Last week, my family placed an order for copies of The Whispers God Gives on KDP, but, as they're not expected to arrive till mid-May, we went ahead and purchased a copy directly from Amazon. Today my sweet sister, Sadie, and I headed off on a rather rainy trek to the mailbox . . . where we discovered that my book had arrived! I'm sooooo excited! The cover is every bit as beautiful as I'd hoped (thanks to Amy J. for the design and Mom for the lettering), and I know God has big plans in store for this little collection of simple yet heartfelt devotions.
To all of you who may have purchased a copy of my book (in either paperback or Kindle format) . . . left a review . . . posted a comment . . . slipped me an email . . . THANK YOU. Your support and encouragement means so very much to me. Praying for you guys! <3 Finally, to close this post, a pic of lovely little Ruby, now three months old and growing like a weed! She's healthy and so, so beautiful, and I am beyond grateful for God's constant providence. :-)
Descending the stairs at a run, I slide into my flip-flops and dash for the closet to grab my warm brown jacket. Still pulling up the zipper, I join Mom at the door. She retrieves her purse and phone, and together we make our way outside. The car awaits us in the driveway, a royal coach on gravel. We get right in and start off. Mom cracks the window, and I plug in her phone so we can listen to some music. Otherwise, all is quiet for a while as we each sit back and relax. Soon, I notice Mom is taking us through a beautiful scenic route. Between tall, dipping hills that send my head spinning, I watch the trees and brush go by, colorful drops of green amidst a background of greyish clouds and light rain. And I'm once again swept into wonder at the works of our Creator. My ear picks up the words playing on the radio, and I recognize the song as an old favorite titled "Oh My Soul" from (guess who?) Casting Crowns.
Oh, my soul Oh, how you worry Oh, how you're weary, from fearing you lost control This was the one thing, you didn't see coming And no one would blame you, though If you cried in private If you tried to hide it away, so no one knows No one will see, if you stop believing
Oh, my soul You are not alone There's a place where fear has to face the God you know One more day, He will make a way Let Him show you how, you can lay this down 'Cause you're not alone
Here and now You can be honest I won't try to promise that someday it all works out 'Cause this is the valley And even now, He is breathing on your dry bones
I release a breath and take a moment to inwardly whisper, Thank You, Lord. Once again, He used something so simple like a drive, a view, and a song to give me a much-needed boost, a reminder that He's got this. Every bit of it. Recently, COVID-19 has us all down. Tired. Stressed. Ready to get out, get away. Just be done with it all. I don't know about you guys, but because of this I have been feeling very weary. This whole pandemic was indeed something I didn't see coming. I resent the new normal - face masks, closed doors, restrictions everywhere. Things just seemed to change overnight, and I don't like it. At all. But, as God used this little road trip to remind me, the season of my life may have changed, but He still hasn't. The God who made all creation, the God Who is continuing to put breath in our lungs and a beat in our hearts, the God Who promised never to leave or forsake us . . . is the same God Who reigns today. Nothing that happens in this life can ever change that. And as hard as things may seem now, He has a plan. Mark Hall (lead singer of Casting Crowns and the author of the song I quoted above) wrote "Oh My Soul" during a trying time in his life, when he had just discovered he had cancer in one of his kidneys. It was a hard struggle for him, yet God used it to bring about a song that now, years later, is ministering to so many all around the globe. Including me. We're not alone, and God is calling us to lay our burdens down at His feet. We're in the valley, and currently heading down a very windy, bumpy road, but soon we will enter glory, and all this pain will be forgotten. Don't lose heart, my friends. He is working in and at all moments of our lives. Trust Him, for He has promised to be our Peace. <3 Praying for each one of you!! Blessings, Ellen S.
I'm soooooooo excited to say that paperback copies of The Whispers God Gives are now LIVE on Amazon!! Click HERE to check it out. *more confetti* *happy dance*
Hello, m'friends, and welcome to the seventh (and final) day on the The Whispers God Gives blog tour! *showers you all in confetti and chocolate* To say I'm a little excited right now would be a huge understatement. My precious book baby is now officially released to the world. It seems so utterly surreal, and truly, all the praise goes to my Savior. He worked in my life and brought about something I wasn't sure would ever happen. For every devotion, His love sustained me. He covered my hands with His own and led each word I wrote. I am beyond grateful, and so super excited to see all He has in store for this devotional book.
