Last Chance – Register for the NEW Crossing Your River Jordan Online Summer Class

Don’t miss the NEW Crossing Your River Jordan online course that starts next Monday evening. I’m so delighted to be teaching at the New York School of the Bible (NYSB) for the third straight summer. I’m thrilled to be teaching this new class based on the story of Joshua and my book Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land.

Be inspired, encouraged and empowered by this Bible-based class. And tell your friends. You can join from anywhere in the world. Last summer we had a student join us from Taiwan.

The class meets weekly via Zoom on Monday nights (June 7, 14, 21 and
28) from 6:00 pm – 8:45 pm (ET). You can learn more about registering for this NYSB course here.

Hope you’ll register today and join us next Monday evening!

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s inspiring books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

Gripped by God’s Grace (Part 3)

How has it been three months since my Dear Dad was ushered into heaven?

What a strange time it’s been. I’m super grateful for God’s Amazing Grace that has carried me and my family thus far and will continue to carry and comfort us.

I thought this would be a good time to stop and reflect and share a little more about what’s been helping me up to this point.

As I recently heard that one of my college roommates just lost her dad, I’m reminded that our loved ones are only here for a set time. I’m also reminded that we all go through our own journey of grief.

I hope something in this blog post and the “Gripped by God’s Grace” series will help to encourage you along your journey.

If I had to describe my journey so far, I would say I’ve gone through three phases.

Phase 1 – Accept

After the initial onset of shock and sadness and grief and more, by God’s grace, I slowly started moving into the acceptance phase. For me, that meant slowly realizing and accepting that I’m not going to see my Dad again until I get to heaven. I won’t be getting a phone call from him again.  The only way I can see and hear him now is through photos and videos. It’s not an easy process, but I’m grateful that I do have tons of memories and stories and photos and videos and mementos that I can treasure for years to come. Although I can’t bring my Dad back, I can help to keep his memory alive and honor him in the present and future.

Phase 2 – Adjust and Adapt

The brutal reality is that I won’t see my Dad here on earth again. And so, I must learn to go on with my new normal and adapt. I must adjust and continue to live and find reasons to smile and laugh and go on and to make new memories with mi familia. He would want that. And God wants that for me. I can’t go through life looking through the lens of shoulda, woulda, coulda or what ifs and if onlys. I must forge ahead and live by the values that God has given me and that my parents have instilled in me. Now I delight in sharing some of my favorite stories and memories and photos of my Dad and look for new ways to honor him. Lately, I’ve been wearing jewelry on Zoom calls that my Dad gifted me from Ecuador. I recently said yes to being the sole Latina speaking at a Christian online forum on race and culture and helped to represent Hispanics. My Dad would have been THRILLED to see me help represent mi gente, as he was very proud of his Ecuadorian roots and had a long history of fighting for immigrants’ rights. During the online event, I actually had a pin that my Dad gave me nearby to represent that I was doing this in his honor. I look forward to continuing to honor my Dad’s legacy in various ways, and as the Lord leads. Stay tuned for an upcoming post about how to keep your loved one’s memory alive.   

Phase 3 – Advance

We’re not meant to wallow in sorrow forever. We’re meant to receive God’s extravagant comfort and grace and peace and strength and love day by day.

God makes us resilient. God helps us grow and mature. God walks with us every step of the way.

Early on, one of the verses that helped me was when King David heard that his son had died. He replied, “But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Samuel 12:23)

By faith, David knew that he would be reunited with his son one day.

By faith, I know I will see my Dad again in heaven.

So, what am I to do now?

I’m to continue moving forward and living a life that honors God and the call He’s placed on my life.

I’m also to continue honoring my parents.  

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

I can continue to honor my Dad, even now that it’s after his days.

Here’s just a glimpse of what my Dad stood for:

  • Loving family
  • Loving life
  • Loving God
  • Working hard
  • Helping his community
  • Being generous
  • Enjoying life and hardy laughs
  • Being a good storyteller and natural public speaker
  • Staying connected to your roots
  • Going on adventures
  • Loving nature
  • Being good
  • Being happy
  • Being healthy
  • Aiming high
  • Climbing high (even literally when it came to the Andes mountains)
  • Getting the job done
  • Aspiring for more
  • Continuously learning
  • Trying new things
  • Keeping old values
  • Making a difference
  • Living in the moment
  • Teaching others
  • Welcoming others
  • Being part of historic events (more on that another time)

Perhaps I will expound on the above list in a future post.

In the meantime, I hope you’re also feeling God’s loving presence as you travel along your journey.

May you be at peace knowing that YOU are gripped by God’s Amazing Grace! 

If you’d like to share what’s helped you through your journey of losing a parent or other loved one, please feel free to comment below or on Abounding Faith’s Facebook page.

If you’d like to read more about my Dad, you can read about some of our adventures in By Faith: Adventures and Reflections on Walking With God Here and Abroad.

You can also check out these blog posts I’ve written over the years:

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

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.™

Don’t Miss the NEW Crossing Your River Jordan Online Course this June

What an honor to be included among the distinguished faculty (see pic below) at the New York School of the Bible! God is Good.

