Saturday 8 January 2011

The Road of Blessing


I am cautiously excited about this book.  It comes out around now, in the UK, and in a few weeks overseas.  It's on pre-order at the US Amazon, where they also have a search-inside function so you can have a riffle through and see if you like it.  It's on (presumably quicker) pre-order at UK Amazon, where they haven't yet got the search-inside set up (though my publisher has chivvied them, so it should be coming soon.

I was brought up in the Christian faith, and went to church in my childhood.  I have always not only believed in God but felt close to me the presence of the Holy in everyday life.  Even so, I do believe that when Jesus says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock", the idea is to open it and invite Him in, not leave it and hope if it's really Him he will materialise through it somehow.

So, when I was fifteen I made the believer's prayer for myself, asking Jesus to be the Lord of my life; and I became His property that day, to dispose of as He wishes - though I have to say He does need to remind me of that at times, because you wouldn't all the time know from what I am and choose and do and say that I belong to Him.

I will be fifty-four next birthday.  That means I will have walked with Him for nearly forty years.  During that time, the main focus of my life has been to learn about what I have come to call 'the road of blessing', by which I mean finding the path of holiness.  I made a new friend on Facebook yesterday who says on her profile that an activity she enjoys is 'walking in a good way'.  That's the kind of thing I mean.  Making life choices and creating habits that flow with the current of God's grace, and can attract His blessing.

In the forty years (nearly) I've been doing this, I may not have learned a lot, but I've learned enough about a few things to be sure of them.  I have practiced some principles of living to the extent that I know I can rely on them.  No doubt I can be shaken, but I am sure beyond doubting that the things I have written about in this book cannot be shaken.

The Road of Blessing sets out the principles I have learned from the Bible that I have lived for almost forty years and can promise you can trust.

If you enjoy reading this blog, well then I guess you'll enjoy the book too.

37 comments:

Ganeida said...

I guess I'll be waiting a while. ☺ Holiness is an essential...

Mrs.T said...

Just pre order your book.. you had me at the first page!
Reading your Simplicity book..loving it !
Thank you so much for your wit and wisdom!

Denise in a snowy Tennessee

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thanks Denise!

Yes, Ganeida - Koorong are the Aussie stockists for Monarch (the publisher), and I guess they will have it in a few weeks therefore.

Ganeida said...

I can order on~line from Koorong so all is well. ☺

Linda said...

I guessed last night you were about 5 years ahead of me in the road of life, but it was actually 7 or 6, which makes sense. I was a teenager too when I became a Christian.

I am very excited about reading the book, you are lucky I haven't commented all over this blog from what I have read so far on Amazon.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Ember - Just read the intro and loved it! I think you are right - this book says something that I, at least, have been needing to hear. I pre-ordered it, and can't wait until it gets here!

Maggie in snowy Virginia

Linda said...

I love the cover, it is a little like my childhood. And I love that you called badger tracks sheep tracks, I can so relate to those. That is how I pictured badger tracks so it is nice to have confirmation.

Linda said...

What I am liking about this book so far on Amazon is that it is helping me understand that my husband was the one chosen by God for me because he supports the way I live my life, which I believe to be similar to what is mentioned. How many could you find that would do that? Could I live any other way? It will make interesting pondering.

Lynda said...

I'm with Ganeida on the waiting...
But I did read all that Amazon had on preview! Guess I can go back there and re-read every day until I can buy my own copy :o)

Pen Wilcock said...

Thanks, dear friends, for your interest and encouragement! I hope Amazon and Koorong aren't too slow and that you find the book worth the waiting!

Lynda, that's a new profile pic, isn't it? I like it! :0)

DaisyAnon said...

Sounds like a great book.

DaisyAnon said...

Based on the sample chapter on Amazon it is a great book.
Congratulations.

Anonymous said...

I've had the privilege to read this already, and it really is a remarkable and inspiring book.

Pen Wilcock said...

