Devotionals for the Heart: Stuck

Stuck
A devotional by Heather Martin

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you." ~Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

As a singer, I have spent many New Year’s Eves at various churches sleepily awaiting our turn to sing for the midnight service. As a side note, I am not a night person and I have a hard time staying awake beyond a certain hour, and midnight is very much past that hour for me! 

Anyway, this particular service stands out vividly in my memory. It was a really cold night in Baltimore, Maryland, at an old church. We had gone to this church several times over the years to sing because the Pastor and family were dear friends of ours. We always enjoyed ministering to the youth there. Although it was a midnight service, many of our relatives came out to support my sisters and I as we rang in the New Year in song. The service began with a short sermon that was very inspiring. We were encouraged to think of all the ways God had blessed us during the year and to pray for a year that would be even greater! 

After the sermon, we were asked to come up and sing a few songs and it was timed perfectly to begin the New Year with a bang! When we sang the last song, balloons dropped and confetti flew all around the church. Everyone praised, and thanked God for a new start. It was a wonderful, uplifting way to bring in the New Year. 

After the concert was over, the kind ushers and ladies who’d been assisting us led us to an old elevator. And as I see it, our judgments had to be impaired by our sleepiness for all of us to think it was safe to pile onto an ancient, tiny elevator to reach the basement. As we entered the elevator everyone made jokes about how old it looked and how we hoped we wouldn’t get stuck, yet we all hurried in and pressed the button. Mid-way into our descend, the elevator abruptly stopped! 

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I exclaimed.

I tried not to panic, when meanwhile, an older sister who’d come to support us was freaking out. She was holding my niece, a baby at the time, and saying that she could not breathe. I looked again and she was trying to lift the roof of the elevator and ripping off her sweater. It is funny now, but in those few minutes that we were not moving and could feel the old cords of the elevator bounce, it was quite scary. It only took five minutes for the deacons to rescue us safely from the elevator, but it felt like forever! When we were finally out of that elevator we were so thankful that we weren’t trapped for longer and that no one was hurt.

What a way to bring in the New Year! Our night had mimicked the cycles of life. We started on a high, celebrating and then ended up stuck in an elevator, worried and in the face of danger, then back to safety. Life is always going to be full of ups and downs, highs and lows. Some days you may feel like life is so great, like a New Year’s Eve celebration, like you are flying on top of the world: like getting a raise, a new car, having a baby, getting married, or celebrating a birthday. Other days you may feel like you’re trapped in an elevator: worried, depressed, running out of options, sad because you’ve lost a loved one, facing health issues or dealing with a seemingly impossible situation.

Today I want you to be encouraged that no matter where you are in life, there is one thing that will never change, God is with you all the time. Although life can be unpredictable, He wants so desperately for you to feel His arms of love wrapped around you every step of the way. And we can rest assure that although we can’t see the future, and cannot always plan for these “stuck in the elevator experiences,” He saw it long before it happened and has already made a rescue plan for you. He wants to guide you to safety. 

Won’t you let Him rescue you today?

~*~
Author Bio:

Heather Martin was born the last of six siblings in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was raised by an amazing single mother (Rebecca Trotter) and was taught at an early age to love God and how to sing! She graduated from Oakwood University with a Bachelors Degree in Language Arts Education and later received a Master’s Degree in Education from Kaplan University. 

Shortly after graduating she followed God’s call to minister. She joined the Stellar, Dove, and Grammy nominated gospel group Virtue, which was founded by her two older sisters Ebony Holland and Karima Kibble several years prior. Virtue has used their talents to spread the love of God across the world! They have recorded 7 studio albums and have been the recipients of numerous awards.

God has not only blessed Heather professionally, but personally. She met her husband, Dr. Colin Martin, and they have been married for 14 years. They have 4 children: Colin Jr. 11, Harper 10, Clark, 7, and Charleston 5. In 2016 Heather started an online blog and vegan and allergen-friendly cooking channel called “Chef Mommy.” Heather (Chef Mommy) has cooked with numerous celebrities and top chefs to spread the news of healthy cooking and lifestyle.

In addition to this busy schedule, Heather enjoys, running, reading, writing and spending time with her family.

