A Christmas Gift for Readers of The Planter's Daughter

Merry Christmas from 

My House to Yours! 

I hope this finds each of you ready to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!  May joy fill your homes and hearts throughout the Season!

I want to thank you, dear Readers, for your continued enthusiasm for The Planter's Daughter, the first book in The Women of Rose Hill historical series. Your many 5-star reviews, your emails, and your sharing about the book are so appreciated! 

The themes in the book --- Freedom, Redemption, and Forgiveness---are also what Christmas is all about, so I wanted to give you something many of you have asked for: An Epilogue! A letter from Adella Rose has winged its way across time, and in it she shares about the Brantleys first Christmas in Oregon and gives clues about some of the characters you've wondered about. Enjoy! (Remember, you can also find out what happens next in The Widow of Rose Hill, book two!)

Merry Christmas!

~Michelle

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December 24, 1860

Dearest Natalie,

Christmas greetings, Sister. I hope this finds you and those we love well. Thank you for your letter. Father Brantley sent it once we settled here in our new Oregon home. I am ever so sorry to hear that Papa's and George's anger against me continues, but I am grateful to know I can trust you with full confidence. If Papa knew where to find us, I fear what might happen. I pray someday my father and brother will understand why I made the choices I did.

Our happiness in this new life abounds. We've purchased a lovely parcel of land, with timber and a creek. Our new neighbors helped Seth build a snug cabin and a barn as big as Texas. The community is new and full of hope and excitement. We now have ten wild mustangs, and Freedom will soon be a father. Seth hopes to build the herd and has already received offers from interested buyers, as strong horses are much in need. The land here is rich and fertile and everything from animal to human seems to thrive. God is so gracious to us.

We are preparing for our first Christmas in Oregon. Seth brought in a tree, and Mara and I have enjoyed decorating it with ribbons and stringed berries. She continues to grow and is such a happy, sweet girl. I've shared our secret with her, although I don't expect she understands that a new baby will arrive in the spring. So many changes will take place in the new year, but I look ahead with much peace and anticipation.

We've heard from our friend on the Mexican border with news of Jeptha, Zina, and Aunt Lu. They've settled into a community and are well, for which we are ever so grateful. How I pray Mr. Lincoln will be able to abolish slavery once he takes office and can work to bring freedom to all. I firmly believe, dear Natalie, that Rose Hill would continue to prosper if Papa and George would listen to their hearts and free those enslaved. There are many free Black men here in Oregon, and our hope is one day Jeptha and his family can come here to live and join Seth in raising and training horses. Until slavery is abolished, however, it would be far too dangerous.

Dearest Natalie, my heart's prayer is for your happiness. I sincerely hope you and George find it together. You may continue to write to me in care of Father Brantley and he will see that I receive your letters. In this way, you may remain ignorant of our location should my father or George ask. Please give my love to Carolina, Mammy, and the others who remember me fondly.

Your Sister,

Adella Rose Brantely

It's The Planter's Daughter's 2nd birthday! Enter to win an eBook copy!

UPDATE: Congratulations to Connie Porter, winner of the free eBook copy of The Planter's Daughter!! Connie, I sent the book to you via Amazon email. I hope you enjoy it!!

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Happy 2nd Birthday to my historical romance novel The Planter's Daughter! I can't believe it's been two years since it released out into the world. I'm so grateful for all the readers who've fallen in love with Adella and Seth's story. You've cheered for them as well as the slaves as they all seek Freedom.

To celebrate the 2nd birthday of my book-baby, I'm giving away an eBook copy of it! To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on THIS post. I will only draw names of those who leave a comment HERE!

Thank you again, Readers, for all your lovely 5-star reviews, wonderful comments, and enthusiasm for the the second book in the series, The Widow of Rose Hill.

I'll draw a winner at the end of March and post the name here on the blog and on social media! If it's YOU, I'll need you to contact me and provide an email address.

Good luck!

~Michelle

Adele: The Woman I Named My Heroine After

As an author of historical fiction, history is my passion. Reading about events and people from the past feeds my very active imagination in a way contemporary stories can't. The question, "What was it like to live back then?" is always on my mind. Whether I'm visiting a museum, a pioneer farm, or reading one of my favorite Civil War research books, the lives of people who came before us often plays out in my head like a movie, complete with drama, romance, and intrigue.

