Close to Production!-The Protected

Hey guys! So, I'm finally out of school for the semester and I can finally breathe...but the

best thing of all came wrapped in a package, with the name of Tate Publishing, in the mail to me Monday evening. My ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) arrived! When I opened it and saw it, I nearly cried tears of joy. This all feel so surreal. 

 

My book should print for distribution and purchasing sometime April 2014. I cannot wait to see where God take this book! 

 

God has already opened so many doors for me for this book. The first being, Tate Publishing accepted my book when they only take a very few percent of manuscripts. The most recent one was a HUGE blessing. A month or so ago, the production of my book was put on hold because I could not yet pay the remaining balance on the book due to my 15 hour semester consuming the majority of my hours at work.

If I had to guess, I might could have had the remainder by a few months from now. It saddened me, but I knew inside God had everything under control.

 

I prayed for weeks, "God, if it is Your Will, please provide a way for me financially to pay the remainder so the halt of production will be dismissed." Soon after I prayed, I had a dream I received a check in the mail for more than enough to cover my book. The next day, someone paid my remaining debt by check. God is SO good. Now, the book has moved forward and arriving to the last stages of production before distribution!

 

The pictures at the top are of the ARC I received Monday. I hope that many of you will consider purchasing a book once it comes out. You won't regret it! :]

God bless you all, and have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

~Brooke-Lauren Montgomery 

Stress

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery



Hey guys. I know it's been a while since I've posted anything. I've been crazy busy with school and my two jobs. I'm taking 15 hours of classes while working about twenty hours a week. I'd orginally started with 12 hours until I was told there had been a mistake on my graduation plan. In order for me to graduate in May of 2014 as I planned, I have to take 15 hours this semester and 18 this coming Spring. I have a lot of reading and tons of papers I have to write. Next semester I present my capstone which is the final say in whether I graduate or not. It's a twenty to twenty-five minute long presentation of a paper a student has written that they must present to the whole English department.

Some good news is that my first novel, The Protected: The Unseen Realm is moving on in the production schedule quickly. I've picked my cover and it's AWESOME!!! I cannot show it yet, but as soon as I can, I will. I turned in my first set of edits to my project manager last Friday and am currently awaiting my second set of edits before finalizing the changes. I can't wait!!!

I want to share an encouraging word with you today. It's about hurt. A couple weeks ago, someone I thought was a good friend of mine told me we couldn't be friends anymore. I don't know what I did, and I begged this person to talk to me so we could work things out, but they ignored me. Like everybody, I have struggles I face. This "friend" was someone I went to for prayer and vented to whenever I had a bad day. This person is a good twenty years older than me and promised me they'd always be there no matter what. They said they loved me like their own, then I received a call one evening from them saying we couldn't be friends anymore. I was dumbfounded and couldn't understand. This person said they were "led" to do this. When I texted the next day asking what I did, they cut me off and never spoke to me again. Didn't have the decency to talk things out with me face to face and let me know what the real issue was. I blamed myself for another frienship gone wrong, that it was my fault for, once again, getting rejected when I did nothing. Afterall, why else would someone I became good friends with decided to whack the friendship off? I was distraught and shocked at how ugly this grown person was to me. I just couldn't figure out why they had such anismosity toward me.
I texted a good friend of mine I've known for years who knew the person, explaining what happened. Come to find out, the reason this friendship ended wasn't even because of me, but because of jealousy. It sounded so preposterous that at first I didn't accept it, but the more I thought it over and the more my good friend explained certain things to me, it clicked.
I cried out to God because I couldn't stand the hurt anymore. I've been hurt countless times by people I thought were my friends. People who've walked away from an eight year best friendship for a group of girls she knew for only a month, friends who lied to me, back stabbed me. The day this certain "friend" told me to quit talking to her, nearly killed me because that was one more person I started to trust. I prayed for God to give me the Peace only He can give, and He did. He let me realize that this happened for a reason. If it hadn't happened, I wouldn't have kept growing in Him because this person was holding me back and I see it clearly now.
Yesterday afternoon as the situation came back to my mind, I thought of how people hated Jesus, and if not everyone liked Him, the Perfect Son of God, what made me think everyone would like me? I'm a people pleaser and I want everyone to like me, but they won't. It's not reality. Then I thought, "Well, Jesus never had any good friend who promised they wouldn't leave, reject Him," and immediately, Peter, one of Christ's close disciples came to mind. In Matthew 26, Peter promised He would never deny Jesus, that he would die with Jesus. However, Peter ended up denying Jesus three times before the rooster crowed.
God told me through this passage, that He knows what it feels like to be rejected, and not only did Peter do it, but the Jews did. They rejected their own Savior and hung Him on a cross.