~*~
Connect with Heather:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeatherTMartin
Instagram for Heather: https://www.instagram.com/thechefmommy/
Instagram for Virtue (Heather’s singing group): https://www.instagram.com/virtuegirls
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chefmommyhm

Devotionals for the Heart: God's Strength is Perfect and He is Enough

Motherhood, Plans and Perfect Strength
A devotional by Amanda Wen

“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 (NIV)

My whole life, I’ve been able to do pretty much anything I set my mind to. Good grades, musical achievements, college scholarships, you name it. Studying, preparing, practicing, and Doing All The Right Things, combined with the natural talents God gave me, meant I could usually meet the lofty goals I set for myself.

And then, ten years ago this month, I became a mom.

Motherhood was radically different from anything this overachieving Type A control freak had ever experienced. The All-Natural Drug-Free Peaceful Birthing Experience I’d planned ended in a medically necessary C-section. My plan to nurse exclusively ran up against the dual roadblocks of low milk supply from me and a less-than-ideal latch from my darling son. My vision of rocking a contented sleeping baby was dashed against the rocky reality of colic. Despite all my hard work, preparation, and Doing All The Right Things, nothing turned out the way I expected.

But even worse for this hormonal, postpartum mama? The discovery that I do not have a natural talent for mothering. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my newborn son more than anything. But that zing that comes from when God’s gifting perfectly intersects with His calling on your life? That didn’t happen for me. All those things that seemed to come naturally to other mothers, things like rocking and playing and soothing and comforting, those things I thought were intuitive for all mothers? Many of those were the exact opposite for me.

However—and this was something I didn’t realize until years later—that was okay. Because God was with me. He was guiding me even when I couldn’t see it or feel it. And, as 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, His strength was being made perfect in my weakness.

God kept me going during all those sleepless nights. He provided strength and endurance when my son wouldn’t stop crying. He provided my caring, supportive, patient, and incredibly laid-back husband. He sent a passel of friends to stop in with meals, advice, an extra pair of hands, and a listening ear. And, after six months or so, He provided a way for us to move to my hometown to be closer to family, a decision for which I’ve been grateful countless times for countless reasons.

For the last ten years, my number one fear has been that I won’t be a good enough mom. But I’ve recently realized that, on my own, I’m not a good enough mom. I never was, and I never will be. But, again, that is okay. Because I have God. And He is enough.

Philippians 4:13 is a very popular verse, but I think it can be misinterpreted. Sometimes we want to make it a rubber stamp, a catch-all for following our hearts and chasing our dreams and assuming Jesus will enable us to do it all. But the verse in context is actually about contentment. About how, even when Paul was at his wits’ end and things weren’t going as he planned and he was dealing with the mysterious thorn in his side that God refused to remove, he had peace. Joy. He’d learned the secret of being okay whether he had everything or nothing, when things were awesome and when they weren’t: he could endure because God was with him. Making perfect his weaknesses and filling in the gaps with His strength. Enabling Paul to fulfill God’s plan, not his own.

He does that with us, too.

So now, ten years down the road, I’m grateful motherhood didn’t come naturally to me. Not being able to do it on my own forced me—in the best possible way—to become totally dependent on God for the ability to care for my children. Ten years ago—and every day since—he’s come through for me. His strength has been made perfect in my weakness.

What areas of your life don’t come naturally to you? I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and to pray for God’s supernatural strength to be evident in your situation. 

~*~
Author Bio:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of contemporary inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. 

A first place winner in the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest, she also placed first in the 2017 Phoenix Rattler Contest, the 2017 Great Expectations Contest, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions Contest, among others. In addition, she was a finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest. 

Amanda is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She’s also been spotted onstage with the worship team at recent ACFW conferences. Amanda is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

In addition to her writing, Amanda maintains an active and rewarding career as a freelance cellist, frequently performing with symphony orchestras, string quartets, and her church’s worship team. She lives in the Midwest with her amazing husband and their three adorable and hilarious Wenlets.

~*~
Connect with Amanda:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoramandawen

Twitter: www.twitter.com/authoramandawen
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authoramandawen
Website: www.amandawen.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Mothers and the meaning of "nurture"

Nurture and Share with Those Around You
A devotional by Tammy Karasek

Not every woman, young or old, is a mother. Yet, God has designed women in general to be nurturers. But before we go any further, let’s see how the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word nurture:

nurture (noun): the care and attention given to someone or something that is growing or developing

nurture (verb): to help something or someone to grow, develop, or succeed

As we see by the definition, to nurture is to give care and attention to another person. Society always says that moms are our nurturers. But I believe that we, as women, are nurturers regardless if we have children or not.

