WELCOME AUTHOR DAPHNE SELF

WELCOME AUTHOR DAPHNE SELF
Saturday, March 16, 2019 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog

AUTHOR: Daphne Self

PUBLISHER: Ambassador International

GENRE: Early Reader

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Book 1 of a 5-book Series

TARGET AGE: 5 to 9 (K to 4^th grade)

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR DAPHNE SELF TO PATTI’S PORCH. DAPHNE EXPLAINS HOW SHE DERIVED NEW MEANING FROM A WELL-KNOWN BIBLE VERSE.

DAPHNE IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR WINNER’S CHOICE OF A PRINT OR EBOOK COPY OF EITHER THE CASE OF THE MISSING FIREHOUSE DOG or MISSISSIPPI NIGHTS.(see blurb below).

JUST GIVE ME JESUS

Daphne Self

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

John 16:33 is a verse that many people turn to for comfort and to fortify their soul. Not too long ago, I found a newer meaning to this verse. It wasn't a verse I sought; it wasn't a verse that I was led to; it wasn't a verse that was sent to me.

It was only after what happened that I found this verse and a new meaning came to me. Read the last part: "I have overcome the world." The world.... not a country, not the sea, not even people. But the World. And the world isn't just the planet. It is everything within it. The World.

How is that possible? It is possible because of who Jesus is. I didn't say "who Jesus was". I said "who Jesus is". He is alive!

Back to the verse and its new meaning. It started when I came across a band I used to listen to. I enjoyed this band. Not all the songs, because being a hard rock, secular band there were some with explicit lyrics. Then there were the ones that I listened to and this was many years ago, during a time of extreme emotional distress. I was alone. Not physically, but emotionally and spiritually (in my belief, that is).

Fourteen years ago, I was a 31-year-old widow. Lost my husband in the line-of-duty and then two months later my father died in my arms from a massive heart attack. I had failed to save him. During this time, my mother and I grew apart. Grief will do that when there are no mentors or others there to help someone through the grief. We were alone. Our church wasn't there with us. Our extended family left us. And I struggled to balance work, raising two young sons, and dealing with all that was spiraling around me. I could not allow myself to break or fall.

Looking back, it came to no surprise that I was attracted to the songs by Godsmack. They were angry. They were hard. But they were poetic and lyrical. The raspy smoothness of the lead singer caused me to gravitate to their music. I felt soothed. And it drove me down a path that led to more heartache, more helplessness, and destitution. It took years to pull myself away from all that. To pull myself away from that music.

Fast forward to a several weeks ago, I came across their YouTube channel. One of those flukes in advertising while watching another video. New song? Really? New album? Interesting. Out of curiosity I clicked on it. Two songs in and I was captivated, again. But the song that spoke to me was When Legends Rise.

For days that song played in my head. No other song could drown it out. No other song could erase the melody and words from my mind. I would wake up and, in my head, that song played. I would read the Bible and, in my head, that song played.

I could not travel that dark road again. And Godsmack would lead me down it. That is the dark part of me that is drawn to that style of music. And I wanted it. But I didn't desire it!

Even after asking people for something that was like Godsmack, there wasn't anything out there remotely similar that would erase them from my mind....until one sponsored Facebook post did. And I followed the link and watched the video. And now I had a new song in my head. And relief had been found.

So how does this tie in with the verse? The power of Jesus. He overcame the world. And all we must do is seek Him. All we must do is cry out, "Just give me Jesus!".

And that is what the song by Unspoken has done. Their song Just Give Me Jesus shows the power in Jesus' name. He erased a song from my head and replaced it with something that glorifies Him. He took a temptation and gave me freedom. He took the darkness and the anger and gave me light and happiness.

He has overcome the world, even if that world is inside someone's head. We matter to Him. And nothing is too small for Him and nothing is too large. We just need to cry out and say, "Just give me Jesus".

Book Blurb: for The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog

Beautiful Majesty has been dognapped!

Majesty, the firehouse dog, is missing.

Willie and Jax are on the case to discover who is the dognapping culprit. Could it be their neighbor, Mr. Applebee? Or maybe it is Ms. Thornton?

Join the Pintail Duo, Wilhelmina van der Coup and Jackson Barnaby, as they follow the clues to rescue Majesty in The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog.

Book blurb for Mississippi Nights

Two brothers, one death–the bond of brotherhood faces its greatest challenge against resentment and guilt.

Can the love between two brothers eventually win against pain and guilt?

When Firefighter David Boyette’s fiancée perishes in a car fire, he blames his brother, Sgt. Jeremy Boyette, for her death. Three years later, David returns home with a dark and devastating secret. With the help of family, a woman’s love, and a small child’s devotion, can David overcome insurmountable odds as he and Jeremy face the bitterness that enslaves him? Together the brothers must decide if the bond of brotherhood is stronger than resentment and hate.

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN A PRINT OR EBOOK COPY OF EITHER THE CASE OF THE MISSING FIREHOUSE DOG OR MISSISSIPPI NIGHTS BETWEEN NOW AND TUESDAY, MARCH 26TH AT MIDNIGHT MDT. (US residents only eligible for print copy)

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Daphne Self, formerly published under the name D.M. Webb, resides in Iowa. A transplant from Mississippi who fell in love with the Midwest state, she spends her days writing, editing, hiking, antiquing, and planning adventures with her husband and sons. Having always dreamed of being a writer she pursues this dream with only one goal in mind: to glorify His Name. Daphne is also an avid reader who devours books in many genres. As a long-time member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), she volunteers her time judging contests for unpublished and published authors. She also helps upcoming authors polish their manuscripts. Find Daphne online:

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Comments

David Mathews From Ohio At 3/19/2019 7:09:57 PM

Daphne, I don't fully understand how God takes our pain and turns it into praise, but somehow He does. When He brings us through the valleys, not only does He get the glory, but we emerge all the stronger on the other side. Thanks for sharing our heart. Blessings!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi David. Thank you for stopping by and contributing your comments.

Vivian Furbay From CO At 3/18/2019 5:17:58 AM

What sad experiences this poor author went through! Bless her heart! I have found that when there is nothing left to lean on, God is always there. One or both of these book would be good to give to my niece Becky who has four young kids.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Vivian. Yes, Daphne truly shared her heart and how God heals in this post. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. You are in the drawing.

Joanna White From Missouri At 3/17/2019 10:35:04 PM

I really want to read Mississippi Nights. Man it sounds like such a good book. Also your testimony here is inspiring. Thank you so much for pouring out your heart like this.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Joanna. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. You are in the drawing.

Maryann From New York At 3/17/2019 3:11:42 PM

Thank you for sharing your heart with us and this biblical truth - how much we all need Jesus. Would love reading The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog.