Accept Me

by Marion Ueckermann

  ~ Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

  Chapter 7:

  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

  ~ Matthew 6:34 (NIV)

  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

  ~ Romans 8:28 (NIV)

  Chapter 8:

  The Parable of the Good Samaritan

  On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

  “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

  He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

  “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

  But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

  In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

  The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

  Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

  ~ Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

  But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

  ~ Job 23:10 (NIV)

  Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

  ~ Psalm 107:1 (NIV)

  Chapter 16:

  The Parable of the Lost Sheep

  Then Jesus told them this parable:

  “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

  ~ Luke 15:3-7 (NIV)

  Chapter 17:

  For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion.

  ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (DARBY)

  “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?”

  ~ Job 38:31 (NIV)

  Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

  “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?

  “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?

  “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.

  “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.

  “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!

  “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle? What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm, to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert, to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass? Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?

  “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth? “Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’? Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding? Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?

  ~ Job 38:1-38 (NIV)

  He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

  ~ Psalm 147:4 (NIV)

  “Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

  ~ Matthew 10:30 (NIV)

  You’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.

  ~ Psalm 56:8 (MSG)

  Chapter 19

  There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: …a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4 (NIV)

  You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can’t thank you enough.

  ~ Psalm 30:11-2 (MSG)

  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

  ~ Isaiah 61:1-3

  Chapter 21:

  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

  ~ Psalm 91:11-12 (NIV)

  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

  ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJ21)

  Chapter 23:

  When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle
of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet!

  “Who are you?” he asked.

  “I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.”

  ~ Ruth 3:7-9 (NIV)

  Chapel Cove Romances

  Have you read the previous Chapel Cove Romances, available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited?

  Book 1, Remember Me by Marion Ueckermann

  Book 2, Love Me by Alexa Verde

  Book 3, Cherish Me by Autumn Macarthur

  Book 4, Choose Me by Marion Ueckermann

  Book 5, Hold Me by Alexa Verde

  Book 6, Marry Me by Autumn Macarthur

  Book 7, Belong with Me by Alexa Verde

  To know when these and future Chapel Cove Romances are released, please follow the series on Amazon (just click the yellow “Follow” button on the left of the Amazon page).

  Thank You for Reading!

  I hope you enjoyed reading Accept Me. If you did, please consider leaving a short review on Amazon, Goodreads, or Bookbub. Positive reviews and word-of-mouth recommendations count as they honor an author and help other readers to find quality Christian fiction to read.

  Thank you so much!

  If you’d like to receive information on new releases, cover reveals, and writing news, please sign up for my newsletter.

  Acknowledgements

  As always, I’d like to thank the following people:

  My crit partner, Jan, and my editor, Ailsa—my writing is richer because of you. Any errors in this story are my own.

  My awesome street team who is always ready to answer my questions, to beta read, to promote and review. I am always grateful.

  Dr. Melanie Kruger and Autumn Macarthur for your invaluable medical input.

  My hubby and family for giving me time and space to get this story finished and edited. It’s been a long haul!

  To every reader, thank you for investing your precious time in my stories.

  And most importantly, thank You, Father God, for never failing to guide me through a story, even when words or time seem hard to find. Once again, You’ve left me amazed after I wrote those final two words, The End.

  About Marion Ueckermann

  USA Today bestselling author MARION UECKERMANN’s passion for writing was sparked when she moved to Ireland with her family. Her love of travel has influenced her contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. Marion and her husband again live in South Africa and are setting their sights on retirement when they can join their family in the beautiful Cape.

  Please visit Marion’s website for more of her books:

  www.marionueckermann.net

  Contact Marion:

  You can also find Marion on social media:

  Titles by Marion Ueckermann

  CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN ROMANCE

  CHAPEL COVE ROMANCES

  Remember Me (Book 1)

  Choose Me (Book 4)

  Accept Me (Book 8)

  Ride with Me (Book 10)

  Releasing 2020

  Trust Me (Book 13)

  Releasing 2021

  Other books in this tri-author series are by

  Alexa Verde and Autumn Macarthur

  THE POTTER’S HOUSE

  SHAPED BY LOVE

  Restoring Faith (Book 1)

  Recovering Hope (Book 2)

  Reclaiming Charity (Book 3)

  A TUSCAN LEGACY

  That’s Amore (Book 1)

  Ti Amo (Book 4)

  Other books in this multi-author series are by:

  Elizabeth Maddrey, Alexa Verde, Clare Revell, Heather Gray, Narelle Atkins, and Autumn Macarthur

  UNDER THE SUN

  SEASONS OF CHANGE

  A Time to Laugh (Book 1)

  A Time to Love (Book 2)

  A Time to Push Daisies (Book 3)

  HEART OF ENGLAND

  SEVEN SUITORS FOR SEVEN SISTERS

  A Match for Magnolia (Book 1)

