What a busy two days here in Orlando. It’s amazing how much we can pack in a day but I like to make the most of time. Monday morning was my first day to see the Convention Center floor for ICRS 2008. First, I went to the Harvest House booth and saw the poster for my book - how cool is that! It’s always amazing to me to see my book large like that hanging on the wall. I was proud to stand by the book and have my picture taken. And guess who took my picture - Meachele Campbell, one of the women in our SCC Women’s Ministries who attended ICRS with her husband. It was so exciting to be able to connect with her at the conference. She was a great help to me on this first day at the conference and was there for one of my tv interviews as well. I looked around at all the different booths from publishers and other companies that offer items to the Christian retailer. I didn’t really have time to walk the floor yet which is one of my favorite things to do. I had a full day ahead and was still adjusting to the time zone difference. I thank the Lord that I’m a morning person because it’s a great help in being awake and alert when my time zone is three hours earlier and an 8 am appointment is really 5 am my time.
Julie Roys is one sharp woman and did a great interview with me for WMBI Moody Radio out of Chicago. We really connected and had a great time talking about the importance of knowing God and the great result - trust. You cannot trust what you do not know, but when you know God’s names, you will put your trust in Him (Psalm 9:10). We talked about some of the names of God and how magnificent and infinite God is. He is always more than we know Him to be right now or even think He is. The more I am interviewed for these books on Trusting In The Names of God, the more excited I am to know God more myself. I take great confidence in the promise that when I draw near to God He will draw near to me (James 4:8). After that interview I went to a number of meetings with people who are involved in the different aspects of publishing my books. This is the once a year opportunity I have to connect with them on a face-to-face basis.
Monday evening was the New Release Party where I had the opportunity to sign my books for the first time on a larger scale. As soon as the doors opened the line for the Harvest House authors including my books was in the hundreds. I couldn’t believe it. I was totally excited to meet these many people who wanted a copy of Trusting In The Names of God. One lady commented that it must be hard work to sign so many books - I smiled and told her how I really feel - it’s one of my greatest joys because it’s my opportunity to look into the faces of those who will read my books and I get to actually give them my book. It’s just such a blessing and a privilege.
I especially enjoyed talking with many of those who came through the line. They were from everywhere - UK, Australia, New Jersey, Michigan, Canada. I saw my friend, Craig Pierce who runs the Corban Christian Bookstore in Dallas, Texas. And then I connected with one man who came to my booksigning last year. He told me that last year when he got my books he learned all about quiet time and now uses them to teach others how to spend time with the Lord. You can just imagine what a blessing that was to me! Yesterday was just as full a day with tv and radio interviews and meetings. Last night I had dinner with some of the Harvest House team and we laughed and laughed. Later we were joined by Jeana Newman who arranges my radio interviews throughout the year and Terry Glaspey who is the first one I talked to on the phone from Harvest House. All I can say is that no one can tell a story the way Terry can and he had us all laughing. It was a lot of fun. Today I walked the floor for one last time and will meet with my dear friend, Vonette Bright later today. What a rich time this has been. May the Lord take these books and multiply them in such a way that He gets all the glory!
We are finally here in Orlando! I say that because it was quite an adventure just to get here. We had a huge delay in Dallas that extended for so many hours that at one point we wondered if we were ever going to get here. They changed our plane and we had to change terminals. While we were waiting for literally hours we looked over and there at another table we saw Bob and Emilie Barnes. They’re also with Harvest House and we’ve known them for a number of years now. So we walked over, said hello, and had a great time talking. Finally, our airplane was fixed (yes, I said fixed as there was some kind of hydraulic problem requiring a part) and we were on our way. We were supposed to get in around 5 but did not arrive until around 10 pm. What a trip! What you see in this first picture is one of our adventures with Harvest House. Yes, that is a real lion on that rock. Can you believe it! Sunday, our first full day in Orlando was a busy one. First I attended an Author Brunch with Harvest House and media, bookstores, and distributors. It was a great time sharing with others about my new books, Trusting In The Names Of God (both the 30 Day Journey and A Quiet Time Experience). Then, in the evening we had the time of our lives. We met with other Harvest House authors and those from the Harvest House team who are here in Orlando, got on a bus, and traveled to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I’ve never been there and couldn’t wait! Just as we arrived it began pouring rain! They passed out raincoats for everyone and so, there we all were, rainsoaked and having the time of our lives. We got in jeeps and began what seemed to me like a real African safari. Our jeep rounded the corner and what do you think we saw. This lion standing on a rock! Doesn’t he remind you of Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia. 
This is a bunch of us in the jeep. The driver narrated the whole time on our African safari. He drove us through what looked like the Serengeti to me. Lots of animals. Beautiful flamingos. We saw crocodiles. A rhinocerous that was SO big. Even a giraffe. We laughed, Took a guzillion pictures. The guy drove so fast that you had to be quick with the camera if you wanted to get that perfect picture. I got some good ones though. I’m going to try to create a photo gallery up on flickr of all these pics cause they’re so amazing. But for now, these few will have to do.
This elephant was AMAZING. Even though he’s out there in the wilds of the Animal Kingdom, he’s got some kind of personality. When we drove by, the driver turned up some music, loud enough for the elephant to hear. And this is a true story - the elephant started moving back and forth and DANCED. We couldn’t believe it. We were laughing, smiling, just loving it! I think what was so special for me was to share this with my Harvest House family. The whole evening was a great beginning to our week here at the International Christian Retail Show where I have the opportunity to share Trusting In The Names Of God with bookstores, media, and distributors from all over the world. May the Lord multiply our time and use it all for His great glory.
We leave tomorrow morning before 7 am to fly to Orlando for the International Christian Retail Show 2008. I can hardly believe this day has arrived and I am excited. I pray that the Lord will be glorified in all we do as we share my two new books with the world. And I am just so thrilled to have Harvest House publishing these books! It will be a total joy to be able to sign my books for bookstore owners and distributors from all over the world. These are the times when the Lord renews my vision for the world and gives me a new passion to keep sharing Him with others. I will be updating this blog regularly as I go on this new adventure of ICRS 2008 with the Lord. You never know who I’ll meet and sometimes I post pictures of people with names you just might know. Please pray for us this week and pray that the Lord is the center and focus and that He is glorified in everything we do along the way. God bless you all and I will be here again soon.
Trusting In The Names Of God is here - the 30 Day Journey AND A Quiet Time Experience. I am so excited about these books and the companion resources including 6 messages on DVD for the 30 day journey and 9 messages on DVD for the quiet time experience. I introduce these books online in a 12 minute introduction, 
I was just interviewed by Debbie Chavez on The Debbie Chavez Show about Trusting In The Names Of God. What an interview! She asked me about all the names of God and why they’re important, what it means to trust in God, and then specifically, about each name of God in my book. What an opportunity to challenge listeners to know God and draw near to Him. We finished thirty minutes and she asked if I could stay longer - we shared together live on the radio for 45 minutes! I’ve been on her show before and just love being interviewed by her. She’s a very sharp lady and just a great radio show host. If you’d like to listen to the interview, just go to