(special thanks to Kaitlyn K. for the pic!)
Last night, soon after eight o'clock, I made my way downstairs with the computer tucked in one arm. My family had gathered in the living room, and they welcomed me with an enthusiastic drum roll (aka beating hands against floors, couches, knees, and whatever else might be handy). Even little Sadie, sitting on Dad's lap, joined in. From the kitchen, two balloons reading "Congratulations!" bobbed back and forth over a vase of pretty yellow and pink flowers (a writing gift from my two very most favorite people in all the world). The long-awaited moment had come, and there was no squelching the butterflies in my belly. I opened the computer, signed into the account, and hurried to my project. There it was, all ready to go. Back cover description, key words, copyright . . . My mouse hovered over the final step: the "publish my print book" button. Deep breath. The siblings pressed in around me. Dad drew out his phone to snap a couple quick pics. Mom beamed so much you'd have thought she was publishing the book instead of me. And then, with a final prayer, I clicked the button, and it was done. My book had been sent in for review and is predicted to appear live on Amazon within the next 72 hours (so keep an eye out, y'all!). Anyone who preordered the Kindle edition of The Whispers God Gives should have received their e-book copies this morning. I'm happy to say it's also now available for Kindle Unlimited readers and open to reviews/ratings on Amazon. Head on over and check it out!
Thanks so much to each one of you for joining me on this tour. You guys are simply the best, and I've felt so encouraged by every comment you've left on my posts. Now, go out and continue to shine your lights as living witnesses for Jesus Christ. Listen to God's whispers and follow Him in everything, even when the mission He sets before you seems impossible. You're never too young to make a difference. And with God on your side, you shall do valiantly. (Psalm 108:13) Blessings, Ellen S. To end this post and wrap up the whole blog tour, here're snippets from a few of my amazing ARC readers' reviews . . . "The Whispers God Gives" should be on every teen girl's bookshelf. It is relatable and a blessing to anyone who might read it. Ellen is a superb writer, and her intriguing stories in each devotional chapter captivates you and helps you understand the message she gives even clearer. You can see the love and guidance our Creator has for us through each passage. I truly felt whispers from God as I read this book, and I will say it again . . . "The Whispers God Gives" is a blessing. ~Izzy West
Each of the lessons in this 30-day devotional holds an everyday illustration—baby sister + soggy pretzels, food allergies, Band-Aids, rolling office chairs. The lessons contain life occurrences and just all-around wisdom that every teenager can relate to—the betrayal of a friend, the impact of words, jealousy of others' stronger faith, personal mission fields. Ms. Senechal's short, sweet, to-the-point devotionals pack a punch for just a few hundred words per day! ~Kaitlyn Krispense Ellen has a brilliant gift of writing clear, engaging devotions filled with deep truth. Firmly rooted in biblical truth and personal experience. ~Sandrina In my private Bible study/time dedicated to the Lord, I don't usually read devotionals. I prefer theology books that unpack key Biblical concepts by authors like Spurgeon, Sproul, etc. This is one of the only devotionals that drew me in and kept me interested all the way through. It was also one of the only devotionals that felt real and avoided cheesy messages. Ellen tackles some tough battles that many girls go through like body-image shame, betrayal in a friendship, hurt/bitterness when losing a friend, chronic physical pain, and anxiety attacks. I was impressed with her vulnerability and courage in addressing these topics. However, through all of this, she is weaving themes and messages from her everyday life. What makes this devotional feel relevant is Ellen's honest depiction of the themes she is passionate about. She doesn't reach for topics that she doesn't relate to but beautifully illustrates with the truths she has experienced. ~Emma Starr
Congratulations to Laura D. for winning the second giveaway!!! Please send your mailing address to my email (found in the comments below) ASAP. Lord willing, my author copies will be arriving soon, and I can put your goodies together! :D I pray God uses these thirty simple yet heartfelt devotions to bless you in your walk with Him. <3 Once more, thank you all SO MUCH for joining me on this tour! It's been heaps of fun, and I've loved reading each and every comment y'all have left. Stay tuned for tomorrow, where I plan on wrapping up the tour and sharing the long-awaited news: my book has been released. (I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!)
I'm so excited!! Two of my ARC readers have already sent in their ratings/reviews. My sweet friend, Sandrina, posted hers on Goodreads, so go on over and check it out! (And if you have a Goodreads account, be sure to give her review a like!) Kaitlyn K. also spread the news on her Instagram feed.