My encouraging word for you, friends? Don't let someone keep your broken and torn heart. Take it back and hand it to Jesus so He can heal it and replace it back within you. I'd be lying if I said I don't struggle with bitterness and anger toward those who've deliberately hurt me, but know this: It's okay to struggle. We're human. But, pray and ask God to remove the anger and bittnerness to allow joy to flood back in. It's a constant battle for me because I'm reminded every day what this person did, but it's my choice whether I let it take me over or whether I shove it out of mind and pray for God to give me strength and compassion on those who've hurt me.
It's not easy by a long shot. It's a process.
Just know that God knows how you feel. He out of anyone does.

Have a blessed day! <3 

Reflection Unknown

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

So, I've been furiously working on one of my latest novels, Reflection Unknown. I just finished plotting the last half of the book, and am SO excited to write it!!!!

For those of you who like horror, this book is right up your ally, no doubt. It's extremely graphic and beyond creepy. It's so disturbing in some aspects that I actually had to take a break from writing and reconnect with God. (Not that I wasn't connected before. Just had to get closer with Him). But, the stuff in this book is really dark. It does have a good ending. Evil does not win. Evil will never win in any of my books, because God prevails over all evil.

Reflection Unknown is still in the making, so I don't have a publisher for it yet. I'm hoping to land an agent for this manuscript. I can tell my writing has gotten so much stronger since the first book I wrote, The Protected:The Unseen Realm, which is supposed to be released sometime in March or April 2014. (Not that my writing isn't strong in The Protected.) I've just been able to catch mistakes better than I used to before sending it to my editor, DeWanna Pace. She's awesome! She's been editing my manuscript, Reflection Unknown, and has shown me how to improve before sending it to agents or publishing companies. She's just fabulous.

My first novel, The Protected: The Unseen Realm, is geared for middle school through college age kids. It does have a couple of somewhat graphic scenes, and has no profanity. This is a book sold under the Christian Market. I believe I talked a little more about it on a seperate blog of mine recently. But, if you like angels and demons, good vs. evil, this is your book! And, if you like endings with a twist, this is also your book! Lol. If you are one that likes a good freaky, page turner, nail biting experience without the gore and profanity, you'll love this book. 

If you like gore, high tension, nail shredding, on the edge of your seat books, Reflection Unknown is most definitely for you. It does contain some "mild" profanity in it. Also, if you like twist endings, you'll love it! Reflection Unknown would not fly under the Christian Market due to its extreme graphic contents and occassional profane language. (Nothing like the F word or misuse of God's Name).

I have big hopes for these two novels. I love my God-given gift to write! I hope that when these two novels come out, you guys will read them and enjoy them, and also learn something through them.

I will update more on each of these novels later.

I'm supposed to be getting back my first edits on The Protected: The Unseen Realm any day now. Feels like forever when you're an excited writer! :]

Hope everyone has a blessed day and a wonderful rest of the week!

Must Read: Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl

I finished reading a very good book a few days ago called, Being More Than A Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst. She is the president of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

This book is one I highly recommend. Lysa is very transparent. She doesn't try to hide anything. She's also very straightforward, and doesn't sugar coat things. However, she is absolutely hilarious! I laughed several times while reading her book.