For a number of years, my husband and I lived and worked on a 400-acre ranch in the Texas hill country. We often wondered if various Indian tribes might have lived on this land before settlers arrived in the 1820s when Stephen Austin gained Mexico's permission to bring Americans into Texas. We found a few broken arrowheads here and there, so it seems likely there were natives living off the land here at one time.

Adele's final resting place

But sometime in the 1800s, a settler named Adele lived there. Adele was actually her middle name. Her first and last names on the headstone have been worn off over the past 100+ years. Despite attempts to track  down information on her, we don't know when she arrived in Texas nor how long she actually lived on the property. But the few facts we do know about her stirred my imagination to the point I had to name the heroine in my historical novel THE PLANTER'S DAUGHTER in her honor.

So let me tell you a little bit about Adele.

Adele was born in Switzerland on July 23, 1837. She was the wife of Henry James. I believe she was preceded in death by at least two children because the inscription at the bottom of her headstone makes reference to "her babies." She died in 1885 and her resting place now sits beside a small pond just down the hill from the caretakers house. While we lived on the ranch, we referred to her as "our neighbor."

You can clearly make out "Switzerland" beneath the metal bar
that is part of the protective covering over her headstone

Early morning with Adele and a foggy pond

Adele's life in the hill country would not have been easy. I often wondered what her husband did for a living, because cattle ranching in these rocky hills would have been extremely difficult. Farming is completely out of the question. The property is not located near any large cities and the closest town was probably little more than a wide spot in the road (and it still is). Perhaps the town had a mercantile and a few other businesses, but even then it would have taken several hours for Adele and her family to reach it by wagon or horseback.

We tried to figure out exactly where her house might have stood, but other than finding some old square-headed nails and a few other small items, we didn't come to a positive conclusion. I feel certain it wouldn't have been too far from her grave, so we narrowed the location down to a couple different areas due to their being the only flat patches of ground around.

Pioneer home located on the LBJ Ranch

Here is where my imagination takes over. I envision Adele and her family living in a cabin made from logs cut from the property. There are lots of live oak trees, cedar, and other varieties that would have been available in the 1800s. If her husband Henry was young and strong, he might have gathered rocks from the abundance on the property and built a house similar to this one located on the LBJ Ranch a few hours from here. It boasts four rooms in a "dogtrot" style. There was of course no indoor plumbing, so an outhouse would have been situated not too far from the cabin. A washbasin similar to the one pictured no doubt sat near the door for easy access. It gets mighty hot in Texas, so splashing ones face with cool water would have felt really good after a long day of work. Henry would have dug a well and they probably had a windmill.                               

Despite the land not being suited for raising herds of cattle, they would have had animals like pigs, chickens, and horses. A herd of goats would have done well on the rocky terrain and might have provided milk and cheese. A garden full of fresh vegetables would have been a must.

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In a hundred years, someone will poke around the property, wondering about the people who came before them. Maybe I'll bury a time capsule with a copy of my book and some pictures of what the place looks like now for someone to find.

                                                                              If you'd like to meet Adella Rose, the character named after Adele, go HERE to order your copy. THE PLANTER'S DAUGHTER is getting lots of great reviews and is currently holding at 5-stars on Amazon! Adella's life in Texas was no doubt different from Adele's, but they would have faced many of the same struggles, had many of the same hopes and dreams. I think Adele would be tickled to learn I named my character after her.

It's funny to think the life we are living right now will one day be history! I'm determined to make it interesting!

Have a fabulous day as you make your own history!

~Michelle

Slave Bills of Sale and Other Research

I'm deep into the edits of Book 2 in The Women of Rose Hill historical fiction series. The sequel to The Planter's Daughter, this book is set on the same Texas cotton plantation and takes place five years after the first book. If you know your Texas history, you'll recognize the date of June 18, 1865. That was the day Union Army troops landed in Galveston, bringing with them the Emancipation Proclamation that freed over 250,000 slaves still in bondage despite the end of the Civil War. As you can imagine, many changes will take place on Rose Hill plantation, so stay tuned to find out when the release date will be! If you haven't read The Planter's Daughter, click HERE to order your copy! History, romance, drama, slavery! It has it all and more, and is getting lots of 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads! I think you'll enjoy it! 😄

Since Book 2 won't be out for a while, I thought I'd share some of the research I've done with you to whet your appetite. It was truly a fascinating time in our nation's history!