Thank you so much, ladies.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

Okies, I have to go and look at that one but it already sounds wonderful.

Julie B. said...

I have also been privileged to read The Road of Blessing, and am in the process of reading it again. It's the kind of book you want on your nightstand to pick up again and again. It's the kind of book you want to order multiple copies of, because it would make the best kind of gift. It's like a caring friend taking you by the hand and gently leading you to a place of hope and quiet.

Lynda said...

Yes, it's a new profile pic...since I returned to covering a month ago after a few years off. It feels good to be back at it :o)

I also love the cover of the book. Did you choose it or did your publishers?

It will be a belated christmas gift to each of my children. Last year I gave them your 'Simplicity' book :o)

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Lynda - well, I love that pic.

re The Road of Blessing, yes my publisher found that cover picture, after I explained carefully what I imagined. I love it too. It's just right.
:0)

Hi Michelle, Hi Julie F! Thanks for your kind words - Julie, if you could go and leave exactly that as an Amazon review, it would be most helpful! x

Anna said...

have it on my wish list already! :D

Pen Wilcock said...

Hooray! Thanks, Anna :0D

Vicki said...

I pre-ordered it on Amazon a while ago - can't wait to receive it!

Hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thank you Vicki!

Linda said...

My order went through with Koorong, in Australia. It is $15.95 with postage for Aussies. I have used Koorong before and have never had any trouble.

Pen Wilcock said...

Do Koorong have it in stock yet. Linda?

Linda said...

The page has changed since I was on it this afternoon. They are now getting ready to have numbers of store copies.

http://orders.koorong.com/search/product/view.jhtml?code=9781854249654

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thanks, Linda!

Friends, if you read this book - or any of you who have read the simplicity book or any of my others - if you could make the time to leave a review on Amazon, I would be immensely grateful.
I don't know about you, but I always look to see if there is a review to read before making up my mind whether or not to buy a book.

xx

Mrs.T said...

Pen I just wanted you to know I just received my book!!
Woot!

Can't wait to dig in!!!

Denise in TN

Vicki said...

I've had an email from Amazon UK to say it will be delivered between 21-27 Jan.

Is it out yet Pen? I noticed the book depository say they have it in stock.

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Vicki! x
I think Amazon may be the most reliable source, and their copies are coming through now.
I don't know about The Book Depository, but I do know some of the Amazon shops-within-shops are over-ambitious in their claims because one of them is offering for sale in hardback and since it is being made only n paperback that can;t be correct.

Vicki said...

Thanks Pen, I will be patient and wait for Amazon lol! They are usually the most reliable for getting books to us quickly. I've used the book depository before and they've been good, however they also say 'The Road of Blessing' is a hard back book, and they said it was in stock before christmas so that could be a mistake.

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes - this can't be right.

Vicki said...

I've had an email from Amazon UK to say my book is on the way - hurray!!

A lot of our books were destroyed when the ceilings came down, the full force of the water was pouring on them for days, thankfully I had a little Bible, your Simplicity book and Scott Savage's books with me so they were ok and miraculously my favourite Bible and our family photo's were spared despite all the water pouring onto them - Thank God!

One good thing about spending some time living in the library was all the lovely books to read - I'm currently reading an old copy of George Fox's Journal which I'm really enjoying.

I will be leaving reviews for your books, atm I can't figure out how to leave reviews in my name and not my husbands, but I'll get there in the end or review them in his name.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Thanks Vicki!
I'm so sorry to hear about your books being destroyed though - I would guess that like me you have a lot of non-standard books (Scott Savage's being one) patiently collected over a long time. :0( Hard to lose them. xx

Linda said...

Koorong is down to 2-4 weeks.

http://orders.koorong.com/search/product/view.jhtml?code=9781854249654

Pen Wilcock said...

:0D

Linda said...

Koorong 2 days.

Pen Wilcock said...

2 days! Wooot!!!