Reflecting on 2021 – A Year of Standing Firm

My “One Word” for this year was “STAND FIRM.” Oh my, did I need to stand firm on God’s Word all throughout this rough year… I’m going to share just a few defining moments and highlights from this year, which has felt like 20 years packed into one. Thank You for helping to pray me through all these moments including:

My Dear Dad’s Promotion to Heaven – It was so hard to start the year by losing my Dad, BUT I know that my loss is heaven’s gain! There’s nothing that can describe or compare to the joy and peace my Dad must be feeling right now. By God’s grace, I’m slowly processing this reality. If you’d like to learn a little more about my Dear Dad and read about some of what’s helped me through this grief journey, check out the blog post links below or the most recent episodes of the Abounding Faith for Today podcast. I pray you’ll be encouraged on your own grief journey.

• Gripped by God’s Grace (Part 1)
• Gripped by God’s Grace (Part 2)
• Gripped by God’s Grace (Part 3)
• Gripped by God’s Grace (Part 4)
• That’s My Dad – A Tribute
• That’s My Dad – Father’s Day Edition
• 15 Ideas for How to Keep Your Loved One’s Memory Alive
• 16 Easy and Simple Self-Care Ideas
• Celebrating My Dad – An Ode to the Olympics & Apollo 11 Lunar Landing
• Lesson Learned from My Dad
• Over the Moon: My Connection to Apollo 11
• Let Your Light Shine
• Lost and Found

Becoming a Contributing Writer for Our Daily Bread‘s VOICES Collection – This was part of the writing BREAKTHROUGH that I’ve been praying and waiting for. I’ve wanted to write for Our Daily Bread since before winning their Online Writing Contest for Readers back in 2014. What an honor to have two devotional entries included in Rhythms of Rest, the lovely devotional released this September! It’s an honor and delight to work with Our Daily Bread. I hope to share more good news soon. Stay Tuned!

Working on Book 6 – It’s been a long road to get here, but this year I took my time writing and editing my very first women’s Bible study. I plan to share more updates soon, but know that I am already praying for my Readers. I’m so grateful God allows me to write books that encourage, inspire and empower you as you walk by faith, hope and love and dare to live your God-given dreams!

Continuing as an Instructor at the New York School of the Bible – What an honor to be part of the distinguished faculty at the NYSB (pic above) and to get to teach courses based on my books! God is Good! Ladies, I hope to see you in these online classes. The Spring semester starts on January 25. Registration is open for my Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day course. Ladies, don’t miss it!

Being a Member of CWEN’s Online Devotional Team – What a joy it is to lead devotionals for this online group of Christian women entrepreneurs! I’m blessed to get to share entries from Feisty Faith – Trusting God Day by Day, the uplifting 365-day devotional. The Ladies who participate join us from near and far. It’s beautiful to see how God meets us in such a special way each time.

Being Interviewed for Podcasts and More – This year I had the pleasure of being interviewed on The Fearless Mujer Podcast and the Career Switch Podcast. It was also a delight to be interviewed by my friends at Writing for Your Life. You can find links to the podcasts and shows I’ve been interviewed on and past articles I’ve written for Charisma‘s website on my updated Media Page.

Speaking at Chapel Service for my Friends at The Bowery Mission’s Women’s Center – What a blessed time getting to share about peace with the lovely women during their virtual chapel! You can hear an excerpt from that message in the “Peace be with You” episode (Episode 32) of the Abounding Faith for Today podcast:

• Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2FoPkZM
• Google Podcasts: bit.ly/2A5g2AL
• Spotify: spoti.fi/2Kmpjt7
• iHeart: https://lnkd.in/drNF-PPS
• Stitcher: bit.ly/2Tqz6lN
• PodBean: https://bit.ly/2BQXNAI 

There’s more I could share, but that’s all for now.

It makes little sense how in the midst of sorrow and pain and hurt and grief there could be reasons to laugh, smile, feel happy and celebrate, but that’s how life is and that’s what happens when we allow God’s love and peace and joy and grace to cover and comfort us.

Now I see why God wanted me to STAND FIRM this year. My faith would be tested. The storm would rage. The winds would beat and howl, BUT we are to stand firm on Christ, the solid rock.

Many have experienced great loss lately. No one is immune from trials and heartache.

Yes, cry, lament, grieve.. and then let God comfort you and dry your tears and give you strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share a few verses that you can hopefully take great comfort in:

• “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 3-4)
• “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. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” (Isaiah 61:1-3)
• “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” (Psalm 30: 11-12)
• “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)
• “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Matthew 7:25) 
• “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

You are gripped by God’s Amazing Grace, and He’s not letting go!

May we have plenty to celebrate in 2022 and beyond!

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Proverbs 31:25)

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