Being More Than A Good Bible Study Girl teaches us that we are not worthless. It teaches us that God is the only thing that can fill the void everyone is born with. Everyone's void is different, and everyone tries desperately to fill it with temporary things that bring us happiness. Eventually the happiness wears off and we try to fill it with more and more and more, and it never seems to work. We can never get enough. In her book, Lysa shows how we CAN get enough. After reading Being More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, I felt happier than I had in a long time. I read it within two days, and it was the best two days I'd had in a while.

I felt closer to God. Not only that, but I could relate, almost in every aspect, to Lysa! I would come across places where she'd messed up in life and I'd think, Whoa! You did that, too??

This book is geared for girls and women. Lysa really hits home for how a lot of women feel inside even though they cover their unhappiness with a smile.

I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. It's one I'm definitely keeping to reread.

If you feel like you're missing something, read this book. You won't regret it.

To read about Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, or to purchase the book, please click the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-More-Than-Bible-Study/dp/0310293251

Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl is also located at your local Christian bookstore(s).

The Protected:The Unseen Realm

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery



Hello guys! Just an update about my book:

Tate Publishing is in the editing process of my novel. Within a week or so, I should hear back from them with my first edits for me to review.

I can't tell you how excited I am about the publication of The Protected:The Unseen Realm. It's been a dream of mine, ever since I could write, to publish a book. Now that it is actually happening, I can't believe it! It's so surreal. 

The Protected:The Unseen Realm is a spiritual warfare/suspense/thriller. It's guaranteed to give you a nail biting experience! If you are one that loves good vs. evil, this book is for you!

I wish I had more to share with y'all about it, like the cover design and whatnot, but that doesn't come until later in the process. As soon as I find out more regarding the novel's progress, I'll let you know! 

As of now, while I'm waiting patiently (er, or trying to), I'm writing another book. I'm on chapter 16 of it, and am progressing quite rapidly. I haven't yet decided if I want to make The Protected a series or not, but if I did, this book I'm working on could be the second book of the series. 

It also could stand on its own because readers would not have to read the first book to understand what's going on in the second. 

Maybe when The Protected:The Unseen Realm comes out, y'all can give me some input? Should be sometime in March 2014 when it is due for distribution, give or take. That's if we don't get off schedule or there aren't any delays. 

Thank you guys for reading my blogs. I hope they bless you!

Have a wonderful week!

~Brooke-Lauren Montgomery 

Forever Friday-A Must Read!

I just finished an incredible novel last night called, Forever Friday, by Timothy Lewis. Everything about the book is fabulous, down to the cover design.

It's a wonderful love story that keeps you turning the pages. The characters are so realistic, it feels like you really know them, in a sense. It's a captivating story line that I've never seen in a Romance novel. Better yet, it is based upon Tim's relatives, which makes it that much more compelling! Forever Friday is a heart warming story that teaches not to give up in a marriage even though it is filled with ups and downs. It shows the power of love and how love can be a strong enough bond to keep two people together. What I also loved about this novel is that is was a Romance, but it was not a risque, erotic read. The hints of making love were done beautifully through the book. It wasn't in any way inappropriate.

I got the pleasure of receiving Tim's ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy) in the mail after attending WTWA (West Texas Writer's Academy) at West Texas A&M University where Tim taught one of the classes offered. Tim has a beautiful way with words, and I know he will succeed!

When Jodi Thomas (New York Times best selling Romance author), told the large class that we were looking at the next Nicholas Sparks, she wasn't kidding. I'm hoping that Forever Friday will be turned into a film. When it does, I will be first in line!

I rate this book five out of five stars! Loved it. Putting it on my shelf to read again in the future!

I highly encourage you to go check this book out and read the description! Then order the book! :) Here is a link to pre-order Forever Friday: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307732215 

The Conjuring Review

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery



Well, guys, I went to see The Conjuring last night with my sister, her boyfriend, and my cousin. I'm a suspense/scary movie fan, so, I was excited about seeing it. However, I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about it. I'm not one to get nervous about seeing a scary movie, but I was on this one. I kept hearing different things, such as, "Oh, there was one theatre that had a priest come and bless people and offer prayer if they needed it!" That freaked me out a bit, because, I'm thinking, it's THAT bad??

