Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author (via Mowser)

Ph: 9036653268

[image]

November 17, 2008

Philippians 4:6

I had coffee with my dear friend Friday morning and we were talking about the different ways to pray. She gave me wonderful new insight on a verse from Philippians that I've had tacked up on my mirror for years. It is Philippians 4:6, "Don't worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks."

All this time, when I prayed, I would give God a long list of all that I though I needed. It wasn't always a selfish list. It might have been a list asking for wisdom and patience and a pure heart, etc. And I think that's fine with God. And he honors those prayers.

But sometimes--as my friend, Daree, pointed out--I don't know what I need. But God does. So, all I have to do, is ask God to give me what I need for that day, and then to give me the eyes to see it when He gives it to me, so I can thank Him.

I cannot tell you how freeing that has been. In the mornings, I simply open my eyes and before I even get out of bed I pray, "Lord, Give me my daily bread. Give me just what I need to get through today. And please give me eyes to see when You do. Thank You. I love You. Amen."

You would be AMAZED at how faithful He has been. One of the teenagers will share something with me and just the thing to say will pop into my head. I turn on my car and the song on the radio is just what I needed to hear. I'll receive a call from a friend and she'll share an encouraging word that was just what I needed. I'll go to the grocery store and find a parking space right up front during a downpour, because it was just what I needed!! From the big things to the small things, God is faithful.

Glory be to Him. Amen and amen.

posted by Deeanne on 11/17/2008 - 2 comments - Post a Comment

November 11, 2008

Somethin's Not Right

I was making lasagna the other night and wanted to have some Texas toast with it. So, I was browsing the frozen food section and found the Texas toast--but it was from New York!?? I looked and looked, but the only other brand was the grocery store brand. I couldn't believe it. What in the world was Texas toast doing in a box from New York? I literally stood in front of the frozen food case just staring.

I couldn't help but think of a Comedy Club Greg and I had gone to years ago. The comedian was from New York. He'd checked into his hotel, turned on the TV and up came a Picante Sauce commercial. The commercial was set in the Old West. Some tobacco spitting cowboy in a saloon asked for some picante and once he received it, looked at the label. He saw it was from New York. The rest of the fellas in the saloon responded with a great deal of shock and disdain, "New York?!!" Then somebody from across the saloon said, "Get a rope."

LOL. The comedian watching the commercial couldn't believe it. Not exactly what you'd call a warm Southern welcome. Ha. Anyway, I finally reached into the case, pulled out the New York Texas Toast and I have to confess it was really, really good. Just like that picante sauce was back in the day. :)

posted by Deeanne on 11/11/2008 - 6 comments - Post a Comment

November 06, 2008

Have Dinner With Dee

I'm going to be in Jefferson, Texas this weekend (a small town near the border of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma) at a BOOKS ALIVE! event. On Friday night (Nov. 7th), there is a "Dinner with the Authors" where you can sit with the author of your choice. To sign up for that (it's $20 per ticket), call 903-665-3268 or email fumc@jeffersonfumc.com.

On Saturday morning (Nov. 8th) at 9:00 I'll be speaking about A Day in the Life of a Bestselling Author--It's Not What You Might Think. (This event is FREE.) Immediately after my presentation, I'll be signing books for an hour.

I'd love to see you there! Meanwhile, don't forget to enter your pet in my contest for a chance to make an appearence in my upcoming romantic suspense!

posted by Deeanne on 11/06/2008 - 5 comments - Post a Comment

November 04, 2008

Contests, Bustles and Spurs

Our previous contest ran for so long I think we all forgot about it. We finally picked a winner, though. She is a newlywed from Hilton, New York. Congrats, Amber, for winning our contest and for your recent nuptials! She received an autographed copy of BRIDE. (Aren't they cute?!)

We now have a NEW CONTEST! But this one will only last until December 1st! You and your pet have a chance to be in my new romantic suspense. For details, click here OR click the icon of pets on the righthand side of this page!

And on a completely different note, where did the saying "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water!" come from? I'm over at Bustles and Spurs today discussing that and more.

posted by Deeanne on 11/04/2008 - 5 comments - Post a Comment

October 27, 2008

Research With My Sister

I mentioned before that I went on this last research trip with my sister, Gayle. I usually go on these by myself, but she's my new official plotting partner and we both thought it would be really helpful if she went with me this time. Before we left, she sent me an email saying she'd done "a little" research on the web about my topic and she had compiled a notebook for me.

Well, we get to the airport and she pulls out this GIANT 4" binder with tabs, highlights, notes and cross-references. I couldn't believe it! It was awesome, but not exactly what I would call a "little" research. We laughed and laughed. I had to get a picture of it (see the binder in the photo on the left).

This trip was particularly special because Gayle is leaving for England this week and won't be back for six months! So, I was really glad to get this one-on-one time with her. We got a lot of work done--she's an AMAZING researcher--and we also shared lots of laughes. It was really great.

I can't tell you too much about the trip because the location and premise of the book is secret until I get it written (which takes me a year). So, this is my 2010 historical (not the one that comes out this upcoming June). It doesn't have a title, but here are some pics from it:

I always take carriage rides or wagon rides when I can so I can get a feel for what it was like:

This is Gayle and me. After the girl took this picture, she said, "Are you two sisters?" We laughed and that answered the question for us--our laughes are EXACTLY the same. :)

posted by Deeanne on 10/27/2008 - 6 comments - Post a Comment

October 20, 2008

Cast Your Vote

The daughter who went to Italy (see previous two posts) is entering three of her photos in a contest. She's narrowed it down from the 1000+ she took to the four below. But none of us can decide which three she should enter. What do you think?

The categories are Landscape and People. She can enter a total of three and she has to come up with a title for them. Here are the two People photos she is considering (right click on them and open in a new window to see a larger version):

Soldier:

Rosary:

Here are the two Landscape photos she is considering:

Seashore:

Lightning:

Which three do you think she should enter? Any suggestions for titles?

posted by Deeanne on 10/20/2008 - 17 comments - Post a Comment

October 13, 2008

No Can Do

I was hoping to put together a slide show featuring a few photos my daughter took while she was in Italy for a Study Abroad program. She took Art History and Digital Photography for college credit while she was there. This was one of the photos she took for her Digital Photography class. Is that so cool? She didn't doctor the photo or anything. She just managed to snap the picture right as the lightning struck.

I'm out of town right now researching my 2010 book and I just don't have the time it would take to cull through her photos and pick out my favorites (she took about 1700 pics!!!). So, I will leave you with this one for now. (If you right-click on it and open it in a new window, you can see a larger version of it.)

Anyhoo, I'll hopefully be back on track next week.

posted by Deeanne on 10/13/2008 - 7 comments - Post a Comment

October 06, 2008

A Little Piece of Italy

Our 21 yo went to Italy this summer to do a Study Abroad program. She was there for the month of July and took Art History and Digital Photography. When she returned in August, she had lots of adventures to tell us about. She did so over a "real" Italian dinner she made us. I'm ashamed to say I can't remember what the name of the dish was that we ate or the name of the dessert! (A lot has happened between then and now.)