Hi!
My name is Sally Ferguson and I have been a freelance writer since 1996. Over 100 devotionals have been published in Pathways to God (Warner Press). I’ve also written for Chautauqua Mirror, Just Between Us, Adult Span Curriculum and Thriving Family. Warner Press released my coloring book, What Will I Be When I Grow Up? January 2006.
As a speaker, I enjoy connecting with women and seeing them find affirmation for the phase of life they face daily. I am passionate about helping women find encouragement from God’s Word, as well as supplying the tools to help them apply what they’ve learned there.
I love organizing retreats and seeing relationships blossom when we take time away from our daily routine. Our Women’s Retreat just celebrated its 10th Anniversary!
Parenting has its own set of challenges. My kids are grown but the nest keeps growing. Join me on the journey as we figure it out together!
The Jealous Son begins within the borders of the Navajo Nation in Arizona. When Eliza and Alex are banished from the only home they’ve ever known, little did they know it would set events into motion that would affect the rest of their lives.
Author Michele Chynoweth has also written The Faithful One, The Peace Maker, and The Runaway Prophet, all based on Biblical characters. She is an inspirational speaker, a book coach and a writing instructor.
The Jealous Son reimagines the lives of Cain and Abel in a contemporary setting and puts flesh on the circumstances surrounding the famous brothers’ lives. It “portrays what happens when envy goes too far.”
Michele weaves a story that takes a look at relationships gone awry and the consequences of attitudes gone sour. The book tackles what a dysfunctional family does to survive and the messes they stir up in the process. Yet, their story is ours, as we all are prone to going our own way, instead of always seeking God’s design. We can relate to anger, jealousy, malice and shame. We, too, have seen the adverse effects of alcohol abuse, gambling addictions, credit card debt, drugs and loneliness. The Jealous Son helps us take a look at ourselves and what we are capable of, if offered different circumstances.
We can relate to wanting better lives for
our children. Eliza reflects, “I guess you always wish for more for your kids.
And even though you hope they learn from your mistakes and don’t make the same
ones you did, ultimately, they have to learn from their own.”
We can understand the grip of pride. “Eliza
winced, not daring to even look in her older son’s direction, fervently hoping
he wouldn’t be offended. She knew Cameron was proud like his father. Sometimes
a little bit of that pride went a long way in building a dream, a house, a
family. Sometimes too much could make it all fall apart.”
Read The Jealous Son and find out for yourself what it could have looked like, when Cain and Abel walked the earth!
The Cotton States and International Exposition sets the backdrop for A Silken Thread. Four lives are interwoven when the Expo comes to Atlanta, and their values are tested. Laurel, Langdon, Willie and Quincy question their viewpoint in different ways, giving us a peek at human nature. Would we respond any different?
Kim Vogel Sawyer wrote A Silken Thread with an underlying theme. “I wanted to use the elements of story to show the injustice and unfairness of treating people differently based on something as inconsequential and out of one’s control as skin color.”
The year was 1985, but inequalities
hadn’t been resolved in the 30 years following the Civil War. The war should
have lessened the divide. “Rich and poor, black and white, educated and
unschooled… There were more chasms holding people apart than bridges bringing
them together.”
Could one person make a difference?
Willie’s Ma had said, “Set the better example, Willie. Be kind an’ acceptin’.
Sometimes all people need is someone to show them another way to be.”
Through Willie’s actions, we learn the
importance of elder care and the sanctity of life.
Through Quincy and Willie’s friendship,
we learn people need to be more like God, who looks on a person’s heart.
When trouble hit, Laurel mourned the
destruction of the Silk Room. “Why would someone destroy things that were so
beautiful?”
Miss Warner sighed. “I suppose it
happened, Laurel, because some people don’t see the beauty of a thing. They
only see a threat. And in their ignorance, they seek to destroy it.”
