Happy Holidays: A Time to Give

Happy Holidays!

This is indeed the most wonderful time of the year. There's just something about a year in review. It presents so many opportunities to thank God for His many blessings. Not to say that you shouldn't do that year round, it's just that when others collectively praise God with you there's instant harmony. 

Also when the Christmas season is upon us, there's an inclination to give a little more. Ministries receive their end of the year donations, toys are collected for little girls and boys from donors who would not ordinarily receive them, and food banks distribute groceries at a higher rate than throughout the other seasons of the year.

As we give, it reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 25: 34-40:

34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

This prompted me to think about what an awesome gift it is to the giver knowing that we are not only extending our time, money, and service to another human being, but to the Savior Himself. 

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing," John 15:5.

In the spirit of giving, I've offered several giveaways through my mailing list and Facebook Readers & Supporters group:

• A $25 Amazon Gift Card
• An Edible Arrangement ($29 Retail Value)
• A $25 Applebees Gift Card 

If you're not on the list, consider joining today by visiting my website: www.ReneeAllenMcCoy.com. But whether you're on the list or not, you can still enter this brand new giveaway for 8 Free Autographed Copies of My Books (Over a $100 Retail Value). I would offer all ten titles, but one (A Test of Faith) hasn't released yet and the other (Once Upon a Sunday) is an eBook already being offered for free through various sales channels, including Amazon. 

Here are the books being given away:

The Fiery Furnace series - The Kiss of Judas, Confessions, The Eleventh Hour

The True Love Novellas (2 current titles) - The Christmas Beau and Single, Saved, & Searching

In the Presence of My Enemies

Soul Ties: Breaking Up with a Past That's Killing Your Future

A Time to Praise: A Christmas Anthology

If you have all of these books, great! Either way, you can still get them and give away as an awesome gift for that avid reader in your life. To learn more about each title, visit www.ReneeAllenMcCoy.com. 

If you would like to enter the drawing, just click this link for a chance to win all 8 books! I'll notify the winner by the end of the day December 21, 2016. 

New Release: Once Upon a Sunday

FaytheWorks Publishing
FaytheFiction Imprint
Released April 5, 2015

Easter weekend is a wonderful time to collectively celebrate the Risen Savior. Actually, every day presents an awesome opportunity to celebrate Jesus Christ and what He did for us. I am so grateful for what was accomplished on that Cross so many centuries ago. Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we could be free and have a right to the tree of life. He died so that we may live eternally. He loves us that much.

When I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior, my life forever changed for the better. He has saved my soul and I share the Gospel with others so that they too may experience the freedom that I have. Are you saved? Have you experienced the goodness of what it truly means to be a child of the Most High God? Try Him today...

In honor of Resurrection Sunday, I released an inspirational short story titled, Once Upon a Sunday. In this book, Good Friday started off as anything but that for Melinda Black. After losing her job and self-dignity, a series of events cascade her onto an emotionally charged roller coaster ride that drastically changed her life forever. 

Find out if Melinda will be able to handle the pressure when she stands to lose what's most important in her life?

It is on sale for only $0.99 on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & NobleNook, Google Play, as well as through the Apple iBookstore, Kobo, and Smashwords. Feel free to share this information with family, friends, or anyone who you feel would enjoy a good read. When you sign up for my newsletter, I offer many of my books for free or at a reduced sales price. If you would like to join, click here or visit my official website at www.ReneeAllenMcCoy.com

Thanks for taking some of your valuable time to read about my new release. I truly appreciate it.

Until next time, happy reading!

In with the new...

Greetings,

It's a new year and along with it comes new possibilities and opportunities. This year I have already begun to make some changes, admittedly, some are considered minor, but necessary in my book. I've started to update my mailing list. It has been a long time coming, let me tell you. After having two children and being busier that I have ever been in my life (with lack of sleep, might I add), God is teaching me to be a better steward of my time. The time He has afforded to me ... and to you is valuable.

So, I begin this year by organizing my contacts. If you haven't already joined the new, updated mailing list and would like to, simply click here. Here is where I will announce book giveaways and contests first before I do anywhere else. It is my way of thanking my readers for their support. If you decide to join, keep in mind that you will have to confirm your email address after doing so. This is a way that I will know that emails are valid and those who sign up truly want to hear from me. I thank you in advance.

As many of you know, about a month ago I released my seventh book: Single, Saved, & Searching (The True Love Novellas, Book 2). And since then I have received glowing reviews delivered to my inbox, over the phone, through social media, as well as a few posts on Amazon. If you have read this book (or any of my titles) and enjoyed them, consider posting a review. This just might encourage someone else to read a book that may help them in their own lives. After all, it's not about me, it's about God, touching lives for His glory.

For those who are hearing about Single, Saved, & Searching for the first time, here's a little bit about the book:

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord. ~ Proverbs 18:22

"She’s getting married too?" asks the beautiful, intelligent, and single Elisha Maxwell who just received a wedding invitation from her last single best friend and her younger sister in the same week. As she stacks both invites on her kitchen counter, she wonders when it will be her turn.

Challenged by a string of disappointing relationships, Elisha’s hope of finding Mr. Right leaves her feeling desperate and confused. Does such a man exist for her? In the wake of the most terrifying experience of her life, she is more determined now than ever to find him.

When she embarks upon a quest to change her single status to married, she finds something much more important along the way. Will she embrace the man of her dreams who seems the least likely of them all or go with someone who appeared to be her perfect match?