Whether or not you’ve had a great relationship with your own mother, more than likely, somewhere along the way, someone has mothered or nurtured you in your life. Maybe it was your mom, grandmother, aunt or an older sister. It could have been a neighbor, Sunday school teacher, coach or an older friend.

Whoever it was, think back to some of the things that person taught you that you’ve carried through your life thus far. It could be a great recipe, kitchen technique or tip. Has someone shown you the ropes on gardening and how to have a green thumb? (And if you have this, I admire you as my thumb can only get as green as the color of celery!) Maybe it’s your love of decorating, singing, playing an instrument—has an older woman taught you the how-to on those?

I know I’ve had many nurturers in my life that have taught me so many gems. These gems—I’ve tumbled and polished from raw to shiny with their teaching, patience, and encouragement and I’ve seen my life change in wonderful ways. 

My love of cooking, sewing, and quilting come straight through the family line from my great grandma to me. While their expertise in these may have come from necessity, my passion for those came from working elbow to elbow watching and learning beside these three women I loved so dearly. My love of words—writing and reading—comes from my mom. 

My love of scripture grew from my mentor Helga, and my teacher-friend, Beth. My heart to always choose joy no matter how hard the circumstances, that comes from my dear sweet friend and birthday twin, Cathy. (She’s older by a few hours, and I often remind her she’s older!)

Here’s a fun little exercise for you: I’m going to help you see who had been your nurturers. Take out a pen and paper and jot things down that you love to do or even things you do well. Now go back and write down beside each item you’ve listed, the person who taught it to you or helped you get better at it. There are your nurturers my friend!

A challenge for you today: Be on the lookout for someone you may nurture. Keep your mind open to someone who casually mentions they’d like to learn something that you know how to do. Also, pray for God to show you who might need someone to come alongside of her for some care and attention to grow in a specific area. As the Scripture below says we are to share what we have. I feel it’s not just our material things but also our knowledge and expertise that we are to share

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." ~Hebrews 13:16 (ESV)

Share with us in the comments below who has nurtured you and how. Also—are you nurturing someone currently? What are you doing?

~*~
Author Bio:

You’ll find Tammy seeing humor and causing laughter in every aspect of life. Tammy’s past filled with bullying and criticism is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and share with them the Reason to smile. 

She’s been blissfully wedded to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 36 years, mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and wrapped around the paw of a little puppy named Hattie.

She’s the President of Cross N Pens Christian Writers and a member of ACFW. She will be published in the 2018 Divine Moments book – Cool-nary Moments.
~*~
Connect with Tammy:
Blog - http://www.tammykarasek.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/tickledpinktam
Email - tickledpinktammy@gmail.com

Thankful Thursday: Fervent Fridays

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for Priscilla Shirer's "Going Beyond Ministries" and her "Fervent Fridays" Vimeo series based on her book!

The full title for Priscilla's book is, Fervent: A Woman's Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer. Today, I'm sharing one of her videos from her "Fervent Friday" series.

In this video, Priscilla talks about how to be free from your past. I hope and pray that her God-breathed thoughts on this topic will inspire your mind and encourage your heart.

Enjoy!
#FerventFridays - Week 5 - Your Past from Going Beyond on Vimeo.

A Thought for Thanksgiving Day

A Habit of Praise
A Thanksgiving Day thought from Savanna Kaiser

First of all, I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! I also want to thank Alexis for inviting me to stop by today. I know you’re all probably busy with family festivities, so I’ll keep this short.

I’ve been reading lately the Sermons on the Miracles by Charles Spurgeon. Every book of his I’ve ever read has blessed me in countless ways and this one is no exception.

The recent chapter I read covered the miracle of Jesus where He healed the 10 lepers and only one returned to thank and praise Him. “Where are the nine?” Jesus asked the healed and humbled one at his feet, but the Samaritan man had no answer for him. He was too busy worshiping the true Physician.

I loved the picture of this meager man made whole. His heart overflowed with gratitude and his simple actions left a legacy for all of us to mirror. If only worship – and less of the world – filled more of our hearts.

Spurgeon writes, “The Lord gives us blessings, new every morning, and fresh every evening, great is His faithfulness; and yet we let the years roll round, and seldom observe a day of praise. Sad is it to see God all goodness and man all ingratitude!”

Today is Thanksgiving and it’s a wonderful time to thank the Lord for His many mercies, but too often I’ve been guilty of letting gratitude slip away all too quickly. Jesus deserves so much more.