There are so many reasons why I liked A Silken Thread. Descriptions of the Expo create excitement about the adventure and change it brought to the South and to the city of Atlanta. A look into the lives of those affected helps me to see the impact of my actions on others. And the elements of good storytelling show me how the Bible relates to life in every century. Kim says, “We all have the same desire as Laurel in the story: to love and be loved, to belong, to matter. We can help others feel accepted and valued when we choose to look past their exteriors to their hearts. That’s what God does for us. As His followers, should we not emulate Him?”
A Silken Thread by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Get a copy and settle in for a charming story about what really matters!
Question: Can one person make a difference? Explain. Leave a comment, and you will be entered into the drawing to win my copy on Thursday, May 23. (Must be in the continental United States.) For an extra chance to win the drawing, share this post on social media and let me know in the comments.
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
What do you get, when fiction collides with a story from the Bible? You get The Peace Maker by Michele Chynoweth! The Peace Maker takes a journey in modern day scenes, following the events surrounding Abigail meeting David, king-elect.
Michele Chynoweth is the author of The Faithful One, The Runaway Prophet, and soon to be released, The Jealous Son, all based on Biblical characters. She is also an inspirational speaker, a book coach and a writing instructor.
Michele says her books are “contemporary
suspense/romance novels that re-imagine Old Testament stories in the Bible,”
and they live up to that title! The Peace
Maker uses political ploys as a platform and gives an interesting spin to 1
Samuel 8-25.
It’s fascinating to see questions raised about
current events in the news. The Peace
Maker touches on right-to-life, stem-cell research, domestic violence,
racism, and alcoholism, to name a few. Can a Christian effect change in
government? Should convictions of one be inflicted on many? Abigail thought so,
when she approached David. Make your own opinion, when you see how Michele’s
characters carry out their roles in the book.
We took The Peace Maker to another level, by inviting Michele to speak at our Women’s Retreat. Using her book, and basing our theme of “Fearless” on Abigail, we asked, “Are you fearless? Do you struggle to find courage in the midst of life’s challenges?”
Michele helped us look at what equipped Abigail to stop the massacre against her household, and how her story applies to our stories, today. We contemplated steps to cast fear aside and decisions to equip us for action. And, Abigail became a living, breathing role model!
Get a copy of The Peace Maker, and decide for yourself if it makes the Old
Testament brand new. You’re in for a delightful ride!
What happens when hearts of mothers and daughters are Mended? We rebuild, restore and repair. Blythe Daniel & Helen McIntosh authored Mended to show “you don’t have to repeat the patterns that have been set before you.” Helen says, “One of the most important things Blythe and I wanted to share from what we’ve seen and experienced is this: how to mend relationships as you identify and then make new generational patterns.”
The mother/daughter duo bring their experiences in the field of counseling and in the publishing industry together to create a work of restoration. They share their mistakes and pain, and together forge a new path for others to learn life-giving skills.
Mended is a hands-on manual
for nurturing and cultivating relationships, and initiating conversations
toward healing. Even when there is no interest from the other party for
reconciliation, the authors assert the need for forgiveness. They talk about
the poison of unforgiveness and the toxins harbored. When the offender doesn’t
seek to be forgiven, the call to release that debt is all the more important.
#OurMendedHearts
Blythe & Helen say the mother/daughter relationship is even more tenuous, because women pick up on every nuance and tone. We come with expectations that create stress on the relationship. Fear, controlling behaviors and unhealthy fixation all bring a different layer to interactions. But, they affirm, there is beauty when we partner together in the hard. Helen says, “People don’t mature when there’s not difficulty. In seeing what I experienced with my mom, it gave me the desire not only to change but to make a new way for my own family.”
I am giving away a copy ofMended to one reader in the continental United States. Mended is packed with practical suggestions for conversation starters and respecting boundaries. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and tell me ways you foster conversation in your family. You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Monday evening, April 15. Share on social media to get an extra entry in the drawing. Be sure to let me know where you shared. I can’t wait to hear your tips!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In Free to Focus, Michael Hyatt tackles the reason why past productivity models don’t work today. We’re living in information overload and have to find a new way to handle life in the fast lane. Hyatt says our Distraction Economy promotes low-value activity instead of helping us tap into unrealized potential.