First off, to me, it wasn't too bad. Was it scary? Dang straight! If you are into paranormal movies, this one is the best one made, in my opinion. The graphics/makeup was amazing, and the acting was terrific and compelling. Those two combined, it made the movie thrilling. I didn't need a priest, thank God, after walking out of the theatre, and neither did my sister, her bf, and cousin.

Second, if you do not like paranormal stuff (obviously, which goes without saying), or maybe you do, but as long as it isn't "over the top", DON'T go see the movie.

Third, I found it very interesting that the writers of the script are two brothers who are Christians. To read about it click the link:  http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/07/16/is-the-new-hollywood-movie-the-conjuring-about-a-demonic-possession-really-based-on-true-events-the-surprising-answer/ 
It's a great article!

Fourth, I loved the ending. I loved it, because, being a Christian, I enjoy movies that end with Good prevailing and evil losing. And in The Conjuring, evil loses. So, I still got the scare while watching the film, but didn't leave the theatre feeling down hearted. God prevailed!

Fifth, as far as the priest coming to the theatre, I don't know if that is true. I read about it, and I can't decide if it's a publicity/marketing tool used to promote the film, or what. I'll provide the link to that, and y'all can decide for yourselves: http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/68210/chicago-screening-conjuring-comes-complete-priest-and-warning 

Sixth, I will admit that a couple of strange things happened to my sister, cousin, and I after we got home from the movie. In The Conjuring, the paranormal activity always began at 3:07 a.m. Well, when I woke up this morning, I saw a text from my sister that she sent at 3:10 a.m. that said, "I was about to go to sleep and im exhausted and I noticed it was almost 3:07 and I started to plug my fone in and my TV shut off. So I didn't panic and I sat back down on the bed and in a bit the TV turned back on and I looked at my phone and it said 3:08".
There are, however, possible "rational" explanations for those who believe demonic/paranormal stuff is a bunch of malarkey. But, I believe it wasn't coincidental.
Rational explanation:
Her tv shorted out like it has before. It just so happened to conveniently be at 3:07 a.m.

As for me, when I got into bed and was laying there, I heard a rustling noise beside my bed. I have some drafts of my manuscript down there and I assumed it was that. I peeked over the side of the bed, but I didn't see anything. Then, this morning when I went into the bathroom to get ready for work, the cabinet door squeaked open by itself. I can think of two rational explanations for mine:
The papers may have rattled due to the fan being on.
Still half asleep, I possibly could have bumped the cabinet with the bathroom door and didn't realize it. I just knew I didn't touch it.

As for my cousin, he texted me this: "Well, mine was this morning about 7:07 i woke up like when you fall off of something like all quick and jumpy. And heard a big bang. And so i listend for a couple more seconds and it got quiet so i laid down to try to calm down. And then you know the bars over here on the windows. It sounded like someone was trying to get in the bars like rattling them and trying to rip them off!"
Rational explanation: Could have been the wind. In the part of Texas I live in, we have high winds here.

I don't know one hundred percent if it was paranormal or not, but nonetheless, it was freaky to us. However, we're still alive and kicking.

One last thing. Demons and things are real. That's what makes this movie so scary. It could really happen. My friend has witnessed a girl who was her roommate take on demonic/possessed behavior. She doesn't want to say she was possessed, but from what happened and how she was acting, it looked that way.
Also, one time when our family was going through a difficult time, my dad who is a strong believer, hung a necklace with a cross in his bathroom from one of the light fixtures above the mirror. One evening, my mother, who also is an avid believer, came into my room asking me if I pulled Dad's necklace down in his bathroom. Of course I didn't. She asked my sister and she didn't. My mom didn't do it, and my dad didn't do it. The freaky part about it...there were smears on the mirror from where someone or something yanked down the necklace and swiped their hand across it. The necklace wasn't gently undone and laying on the counter. It had been ripped down and broken.
I have other personal stories of these kinds of true incidences but it would take forever to write.

