The Becky Miller Tool Kit

When we feel overwhelmed with our efforts to fix everyone and everything,
it helps to stop and remember that God provides all we need for every kind of renovation. Feel free to use this Tool Kit devotion with your Bible study group. Gather the items and reflect on the tools God provides while reading each scripture.

*Bandaid – Healing (Psalm 147:3)
*Paper clip – Love (Colossians 3:14)
*Rubberband – Unity (Eph. 4:3)
*Candy – His Word (Psalm 119:103)
*Stone – Sure Foundation (I Peter 2:4-8)
*Penny – Provision (Phil. 4:19)
*Postcard – Opportunity to Share! (Isaiah 52:7)

Guardian Stew

Recipe for Guardian Stew

Heat water in largest bowl over a cluster of heat trivets.

Add:

Roast meat of any kind (caradoc if you can get it, or bear, or even rizzid-but be sure to remove the glands containing poison before roasting).

Forest greens - (shred into small pieces)

Root bulbs - (cut into small pieces)

Berries - whatever is ripe during the current phase of season

A handful of dried grain from Morsal Plain

Jake's Version for Our World:

Brown 1 pound of sausage, bratwurst, (or any other meat) and a chopped onion.

Toss into slow-cooker.

Add:

Four cups water
4 cups chopped kale or spinach
1/2 cup wild rice
1/2 lb chopped carrots
salt and pepper

Simmer all day.
Enjoy.

Blue Knoll - Along the Hazor Border

Approaching Rendor

How to Memorize Scripture

In the Sword of Lyric books, the Verses were a vital source of truth, and helped various characters battle the mind poison of Rhusicans or the plots of a certain corrupt councilmember. The clans had a culture built on memorization and daily recitation of sections of the Verses.

On this side of the portal, we have the luxury of the printed word. However, I still find it valuable to commit Scripture to memory. Here are some tips that have helped me.

1. Pray. Ask for guidance to a verse that will be especially valuable to you in your current life situation. Also ask for the dedication and persistence needed.

2. Select a complete section or chapter instead of random individual verses with no context. Psalms are great choices. Other chapter ideas: John 1, Romans 8, Romans 12, I Corinthians 13, Philippians 4, Ephesians 1.

3. Combine a variety of learning approaches. Listen to an audio version of the chapter. Read the chapter out loud. Write it out long hand. Analyze and study the section, reading background from study guides and commentaries. Write a melody for the words. Create gestures or movements to help you remember key transitions. Recite the verse to a rhythm. Visualize pictures or images for certain words or phrases. Meditate in depth on a small section, emphasizing each word slowly and pondering applications.

4. Invite a friend to be a memorizing partner. Recite the verse with your partner, alternating one word at a time. Meet with your partner once a week to share as much of the section as you've learned.

5. Keep the Word alive in your thoughts. Review the verse when you wake up in the morning, in the shower, while brushing your teeth. Anytime you have to wait (on hold for a phone call, in line somewhere, in traffic) us the opportunity to practice a few verses). Meditate on the chapter as you're falling asleep at night.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God." --Colossians 3:16

On the Trail Near Braide Wood

One of many inspirations for the forests around Braide Wood.

Mountains Near Hazor

A glimpse of the jagged, bare mountains between the clans and Hazor.

Cauldron Falls

One of the real life inspirations for Cauldron Falls.

I took the actual photo in Yellowstone National Park, but it's very similar to Cauldron Falls along the border between Rendor and Kahlarea.

Search For the Restorer Contest

In my new novel, a nation is waiting for a promised Restorer.

So to celebrate the release of this special book, I'm having a "Search for the Restorer" contest.

I'll be giving five great prizes. Beautiful cloth Restorer bookbags filled with Christian books (Not MY books, but those of other wonderful authors I know you'll enjoy).

Here's how to enter:

Go to your local bookstores (Christian chains, independent stores, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) and see if you can find The Restorer on the shelves. You might have to hunt in "Inspiration Fiction" or "Christian Fiction" or the "Religion Section" or it might turn up in the "Fantasy" fiction shelves. Can't find it? Ask the manager and suggest he order some copies in. :-)

(Hint - if you've requested bookmarks from me, you can give some to
the manager of the store!)

Post a comment here and tell me about your epic quest and where you found The
Restorer.

On June 15th, I'll draw five names to receive the awesome prizes!

THEN, you can pop over to Rebecca Miller's Fantasy Challenge. Post a comment there and qualify for another drawing for MORE prizes!

Caradoc Skewers

Caradoc Skewers:

Soak bamboo skewers in water.
Chop lamb or beef stew meat into one-inch cubes
Marinate in oil/vinegar seasoned with salt/pepper and favorite herbs for 30 minutes
Thread meat onto skewer.
Grill over high heat, brushing with BBQ sauce.

(The sauce Susan tasted is a secret recipe of a family in Lyric, but she was able to come close with a store-bought BBQ sauce from our world)

Susan's Slow-cooker Version:

Brown cubes of stew meat (beef or lamb) to sear in juices. Place cubes into slow cooker and coat with barbecue sauce and simmer. Serve over rice.

Video Greeting for Book Groups

Tara's Pepper Soup

Tara’s Pepper Soup:
(Susan’s best guess)

Sauté favorite vegetables (ex: leeks, onion, carrots, celery, bell peppers, etc.) finely chopped, in butter.
Add 2 cups chicken broth
Stir in 2 cups cream of potato soup
Season with coarsely cracked black pepper corns
Left-over caradoc – chopped into small pieces (optional)
Splash of Worcestershire
Simmer and serve with bread

Clavo Recipe

Pick leaves of low-lying shrubs in the woods between Braide Wood and Ferntwine. Hang indoors to dry. Some people use heat trivets to speed the process, but others claim it makes the flavor bitter.

Grind and mix with the bark of the honeywood trees. Sprinkle into a large bowl of water held at a boil on a heat trivet and cover to steep. Ladle into mugs using a special straining ladle.

Susan’s Adaptation:

Steep chai tea, with cloves and a dash of cracked pepper. Strain and serve.

Perish Rules

In several of the Sword of Lyric books, there is mention of a table game using black and white stones, called "Perish."

Here are the rules, so you can try this deceptively simple strategy game.

Game Pieces: 12 black stones and 12 white stones.

Set Up: Stones are set up in four rows of six stones. Stones should alternate colors.

R1: B W B W B W

R2: W B W B W B

R3: B W B W B W

R4: W B W B W B

Game Play: Opponents take turns switching two neighboring stones either horizontally or vertically. Stones that are diagonal cannot be switched, and once two stones are switched, the same two stones cannot be switched again for at least one turn.

For example: B W B W B W could become W B B W B W

Object: The object of the game is to surround one of your opponent’s stones completely with your stones. This means that all four sides of the stone are completely surrounded.

For example:

R1: B W W W B B

R2: B W B W B B

R3: B W W W B B

R4: W B W B W W

Here is an image of a game where white has just made the winning move and surrounded a black piece:

Variation 1: (Short Perish) - "Surround" the opposing player's piece by positioning your pieces at four corners around their piece - rather than completely surrounding them.

Variation 2: (Complex Perish) - Create a larger board. 6x6 or 10x10