BLACK & BLUE SARI - Loss of a dream

Kamal Dhillon is an author, an inspirational speaker and a domestic violence counselor. Her book, Black & Blue Sari, is a harrowing autobiography of the abuse and torment she suffered through by the hands of her husband after her marriage. Her story and message is one that will affect you, disturb you, enrage you and will open your eyes to the reality and severity of domestic violence.

After an arranged marriage into an influential and wealthy family, the life of a young South Asian girl is drastically changed for the worse. Married in her late teens into a very wealthy and influential family, Kamal dreamed of a life as a princess. This dream soon faded and Kamal realized the harsh reality of her new life.  

With promises of a fairy tale life echoing in her ears, she is thrown into a world of abuse, violence and torture. Afraid for the lives of her family and children, she constantly looked death in the face but survived to tell her story. She found real peace in her life when she accepted Jesus as her Lord and Saviour.
                                                      
 
Black and Blue Sari is a true story about the cost of leaving a toxic relationship and how the transition can empower you and those around you. 

Domestic violence is an epidemic that leaves no community unaffected; one in every four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. 

For those who have found their dreams crashing around them, her book, BLACK & BLUE SARI will be both an eye-opener and of real comfort.

Her book can be purchased at AMAZON.COM

RECIPE for HAPPINESS

In our local paper I read about a couple who had been married for many years and had just celebrated their wedding anniversary.

Mr Leo Antich had some advice for young couples. He said, The key to a successful relationship is to understand each other and be able to compromise.

That sounded like some very wise words. In my kitchen I have a plaque with similar thoughts and I'd like to share it with you:

 RECIPE  FOR  HAPPINESS

Two heaping cups of Patience,  One heartful of Love, Two handfuls of Generosity,

One headful of Understanding , and a dash of Humour.

Sprinkle with Kindness, Add plenty of Faith and mix well.

Spread over a Period of a Lifetime and serve to everyone you meet.

I'd like to add this saying: A married relationship can be like a triangle. The two base points are man and wife, with God at the top. The closer each comes to God the closer they come to each other.

DOG TAGS?

Author Heidi Glick shares the background of her book with us:  

At first, Dog Tags started out as a romance novella. I subbed it to a publisher, and it was rejected. But the story wasn't ready for publication. I revamped it as a suspense novel. I wanted a hero with real struggles, and I wanted a villain who would capitalize on the hero's weaknesses. The book's themes include forgiveness, loss, and fear. Because these are common themes that most people deal with, I'm hoping that the book will speak to many readers. In 2011, my father died from Alzheimers, and so I've used that experience to help me write this book.

 And the following gives us a closer look:

When disabled ex-Marine Mark Graham reconnects with his best friend’s sister, he finds himself falling in love. But Beth Martindale’s presence is a constant reminder of events he’d rather forget. Mark wants to move forward, but the secrets surrounding her brother’s death as well as his own confinement to a wheelchair threaten to tear them apart.

When a psychopath who calls himself The Knight fixates on Beth, Mark is determined to give her the protection he failed to give her brother on the battlefield, yet he discovers that a wheelchair isn’t the only impediment he has to keeping Beth safe.

Will terror win or can Mark find the strength of mind and body to rescue Beth and find his own redemption?

 Heidi's personal story:

The youngest (and perhaps loudest) of three children, I was born in Lancaster, PA (think Amish country). At the ripe old age of six, this sinner found a Savior, and so it’s no surprise that I write inspirational suspense stories.

I’m married to my college sweetheart, John, and live in a northern suburb of Cincinnati. John and I have two dogs (a Chihuahua and a Schipperke) and a happy baby boy.

Interesting facts about me include I’ve visited 46 states; I’ve lived in California, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Canada; I’ve had someone nab my bag from me at the Las Vegas airport; I’ve been hit by a car; and I’ve been extricated from a overturned vehicle using the Jaws of Life.

Submitting in Marriage? Who me?

Author Anne Hamilton has a refreshing look at what the
Bible refers to as submission. Especially of wives submitting
to their husbands.

She shares that 'nasu' the Hebrew word for marriage has a root meaning "to lift up".And is kin to a word meaning
"armour-bearer". That's a great thought as the armour-bearer was the one who stood the closest to his leader andprotected him.

Ecclesiastes 4:12, says it this way. A person
standing alone can be attacked and defeated,
but two can stand back-to-back and conquer.

Anne goes on to say:
This why marriage partners are called into submission: so they can lift each other up above the conflicts of life, carry each other when the battle is too intense and bear them safely through until the trouble is over. 

Jesus is the covenant  defender of those who belong to Him. So is the Holy Spirit. Marriage partners are are called into the covenant defence of each other This is the true nature of submission: covenant defence.

I highly recommend this book if you are willing to dig deeply into the historical meanings of words and phrases. It's not a book to skim through. I'm so glad I made time to read this and cannot do it justice here. It can be purchased from Even Before Publishing.

Anne is an award–winning author who is experienced in editing both non–fiction and fiction. She works part–time for United Christian Broadcasters Australia as the Australasian sub–editor of the devotionals, The Word for Today and word4U2day.

She has a background in teaching mathematics (thirty years experience),  reads extensively in her  areas of specialty, and researches widely into Hebrew thought. Her specialties are: Christian fantasy, Christian adventure/thriller, YA books, devotionals, meditative theology (as distinct from academic theology.)