Bottom line: The movie was a great movie. It was scary, on the edge of your seat thrilling. The outcome was good. I'd give it a five star out of five. BUT, I would advise praying before seeing it. To be honest, I don't think that Christians should see it. Yes, I know, I did, and I shouldn't have. But my seek for thrill and scare got me.

Also, the film wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be way worse than it was.
However, I repeat, if you don't like extra freaky movies, this isn't for you.

If you've seen it, I'd love to hear your opinions and intakes!

Have a blessed day!

Born To Dream

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

I have a dream, and it is mine,

I have a dream that I will find,
There it is, so big, so bright,

I wish I may, I wish I might

God has known before time,

This dream was born to be mine.

From my first cry, it was in me,

Till my final breath in me will it be.



Giver Of Life

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

My heart and soul rejoice in You,

For You brought my beating heart to life.

You are The Light, and everything that's true,

My heart and soul rejoice in You.

Carry me through perilous storms, You do--

Before You gave me my first breath, You knew me, You knew my life.

My heart and soul rejoice in You,

For You brought my beating heart to Life.

 



The Anguish Of The Heart

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

When I look at you, I see more than flesh-I see love.
You've captivated my mind, my soul, my heart.
Fear grips tighter still, but you're working to set me free.
I'm not afraid of you, but afraid to fall.
God knows I want to, I long to--to just leap
Head first into it all, into your arms I want to stay--



 Forever with you--you and me--to stay
Wound within your mind like you are in mine, and love
You until we breathe our last, until we leap
Into Eternity--I want to love you with my whole heart,
And not be afraid to knock down these walls, watch them fall--
Drain the poison that's eating me alive--oh how I ache to be set free!



You want to know me inside and out--but freedom is not free.
You whisper to me, "don't give up--no matter how long it takes, I'm here to stay."
Through my blur of tears you say to me, "I'll be there to catch you when you fall."
I am your woman and you are my man--we were made for this, we were made to love.
God lead me to you with His loving heart.
I want to be strong enough to take the leap.



I would ask you to jump with me, but you've already taken that leap.
You had no boundaries from this, no ghosts or demons to wrestle with--you've always been free.
You've never had to feel this certain death grip on your heart.
I want to breathe, I want to smile and laugh--I want to stay
Right where you are, engulfed within your love.
I beg the question, what will it take for me to fall?



Will it take you pushing me over the edge to fall?
No, for that would shut me down--I must be the one who chooses to leap
And plummet into what I've shied away from for so long--love,
But yours only do I desire, no other man-I need my heart to be free-- free!
My soul burns with energy for you and everything you are--when I look at you I want you--but I stay
Right where I've been thrown, fear's repulsive hand seizing my fragile heart.



I pray the fingers of fear's hand be broken, mutilated, melted off my heart,
So I can finally be fearless to run right off the edge and fall--
And at last I can be locked within every fiber of you--forever stay,
So my being can catch fire and explode my innermost feelings for you...when I'm finally set free
To be wrapped up inside of your love.



I desperately want to leap, because when I look at you, I want to fall.
My heart wants to intertwine with yours, to perpetually stay.
When I look at you, I see love, and my weary being cries out to be set free.



L-O-V-E

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

Rose colored cheeks, pale face,

Tiny frame, luscious lips pressed taut together--

Finger tips dance upon his spine,

Breaths that burst into brilliant color prism--

Hair follicles tingle as hair on moving arms raise,

Fingers locked as lips emulate--

The flutter of ecstatic hearts as they embrace,

Dilation of her eyes, whisper from his lips--

The man, the woman, as one,

Two frames that are meant to fit together.

 

 



Bruno

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

There was an old dog on the roadway

That looked to be fragile and so gray,

He walked with a limp

To make do with his gimp,

Which made sad the ones who went his way



Here's To Summer--Finally

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

The cold needs to go,

 Summer beckons me, arms wide--

Bye-bye, my sweaters!

 

 



The Power Of Bended Knee

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

When you see me on my knees, it doesn't mean I'm weak,

I'm getting stronger--through trials and temptations,

It's God's Face that I seek.