  A Romance for Rose (Book 2)

  A Hero for Heather (Book 3)

  A Husband for Holly (Book 4)

  A Courtship for Clover (Book 5)

  A Proposal for Poppy (Book 6)

  Releasing 2020

  A Love for Lily (Book 7)

  Releasing 2021

  HEART OF AFRICA

  Orphaned Hearts

  The Other You

  HEART OF AUSTRALIA

  Melbourne Memories

  HEART OF IRELAND

  Spring’s Promise

  HEART OF CHRISTMAS

  Poles Apart

  Ginger & Brad’s House

  PASSPORT TO ROMANCE

  Helsinki Sunrise

  Soloppgang i Helsinki

  (Norwegian translation of Helsinki Sunrise)

  Oslo Overtures

  Glasgow Grace

  ACFW WRITERS ON THE STORM

  SHORT STORY CONTEST WINNERS ANTHOLOGY

  Dancing Up A Storm ~ Dancing In The Rain

  BOX SETS

  Jayne

  (A Match for Magnolia, A Courtship for Clover, That’s Amore)

  Michael

  (Restoring Faith, Reclaiming Charity, Ti Amo)

  Those Blue Tuscan Skies

  (A Romance for Rose, That’s Amore, Ti Amo)

  The Potter’s House

  [Books 7, 14, and 21]

  (Restoring Faith, Recovering Hope, Reclaiming Charity)

  Seasons of Change

  [Books 1-3]

  (A Time to Laugh, A Time to Love, A Time to Push Daisies)

  Love is all around

  [A collection of Christmas stories from around the world]

  (A Husband for Holly, A Time to Love, Ginger & Brad’s House, Melbourne Memories, Poles Apart)

  Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters

  [Books 1-4]

  (A Match for Magnolia, A Romance for Rose, A Hero for Heather, A Husband for Holly)

  NON-FICTION

  Bush Tails

  (Humorous & True Short Story Trophies of my Bushveld Escapades as told by Percival Robert Morrison)

  POETRY

  Glimpses Through Poetry

  [Bumper paperback of the four e-book poetry collections below]

  GLIMPSES THROUGH POETRY

  My Father’s Hand

  My Savior’s Touch

  My Colorful Life

  WORDS RIPE FOR THE PICKING

  Fruit of the Rhyme

  Purchase link to all titles

  What she most needed was right there in front of her all along.

  At the age of thirteen, Clarise Aylward and her two best friends each pen a wish list of things they want to achieve. Deciding to bury a tin containing their life goals, the friends vow to unearth the metal box once they’ve all turned forty. But as the decades pass and each girl chases her dreams, the lists are forgotten.

  Heath Brock has been in love with Clarise for over twenty-seven years and counting. As a young man, he’d plucked up the courage to ask her out on a Valentine’s date, but the couple succumbed to pent-up passions, sending Clarise dashing for the other side of the country.

  Years after Clarise’s sudden departure, Heath serves as youth pastor. He’d held out hope of Clarise’s return, but buries his feelings for his childhood sweetheart when he learns she’s married.

  Almost penniless, divorced, and with nowhere to go, Clarise returns home to Chapel Cove, her future uncertain. She’s approaching forty with her dreams in tatters. When old feelings resurface, Clarise wonders whether she’s ever really fallen out of love with Heath.

  What’s the man of God to do when his old flame returns, seemingly to stay?

  With Clarise back in town, Heath is determined not to repeat past mistakes, but if he has anything to say about it, never again will he lose the only woman he’s ever loved.

  The one thing he wants most in the world, she can’t give him.

  Her heart broken at the altar, real estat
e agent Julia Delpont moves south to Chapel Cove, away from the humiliation, the gossip, the stares. At least in this small town, nobody knew her story. And she had every intention of keeping it that way. No man would ever break her heart again.

  After three years as an army surgeon in war-torn Afghanistan, Dr. Hudson Brock avoids the ER, choosing instead to perform scheduled surgeries at a top Dallas hospital. But neither extreme in his career has offered Hudson what he really wants—a wife and family to come home to at night. Maybe in the sleepy hollow town he’d grown up in he would find what he was looking for.

  Once back in Chapel Cove, Hudson tries to find the perfect house. He suspects that finding the perfect woman will take far longer.

  When Julia Delpont literally stumbles into Hudson’s life, he knows he’s the one who has fallen harder. But Julia is afraid to open her heart again. Especially to the handsome doctor whose deepest desires she cannot fill.

  When love grows cold and vows forgotten, can faith be restored?

  Charles and Faith Young are numbers people. While Charles spends his days in a fancy Fort Collins office number crunching, Faith teaches math to the students of Colorado High. Married for sixteen years, Charles and Faith both know unequivocally that one plus one should never equal three.