Month: December 2023

My “One Word” for this year has been Rejoice. God has given me much to rejoice over this year.

Of course, it hasn’t been a perfect year. Do those even exist? There’s been challenges, but it’s also been a tremendous year with many milestone moments of breakthrough.

As another year winds down, allow me to reflect on some of the highlights from this year. You can see a quick video here and read the captions below.

This year kicked off with celebrating 10 years of blogging.

Me? The private introvert who only wrote about other people’s stories? That’s only been by the grace of God.

This year has been a year of quiet preparation for what’s to come in 2024 and beyond. Here’s just a snapshot of some of the highlights:

God-Given Dreams Book – This was the year that I worked on writing and refining God-Given Dreams: 6 Ways to Live Your Divine Purpose (NavPress, March 5, 2024). So much of the work takes place behind the scenes. Thank you for celebrating as this book went from manuscript to edits to being on it’s way to be printed. There’s been so many prayerful steps to get to this point. It’s exciting to be getting closer and closer to the launch date. It feels like the slow climb up a fun roller coaster … stay tuned… lots of updates and inspiration coming your way. Please take a moment to preorder God-Given Dreams for the women in your life at any of these links:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble’s website
• Books-A-Million
• ChristianBook.com
• NavPress’ website 
• Target’s website
• Walmart’s website

Our Daily Bread Author – This was the year that I started writing for Our Daily Bread‘s main devotional. It’s the year I got to meet fellow Our Daily Bread authors. I’ve been quietly writing article after article. This ride is going to get rolling publicly in May when my first article appears. It’s also been a blessing to write for an upcoming Our Daily Bread VOICES Collection special devotional and for ODB’s marketing department.

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Teaching at the New York School of the Bible – In a year when two Christian colleges in NYC closed, I’m even more grateful to see how the Lord has preserved the NYSB. It’s been a blessing to teach my students throughout another school year. I’ve had local students and one joining us from South Carolina. God even surprised me by blessing me with a student who’s an Olympian. This former Olympiac could’ve never imagined having an Olympian as a student. Only God could do that! (Pic above is of just some of my lovely students throughout the years.)

Speaking – It’s been a blessing to complete my second year of devotional and prayer times for my CWEN Sisters near and far. It’s a delight to encourage my fellow Christian women entrepreneurs with entries from my 365-day devotional Feisty Faith: Trusting God Day by Day.

This year I also got to speak to the staff at The Bowery Mission.

Writer’s Conference Faculty Member – What an honor for this Latina journaler turned journalist turned author to be part of the faculty at this year’s Publishing in Color Conference! I’ve been wanting to speak at a writer’s conference for some time. This was the year that it happened. I’m told that my presentation was deemed to have “merit” which is so lovely to hear.

So much more happened this year, but these are the highlights I’m sharing for now.

Thanks for staying on this faith journey with me and for your encouragement, support and prayers!

I pray you have a blessed and Merry Christmas!

Let’s get ready to SOAR in 2024!

P.S. This blog post is now available as Episode 48 of the Abounding Faith for Today podcast. Check out this encouraging podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Are you part of my email community? Join my email community to get updates about my forthcoming book and other projects I’m working on as well as encouragement sent straight to your inbox. Sign up right here and get access to a free gift.

Will you rejoice with me? God-Given Dreams: 6 Ways to Live Your Divine Purpose (NavPress, March 5, 2024) should be off to the printer as I write this!

What a long and winding journey it’s been to get to this place in my faith journey and writing career!

Ladies, lots of activity has been going on in the secret place to get this book ready for you.

God-Given Dreams is filled with encouragement, Bible verses, prayer starters and more to help spur you on as you dare to have the courage to live God’s plan for your life.

There’s been lots of praying and praising and dreaming with God.

There’s also been hours and hours at the computer throughout the year.

Writing. Editing. Revising. Proofreading.

Plans are underway for the marketing and promotion for the book’s spring release.

Plans are also underway for the audio version. More details to follow.

These are exciting times. Glory to God!

This audacious dreamer and doer is going into overdrive soon.

I’m realizing how much of a sprinter I am instead of a marathoner (figuratively speaking since I’m not much of a runner in real life).

When I see a to-do list that seems miles and miles long, I just want to bolt and start checking off all the tasks.

But I’ve learned the importance of pacing myself so I can persevere to the finish line of this particular race.

I’m a reflective person, so even now I’m taking time to stop and soak in all the steps in this particular book release journey.

What a difference it is to be gearing up for a book launch with the support of my wonderful editorial and marketing and publicity team.

Note: I said team.

I don’t get to say that much.

I’ve been on quite a solitary journey over the years.

I’m grateful to those who have stayed on this faith journey with me for years.

As I enter the marketing and promotional stage of this book journey, I’m reminded of my years as a communications specialist. I find it a bit surreal that I was the one doing media outreach and helping to coordinate media interviews for others.

I wasn’t thinking about writing books or being interviewed back then.

My writing was in hiding for years after God called me out of my journalism career.

But God had a plot twist for me.

Now I’m working on promotions for my upcoming book…

God has a sense of humor.

He’s been preparing me all this time for such a time as this.

Now this particular God-given dream is coming true.

And He’s been preparing you, His beloved daughter, for what He has in store for YOU!

I’m looking forward to continuing to encourage you as you walk by abounding faith, hope and love.

I hope you’ll preorder God-Given Dreams today for you and yours at any of the sites listed below.

What a statement it would make to the publishing world if everyone reading this blog post would preorder copies of this encouraging and empowering book!

I’ve got so much more to share as we get closer and closer to March 5.

Please stay tuned so you don’t miss any updates.

You and your friends or small group or women’s ministry can preorder God-Given Dreams today on:

• Amazon
• Barnes and Noble’s website
• Books-A-Million
• ChristianBook.com
• NavPress’ website 
• Target’s website
• Walmart’s website

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Are you part of my email community? Join my email community to get updates about my forthcoming book and other projects I’m working on as well as encouragement sent straight to your inbox. Sign up right here and get access to a free gift.