 

I've been a witness, and I have seen

What sight would take to believe,

The Power behind the bended knee.

 

When you see me on my knees, it doesn't mean I'm frail,

I'm getting stronger--through joy and through pain,

I have learned that in Him will I always prevail.

 

I have felt the indescribable Peace

When I've cried out in utter desperation

On my knees--my burdens I release.

 

When you see me on my knees, it doesn't mean I'm defeated,

For many pleading prayers are answered there,

Through His Word, my soul is completed.


 

Like hinges straining from the massive weight,

My heart shudders, almost stops in place,

Just before the strength bursts forth, and my  mind is set straight.

 

When you see me on my knees, it doesn't mean I've given up,

I'm getting stronger--through the darkest night,

He mends my ailing heart, smoothes out every hiccup.

 

Hope and Love spread through my heart like roots on a healthy tree--

I am amazed at what I see and what I feel

When limitless Power surges through bended knee.   

 



Cut

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

              Twilight. The moon, the only source of light through the masses of tangled twigs, lit the path of desperation's trail. With seconds to spare, she could become the next victim of the menacing evil that walked on two legs. She heard a relentless pounding of drums, but soon realized it was the sound of her own beating heart that she feared would take her into tachycardia. 

               High pitched screams cut through the air like a pizza cutter slicing through a freshly baked pie. It ricocheted off the trees, then finally sprung into the ears of a shaken girl. Her hair, matted with dirt and blood, fell in stringy strands about her face as she breathed rapidly, terror unwilling to leave her. The dirt that smeared on her cheeks and forehead, mixed with blood, gave her face more color. Her eyes, a radiant blue, dilated from the fear that she may just lose her life.

               More desperate screams filled the woods as she kept running with all her might. She was too frightened, to panicked to cry. Everything around her seemed so...shallow, unwilling to help. The branches and twigs were like cold, scratchy fingers that taunted her, trying to prevent her from getting away from the arms that wanted to kill her.

               Hopeless. Hopelessness filled every inch of her sunken heart. Something drove her to keep going, that there was a way out of this living hell she was surreally apart of. Those screams did not have to come from her as long as she fought to keep the strong will to live. Her best friend since kindergarten school had met her fate, unable to do a thing about it.

               Hating the bastard that had taken away her best friend, she wanted to face the giant, to take away his life just as he had taken away her friend's, but she was too afraid. Now, she ran scared, like an antelope from a lion.

               This nightmare she was living was like a dream, though she was not asleep. She was not dead. She was alive, very alive. She was, indeed, in this place that she feared most, a place that she thought only existed in horror movies.

               Her legs were begging for mercy, screaming at her to let them rest, but she pushed forward. Her legs got their wish when her foot caught on a tree root. Down she went, face planting into the dirt and leaves. She felt no pain, only sheer adrenaline as she sprang up onto her feet again. Leaves clung to her hair as she wiped her mouth with the back of her dirt stained hand.

               The screams of of her friend came no more, but was replaced with another looming and doomful sound. A cackling penetrated the wood's evil thickened air. It rang through the trees like an air raid siren announcing the end of the planet's very existence. Her fate drew nearer and nearer, but she continued to push her exhausted being through the woods, in frantic search for the highway. She turned to look behind her and, to her horror, saw the one that killed her best friend, the one that was now coming for her. So relentless, so disgustingly corrupt.

               A whimper escaped her lips as she saw the bloodstained clothes of the one that so desperately wanted to kill her. She kept going, going, going. At last! There is was! The highway, so beautiful, so near!

               This was her chance! Her chance to make it out alive and to get help! Her chance to get this maniac off her back and killed, where she would be taken into loving and helpful arms, where she would be doctored and cared for.  

               She burst out onto the open road. "STOP!" she screamed, wildly waving her arms.

               The next thing she heard was, "And cut! That's a wrap!"   