The release date is drawing soooooo close, y'all!! Who else is excited??? ;D
Hi friends!! It's Day #5 on the The Whispers God Gives blog tour, and you know what that means . . . *cue drum roll and intense appluase* a WINNER from last week's giveaway is at long last revealed, and the second and final giveaway announced. Since I know you're skipping this intro to get to that part of the post anyway, let's jump right into it! Without further ado, the winner is . . .
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MARION!!!!!!
Congrats, Marion! Please send your mailing address to my email (found in the comments below) ASAP, and I'll ship out your prizes as soon as my author copies come in! :D Thank you ALL so much for your enthusiastic entries! You guys are the best. =)
Now on to the second giveaway! Once again, thanks to my wonderful mother (be sure to give her a huge "thank-you" in the comments below, y'all) the prizes include a . . .
*signed paperback copy of The Whispers God Gives
*handmade tag
*necklace and Scripture cards
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*fun notecard and several stickers
Ready to know how to enter this giveaway?? The rules are super simple and about the same as the last giveaway. Only this time, there are six ways to enter. ❤Follow Ellen's Musings (via either email or blogger) ❤Mark The Whispers God Gives as to-read on Goodreads ❤Follow my Amazon and Goodreads author pages (two entries) ❤Spread the news about this giveaway on any social media site or with a friend ❤Comment below and tell me one thing God has whispered to you amidst all this COVID-19 craziness
I'm super excited about this, and I hope you guys are too. :-) (And yes, I switched up the font for this post. I was in the mood for something new and different. You'll have to let me know how like it. ;D) Okay, before I sign off, here're a few final tidbits to keep in mind for this giveaway . . . *it's open to USA residents only *you have from now until April 21st (RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!) to submit your entries for a chance to win all the fantastic prizes pictured above Have fun, and don't forget to comment and let me know how many entries I should credit you for! <3 Blessings, Ellen S.
Happy Easter, everyone!! JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN!! <333 On Easter Day of last year (April 21st), my family followed the usual routine: get up, get dressed, go to church, come back to a tasty Easter dinner, and then depart to our rooms for a few hours of quiet-time, during which we allowed our food to digest. (I also returned to the Internet that afternoon after a forty-day break.) This year, things look different.
Church buildings are closed all over the globe. People are urged to keep a distance of six feet apart from each other, masks are used when going to the grocery store, and it doesn't appear anyone prepped for the big Easter meal. After all, it's not worth risking our health just to run out and pick up a ham and some cranberry sauce.
So, yes, to many people, Easter is ruined. There're no huge bunnies, baskets full of chocolate, or stuffed eggs littering the yard. No friends are coming over and no families are visiting.
Yet, if there's one thing this coronavirus pandemic is pointing out, Easter is not about these things. It's not about big meals and bigger bunnies, nor egg hunts and chocolate. It's not even about going to church.
It's about the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As my mom is fond of remarking, Easter to us as Christians happens every day, not just one day a year. And if we truly believe that Jesus died and rose again to make us new in Him, nothing else matters.
Today, like any day, is the day to shout our joy. Today, like any day, is the day to sing praises to our blessed Redeemer. The government may have closed the church buildings, but one thing it cannot do is close the church itself, Christ's body.
Perhaps God is using this unexpected time in quarantine to keep our focus on Him, and not on the temporary things that slip away like a breath in the wind.
Praise Him today for your health, for the family that's with you, for the fresh new morning and the blooming flowers. Praise Him for the gift of His Son.
HE IS RISEN INDEED.
Click the video to listen to one of my favorite songs by Casting Crowns, "Hallelujah."
Welcome to day #4 on the release tour . . . the first giveaway! *throws confetti*
Are you new to the tour? Click HERE to see what the excitement is all about, and HERE for more info on my book. :D
Lord willing, there'll be one giveaway happening each week till the release of The Whispers God Gives. Two weeks = two giveaways, two winners, and two sets of prizes.
I'm super excited about this. Let's get started!
Thanks to my precious mama, the prizes for this first giveaway include a . . .
*signed paperback copy of The Whispers God Gives
*homemade bookmark
*handmade necklace
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*two scripture cards
Do these prizes look amazing or what??? ;D Now, the big question: how can I enter? Mom and I had fun choosing the four different ways you can enter the giveaway. Each option is worth one entry:
❤Follow Ellen's Musings (via either email or blogger)
❤Spread the news about this giveaway on any social media site or with a friend ❤Follow my Author Page on Amazon
❤Comment below and share a whisper God has given you at any point in your walk with Him
You have from now until April 14th to submit your entries for a chance to win.