Spurgeon adds, “Most of us pray more than we praise…Prayer is not so heavenly an exercise as praise: prayer is for a time, but praise is for eternity.”

I’m so thankful Jesus invites us to come to Him at all times. After studying this miracle in Luke 17, I realized just how important it is for me to come to Him, not just in times of need, but in times of praise. I want it to be a habit of my life. He deserves more praise than I could ever give, but I want to chase after it all the same.

Spurgeon continues, “From the healed leper, we see his humility. “This man fell down at Jesus’ feet; he did not feel perfectly in his place until he was lying there. ‘I am nobody, Lord,’ he seemed to say, and therefore he fell on his face… There is no place so honorable as down at the feet of Jesus. Ah, to lie there always, and just love him wholly, and let self die out! Oh, to have Christ standing over you as the one figure overshadowing your life henceforth and for ever! True thankfulness lies low before the Lord. Added to this there was worship. He fell down at Jesus’ feet, glorifying God, and giving thanks unto him. Let us worship our Savior. We shall never cease to adore him who has delivered us from the leprosy of sin.”

That’s what I want my life to be about. Something my Mom and I do to seek this continual spirit of thankfulness is by writing down notes of blessing throughout the year. We get together close to Thanksgiving Day and read our notes aloud. We’re blessed all over again to see the Lord’s hand in every area of our lives. Memories we cherished and moments we forgot are all recorded on sticky notes. Laughter and tears usually follow.

We look forward to this every year. It never ceases to amaze me of the variety and creativity of answered prayers and God’s many surprises. I encourage you today – and every day – to watch for God’s delights and tokens of His grace. Praying He opens our eyes to see more of Jesus at work in our lives. He’s always there, friends. Sovereign and strong.

Allow me to conclude my thoughts with this quote from the great Charles Spurgeon:

“Let us learn from all this to put praise in a high place. 
Let us hold praise-meetings…Let us pay our praise to Christ himself. 
Personal praise to a personal Savior must be our life’s object.”

Wishing you all a life of Thanksgiving!

~*~
Author bio: 

Savanna Kaiser is a freelance writer of over 50 magazine articles, web designer, blogger, and gardener from the Missouri Ozarks. 

She also serves as the president for her local ACFW group. 

When she and her husband aren't chasing their one-year-old daughter around, they love to hike, kayak, and explore Civil War battlefields. 

Connect with Savanna:
Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram

Book Review and $75 Giveaway for "A Woman Overwhelmed"

About the book:

"A Woman Overwhelmed" is a phrase with which many women can relate.

But what would happen if we could see the insanity in our pace and embrace our overwhelming God?

There is a reason they say that a woman's work is never done- because it isn't! As women, we often are overwhelmed by the demands and circumstances of life, resulting in stress, fear, worry, impatience, fatigue, frustration, and even depression. The truth is that we were created to be overwhelmed . . . not by life but by God! When we learn to be overwhelmed by God, the fruit in our lives goes from rotten to fragrant-filling our days with peace, hope, love, and joy

In A Woman Overwhelmed, best-selling author Hayley DiMarco shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God's love and power.

Be empowered to find freedom in becoming overwhelmed with who God is-by learning to focus on what we know about God so that we can hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost. For it is when an overwhelmed woman gives up the mission of me and exchanges it for the mission of God that being overwhelmed becomes a good thing.

Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

~*~

About the Author: Hayley DiMarco is the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including multiple books in the God Girl line, "The Fruitful Wife," "Obsessed," "Die Young" and "Own It." As the founder of Hungry Planet, a company intensely focused on feeding the world's appetite for truth, DiMarco speaks regularly for women's groups and events, including Women of Faith, dotMOM, Precept National Women's Convention and MOPS International. Hayley and her pastor husband, Michael, live outside Nashville with their daughter and four dogs. Find out more about Hayley at http://hayleydimarco.com.

~*~

My Review of Hayley DiMarco’s book, A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life: 

Hayley DiMarco is a talented writer who authored the book, A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life. It’s an intriguing collection of reflections on her life.

More than writing lessons on her reflections, DiMarco shares her heart and doesn’t hold back in this transparent real-life story. She strikes a chord with her title and core message with one word “overwhelmed.” Many women can relate to this word because they’ve been there. Women who have many duties inside the home and the demands out in the real world can relate to this book! Readers will be inspired when they embrace the author’s main message which is a challenge for women to not be overwhelmed by life but be overwhelmed by God.

