Linda C Apple at ShoutLife.com

I love being a wife and mother and grandmother! My passion is to inspire, validate, and nurture the hopes and dreams of others and above all to help them realize the fullness-gifts and expressions-of God and His love for them.

I can't get enough of experiencing and understanding different cultures.

Psalm 102:18 is why I write. Psalm 145 is why I speak.

One weird thing about me (among many things!) is that I usually read the last chapter of a book first. I can't stand suspense and I have to know everything turns out okay before I devote hours with the characters!

I found that as a person grows older their music tastes do not necessarily change, but they broaden. You become less of a 'music snob' and have a more open mind.

I was a part of the late 60's--early 70's music scene. I listened to the original of what musicians cover today. My favorites were Led Zepplin, Steppenwolf, Chicago, Elton John, Three Dog Night, Edgar Winter and the White Trash, Moody Blues (Nights in White Satin) Tommy James and the Shondells (Crimson and Clover fame) and, sad but true, the Bee Gees.

But now, I've really grown to appreciate the Blues, Jazz, and, are you ready for this--Big Band Music! Glen Miller, the whole deal! AND Classical, strings being my favorite, in particularily Cannon in D Major. I like to listen to classical when I write. I appreciate the clean sounds of Country, what you hear is what you get, no covering up with distortion. Blue Grass--wonderful.

My children Charles Apple and Olivia Apple are incredible musicians and they have introduced me to a whole new world of music through their work.

Non-fiction: Books by Calvin Miller, Don Miller, biographies, historical, especially if Velda Brotherton wrote it. C.S.Lewis, a particular favorite in both genre's.
Fiction: for light reading, Jan Karon; I could read Jane Austin's works everyday, Willa Cather - contemporary writers just can't equal her sense of place.

For me, Chariots of Fire, did that. My favorite line was when Eric was telling his sister why he ran. He said, "When I run, I feel God's pleasure." That's what I want, to know that whatever I do, it pleases God, who gave me life, and ability.

On snowy or rainy days, I can't get enough of any movie that is based on a Jane Austin book! I'm in paradise while watching nearly 6 hours of A&E's Pride and Prejudice.

Popping in to wish you a happy day filled with all that makes your face smile and your heart sing for joy!

BECAUSE YOU SAY SO!!!!
THE GRASS WITHERS AND FLOWER FALLS BUT THE WORD OF GOD STANDS FOREVER!!! TRUST HIM!!!

Jesus was down by the lake of Gennesaret one day ministering the word of God to the multitudes when they, eager to hear His words, became so great that they were pressing in against Him. Therefore, looking for a better why to speak to the people, Jesus saw two boats and the fishermen from those boats near by cleaning their nets. So He got into the boat belonging to Simon Peter and asks him to push off a little ways from shore so He could sit down and teach the people more effectively.

When Jesus finished speaking to the people, He spoke directly to Peter! He said to Him go out into the deeper water and let down your nets for a catch. Jesus a carpenter instructs this experienced fishermen, who had been fishing all night with out so much as a fish being caught in the nets. Peter considered himself to be quite knowledgeable about how to catch fish. And he wanted Jesus to understand that this was his field of expertise and that His advice made no sense to a skillful practicing fisherman who had fished in this very lake exhaustively all night with absolutely no success. However, in spite of what he knew to be true about fishing, he said, "BECAUSE YOU SAY SO, I will let down the nets again!" Because Peter was willing to forego his experience and knowledge of fishing and responded actively to Jesus instructions he experienced miraculous supernatural results. Results exceedingly abundantly more than he could even think to ask for. From this one act of obedience to God's word Peter had to call for help, and even with the help of another boat and crew they were still beginning to sink under the abundance of God's blessing. God is God of more than enough!

When we let down our own nets of faith into the flowing river of God's Spirit filled words, heaven moves into action and supernatural things happen on earth. We are favored and have unique responsibilities, in Christ, concerning the function of God's kingdom working on earth as it does in heaven. But how successfully we fulfill our calling in Christ depends on our willingness to do what He says despite what we think we know in the natural. See Luke 5;1-9. Jesus says, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do (practice, implement, put to use) the things which I say? See Luke 6:46. Here in lies the abundant life. (Parenthesis added) Copyright © Sylvia F. Liani 2009

May you always find a rainbow at the end of all your rainy days!

Sending big hugs and smiles your way!!!
Sylvia xoxoxo

Hi, Linda,
Thank you for your gift of friendship. I'm a big CS Lewis fan, too, but Jane Austen every day? Whew, makes me tired. But I enjoy trying to think of a perfect first name for Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Lisa
livingourfaithoutloud.blogspot.com