I hope you’ll join me for the NEW Crossing Your River Jordan online course. I’m so delighted to be teaching at the New York School of the Bible (NYSB) for the third straight summer. I’m thrilled to be teaching this new class based on the story of Joshua and my book Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land. Don’t miss this inspiring, encouraging and empowering class. Tell your friends. You can join from anywhere in the world. Last summer we had a student join us from Taiwan.

The class meets weekly via Zoom on Monday nights (June 7, 14, 21 and
28) from 6:00 pm – 8:45 pm. You can learn more about registering for this NYSB course here.

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s inspiring books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

BELIEVE – Monday Motivation by Coach Nancy of Abounding Faith Coaching & Consulting

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV)

If you had told me years ago that I would be writing Christian living books and blogging and hosting/producing a podcast and teaching at a Bible school, etc… I would have thought you were nuts!

This former journalist and communications specialist would have been dizzy and overwhelmed.

But God has a sense of humor. And He has the wisdom (and mercy) to reveal His plans for us little by little.

When I finally started getting glimpses of what God was calling me to do with my writing and communications skills, it sounded so farfetched. I didn’t even know where to start. Along with praying and preparing for God’s will and plan for my life, you know what else God wanted me to do?

BELIEVE!

Do you feel that your God-given dreams are too impossible or farfetched?

Good!

Stay with me. If you think of the Bible heroes of faith, you’ll see that God asked them to do some things that seemed pretty outrageous. That’s where living by abounding faith, hope and love comes in.

You may not have all the answers right now, but you can pray and prepare.

If you need help figuring out your next steps, I’d be delighted to be your Life Coach and prayerfully help you gain the clarity, confidence and courage you need to live your God-given dreams so you can go from:

  • frazzled to focused
  • frustrated to fruitful
  • fearful to fierce

You can learn more about Christian Life Coaching right here.

Blessings on your faith journey!

Coach Nancy

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s inspiring books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

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.™

“Peace be with You” – NEW Podcast Episode

“I think this was one of the best, exhaustive teachings and chapel on peace that I’ve ever heard in 26 years.” – Chaplain Vivian Hernandez

Listen in to a portion of my recent “Peace be with You” Chapel message for my friends at The Bowery Mission’s Women’s Center. It’s part of the “Gripped by God’s Grace” series.

Abounding Faith for Today podcast links:
Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2FoPkZM
Google Podcasts: bit.ly/2A5g2AL
Spotify: spoti.fi/2Kmpjt7
Stitcher: bit.ly/2Tqz6lN
PodBean: https://bit.ly/2BQXNAI See Less

If this podcast episode encourages you, please leave a kind review/rating and comment and be sure to subscribe and share the Abounding Faith for Today podcast with others. Blessings!

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s inspiring books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

Abounding Faith’s Books -Spanning the Globe Update

I just recently found out that Waiting on God Well (Book 1) has already made it to:

  • Malaysia
  • Qatar
  • South Africa
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates

I had no idea. Only God could do that! That means Abounding Faith’s books have made it to 5 continents so far. Glory to God! Thanks for your continued prayers and support! My God-given dream of encouraging Readers across the globe continues.

Here’s a list of the countries, continents and states (I’m aware of so far) where my Readers are located. If I’ve missed your neck of the woods, please let me know. And if you don’t see your country, continent (Where my Aussies at? Antarctica are you there?) or state represented, you can represent your home by ordering Abounding Faith’s inspiring, encouraging and empowering Bible-based books on Amazon. Let’s keep encouraging people near and far as they walk by abounding faith, hope and love and live their God-given dreams!


5 CONTINENTS

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • North America
  • South America

10 COUNTRIES OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.

  • Canada
  • Ecuador
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Qatar
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Taiwan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates

15 STATES (including NY)

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Illinois
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • New Jersey
  • New York (all over)
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas

Let’s see where Abounding Faith’s books appear next!

In the meantime, don’t forget that I’m teaching an online course this JUNE at the NYSB based on Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land (Book 3). You can learn more about this inspiring, encouraging and empowering class here.

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Did this post encourage you? Get access to the FREE Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day 5-Day Sampler PDF as a gift when you sign up for Abounding Faith’s email list. Get updates on Abounding Faith’s inspiring books, blog, podcast, life coaching and more by clicking here or the image below.

Register Today – NEW Crossing Your River Jordan Online Class

Registration is now open for the NEW Crossing Your River Jordan online course. I’m so delighted to be teaching at the New York School of the Bible (NYSB) for the third straight summer. I’m thrilled to be teaching this new class based on the story of Joshua and my book Crossing Your Jordan River: How to Possess and Prosper in Your Promised Land. You’re not going to want to miss this inspiring, encouraging and empowering class. Registration opens today. Tell your friends. You can join from anywhere in the world. Last summer we had a student join us from Taiwan. God is good!

The class meets weekly on Monday nights (June 7, 14, 21 and
28) from 6:00 pm – 8:45 pm. You can learn more about registering for this NYSB course here.

Hope to see you in June.