The author presents that God can fill your days with “peace, hope, love, and joy.” She sets out to prove it with every chapter in this book. Each chapter is from a page of the author’s real-life story. She shares scenes that are at times hilarious, heartwarming and somber. The most vivid illustration was part three of the author’s “My Overwhelming Introduction: No Wonder Italian Women Throw Plates”. Hilarious!

This book is presented in six sections that are divided by Roman numerals: I) So Much to Do, So Little Time, (II) Death by Comparison, (III) What I Can’t Control Controls Me, (IV) It’s Hard Being Me, (V) The Mission of Me, (VI) Overwhelmed by God.

Every chapter in this book ends with a “Thought to Ponder” page which is a good, insightful review of the highlights that the author talks about in each chapter.

Readers can appreciate this open view into the author’s life. Through sharing her story, DiMarco shows that you too can “discover the depths and heights of God’s love and power” and “hold onto faith even when it seems that all is lost.”

This book deserves a solid, four-star rating!

*Litfuse Publicity Group provided me (Alexis A. Goring) with a complimentary copy of A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life. My opinions in this book review are my own.

~*~

Hayley DiMarco's "A Woman Overwhelmed" $75 Giveaway

"A woman overwhelmed" is this a phrase you can relate to? If you answered yes, you need to read Hayley DiMarco's new book, A Woman Overwhelmed. The best-selling author shares biblical insights and personal stories to offer a glimpse at the comedy of an overwhelmed life while encouraging us to discover the depths and heights of God's love and power. Choose to bask in the abundance of the Father instead of the abundance of life as his unfathomable depths can surely replace our fathomable messes.

Become a woman less overwhelmed by life and more overwhelmed by God and enter to win Hayley's $75 Merry Maids Visa Card Giveaway to help lessen your daily load.

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Woman Overwhelmed
• A $75 Merry Maids Visa Cash Card

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 3. The winner will be announced November 6 on the Litfuse blog.

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Fall into Love: Kimberly Rose's story

A Love That Lasts

A Fall into Love story written by Kimberly Rose Johnson

When I was asked to write a post on how I fell in love with my husband I thought to myself, “I can’t.” How was I supposed to put into words something I didn’t remember doing? That’s correct, I don’t remember falling in love with my husband—it just happened.

I was seventeen when I met the man I would marry. We were both in the same orientation group at college, and as it turned out we had a lot in common, including music, which was my passion. We were in the school’s traveling choir together and had at least one other class together that I can remember—good thing too because I think I spent more time reading the notes he passed me than paying attention to our professor in that class—this was long before texting.

I only remember going on a handful of dates, after all, we were both poor college students so we usually went for walks and talked. To this day that is a part of our daily lives. He proposed two days before my nineteenth birthday, and we married two months before my twentieth birthday, one week after he turned twenty-one.

I know this is supposed to be about how I fell in love with my husband, and up to this point in our relationship, I have no idea. It was only after we were married that I truly began to understand what true love is. Someone gave us a framed picture with 1 Corinthians printed out on it as a wedding gift. I often had to look at the picture and remind myself that love is patient and kind, it is not easily angered and it keeps no record of wrong. Whew! Although this is a chapter from the bible I have memorized, having that visual hanging in my bedroom was a great visual reminder.

Love is a choice, pure and simple. Every day I choose to love my husband. I can’t imagine a life without him. He is still my best friend. I look forward to seeing him when he comes home from work, and I enjoy spending time with him and talking with him on our daily walks.

I wish I could share a mushy story about how I fell in love, but for me, life isn’t like a romance novel. I consider that to be a good thing—we each have our own story and it’s okay to have a story that’s not the norm. I enjoy escaping into a sweet romance story, and I especially enjoy writing them. The Lord has given me an imagination that thrives on dreaming up stories, and He has given me a husband who has helped to teach me what true love is—A Love that Lasts.

~*~
Author Bio: Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child, Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing.

She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly was a finalist in the 2017 Romance Writers of America Faith Hope and Love Readers Choice Award. She holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/index.html

~*~
Book Blurb for A Love That Lasts:

Some things just weren’t meant to be—or were they?

Recent nursing school graduate Holly Miller knows from personal experience a slip-up can cost a life. A mistake she made years ago still haunts her. She is determined to stay focused and not allow any distractions in her life—including an old high school classmate she ran into at the hospital who is as handsome as the pastries he bakes are tasty and sweet.