One item that comes into play in the story is a Bill of Sale. A Bill of Sale was a document given to the purchaser of a slave to prove ownership. When we buy a car these days, we receive a title that shows the car belongs to us. That is what a Bill of Sale did regarding a slave. They were often handwritten, but some slave traders and brokers actually had forms printed and simply filled in the blanks. It is unreal to me that the document pictured below represented the sale of a human being. That human being was named George and he was 23 years old.

In Texas, the largest slave market was located in Galveston. Smaller ones existed in San Antonio and Houston, but because Galveston is a port city, it made sense that slave traders would set up business there. Thousands upon thousands of slaves were bought and sold there. I won't go into the horrific details of what a slave might have endured during these transactions, but suffice it to say animals often fared better.

I've posted about this little book before, but it deserves to be mentioned again because I could not have written about slavery in Texas without it. I Was Born in Slavery provides true narratives of former Texas slaves. In 1936, our government sent out-of-work writers south to interview former slaves so we would have record of their stories. Most were in their 80s, 90s, and 100s, so it was important to hear in their own words what life was like as a slave before we lost the chance. Some of them shared stories about the day "Freedom" came to Texas, and I've incorporated many of their words and reactions into my book. Staying true to the slaves' actual lives and experiences is extremely important to me as an author of historical fiction.

A new character who arrives at Rose Hill in Book 2 is Corporal William Banks. Corporal Banks lands in Galveston with the Union Troops, eager to help set Texas slaves free. As a black Federal soldier, he would have been especially satisfied to see slaves walk off plantations and farms. The young man pictured below looks just like how I imagine Corporal Banks would have looked when he rides into Rose Hill plantation with Colonel Levi Maish, our new hero. I think readers of The Planter's Daughter will be pleased with his story.

So there is just a sneak peek at Book 2!  Go HERE to see some of the pictures on Pinterest that give me inspiration as I'm writing. I truly love all the new characters in the book as well as the returning characters from The Planter's Daughter.  I think you'll love them too! Of course, the book's hero and heroine (a daughter of Rose Hill and returning character) will experience all kinds of difficulties, heart-throbbing romance, and important growth within themselves, just as the characters in Book 1 did. Readers will not be disappointed! I'll let you know the release date soon! In the meantime, be sure to get your copy of The Planter's Daughter HERE. Kindle copies are only $2.99!! Enjoy!

Blessings,

~Michelle

Prince of Wales Cake -- Authentic Civil War era recipe

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know how many cooking-type posts I've written: NONE! There is a reason for that. Ninety-six percent of the time I do not enjoy cooking. However, one-hundred percent of the time I enjoy eating, so it does become necessary if I don't want to starve. But cooking has never been something pleasurable to me. Instead, its a chore. And I don't know about you, but chores ain't no fun.

Every once in a while, though, I get inspired to cook or bake something special!

In my historical novel The Planter's Daughter, a story set on a Texas cotton plantation in 1859, one of the scenes involves baking a cake called Prince of Wales cake. Adella Rose, our heroine, is in the kitchen with Aunt Lu, the head house slave. They are making this cake for Natalie, the soon-to-be-mistress of Rose Hill plantation. At one point, Aunt Lu grumbles about the Prince and his "high an' mighty ways" because this cake is unlike anything she's ever made. She worries she won't get it right, thus coming under the master's displeasure, a valid concern of every slave back in those days.

Ever since I wrote that scene, I've wanted to make Prince of Wales cake. Readers of The Planter's Daughter will be happy to hear yesterday was the day!

First, I gathered the ingredients, all of which would have been readily available in 1859.

Next, I used my trusty dusty KitchenAid mixer (which sadly would not have been readily available in 1859!) to cream together the butter and sugar of the first batter. This KitchenAid is near and dear to my heart, because my dad gave it to my mom for Christmas many years ago. I still remember how Daddy smiled and smiled when he presented it to Mom.

Following the recipe just as Aunt Lu would have done, I added the other ingredients to create a light colored batter. I can almost picture Adella Rose sneaking tastes of it!

Then I made the second batter, which is darker due to the molasses and spices.

Now it's time to combine the two batters into one pan. Aunt Lu was confused by these instructions. She thinks they should bake two separate cakes, but Adella reminds her the recipe calls for combining the batters. I have to admit, I wondered if Aunt Lu was right, but like her, I followed the instructions to a T.