Formerly the chairman and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, Michael Hyatt is a bestselling author and successful entrepreneur. His work and leadership models help “leaders trade burnout for balance.”
Free to Focus is part of that model. I grew up with a generation of multitaskers, but felt like I could never get everything done. Hyatt says focusing on everything means focusing on nothing. He says we live in a time of outrageous abundance that demands we learn to say no to good things.
The book offers:
Liberating Truths to stop limiting beliefs sabotaging productivity.
5 delegation levels that transform leadership.
The Daily Big 3 Focus.
Handling interruptions.
Replenishable Practices, and more.
The book is important for corporations and managing multiple levels within a business, but it also has great insights for individuals seeking to become fully present in the work before us.
Know your “why?”
Hyatt asks, “If productivity simply comes
down to doing more things in your Desire Zone and less of everything else, why
aren’t most of us doing that already?”
Get a copy of Free to Focus, access to the tools and resources, and develop your goal to getting the right things done! Get $498 of exclusive bonuses when you order by April 13.
Sally
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the
publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Leave a comment. What is the hardest part
of choosing to say no to good things, in order to focus on the best thing?
We know the stories of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, but what about the backstory, and all of the gaps between? Mesu Andrews has opened a window to a whole world of unfamiliar sights, smells and tastes in her book, Of Fire and Lions. Through her eyes, we can better understand the environment the Hebrew captives found themselves in, when Babylon came to call.
Mesu Andrews is an author of biblical narratives who takes her calling seriously. She researches biblical accounts to build the foundation, backs them up with historical records, and adds creative fiction to weave them together. The result is award-winning, eye-opening, heart-thumping stories that engage and entertain. Mesu has become one of my favorite authors, as you can see in my reviews of Isaiah’s Daughter and Miriam.
One of the reasons I like Mesu’s writing, is her ability to create teachable moments with her characters. They have shortcomings, yet we learn from their mistakes. They have doubts, and we nod our heads in agreement. They try to take matters in their own hands, and we get a glimpse of how to set things right, with God in charge.
Biblical fiction allows us to draw on the
faith of another, and gives a peek into the daily events that might have shaped
their choices and consequences. Pick up a copy, and see how it boosts your
trust in the God who is more powerful than fire and lions!
What is your favorite story about Daniel’s
miracle-working God? Leave a comment, and you will be entered into the drawing
to win my copy on Saturday, March 2. (Must be in the continental United States.)
For an extra chance to win the drawing, share this post on social media and let
me know in the comments.
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
American Omens @WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner #sponsored
The year 2038 comes to life in the book, American Omens. Shining a spotlight on hot topics like marijuana, police gun control, censorship and the abuse of online privacy, Travis Thrasher weaves a tale of deception and the fight for justice. American Omens is a work of fiction, yet not so far-fetched to imagine how persecution might happen in a short twenty years from now.
If, like me, you’re new to the writings of Travis Thrasher, even so, you might recognize some of his work. In fact, he has over 50 books in print, including Indivisible, God’s Not Dead 2, and Paper Angels. Travis says, “Readers… want characters to root for and mysteries to dissect and journeys to take.” American Omens creates that draw to stay rooted in a mystery that takes twists and turns until the very end!
American Omens trailer @WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner #sponsored
Travis says, “The premise is the future persecuted Christian faith.” As I processed the backstory, I couldn’t help but wonder if I would also fall into the masses of those who wouldn’t speak out against evil. If I remain passive, I cannot blame anyone else when I lose the freedoms so passionately sought by our forefathers. And, if we’re silent too long, whether we’re afraid to appear intolerant or worried about offending people, one day we will no longer have the opportunity to speak!
