Tag Archives: books

Our World Within

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I have discovered Frederick Buechner, author of Telling the Truth and many other inspiring books. Today I want to share one of my favorite quotes of his:

You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.

This has profound meaning for me as some of my family live in other parts of the world. After every visit, when we kiss goodbye, they are still with me; in my heart, my mind, my stomach, because they are a large part of my world.

Those we love will always be a part of us no matter where they are.

 

Where is Love?

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Love is always present in life, in all of our wonderful experiences—and even our tragedies. Love is what gives our days their deep meaning, it is what we are truly made of. Whatever we may call it—love, God, soul—love is alive and tangible, living within us all. Love is our experience of the divine, of sacred holiness. Love is the richness all around us. It is ours for the taking.

The above is an excerpt from Life Lessons by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler.

Where is love? Everywhere—let’s not lose sight of it. Give someone a hug right now and if there’s no one to hug, hug yourself, and feel the love.

 

Gratefully Yours (Day Three)

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Today I am grateful for:

my nice clean furnace, all set for the winter months

getting my role files in order for tonight’s Session meeting

getting more orders for My Precious Life, the book

seeing a “birdfest” around the feeder this afternoon

having more visitors to my blog

It’s difficult to stop at only five gratefuls!

A Pastor’s Response

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My Precious Life, my book, has received many positive and promising reviews, and this one, which landed in my Inbox yesterday, is among the most encouraging.

The writer of this message can be found in Chapter 23, page 89, of My Precious Life. He is mentioned in only one sentence, and yet that sentence seems to have moved him to this response.

Lawrence Crews is Senior Pastor at Calvary Community Church in Barrie, Ontario, and has given me permission to share his words.

This then, is a Pastor’s response: 

Today at 10:49 AM
Dear Mrs Boyes,
Thank you so much.
I just finished reading your beautiful book. I am deeply moved. I feel honoured.
I am blessed. I am encouraged. I am chosen.
Tears flow down my face as I write. I am truly amazed at the love and care of our God toward you, toward me, toward each of our loved ones and so many others as well.
God’s grace, peace and kindness have again leapt into my heart – this time from the pages of your book. Thank you.
Your old brown Toyota will always hold a special place of memory in my heart. December 18, 1977. My life changed forever that evening at Scarborough Gospel Temple. Jesus Christ sought me. Thank God I was found by him.
How could I have known the rich heritage of God moving in your life? Thank you for being willing and obedient to write.
I am in awe. I am comforted. If God is for us then who can be against us?
Thank you for sharing your precious life so beautifully with pen and paper. I know you now a thousand times more than ever before. My life is that much the richer.
You will be delighted to know…
I woke early this morning and was able to get a good start on the day. I treated myself to breakfast and your book at a quiet, local greasy spoon. It’s a great way for me to read without interruption.
Out of the blue the waitress asked, “What book are you reading?”
Instantly I knew God was at work-again. I shared with her about December 18 and how my life changed that night forever.
She curiously asked me some more questions about the book. I asked her if she would like to read it. 🙂
I’m leaving it with her now.
Thirty-seven years later, I’m humbled and thankful to know that God still speaks to us and through us even today.
With deepest respect, honour and thanks,

Lawrence 😎

It is with a thankful heart that I share this glowing tribute to My Precious Life, the book, which, through Jeremiah 30:2, God prompted me to write.

Have You Seen God?

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We have been told that no one has ever seen God.

Well, I’m here to tell you that I saw Him on Saturday at My Precious Life’s successful book launch!

I saw Him in the faces of my church family who worked for hours setting up tables and chairs, food and drink, and nourished me with the gifts of flowers, words of encouragement, and a cuppa tea and a plate of goodies after the books were signed and sold.

I saw Him in the faces of my dear and lovely family, rearranging their day to come to my launch; and in the faces of three of my little great-grandchildren who gave up their play time for GG.

I saw Him in the faces of friends who came from far and near; friends from bygone days who nourished me with warm hugs and loving memories.

I saw Him in the faces of those who lined up to buy copies of My Precious Life.

Have you seen God?

Look closely at those whose lives touch yours in any wonderful way, and like me, you will say, “I saw God today.“

 

Counting the Days (One)

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Today’s the day I tie up all the loose ends of the long awaited book launch of My Precious Life.

I don’t know how many people to expect but I do know that a wonderful group of friends is going to feed the people who do come.

These friends are going to arrive early enough to set up tables, chairs, food platters, tea, coffee, and cold drinks.

How wonderful they are, and how blessed I am.

Some of my family members are also contributing and helping in other ways as well. Again, how blessed I am.

Thank you to those bloggers who have supported this effort with their “likes” and prayers.

And now I’m counting the hours….

 

 

Counting the Days (Two)

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The book launch for My Precious Life is happening in two days.

Someone asked me, “What do you do at a book launch?”

I said, “I don’t know, I’ve never done one before!”

To all who are in the vicinity of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 115 St. Andrews Road, Scarborough, on Saturday, September 6, do come and help launch My Precious Life from 1 p.m to 3 p.m.

To all who are not, please do send your prayers and click “like” to lend your support.

I’m counting the days!

My Heart is Touched

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As most of you know, I have been busy promoting my newly published book My Precious Life. The sales are steady and a book launch this September 6th at my church, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, Scarborough, should see a significant increase.