Single, Saved, & Searching is the second book in The True Love Novellas series.

Book Trailer for Single, Saved, & Searching

This book can be purchased from Amazon, BN, Google Play, Kobo, and wherever books are sold (ebook and paperback).

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Again, I thank you all for reading my work and if there is any question I can answer for you or if you'd just like to connect, feel free to contact me: renee@reneeallenmccoy.com  or connect with me on Goodreads. 

Have a great day!

In the Land of the Free

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed,” John 8:36, NKJV.

Imagine, many Christians don’t enjoy the freedoms that Americans do in sharing their faith. We are allowed to stand on corners, pass out Gospel tracts, go into prisons for services, et cetera, but how many of us, saints, actually do it? We are to let our light shine before the world so that God will be glorified in Heaven.

I encourage every Christian to consider how it would affect you if you couldn’t share your faith. If it wouldn’t matter either way to you, then you need to reevaluate what Christ means to you. I’m well aware that there are moments in life, even in the land of the free, that sharing one’s faith is challenging or even prohibited, but that should never prompt a person to deny God. We can still share Christ by the way that we live. A great example would be that of Richard Wurmbrand, who founded Voice of the Martyrs. In His book, Tortured for Christ, the reader will discover how free you can really be, even in chains for God.

In this issue, I share an interview with a woman of God whom it was a pleasure to meet. It is wonderful to meet another Christian who has a desire to do His will. Deanetta Thompson's life in itself is an inspiration to others as she serves the Lord. Here, you'll get an inside look at the woman who survived numerous setbacks, but pressed forward and became a published author who started her own Christian Lifestyle e-zine (Christian Women Lifestyle xPress) that will become a trademarked LLC in just a couple weeks. Deanetta is a 20 year veteran of the army, defending our freedom here in the United States. I more so salute her dedication for her steadfastness in the army of the Lord.

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Introducing Deanetta Thompson, Budding CEO

With a vision to share through her writings what God has placed upon her heart, Deanetta is well aware of spiritual warfare. As shared in her bio (full bio here), Deanetta accurately identifies that we are living in the last and evil days. As wickedness increase, it becomes even more important for Christians, the saints of God, to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Deanetta admits that her childhood was not easy, but realized that God had a plan for her life. And today as a married woman of three children, she realizes many of those dreams through her steadfast faith in the Lord.

An interview with Deanetta…



Deanetta P. Thompson
Photo courtesy of author

SUN: Have you always wanted to be an author? How did you start writing, and what pushed you to finish your first book?

DT: I started writing at the age of 14. I did not realize at the time what I was doing. I just picked up a pen and piece of paper and started writing. But the most amazing thing is I started writing songs. Something I don’t normally share with the world… but originally I wanted to be a singer. I still have that urge every now and then to blast a few notes, however my magazine is where my heart is.

SUN: What are the titles of your books? What are they about?

DT: I have two eBooks I have on the market now: Sistas… Do You Know What to Look For When Choosing Your Man? and Marital Warfare.

Sistas… Do You Know What to Look For When Choosing Your Man? deals with all the qualities a woman should look for in a man with biblical Scriptures to follow. This is not a boring e-Book; I had to get raw with a few topics, but I am sure I got my point across.

Marital Warfare is about different women and their issues in life that affect their marriages. The majority of these women came into the marriage with problems. I also provide biblical Scriptures for each story to give my readers a Godly solution to whatever their issues might be.

SUN: In your books, are you able to identify with any of the characters, if so, how? If not, why?

DT: I can identify with Sistas… Do You Know What To Look For When Choosing Your Man? I expressed in this e-Book a lot of the foolish mistakes I made and decisions that caused me pain, drama, along with a life spiraling downhill. [Details will be included in a future book.]

SUN: What do you hope to accomplish in sharing your literary works with the world?

DT: I hope women will be able to grasp the concept “put God first.” Make no decisions without Him. Stop looking for a sugar daddy and value your body. Some women are so desperate for a man [that] they will go to any means to get one. Before you get married discuss it with God. Make sure he is the right one for you; it could cost you your life and sanity!

SUN: As you write, do you find yourself learning new things as the process goes along?

DT: Yes I do. I find out more about myself and how my mind operates which causes all the decisions I make in life.

SUN: What is one thing you’d encouraged someone to do?

DT: Follow your goals and be good at it. Keep God in the picture and ask Him, “Lord what do you have planned for me?” Because your dreams might not be what He has planned for you. Sometimes we can take it upon ourselves to create our own future without including Him and [then] fail, but can’t seem to understand why.

SUN: If you could sum your life up in one sentence, what would you say?

DT: I am a survivor because of God’s grace and mercy He bestowed upon me.

SUN: How can readers get in touch with you (website, email)? And where are your books available for sale?

DT: The older version of my eBooks is on Amazon ready for download:

Marital Warfare

Sistas… Do You Know What to Look For When You Choosing Your Man?

Or the new version can be ordered from my site http://www.cwlxpress.com/

My email is ceo@cwlxpress.com. I am always looking for writers to contribute to my online magazine and of course they will receive all the credit.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my eBooks and thoughts with Straight Up! readers.

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Until next time,

Happy Reading and a safe 4th of July! And remember, true freedom only comes through Jesus Christ.

To submit a testimony or an article for contribution, please email me at renee@reneeallenmccoy.com.