Two Scoops of Grace – Book Review and Giveaway!

When I first met Jeanette Levellie, I’d already known her for years. We first became friends after she commented on my post and then I commented on hers and then emails followed as kindred spirits knit together. Finally  last August, we met in person at the Philly Writers Conference. Smiles and hugs abounded. I’m so happy to announce that Jen’s dream has come true. Her first book is published!

Now you can share with me the delight in reading Jen’s words. Her warmth, wit, and wisdom radiate through these pages. Jen puts a comical and spiritual spin on stories and events from everyday life. You’ll smile, sob, laugh, cry, and draw closer the One who scripts our lives.

Here’s the official blurb about Jeanette, the book, and her awesome giveaway. The contests ends at midnight May 10, 2012:

About the Book
What do drive-by diaper stores and God have in common? When is blabbing an acceptable habit? Why should you beware of moths and sligs? In her entertaining, uplifting style, award-winning author and humorist Jeanette Levellie weaves 72 amusing stories with affirming Biblical truths. These soul-nourishing examples of God’s favor and grace will help you:

  • Laugh when you find cow patties in your field instead of daisies
  • Discover the bottomless heart of God
  • Grow in your acceptance of yourself and others

Welcome a vacation from stress as you discover the sweetness of Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top.

You can buy the book here.

About the Author
A spunky pastor’s wife of thirty-plus years, Jeanette Levellie authors a bi-weekly humor/inspirational column, God is Bigger, a popular feature in the Paris Beacon News since 2001. She has published stories in Guideposts anthologies, stories in Love is a Verb Devotional with Gary Chapman, articles in Christian and secular magazines, greeting card verses, and poems for calendars.  She is also a prolific  speaker for both Christian and secular groups, and loves to make people laugh while sharing her love for God and life.

Jeanette is the mother of two grown children, three grandchildren, and servant to four cats. She lives in Paris (not the French one), IL. with her husband, Kevin. Her hobbies include dining out, talking baby talk to her cats, avoiding housework, reading, and watching old classic movies.

Visit Jeanette on her blog, On Wings of Mirth and Worth, at www.jeanettelevellie.com.

Jeanette’s Giveaways
You can win one of ten free downloads of my debut humor devotional, Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top for your eReader. Here are the very simple rules:

For each share of this post link on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog, you will receive one entry.

For each like on Jeanette’s Author Page or my Two Scoops Book Page on Facebook, or follow on my Twitter page or this blog, you will receive one entry. If you already like and/or follow me, mention that and I will count it.

Please send me ONE comment to tell me how many times you shared, liked, or followed, so I can give you the correct amount of entries. I reserve the right to verify all information given me, and disqualify anyone from the drawing who falsifies information. (Do not leave comments here to be entered, you MUST go to Jeanette’s blog post for the giveaway.)

Contest starts today and ends midnight, May 10, 2012. Jeanette will announce the winners in a blog post Sunday, May 13, 2012.

….and a $100 Gift Card Drawing~~~WOWZA!!!

After you have read/reviewed Two Scoops, check out my blog at www.jeanettelevellie.com for a contest to win a $100 gift card by answering ten easy questions about the book! After I receive your entry, your name will go into the hat for a $100 gift card to one of the following places (your choice): Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD, Hobby Lobby, Chick-fil-A, Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or Ruby Tuesday. This giveaway will run until August 10, 2012 so there is PLENTY of time for you to enter!

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Dark Shadows vs. Blinded By The Light

First take – Dark Shadows
Take 2 – Blinded By The Light

At Yankee Stadium last week, my hubby wanted a photo to share on facebook. I offered to take it, but he wanted me in it. That was the last thing I wanted as I sat in the drizzle, sensing my hair frizzle.Grumbling, I  asked a man seated nearby to take our picture. With some consternation of his own, he snapped the photo on the left.

As the shutter snapped, another man rushed over, practically leaping over fans seated in the row. “Wait! Let ME take your picture!!”

He grabbed my iPhone and showed us the picture just taken. “Will anyone know where you are?” he asked.

“Ummm, it does show the blue YANKEE STADIUM letters. There on the left.”

“Oh…… Humph….Well, that’s not what I was talking about. Go back there and let me take your picture. I’m a professional photographer.”

Really? Is that what I need? A professional photographer for a facebook photo? A photo I am only begrudingly agreeing to?

