Blog Tour: A Year in Prayer With Jesus by Marilynn Dawson

A Year in Prayer With Jesus is not one of Rivershore's books, but we received a request to feature it and we are more than happy to!

Welcome to the second stop on Author Marilynn Dawson's virtual book tour for her soon-to-be-released book, “A Year in Prayer With Jesus.” Today we feature an excerpt from the introduction of her book:

The Sermon on the Mount. . . Matthew chapters 5 – 7, could be described as Christ's dissertation on how the one who follows Him will live and carry out their daily activities. While the Apostle Paul at that time was Saul the Pharisee, he would echo Christ's teachings quite decidedly in the years to come through his various letters to the churches across the region.

Included in Christ's dissertation that day, was a talk on how to pray. Prayer in the life of a Jew was very much part of everyday life. The more devout the Jew, the more they prayed. This was particularly true of the Pharisees who not only thought it important to pray, but important to be seen while doing so. Piety was deemed something to be flaunted, rather than hidden under the cloak of humility.

Fast forward 2000+ years into our time period, and we still have people and clergy thinking it necessary that everyone knows their piousness. The need for long public prayers eloquently spoken in loud, solemn voices is somehow evidence of that person's elevation above the common man and an indication of how he has God's attention. This behaviour can be seen anywhere from the pulpit to the prayer room. But does it truly show the piety of the person praying? Do they really have that much of an “in” with God?

If we take Christ's words at face value, the answer is NO!

Matthew 6:5-8 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

So if the wordy prayers are out, if we are not to pray in a manner that showcases our pride, and if God already knows what we need before we ask, then how exactly do we pray? What exactly, do we pray for? Both of these questions are given to us in the form of “The Lord's Prayer”.

Click this link here to get your fourth single day prayer guide outline.

http://songdove.fa-ct.com/stuff/YPWJ/YPWJ-day83.pdf

Be sure to stop by Marilynn's blog (http://songdove.fa-ct.com/wordpress-mu/songdovemusing) on June 30th for your next single day prayer guide free download. Be sure to sign up for her monthly newsletter for yet another free gift! Don't you just love FREE?

In addition to these free downloads, Marilynn is giving away a complete one-month sample of her next book via the rafflecopter app below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Excerpt: Tomatoes Don't Judge

“You know I hate this, don’t you?”

“Oh, do you?” Joe chuckled as Robbie put his barista apron on. “It suits you.”

“Shut up.”

Ella glanced up from her notebook, with a small frown. “Be kind.”

Joe’s eyebrows went up in an attempt to be stern. “Yes, Robbie. Be kind.”

“I was referring to you both.”

Robbie rolled his eyes. “I have to go.”

“Good. Finally. Thought you’d never leave.”

Ella threw her pen toward Joe’s head.

He ducked. “You be kind!”

“I always am.”

Robbie groaned as the two hugged and Joe kissed Ella's nose. He swung his bag over his arm as he left the house.

---

Tomatoes Don't Judge has an expected release date of early 2014.

Book Excerpt: Forgotten Memories

She took my greeting as an invitation to step farther into my room. “Your sister let me in. I hope that’s okay. I heard there was a girl my age here and decided to help you unpack.” She motioned to the pile of clothes on my bed. “Looks like we’re tackling the closet first.” She picked up one of my hangers. “Wanna hand me a shirt?”

“Well,” I hesitated. “Uh.” Wow, this is awkward. “Who are you?”

“Oh!” She laughed. “I’m Rosie; I live next door. You’re Jane, right? I think that’s what your sister said.”

I nodded and picked up the notebooks I’d dropped, glad for the slight distraction.

Rosie lifted a shirt off the pile and put it on a hanger, oblivious to my continued discomfort. “Where did you live before you came here?”

I tried to relax as I rearranged my bookshelf, then turned back to her. “We were in a suburb of Minneapolis.”

“Hey!” She spun around to face me, her eyes wide with excitement.

So much for keeping a calm demeanor. This girl is insane.

Rosie giggled at my wary expression, then stepped closer and nodded knowingly. “You're related to LeeLee Johnson, aren't you?”

---

Forgotten Memories was published November 2011 and is available on Amazon and in the Rivershore Books store.

Book Excerpt: As Fairydust Settles

“Hey,” Mical said, “Anna told me you’ve been working my shifts still…and I know that meant you had to put school off…and I know you no longer need the money from this place…”

Peyton shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

“Well…I only work here because I need to. And I need it now more than ever. And I don’t think I would work shifts if I could afford not to… Anyway, thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Mical.” He smiled. “So, do you want your job back, or do you still need some time?”

“I can start again,” she said as she pulled some crumpled, loose papers from her bag and handed them to him.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“My notes from class today. Sorry I don’t have the rest of the week.”

“Thanks Micke—Mical.”

She smiled. “You can call me Mickey if you want to.”

As Fairydust Settles has an expected release date of  December 2013.

Book Excerpt: Shrouded Jewels

Shrouded Jewels is available on Amazon, Lulu, the Nook, and Kindle.

      “Who are we spying on today?” Mical Benson asked, dropping to her knees on the floor beside her sister. They peered through the blinds of the massive dining room window.
     Mira shrugged. “I’ve never seen him before.”
     The dark-haired stranger walked up the long driveway to their front door. He was beyond out of place, as he stood next to their manicured lawn and perfectly trimmed bushes. His hair probably hadn’t seen a brush that morning, and his clothes—jeans and a button-up plaid shirt—were more appropriate for a day on a farm than a business meeting with their father.
     “Watch,” Mical said. “Dad will shoo him away. I wonder how he got through the front gate.”
     Mira didn’t respond.
     “Maybe Eduardo left it open.”
     “Oh, I hope not,” Mira said, with sudden concern for the security manager’s welfare.
     “This being your first offense,” Mical said, lowering her voice in a comical rendition of her father, “I won’t kill you. Cross me again…” She let the words linger.
     Mira shook her head. “Don’t joke, Mical.”
     Mical returned her gaze to the approaching young man. “Why is he here?” She watched his stride with a touch of—she didn’t know what. “You’ve at least got to admire his audacity.”

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