 The recipe called for a large fluted pan. I had a Bundt pan, so I assumed that would be good enough. Wrong! When they say "large" pan, they mean a LARGE pan!! I had far more batter than could fit in my pan. I'm embarrassed to admit I went ahead and filled it to the brim. Don't do this! It spilled over while baking and made a very stinky mess on the bottom of my oven.

I took my knife and swirled the batters together as told, and while I did, I smiled, thinking of Aunt Lu with her elbow raised like an artist creating a masterpiece.

Admittedly, once it was all layered and swirled and ready to go into the oven, I was rather pleased with myself. Just like Adella Rose, I took a spoon and scraped the bowls, taste-testing each batter. Yummmm!



I slid the pan into the oven, set the timer for one hour and twenty minutes, and waited with high expectations!!

A word to the wise baker: Definitely flour your pans. I didn't. I used cooking spray, but the cake unfortunately stuck to the pan. Waaa. I'd hope to have a lovely photograph of my Prince of Wales cake on this pretty glass cake stand I own and have never used. But I had to settle for simply showing you a couple slices.

Aren't they pretty?

The cake is not too sweet and has a bit of a spice cake taste to it. Sprinkle with some powdered sugar and it is ready to serve!! Delicious! Just like folks ate on Rose Hill Plantation in 1859.

If you'd like to make Prince of Wales cake, go here to find the recipe. Then pop over to my blog about the Authentic Molasses Cookies Harriet bakes in Book Two, The Widow of Rose Hill. They are delish! 

ENJOY!

If you haven't purchased your copy of The Planter's Daughter or The Widow of Rose Hill, click here. Both books are getting lots of 5-star reviews! Readers say they can't put them down. Music to this author's ears.

Have a blessed day!

~Michelle

"I was born in Slavery. Let me tell you about it."

A lot of people are curious about how I came up with the dialect the slaves speak in The Planter's Daughter. Well, let me tell you a little story. 

As I set out to write The Planter’s Daughter, an antebellum novel set on a Texas cotton plantation in 1859, I took great care in researching the setting, the time period, and the events that unfold throughout the story. Even though I’ve lived in Texas for more than thirty years, there was much I didn’t know about the Lone Star State’s history after the Alamo and prior to the Civil War. For instance, I was surprised to learn how many plantations existed during that time period, with some like Liendo Plantation still standing today. Although cotton wasn’t king in Texas just yet, it was a money-making crop for many planters. And as we all know, slave labor was key.

With that in mind, I was especially concerned with accuracy when it came to telling the slaves’ accounts. Their stories, I felt, needed special attention in order for readers to truly see slavery on a Texas plantation. I didn’t want to simply use generalities about slavery in the south. That’s when I discovered a book titled I Was Born in Slavery: Personal Accounts of Slavery in Texas.

In 1936, with the Great Depression raging, the government established the Federal Writers’ Project, with one notable project being the Slave Narrative Collection. Out-of-work writers were dispatched across the South to interview former slaves, all of whom were by then in their 80s, 90s, and 100s. Over 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery and 500 black-and-white photographs were documented and are now archived in the Library of Congress in Washington DC. Some of the stories have found their way into print, like those in I Was Born in Slavery.

The writers/interviewers took great care to preserve the former slaves’ idiom, feeling it was as important to preserve the subject’s manner of speech as it was to preserve what they said. I used that dialect when writing dialog. Some of the former slaves' speech was especially heavy with the dialect, and others weren't. I chose to find a balance between the two, because the dialect can make for hard reading, as in Uncle Tom's Cabin, the 1852 book that is credited as being one of the catalysts of the Civil War. 

While writing my book, I chose two slaves in particular to speak with a heavier dialect: Moses and Mammy. Their usage of words like "dem" and "dat" is NOT to poke fun at their lack of education or in any way to degrade them as people, but rather to remain true to the language spoken on an 1859 Texas cotton plantation. The other slaves in the book use a less heavy dialect, but still stay within the speech used by the former slaves in I Was Born in Slavery. Like the interviewers, I felt it was important to portray slavery and the slaves as they were, not as we would like them to be. 

The former slaves' testimonies in I Was Born in Slavery changed my book. They changed me as a writer and as a person. Long after The Planter’s Daughter is gathering dust on the shelves, a little orange book with a smiling old gentleman on the cover will, I am certain, continue to draw me to it, almost as though I can hear one of the former slaves say, “I was born in slavery. Let me tell you about it.”

