Where Missions And Cancer Meet

“This was one of the first times I made a conscious decision, in the midst of a very difficult situation, to say yes immediately to God’s ways and trust his promise to keep me under his wings.” ~ Connie Patty, on unexpected, frightening hospital days spent awaiting the birth of her first child, July, 1990

Dear Ones,

Today, I want to encourage you with a book: No Less Than Yes.

It is Connie’s firsthand account of her calling to missions in Eastern Europe and her life there with her husband, Dave and their three children. The entire piece is woven together with breath-taking, amazing stories, as only Connie can. Warning: carve out some time, because you’ll not be able to stop turning pages.

But why share a missionary’s story (as lovely as it is) for encouragement on a cancer-dominated blog?

  • This story is unique because unlike many missionary stories (recorded posthumously), this is LIVE! It’s happening right NOW! The book is a spectacular glimpse into a living, working, miraculous God even in the mess of our current age.
  • The heart of this story is one of learning love for and obedience to God in hard things – accepting that He is good no matter what occurs. Um, sound familiar, my cancer friends?
  • And finally, you’ll be able to relate as Connie has had her share of health trials – both as an individual and as mother. Her open heart throughout the book will bless you. She unfailing chronicles not only the hospital journeys (yes, there are more than one), but also the struggles. She doesn’t shy away from being truthful when it hurts to trust God.

As you read her words, you will be encouraged to persevere in the journey God has for you. So, I’d urge you to pick up a copy of this book today.

Moment by moment,

Ellie

You can find No Less Than Yes on Amazon HERE.

For more on Dave and Connie’s work in Eastern Europe, visit the Josiah Venture website HERE.

Book Update

You guys…
Whatever you’re doing… KEEP. DOING. IT.
I found out yesterday that Chase Away Cancer is already ranked in the top 50 “religion and spirituality category” books on Amazon.com , and it’s also within the top 10,000 books on the site.
Doesn’t sound that amazing, right?
IT IS.
There are over 8 million books on Amazon.
So, we’ve been live and official for 4 days now and you are literally pushing this book up and out of “written by a mom in messy sweatpants” to something that people will be looking for and thinking about.
You! Guys!!
And while it’s so nice to have my work acknowledged, I truly believe that this is SO MUCH BIGGER than Chase. I keep thinking of Lucas and Rusty and Julia and all of the parents with empty arms or the parents whose arms are full with endless complications and as you’re sharing about this book, you’re bringing just a tiny bit of their struggle and sorrow to light.

I can’t even…

Just…

THANK YOU.

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What Has Been And What Comes Next

It’s been a year since two dear ladies sat with me on a conference call and invited me to submit a book proposal and I’ve had to go back and re-thank them both for the honor I now understand that they were bestowing on me.

One whole year of writing and re-writing, editing and re-editing. Of bloody-looking files filled with red words and notes so prolific and desperately needed that Chase would come up behind me and exclaim: “Hey Mom, it looks like Christmas on your computer! It’s all red and white!”

One year of forming new bonds with a new family who have taken up Chase’s story as their own. They have prayed for him and prayed for me, and have cheered us on and even helped us find beautiful resolution to a story with no ending.

One year that we’ve all wrestled to “get it right” – and wow, is it beautiful. I filled the pages and they turned it into art.

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I cannot even begin to describe what it was like to put myself back in the rooms, on the ambulances, waiting during surgeries – all of it – and then to dig even deeper into the hows and whys. It’s both broken and strengthened me in so many ways to type the words “moment by moment” all over again through current life challenges and not just past seasons. Oh, God is good as He pushes me to keep seeing Him in all the craziness even now.

So, out of this process that I’ve begun to think of as a fifth pregnancy; after a long labor and delivery, there is birthed a beautiful new baby, if you will…

Chase Away Cancer: A Powerful True Story Of Finding Light In A Dark Diagnosis

My heart is full. I poured everything I had into these pages and they’re FOR YOU.

Where can you find Chase Away Cancer? Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Tyndale Direct, CBD, Lifeway, and more…

When will Chase Away Cancer be in stores? May 1st, 2016

How can I help? I’m so glad you asked! My heart for this book is to be an encouragement to others and also to help raise awareness about what it can look like on the inside of a cancer diagnosis.

So here are a few practical, hands-on way you can join me:

  • You can take to social media on behalf of the book: Please re-post and re-tweet anything I’m sending out – and don’t forget #chaseawaycancer
  • You can share the website with friends and family: My new BFF Rachel over at Tyndale designed the most gorgeous piece for www.chaseawaycancer.com, so now, when you go to the main address, it’ll take you right to book information complete with links to major retailers and beautiful pictures, bios, endorsements, free downloads, etc. It’s a work of art – check it out! Um, also? Free downloads. Don’t miss that part.
  • You can pick a special day to order the book: I’ve learned that sold books are counted not as whole, but by the week, so if you’re trying to figure out the optimal day to order the book, make it May 1st! If we raise the roof over this and hundreds of people are going crazy about the book on that date (and the following week), just think how many retailers and outlets will need to start thinking more about the topics covered within this story as they look at their weekly sales.
  • You can write a review of the book: After a certain number of reviews (50), Amazon will start to promote the book and suggest it to others. Um, yes, please!

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Promotion is not easy for me (just ask my realtor husband who has almost lay down and died multiple times with the crazy go-live-in-a-cave-and-not-talk-to-people-anymore things I’ve said over the years), but I’m stepping out of my comfort zone for you:

  • Because I believe God is good and that’s why I wrote this book.
  • Because I believe this book is full of things we all face in one facet or another.
  • Because I believe that if we all start talking about this story, then we all start opening doors and discussions to cancer, the goodness of God in trials, fear, faith, and so many other things.
  • Because maybe you know someone who needs to read this book even more than you do and you’re the one to put it in their hands.

You guys, I have no idea where this story is going to go, but I can tell you that the very first advanced copy went out on an ambulance. True story. Can you imagine…?

Moment by moment.

My Antique Book Kick

I love books and I love reading and I love antique books …oh, and I love reading.  Did I mention that?  Bob loves reading too and I think it’s safe to say that we came into our marriage with a lot* of books.

*this may or may not be a slight understatement

Real talk: we have three large book shelves in the living room alone.
This is my favorite section in our collection:20120624-224513.jpg
Several volumes handed down to me by my great-grandmother.  (and an adorable picture of my oldest two … Awww, so cute … right?)

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My great-grandmother’s name inscribed and then my great-aunt’s note to herself that the book might some day go to me (those are my initials under the signature).

My favorite has always been this book:

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It’s such an old-school, sensational fairy tale with kidnapping, mistaken identities, tiny Bavarian kingdoms, Europe before the first world war …ah, I can’t even help myself. Look at these illustrations!

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Okay, I’ll stop … Except, oh wait, I didn’t stop … I actually Googled the author a few weeks ago and found out that he was quite the prolific writer. And … SCORE! … Most of his books are free downloads for my Kindle!  (insert shameless Amazon plug here)

I downloaded … never mind.  I won’t even tell you how many I’ve downloaded.  It’s embarrassing.  Nor will I tell you how many of them I’ve stayed up late to read.  That’s even more embarrassing.

I don’t know what is more intriguing for me: the late-nineteenth century drama or the early-twentieth century social commentary.20120624-224833.jpg

See?  I’m waxing historical. I can’t even help myself…

Happy Summer reading to me!


What are you reading this summer?