5 Highlights From “Shining” in 2020

There’s no way to sum up all the highs and lows of 2020, so I won’t really try.

Amid the untold trials, tests, trauma and tragedy the pandemic and civil unrest brought this year and despite any personal heartbreak you may have experienced, I hope you were able to feel God’s loving arms sheltering and comforting you.

As the world came to a collective standstill (and continues to be on pause in many places), I hope you were able to spot God’s fingerprints throughout your days.

You may recall my “One Word” for this year was SHINE.

God has a sense of humor. How do you shine when the world shuts down?

Wait a minute…. when is a shining light needed the most?

Oh yeah, as the saying goes the darker the night, the brighter the light shines!

God’s ways are so not our ways.

I trust you found ways to shine your light for Christ this year.

I’d like to share a few highlights of how the Lord allowed me to SHINE for Him this year. Here are 5 highlights from 2020:

1. Releasing Book 5

It’s a joy and privilege to get to honor God through writing and speaking about Him. This year I celebrated the fifth anniversary of the release of my first book and I celebrated the release of my fifth book, Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day! God is Good!

Feisty Faith has already been encouraging readers in California, Illinois, Michigan, New York and it’s on its way to Connecticut. I’m so touched by the lovely feedback I’m receiving and the wonderful endorsements such as this one from my friend at Our Daily Bread. I pray Feisty Faith, an uplifting 365-day devotional, will inspire and empower you!

2. Getting to Teach Again at the New York School of the Bible (NYSB)

It was such a blessing to get to teach for a second straight summer at the NYSB. It’s always an honor to get to teach from one of my books. This year the class was Abounding Faith: Choosing Faith Over Fear based on Book 2, Abounding Faith: 30 Bible Heroes Who Will Inspire You to Believe God for the Impossible! How timely that topic was! Meeting online meant we could welcome a student straight from Taiwan. Amazing! It was such a special time. Our first class met the same evening our city had a curfew because of the protests. I’m so grateful that on a night filled with chaos, my class could meet to speak about the Lord and to spur each other on in our faith. God knew what we needed especially that evening. I look forward to teaching again next June.

3. Teaching a WOW Seminar on Leadership Lessons From Ruth

I don’t take it lightly when I get to speak about the Lord and teach from His Word. I was so delighted to teach leadership lessons from the life of Ruth for my friends at WOW! Women of Wonder for their seminar in November. I got some lovely feedback about the teaching and how it sparked a beautiful time of sharing during the small group discussion time. You can find links to the podcast and accompanying blog post here.

4. Hosting My First Meet Up

I couldn’t have my fourth women’s conference this fall so we had a virtual Meet Up Day instead. We had such a special time of fellowship and prayer. It was so lovely, we’re doing it again next year. Mark your calendars with the January dates and RSVP via email (see the above flyer). Hope to see you there!

5. Special Writing Project

There’s a special writing project I worked on this fall. I can’t say much now, but I plan to tell you all about it in 2021. Please stay tuned for the exciting news.

Other highlights from this year included coaching a wonderful client as she takes steps toward her God-given dreams, being interviewed for a website for writers and getting to encourage my friends (via Zoom) at The Bowery Mission Women’s Center and my friends at Woodcrest and Cliffside Nursing Homes.

And what a blessing it is to get to inspire and encourage you as you walk by faith, hope and love and live your God-given dreams!

Thanks so much for your continued prayers, encouragement and support. Only God knows what He has planned for 2021 and beyond.

If you’re being blessed by Abounding Faith’s work and are looking for ways to show your support, I invite you to consider:

• Buying Abounding Faith’s books for yourself and to give away to your family, friends, small group, local nonprofits, etc.

• Becoming a member of Abounding Faith’s Dream Team. Let’s SHINE together!

• Buying me a coffee or two or more! Check out this NEW way to show your support by clicking here.

I’m looking forward to continuing to encourage you in the new year! May your faith in God and love for Him grow even deeper in 2021!

God has called us for such as this. Don’t shrink back now. Keep shining for Christ and move forward by Feisty Faith! Many blessings to you and yours!

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™