The Star In His Eyes

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

 Look up

At the night sky

Eyes wide, full of wonder

The stars are dazzling tonight,
As you



The Great I Am

written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

You are

The One I love,

The One who carries me,

Who dries my tears-I am the one

You love

 

 

 



The Wonder of The Soul

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

 

 

 

 

Love--what is love my soul does wonder on this night?

It has been taken all in vain.

 

Love  is replaced by what is known as Lust,

Sex has replaced what love once knew,

So beautiful and true was it before--

Now it is hidden, craftily disguised behind Lust's greedy eyes.

Will I get lucky on this night, we ask,

Instead of knowing this one fragile soul.

For when we choose to come together with another,

Without a wedding band upon the finger,

It is not making love, for it's not true--

It's Lust behind a mask of Love.

It is about a void we all long to be filled--

The missing puzzle piece that's in the heart of all.

When patience has defeated the impatient heart,

Love will present itself at the right time--

When it is truly love, it feels so right.

And happiness, it shall burst forth

Just like a geyser aiming for the sun,

To quench the rampant fi-re burning deep within the soul.

But Love today-- it's so distorted now,

Been twisted this way, twisted that way 'til

It is no longer recognizable.

Love--what is love, my soul does wonder on this night?

It's beautiful, deep in the heart,

Created by a loving God--

To have, to hold,

To treasure still,

Until our hearts shall beat no more.

Love--this is love my soul has found on this exquisite night.



Forever, Baby

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery



I was used to having that certain someone in my life,       

But now I found I’ve got it all figured out,            

He doesn’t need me,                                                       

And I know that I don’t need him,                                

He lost his chance when I opened the door to find: 

Him in his bed tangled with another girl              

He called to me                                             

I kept on running, right on out the door            

He begged me please        

But it was my time to settle the score     

I won   

He lost  

And now it’s goodbye forever, baby   

I never knew that I could make it without him there, right

By my side, but what he’s done made it possible,

He doesn’t need me,

And I’m sure that I don’t need him,

He betrayed me when I opened the door to find:

Him in his bed tangled with another girl              

He called to me                                             

I kept on running, right on out the door            

He begged me please        

But it was my time to settle the score    

I won   

He lost   

And now it’s goodbye forever, baby   

Bridge:

He said ‘you and me, forever be’,

But he gave it up right before my eyes,

Another girl, was it worth it all to lose

The only one who wasn’t using him?  

He cleared things up when I opened the door to find:

Him in his bed tangled with another girl              

He called to me                                             

I kept on running, right on out the door            

He begged me please        

But it was my time to settle the score     

I won  

He lost   

And now it’s goodbye forever, baby  

Now it’s goodbye forever, baby

Goodbye forever, baby

The Missing Puzzle Piece

Written by Brooke-Lauren Montgomery

Are things not going right in your life, Friend? Let me guess, you're exhausted from trying to make it all stay together so it won't disolve and slip right through your fingers? I thought so. I know because I've been there. And sometimes still go there. 

It is completely natural for us to want to be in control, and the sense of knowing things are under control gives us relief and comfort. 

But what happens when your world suddenly gets turned upside down? 

Your spouse dies unexpectedly, you lose your job, you get diagnosed with a terminal illness, or a wayward child packs their stuff and leaves to never look back? 

Suddenly, you don't feel in control, and you feel that if you could somehow fix the situation, everything will be hunkydory. Not necessarily. (Sorry to burst your bubble) . However, this is all a good thing.

I can see you gaping at the screen wondering what I've been smoking. But, yes, you read correctly about it being a good thing you aren't in control. 

I suppose you would like to know the why's. I'm glad you asked! :

Strength of Trust: If you sailed through life with nothing but smiles, chasing butterflies, and singing a tune to Life is Sweet, where's the trust in God? Where's the faith in God? I know that some of you who are reading this blog may not be "religious", but, you know what? I'm so blessed that you are reading this right now because I believe that God has a word for unbelievers as well as believers. He loves us all the same, no matter what we've done.

