Deanna is here to talk to us about the Fruit of the Spirit, and a taste of her brand new book. And a giveaway, one of us would be delighted to receive. Read on...
Deanna Nowadnick is a Pacific Northwest native and debut author. Fruit of My Spirit began as a love story
to her sons. She just wanted them to know how she met their father. One chapter
quickly became many chapters. One day, she said to anyone who’d listen, “I
think I wrote a book.”
When not writing, Deanna serves as Client Service Coordinator for The
Planner’s Edge, a financial advisory firm. Deanna is active in her church, playing
the violin and editing the monthly newsletter. She loves to knit, adores
chocolate, and most importantly, enjoys a blessed marriage to Kurt. They are
the proud parents of two adult sons, Kyle and Kevin.
Deanna is currently working on Book 2. At the Corner of Grace and Mercy: Meeting God at Life’s Crossroads
tells of those times when God has come alongside and guided, directed and
turned her. The book is another collection of short stories, this time
recounting how God has met her at life’s crossroads, when she’s been “on point”
with God, not because of anything she’s done, but because a loving, gracious,
merciful God was there time after time, again and again.
.jpg)
FRUIT OF MY
SPIRIT:
Reframing
Life in God’s Grace
by Deanna
Nowadnick
For
those asking questions about our purpose in life, Fruit of My Spirit:
Reframing Life in God’s Grace offers hope and help. Author Deanna
Nowadnick fills her memoir of short stories with humorous insights gleaned
life’s missteps and misdeeds. Rich in Biblical quotes and references, the book
shares a refreshingly honest look at Christian life. The author builds her
story around the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to the people of Galatia: “But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no
law.” (Galatians 5:22–23) .
This
engaging personal growth book thus goes beyond the storytelling of a memoir; it
employs vignettes that directly touch the heart. Readers instantly identify
with the travails of a child who was brought up to be seen and not heard. Later
hearts are touched as she recounts her time as a teacher of children with
disabilities, “At that school, I found an unexpected contentment and a renewed
sense of self, and in that room, with those children by my side I learned to
speak—in love and compassion.”
What
started as a single story for her sons about how she met their father quickly
turned into a divine writing adventure in which she was able to tell of God’s
love and faithfulness. Recalling the nine qualities of the Holy Spirit’s fruit,
the author uses pictures to relate each attribute to its Greek equivalent. The
chapter on “Joy” or chara (Greek for divine happiness) is paired with
cherries; “Kindness” or chrestotes (Greek for goodness) is paired with
strawberries. Charming black-white photos capture transformations through
thirty years of marriage for Deanna and her husband Kurt, and family time with
their sons Kyle and Kevin.
It
takes a skillful writer to weave stories of personal transformation that
resonate with more profound references from the Bible, and to that end, the
book is part Bible study, part memoir, part confessional. The author’s wry
sense of humor shines in poignant examples acknowledging that God is in the
details. As she shied away from a more intimate relationship with Him and then
as she was learned to accept His love and guidance, she found the strength and
insight to reframe life in His grace.
And then she found that answer to the really big question about her own
special purpose in life.
Fruit
of My Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace is a spiritual
memoir providing readers with priceless insights and inspiration. More
important, the author’s stories remind readers how they can find the enormity
of God’s grace in the details of their own lives.
Fruit of My
Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace can be purchased online at
Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
How does the Fruit of the Spirit frame YOUR life today?
Write in your thoughts this week.
We will select a winner of Deanna's great book later this week.
Krista Phillips writes inspirational romantic comedy. She
believes a sprinkle of laughter (and a wee bit of chocolate) makes everything a
little better! She blogs regularly about life as a wife, mother, follower of
Jesus, and mother of a child with a rare congenital heart defect at
www.kristaphillips.com. Her debut novel, "Sandwich, With a Side of
Romance," releases in September, 2012 from Abingdon Press.
She moved to Sandwich,
Illinois, in search of a new life, but ended up in a giant pickle.
.jpg)