I recommend this book, not just as a good read, but as one that will open your eyes to the unseen battle raging around us. Just as revolutionary as C.S. Lewis’, The Screwtape Letters, American Omens has a place in our time to wake us up and enlist us in the fight for faith.
Enter to win! I am giving away not one, but two copies of American Omens to two readers in the continental United States. Leave a comment on my blog (at the top of this post, under the title) and answer this question, “How do you show love, yet call for accountability to your faith?” You will be entered into the drawing to be held on Monday, February 18. For an extra chance to win the drawing, share this post on social media and let me know in the comments.
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the WaterBrook/Multnomah book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Do you struggle with knowing how to pray for your child? Corine Hyman provides help in her book, I Will Be Praying For You.
Corine Hyman is a clinical psychologist and a foster parent. She understands the intricacies of a mom’s day and the need to step back and recommit that little one to the Lord. Corine has also writtenJaden Goes to Foster Care, My Journey with Jesus Christ, Studying the Women of the Bible: A 60-Day Journal, and God and Snow. Her books help “to stimulate discussion and interaction between children and the adults who care for them.” Corine’s “research includes the treating and understanding the long terms impacts of trauma on development, parent-child attachment/engagement and assessment issues.”
One of my earliest memories of prayer
stems back to third or fourth grade. My parents were missionaries on a small
island, and medical help was sparse at the time. I must have been very sick,
because I remember our kind pastor coming to our house to pray over me.
I also had grandmothers who covered me
with prayer throughout the tough formative years. I felt cared for and loved,
and motivated to carry on that prayer support for my grands.
Corine uses the stages of life to show
the prayers that equip it. In pregnancy, the toddler stage and beyond, moms are
shown ways to pray over their children using passages of Scripture to form
their prayers.
Prayer is a precious gift we give to our families. As we pray for them, we ask the Lord to work on their behalf. But, it is also a gift we give ourselves. Deuteronomy 4:7 says the Lord is near us when we pray to Him, so we are inviting Him into the circumstances that threaten to rob us of the relationships we crave.
Get a copy of this sweet book. Corine models prayer and the passages that inspire it, in fresh and real ways. She will remind you of the power of being your child’s prayer warrior and reconnecting with the One who knows each one of our needs!
Sally
Disclaimer: I received a copy of I Will Be Praying For You from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thomas Nelson has released the New King James Version Study Bible with an outstanding array of tools. In full-color, the artwork shows Bible maps and cultural nuances. Word studies and cross-references enable the student of God’s Word to dig deeper into the text. And book introductions, outlines and timelines flesh out the background of each book, opening up a world of rich understanding.
One of my favorite tools in any Bible is the Concordance. It is my go-to when a verse is niggling in the back of my head, but I can’t remember where to find it. I look up the part I remember and start on a treasure hunt to find the match. It’s also a resource when looking for verses on a topic, like family, fear or fellowship. Do you want to know more about Abraham, Absalom or Aquila? Yep, look in the Concordance. It fits the pieces of the puzzle together, one story at a time.
But don’t stop there! You’ll also find a Subject Index, Word
Studies and Articles. Charts and Diagrams open up visuals, and geography puts
maps into perspective.
The Complete Resource for Studying God’s Word
Why am I a fan of God’s Word? Because I’ve seen what it could do to change my life. It draws me to the Author and endears me to His heart. Having my own study Bible enabled me to seek the Lord and softened my heart. I would wish for a Study Bible with tools for every Christian, whether new or seasoned, so that each person could see for themself the difference it makes! Investigate The NKJV Study Bible for yourself, and make the investment in your Christian walk!
Sally
Disclosure of Material: I received a complimentary copy of The NKJV Study Bible from the publisher through The Blog About Network book review program in exchange for a fair and honest review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR Title 16, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am taking this copy to give away in Uganda this March!