Not to be rude, we returned to our spots in front of the railing, forced a smile, and snap!

Mr. Photographer handed me back my phone and strode away up the stairs, never to be seen again.

One look at the picture he took told us he indeed was a pro. Not only did he get the Yankee emblem behind home plate (his intention), he also captured us swathed in light. And what a difference that made.

Tony and I stood in the same place for both pictures. The difference was the direction we were looking.

Same truth applies to life.

No matter our situation (where we are), we choose what direction to focus on. We can lurk in the shadows of self-pity, complaints, judgmental attitudes, discouragement, need I go on? Or we can face the Light. Seek Him in His Word, in the fellowship of believers, in praise and worship, in serving Him. The choice is ours.

What will you choose today? 

This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5


For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Eph. 5:8


For times when it seems that there is no light to be found, read “When The Son Don’t Shine.” 


This cannot be the end….

This poem, written by Maude Carolan Pych, a truly gifted poet of the North Jersey Christian Writers Group, is so powerful I couldn’t NOT share it with you.
May this minister to you this Good Friday.

THE PIETA
After the earthquake
the peals of thunder
the flashes of lightening across the sky
After the curious crowds dispersed
Mary sat in ominous dimness
upon a mound of earth
at the base of The Cross
holding the body
of her Son
She cradled Him
in the hollow of her lap
close to her bosom
as she had
when he was
her baby boy
Mary removed
thorns of mockery
that encircled His forehead
and tossed it to the side
Straining to see in the shadows
she carefully picked
fragments of thorn needles
still stuck in His lifeless flesh
although they couldn’t hurt Him
any longer
With her fingertips
she tenderly closed the lids
over His dark, vacant eyes
and smoothed
the disheveled, matted hair
…then she kissed Him
O my beautiful Son…
Tears flowed
down her face onto His cheeks
mingling with dried blood
With the edge of her garment
she wiped some blood away
John came
and rested his hand
upon her trembling shoulder
He was now her son
She was now his mother
Mysteries
too deep to comprehend
swirled in her mind
like the flap and flutter
of wings and overshadowing
Son of the Most High
and David’s throne
like pregnant Elizabeth’s joy
when the baby leapt in her womb
and the Baptizer himself, when grown
proclaiming his younger cousin
“The Lamb of God, Who
takes away the sin of the world”
and Simeon’s prophesy
that Jesus would be
a Light of revelation
to the Gentiles and the glory
of the people of Israel
Where is the Light?
Where is the glory?
Where is the throne?
Overwhelmed by sorrow
so intense it stabbed her
deep, deep in her inner parts
Mary cried out in anguish
and rent her robe
Was this what old Simeon meant
long ago in the Temple
when he held Jesus in his arms
and said a sword would pierce
my very soul?
O my Son, my beautiful Son…
I cannot fathom the ways of God, but
I do know this cannot be the end
Maude Carolan Pych

Thank God ~ that was not the end!

Wishing a blessed Resurrection Day to all!

Choose Greatness!


“Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.” Luke 22:24

My usual response when I read that verse is to shake my head and cluck something like this – “Oh those crazy disciples, arguing over who’s the greatest – right in the presence of Jesus! Oh the pride! The nerve! The foolishness!”

But this morning, my finger-pointing aimed right at myself. God lovingly convicted me of how I do exactly the same thing. “Aren’t I always in your presence?” He asked, “How about when you argue with someone, so convinced that you are right. Or when you judge, so sure you’re the better driver, the better mom, the better servant of Mine.”

Muhammad Ali boldly declared, “I am the greatest!” But don’t we often think the same thing in subtler ways? Every time we think our ways are better, we are subconsciously reinforcing our opinion of our own greatness.

Jesus responded to His disciples (and to us), “But among you it will be different. … Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.” Luke 22:26-27

But not here!” Jesus said. Here, in God’s kingdom, the greatest is the one who seeks to take after Jesus. After washing His disciples feet, Jesus said, “I have given an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” Jn 13:15 Just the opposite of the world where people clamor to assert their greatness. “Among you it will be different.”

Even as Jesus taught and corrected, He encouraged. “Just as my Father has granted Me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in the Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22:29-30 

So it’s our choice. 
We can can be filled with our own temporary “greatness” for our short time here on earth. 
Or we can be a servant here and then rule with Him for all eternity.







“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: … taking the very nature of a servant.” “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” Phil. 2:5-7, Romans 12:4