The feedback on the book is most encouraging and today I’d like to share some of those comments with you because they really touched my heart.

This memoir is a must read. I picked it up and read it cover to cover in a single night – I simply could not put it down! The author takes us on a life-long journey that reveals her trials and tribulations of growing up in and around the Greater Toronto Area. From the Great Depression to the 21st Century, we get a fantastic insight into Patricia’s wonderful life experiences. It is full of inspiring stories of making cherished friends, the delights of motherhood, and travelling the world. Mixed in with these anecdotes are some harrowing experiences that challenged the author – such as a difficult separation, working as a single mother, and overcoming her smoking habit. Yet through them all, her faith, family, and friends enabled her to not only persevere, but to thrive. This is a story about enjoying life to the fullest.
The book is very well written and structured, which enables the reader to get engrossed with the content. The chapters are clear and concise, but at the same time it left me wanting to know more. I sincerely hope that Patricia writes a follow up to provide more in-depth details about her Precious Life.  A.B.

I just finished reading your book. It has touched my heart and encouraged me to keep running the race. God uses many tools to help all our trials and your book is one of those for me. You can definitely see his hand in your past. I loved reading your testimony of life. E.R.

I have just finished your wonderful book. I couldn’t put it down!! I admire you for writing it but more than that I was touched, saddened and encouraged by all that your life represents. Your very firm faith shines through each chapter. I know this book will have a positive influence on many readers and will point them to God. Much more is in my heart that words cannot express.  B.D.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Wonderfully uplifting and a ‘makes you feel good’ life story. Thanks for sharing this with us. B.S.

There are more, but this will give you an idea why my heart is touched.

Again, My Precious Life is available in Hardcover, Softcover and Ebook at Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, Barnes and Noble, Westbow Press and countless other online and local bookstores.

 

 

 

And People Are Listening

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This morning I read a wonderful post by one of my favorite bloggers, Katie. She writes about how a former professional baseball player spoke in church about his relationship with the Lord, and how he could never do the things he does without God’s hand in every part of it; that God get’s all the credit for his talents and gifts.

Katie went on to write that we must never fear people’s reactions to our words of love for the Lord, and we must never shy away from giving glory to God for everything he has blessed us with. She says we are urged to share the Word of God with others. We are compelled to spread His teachings whenever and wherever we can. She says to speak up for the Lord, speak your heart. Those who are willing to truly listen will know you are speaking His truth and will be blessed by your words. Katie tells us that this young man speaks proudly of his great faith and love for the Lord. And people are listening.

Wow! Thank you, Katie.

In my book, My Precious Life, my first thanks goes to God. Without him this book would not exist. Guaranteed!

The feedback from sales of the book is very encouraging and I would like to share, in part, two of the many comments that have come to me.  The first comes from the UK where a gentleman wrote a review on Amazon.co.UK: “I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Wonderfully uplifting and a ‘makes you feel good’ life story. Thanks for sharing this with us.”

And this came via email just last night: “Dear Patricia, I have just finished reading your wonderful book. I couldn’t put it down!! I admire you for writing it but more than that I was touched, saddened and encouraged by all that your life represents. Your very firm faith shines through each chapter. I know this book will have a positive influence on many readers and will point them to God.”

That last sentence is key. It is why I wrote the book.

“Wonderful book” and “I could not put it down” are the most repeated comments. It makes me smile–and I think God might be smiling too.

As I said in one of my other blogs, “To God be the glory, great things he has done….”

Once again, My Precious Life can be found online at Amazon or ordered at your local book store. People in my little corner of the world can get it directly from me.

Thanks, Katie, I hope you don’t mind my sharing part of your blog today. 🙂 It is just so apropos!

 

 

I Am Published!

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This is a celebratory blog!

Today, after approving the author copies of My Precious Life, Westbow Press advised that the book is going to print tomorrow morning (or this morning, depending on your part of the world.)

I am thrilled and excited and can’t stop saying “Thank You, God!”

“Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you,” He said. And once started, the pages just kept filling up until the work was completed. That scripture, Jeremiah 30:2, has meant a lot to me this past year. It seemed like God was always whispering that encouragement in my ear. I’m so glad I listen to His still, small, voice. Like I wrote in the introduction to My Precious Life, it is exciting, and holy and fun.

So, to all my new blogger friends, My Precious Life is available at 25,000 online book stores around the world: Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, Westbow Press/Christian Book Store, Barnes and Noble, to name a few. If you choose to buy from your local book store, simply ask them if they carry it, and if not, would they order it for you.

The same goes for friends in California, Channel Islands, U.K., Australia, (except my grandsons; you guys get a complimentary copy!)

My Canadian friends have the option of purchasing directly from me, when the first shipment of five hundred books arrives on my doorstep.

Thank you so much for letting me share this very important life event with all of you; it means the world to me.

I never dreamed when I began blogging the excerpts from the first forty chapters of my book, that it would lead me to a host of interesting people in cyberspace. Every day there is a brand new reading experience to look forward to from all parts of the planet.

It will be wonderful if those of you who purchase My Precious Life would share your thoughts on the book by leaving a comment on my blog site.

And now, I’m off to bed with a song in my head, “To God be the glory, great things He has done….”