For our writing exercise, I asked my Writers Group to write
for 15 minutes about what they saw. This is what I showed them:
Kim Earle said,
As if disposed
The tubs of glasses sit before me
Conversation ensues about their cleanliness
While my mind wanders to those
Who wait for the chance to see.
Elaine Weaver: Bins full of Hope
I looked into these bins full of eyeglasses that Sally had
run through her dishwasher. They sparkled like the bright shining stars of the
sky on a clear summer night. Way across the world was a mass of people waiting
for the opportunity to have a pair and see clearly again – maybe for the first
time in their lives! This was hope for something better in their lives, and
that hope lay in these bins in her kitchen! But how to bring this hope to them
has been a focus for several people for the last three years. A plan had to be
made. Prayers were first! Money had to be raised. God had to place a desire in
their hearts to pursue this mission. So, all this has been accomplished and in
March of 2019 they will take these bins of hope and fly to Africa where
hundreds of adults and children are waiting for their answer to prayer. Soon
they will see their futures through unclouded lenses!
Julia Thompson,
I looked into three totes and found eyeglasses filling each
one. Eyeglasses! – sparkling, clean lenses inside frames of copper, gold,
silver, black and other “shades” of color. These gifts were going to be
delivered to Uganda via a missionary trip.
For a while, I gazed at them – those sparkling, clean lenses
looked empty. There were no eyes in them! I’ve seen photos of people from underdeveloped
countries whose eyes bore the same emptiness. And the frames of various colors,
so fragile.
So many different prescriptions, too. We all seem to see
situations and people differently.
I thank God often for my actual sight. But I pray daily that
He will let me put on His “eyeglasses,”
so I can see others through His eyes.
Then perhaps He could use me to fill the emptiness in the lenses and add
strength to those weary frames.
Heidi Bogue:
Totes, totes and more
totes
Whatever, wherever
Full or empty?
What treasures do
they hold?
Now, now, don’t rely
on the label,
Take a peek!
Be brave and see for
yourself!
What do they hold?
A faucet from a sink?
A wink?
Careful! It may
stink!
Now… settle down!
Do not fear!
Pop the lid and peek.
Do you see? Surely you
do!
If not… reach in,
grab a pair!
Is it clearer now,
dear?
Why we are here
With totes, totes and
more totes?
It’s not boats you
need, or even coats.
Now, now… no more
tears.
Pick your glasses;
fit them to your ears
And celebrate with
Hip hip hooray
cheers.
That is why we are
here.
Becki James wrote,
“Oh, if I had eyes to see,” I solemnly thought to myself as I
boarded the plane to a country I had never been to before. My own vision was
perfect as a child. As I grew older, presbyopia set in, attaching a pair of
bifocals forever to my face. The suitcases I carried now were filled with
vision: eyeglasses, to be exact.
Vision is such a vast word. Our missionary team carried
vision. How many individual lives would be changed by a single pair of
eyeglasses? Vision… how many lives would be changed by the grace and compassion
of God?
“Help me see, Lord,” I urgently breathed out.
“Help me to see these people with your eyes of love. Let me
see your people with your perfect and pure eyes. Amen.”
Eyeglasses: oodles and oodles of eyeglasses. I never realized how much I take my sight for granted. People in third world countries don’t have access to eye care like we do. Eyes get infected, yet not treated. Eyesight deteriorates, yet no intervention given. They don’t have government programs to give aid, no social workers to come alongside. If there are no family members to help, then there is no help.
In eight weeks, our Uganda Team will depart from Buffalo
with thousands, yes, thousands of eye glasses and an eye doctor. We’ll conduct
eight eye clinics where people can have eyes tested with a focometer and a
prescription matched. It’s a giant effort, but allows us to be the hands and
feet of Jesus to bring sight to the blind and Good News to all.
People need a soft touch and a kind word. They need to know
someone cares. Will you add us to your prayer list? Pray for endurance and a
good sense of humor during the long clinic days. Pray for health, and rest for
the travel. And pray for hearts to “see” the Gospel in action.
