish single mother, Ezra must hide Rosie and her baby to keep them safe. But can he expose a sinister conspiracy in time

to save the woman he secretly loves?

Order HERE!

Watch for AMISH SAFE HOUSE, the second book in the Love Inspired Suspense Amish Witness Protection continuity series.

AMISH SAFE HOUSE

Hiding in Plain Sight

The second thrilling Amish Witness Protection novel

After Julia Bradford’s son witnesses a gang shooting, hiding in witness protection on Abraham King’s Amish farm is the only hope the Englischer and her children have. Even as danger closes in, Julia is drawn to the community’s peaceful ways—and the ex-cop turned Amish protector. But when their location is discovered, can Abraham protect her family…and possibly have a future by her side?

Pre-order HERE!