I hope you'll grab a copy of The Planter's Daughter (click here to order). I'm getting great feedback from readers who say they can't put the book down. It's currently holding at 4.9 stars on Amazon and 4.6 stars on Goodreads! Here are a few of the comments readers have posted:

"I loved this story from beginning to end!" ~ Amazon reader

"A riveting read!" ~Goodreads reader

"This could make another great Southern plantation movie." ~Amazon reviewer

"A page-turner-could-hardly-put-it-down kind of book." ~Goodreads reader

Happy reading!


~Michelle

It's Release Day for The Planter's Daughter!

MY BOOK RELEASES TODAY!!!

The Planter's Daughter received her wings and is flying out into the world as I write this blog post! She is right now winging her way across the internet into the computers and iPads of folks who pre-ordered the e-book version. Those who pre-ordered the print version will have her in hand in a week or so. 

It's a truly exciting and humbling moment for an author. 

Like many authors, I've poured my heart into this book. The characters became real people in my imagination. I've laughed with them. I've cried with them. I fell in love with them. And my deepest desire is that you, the reader, will too. 

You can read more about why I wrote the book here, but I wanted to share a few things now so you know what you're getting when you purchase the book (click here to order): 

• The Planter's Daughter is a romance at its heart, but there is so much more going on. Freedom is the underlying theme throughout the story. All of the main characters need freedom from something that is keeping them from living the abundant life God created them to live.
• Some of the scenes involving slaves are very realistic to what really happened during the days of slavery. After reading true narratives of former Texas slaves, where they told of the abuse they endured, I knew I had to include it in my book. Not for the shock factor or anything like that, but because we should never forget what slavery allowed one human being to do to another. 
• The Planter's Daughter is the first book in a 3-book series. The second book is tentatively scheduled to release in November 2017. Each book is set on the same Texas cotton plantation but in different time periods with a different hero and heroine in each book. 

If you or someone you know enjoys reading historical fiction, I hope you will get a copy of The Planter's Daughter.  I've woven lots of interesting Texas and American history throughout the book, and I've tried to stay true to the time period and setting as far as language, dialect, sights and sounds.  

I will host a Launch Party on my Author Michelle Shocklee Facebook page tomorrow, Saturday, March 4, all day. I am giving away free copies of my book, some Chicken Soup for the Soul books, gift cards, and some other goodies, so be sure to stop in throughout the day for lots of chances to enter and join the celebration!!

I'll leave you with the words of what one early reader said about The Planter's Daughter:

The Planter’s Daughter captivated me from chapter one. I didn’t just read this story, the author put me in the middle of the setting and I watched the story unfold around me. Michelle Shocklee has done a masterful job of allowing her three-dimensional characters to perform the story on a sensory-rich stage. One of the best books I’ve read this year. BRAVO!

~ Connie Stevens, Author

Brides of Georgia and Hope’s Dwelling Place


Blessings,

~Michelle

Confessions of a Newbie Author

One week!

Just one week until The Planter's Daughter officially releases and goes out into the world! I received my proof copies (to read through one. last. time before going to print!) and I can't tell you how thrilling it was to actually hold my book in my hands!! I won't go so far as to liken it to holding one of my babies for the first time---nothing can ever come close to that amazing event!---but it was one of those moments in life I hope I never forget.

But I have to be honest with you. I'm a little scared about this whole letting-the-public-read-my-book thing. Okay, okay. I'm terrified! I know millions of authors have done it in the past, and I know millions more will do it in the future. My book isn't anything special when it comes to the vast number of books that have been published. It's just that this particular author has never let too many people read her stuff, so it's kinda scary realizing that people who don't know me and my heart are going to be reading--and judging--this book. Yes, blogging about walking in The Way opens a door for criticism, but somehow the release of my book is different. I poured my heart into this book, so I'm feeling a little vulnerable. My hope and prayer is it will be well received, but ultimately I have to simply leave it in God's capable hands. He is the one who set me on this path many years ago, and He is the one who has a plan and a purpose for me and my writing.

So I thought I'd give you a peek into my brain (I know ... that's a scary thought, eh?!) and let you in on how you can help a newbie author:

• Buy the book. Yeah, that seems kinda obvious, but the reality is a new author doesn't have a built-in audience in their pocket like multi-published authors. There is a saying in publishing that goes something like, "If a first book doesn't sell well, there won't be a second book." Fortunately, I have already signed the contract for the second book in The Women of Rose Hill series and turned in the manuscript to my editor, so I know there will be a second book, scheduled for release in November 2017. And fortunately I've signed a contract with Barbour Publishing for a novella that will come out in early 2018. God has truly been good to me this year! BUT book sales figures matter to a publisher, current and future. My publisher, LPC Books, is actually a ministry, so they don't have a big budget like many other larger publishers. They take a huge risk each time they publish a book, especially for us newbies. So please, buy the book! I would greatly appreciate it!