Turning Point: There are times that God allows certain instances to happen in your life that will shake your world for one reason--to draw you to Himself. Did you know that God is a jealous God? Deuteronomy 4:24 says, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire; a jealous God." He is jealous for you, my friend! He wants you to Himself, and if a certain circumstance in your life is what it takes for you to run into His arms, then He will let it be. You may be thinking, how is God a loving God when He allows this to happen to me? Why can't he just speak out loud to me or, you know, write on the wall? The answer is this--it ties along with Faith and Trust. Are you familiar with the book of Job? Did you know that God allowed satan to take everything he had? His family, his cattle, everything. Except, God told satan he could not take Job's life. Job had it all. He was living the all smiles and chasing butterflies life until God allowed him to be put through a test. You may ask, well, did he pass the test? With flying colors, Friend. Even when others, his friends and his wife, told him to just curse God and die, he did not do it. He continued to praise God even though his world was falling apart. Well, why didn't he just curse God and die? I believe it was because he knew God had blessed him with such a good life, that when he went through the trials, God was the only One he could lean on. He had that will to keep believing that God would see him through it all. And God did. In fact, he gave Job everything back double because of Job's faithfulness and because he didn't give into what his family and friends told him to do.

Well, how do you know God doesn't cause these bad things to happen? That's a good question. Bad things come from one thing and one thing only--satan. Who was it that tempted Eve in the garden of Eden? satan. Did Eve fall for it? Yeah. satan is a sly, tricky, manipulative scumbag that makes things look so appealing to us that often times we fall for it. Even believers at times fall for one of satan's tricks because we are all human. But, being human isn't an excuse to run around doing whatever we want. 

But, satan is the bad one. He's the evil one. All bad things come from him. Notice the "all". Not some, not most, not many, but ALL.

God is the creator of good. Did you know that His plan for us is for good? Jeremiah 29:11 says, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares The Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" Well, how do I get this prosperous future? How do I get this hope? I'm glad you asked! The answer is in the next verses, Jeremiah 29:12-13, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." All you have to do is cry to Him. He hears you.

Well, if he hears me, why isn't He answering? Sometimes the answer doesn't always come to us the way we want it to. It ties in along with Faith as well. I guarantee you that He will answer you when the time is right. DO NOT GIVE UP ON GOD.

It all works together for our good: Even though life is hard at times, and things seem impossible, everything works out for good. Yes, the bad works out for good. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose." Again, notice the "all". It doesn't say, some things, or most things, or occasionally things. It says ALL things. If you cling to that verse, and you repeat it each time something happens in your life, it will bring you comfort. I know this because I do it. It is my life verse. It's written on my calendar at work, taped on my computer, and etched on my heart.

The missing puzzle piece: There's a missing piece of the puzzle in your life that you will never find unless you give up. When I say "give up", I'm not speaking of suicide or anything else that's life threatening. You give up your fight of controlling what you can't, to God. 

He sees it all, the whole puzzle, and we as humans only get pieces at a time...sometimes the pieces don't make sense because we have them turned the wrong way and they don't fit due to us trying to force them into where we want them to go...but God turns the pieces in due time for us so that we finally are able to see why they would not fit at first. God has you in His Hands and loves you more than you possibly could ever know.

Also, giving over what bothers us or burdens us to God, takes a tremendous pressure off our shoulders. Sometimes things we do carry in our lives, we aren't meant to carry. We actually insist on carrying it on our backs even though the opportunity is staring us right in the face to get it taken off. God wants us to throw it all on Him because He is strong enough to hold it all. He knows we can't. 1 Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on Him, for He cares for you." Wow, the word "all" is REALLY popular! Sadly, sometimes holding too many burdens and pressures inside, result in diseases like cancer. When we are overly stressed and anxious, it damages the body. 

Did you know that we are not to be anxious? This next verse is one I need to hold onto all the time. Philippians 4:6 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 

Did you know that there are 365 places/verses in The Bible where it tells us not to fear? That's a verse for one day every year, telling us not to be afraid! How awesome is that?! 

Friends, I hope this blog encouraged you today. Keep your head up! Call to God today. He's waiting for it eagerly. And, if you are not a believer, I encourage you to do the same. He'll answer. :)