At the end of that time, Lord willing, one blessed winner will be picked to receieve all these awesome goodies, and I'll announce the second giveaway.
Please note that this giveaway is open to USA residents only.
And . . . that's it! Have fun, and good luck! Be sure to comment and let me know how many entries I should credit you for! <3
It's day #3 on The Whispers God Gives blog tour! You guys excited? I sure am. After all, there're only fifteen days left 'til the release!!! I can hardly wait to hold an author copy in my hands and send out happy mail to my giveaway winners. :D Oh, but before you get too excited, no, there're no giveaways yet. That has to wait for just a little while longer. =) To add more to your eager anticipation . . . my mom is helping me get the prizes ready, and believe me, this is something you won't want to miss! *wink* Stay tuned!
Okay, moving on.
Today on the tour is my Acknowledgements page. I wasn't able to include this page in my devotional book, so I thought, "Hey, why not post it right here on the blog?" Here goes! So many people helped out as I wrote and published The Whispers God Gives. Between emails, phone calls, blog comments, NaNo messages, letters, and hours spent Skyping, these sweet friends never let me give up. They were my constant source of encouragement, and they each deserve a huge thank-you, a plate of chocolate chip cookies, and a hug. With this whole social-distancing and coronavirus thing going on, however, I hope they'll be content with taking these gifts via a virtual route. =) Mom, Dad, and all eight of my dear siblings, you guys are simply the best. You laughed with me, you cried with me. You let me talk your ears off and endured every moment of my writing journey, be it either joyous or painful. Every one of you has truly been there for me when I needed it. Mom, your lettering job for the front cover of my book is perfect. I'm so pleased that you were able to do that for me. And Sadie, my sweet two-year-old sister, my inspiration behind so many of the devotions included in The Whispers God Gives . . . you're so loved, baby girl. Never forget it. <3 Amy Jordan, my fabulous cover designer. Working with you has been a joy, and I absolutely LOVE the finished cover. You willingly put up with my tweaks and persistent thread of emails. I have been so blessed by you. Thanks for everything! Emma, you listened as I shared the excitement of my heart, and you have been nothing but supportive since the beginning of this whole adventure. Thank you, dear friend - it means so much to me. <3333 Sandrina, my single beta reader and faithful email/pen/Skype pal . . . no words can ever fully describe my debt of gratitude towards you. You're amazing, girl!! My team of ARC readers, Kaitlyn, Hosanna, Izzy, Emma, Sandrina, and Mrs. Hickey. Some of you have stuck by me the whole journey, others getting on board nearer the end. Whatever the case may be, I've appreciated all you've done for me and my book baby. :D Keep shining for Jesus! Mrs. Susan K. Marlow, my mentor, editor, formatter, go-to person . . . for being all this and more to me, THANK YOU. You went above and beyond preparing my manuscript for publication. I couldn't have done it without you. Special thanks to all my buddies on NaNo who had to live through my many spur-of-the-moment messages and slog their way through a bunch of links. You all have been sooooo encouraging. Abigail J., thanks so much for starting up the Circle C Writers' Group. Writing and talking with my fellow Andi fans has been amazing. <3 Finally, to all my viewers here on Ellen's Musings, thank you. You guys are wonderful. You listen to my ramblings and take the time to leave a sweet comment or two on every post. I've been flooded with uncountable exclamation marks, along with earnest support and plenty of questions. Could ever a girl ask for more?? And of course, I can't end this without turning all credit and praise to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Who truly guided every word I wrote. He's led me in the way I should go and provided for me when I least expected it. I'm not worthy of His love, yet He loves me anyway. The knowledge of this is what keeps me going when I'm down, and what continually spurs me onward to the finish line. He has so many plans in mind for this book, and I'm eager to see just how He uses it to bless others in their walk with Him! <3 And now, just because, a pic of Ruby Jane and me. :D She's two months old now and growing like a weed!
Did you enjoy this post? Are you excited for the next part of the tour? Have any questions? Let's talk in the comments below!
For anyone out there who planned on purchasing the Kindle edition of The Whispers God Gives, it's now available for preorder on Amazon. Click HERE to check it out! *happy dance*