• Tell your friends and family about the book. Statistics reveal that word of mouth is the number one way word gets to readers about a book. If you follow me on social media, share my posts about the book, promotions, giveaways, etc. Anything to help get the word out is deeply appreciated! If you are in a book club, suggest my book. I'd love to participate through live chat or come to the club if it's within driving distance. 

• Post a review on Amazon and Goodreads.  Reviews are vital to a book's life. Even short reviews like, "I enjoyed this book" help! The more reviews a book has, the more visibility it gets. I realize not everyone is going to love my book, but I think most people can find something redeeming in the story to comment on. 

• Lastly, pray for me and my book. My deepest desire for The Planter's Daughter is that ultimately it will glorify God! There are themes and scenes throughout the book that reveal how each of us is in need of a Savior. It isn't a "preachy" or "religious" book, but my hope is the trials and tribulations the characters go through will shine a light on the power of God and how it can heal and release each of us from bondage, whatever that bondage may be.  

So there you have it. Confessions of a newbie author. I truly am excited to share Adella & Seth's story with the world! I hope you fall in love with them in the same way I did while writing the novel. Click here or on the link on the side panel to order a print or electronic copy. To read more about The Planter's Daughter and why I wrote the book, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by the blog! Have a blessed day!

~Michelle

29 Days Until THE PLANTER'S DAUGHTER Releases!

Yes, folks, we are closing in on the release of my debut novel,The Planter's Daughter! Just 29 more days and TPD will wing its way out into the world. I know this sounds silly, but it's a bit like raising a child and watching them grow up and fly the nest. My hope is TPD will have a wonderful, blessed life away from the sheltered confines of my computer. I'll blog more about the release in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

BUT ... if you aren't good at waiting, I have good news! You can PRE-ORDER my book on Amazon here! Either in book form or the Kindle version. They will be shipped and/or delivered to your computer on March 3, 2017.

One other tidbit of good news to share: I've recently signed a contract with Barbour Publishing for a novella to be included in the MAIL-ORDER BRIDES COLLECTION, release in January 2018! I am super excited!

I'll leave you with a verse that truly speaks to me as I begin my career as a published novelist. It's from Ephesians 2:10:

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Isn't it wonderful to know God planned in advance the work He wanted you and me to get done while we are on this earth? He has a plan AND a timetable. I find that very comforting!

~Michelle

Freedom: Yours for the Taking

We talk about freedom a lot in this country. Freedom of speech. Freedom of religion. Freedom of this and that. Freedom is a very good thing. In my new novel, THE PLANTER'S DAUGHTER, which releases on March 3, 2017, the theme of freedom is woven throughout the story. Each of the main characters desires freedom from something. I'll share more about that as the release date draws closer.

Today, I'm thankful to live in America, despite all her problems. I'm thankful for the brave men and women who crossed the ocean hundreds of years ago seeking freedom from the tyranny of King James. I'm thankful for the men who fought and sacrificed for freedom in the many wars to come, including my own Daddy who was a WWII vet. I'm thankful for the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, even though it would be decades and decades before everyone in America was free.

But today, my unending gratitude is for the One who truly gave me freedom.

Jesus.

Not the President of the United States. Not the Congress and Senate who make laws. Not even the men and women serving in the military can assure my freedom.

Only Jesus.

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32-33

 "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" John 8:36

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Galatians 5:1

"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood..." Revelation l:5

The freedom Jesus gives can't be taken away by a ruler. It can't be taken away even if you are behind bars. It can't be taken away by any human effort. The freedom Jesus gives is a gift. It was paid for with his blood.

The freedom Jesus offers is yours for the taking! It's FREE! What do you need freedom from? Guilt? A sinful life? Bad choices? Anger? Jealousy? Temptations? Apathy? If you haven't experienced the freedom Jesus offers, and if you aren't sure how to get it, please contact me. I would love to share the Good News and Freedom found only in Jesus Christ with you!

Today, like King David said: "I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. (Psalm 119:45)

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are: 

USA, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, China, France, Germany, Nigeria, Philippines, Netherlands