Matthew Cook had a crush on Holly back in high school and is surprised to find she’s working at the local hospital. She’d rejected him when they were teens, but he seems to have her attention now. Can he convince her that she can have it all—including a love that lasts, without sacrificing her career?

~*~
Buy Kimberly's book on Amazon.com - http://amzn.to/2vxtEV5

~*~
Follow Kimberly on Facebook and Twitter: 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh/

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

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Thankful Thursday: God is With Us

It's Thursday and I'm thankful for the fact that God is with us.

He is with us in the calm.

He is with us in the storm.

He is with us even when we cannot feel His Presence.

Why? Because He created us and He loves us with ALL of His divine heart.

We are living in troubled times with terror and uncertainty in every corner of the world. But I'm here to tell you that the Maker of humankind, the Creator of the entire Universe, is still on His Throne. Nothing goes unnoticed and at the right time, He will intervene. Until the day of His judgment, you can trust Him to be there for you as an inexhaustible resource.

So go to Him. Tell him what you want. Tell Him what you need. Express your deepest desires and most heartfelt emotions to Him and then have the faith to believe that not only did He hear you but He will answer. Read Isaiah 65:24.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).

He loves you too much to leave you to figure out life on your own. Ask Him for wisdom. He's always willing to give you a healthy dose of it, freely (James 1:5)!

God is Good even when life isn't and one day, it will all make sense. But until that happens, hang on to His Word (The Holy Bible), read His Letter (The Holy Bible) and keep holding His Hand.

Here's a song for reflection, followed by a Bible passage (Psalm 46) that reminds me of God's unshakable Sovereignty and gives me hope during troubled times.

Psalm 46 ~ King James Version (KJV) ~ Source: BibleGateway.com

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Book Review: A Moment to Breathe

Author: (in)courage and Denise J. Hughes (editor)
Book: A Moment to Breathe: 365 Devotions that Meet You in Your Everyday Mess
Reviewed by: Alexis A. Goring

"A Moment to Breathe: 365 Devotions that Meet You in Your Everyday Mess" is a beautiful book complete with heartfelt devotionals written by women. This book is the brainchild of (in)courage ministries and Denise J. Hughes who is the editor. These are devotionals for your heart.

Hughes and the ladies of (in)courage invite the reader (target audience: women) to take a moment to breathe, relax and read at least one devotional in this book today. Each devotional has its own dose of refreshment for the weary woman’s soul. The stories are personal, lighthearted and heartwarming. Each author speaks from her personal experience and shares lessons learned in a way that will make you smile and think about your own life. This book will encourage you to not only take a moment to breathe but to invite others to do so as well.

The authors and editor of this book want the reader to feel like she is spending time with a friend, a very good friend who has their best interest at heart when sharing their story. As a reader, I found this to be a wonderful way to reach the hearts of women and encourage them in their journey.

This book is also a good read for women who feel lonely. Reading these stories is like spending time with a good friend. It’s a well-known fact that books make the most faithful friends (outside of Jesus Christ, of course, because He is the most REAL and Faithful Friend that any human can have in this life).

The people behind this book achieve their goal in helping the reader realize that we’re all in this journey called life together so we should reach out and encourage each other. Eighty writers contributed to this devotional book and each of their stories are like lifelines to the sinking soul because it’s more than just sharing a personal story, it’s about pointing people to the Giver of Life (God) and the most Faithful Friend (Jesus Christ). I enjoyed every moment that I breathed in the “everyday faith” stories that are shared in this book!

This book is a must-read that’s well worth a five-star rating. I’m going to recommend it to all of my female family members and friends.

* I (Alexis A. Goring) voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from the author’s publisher. My opinions are my own.

Book Review: The Hollywood Commandments by DeVon Franklin

Author: DeVon Franklin
Book title: The Hollywood Commandments: A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success
Reviewed by: Alexis A. Goring

"The Hollywood Commandments: A Spiritual Guide To Secular Success" as a book title is intriguing. Upon opening the book, the reader will see that the content is completely captivating and equipped with the power to not only help you succeed in your chosen career but to change your outlook on life for the better.

The author, DeVon Franklin, is more than a bestselling author sharing good words of wisdom with people who are thirsty for success. He is a Hollywood movie producer, CEO of Franklin Entertainment (his own, faith-based production company), spiritual success coach, and preacher.

His goal in writing this book was to show people that they are able to be successful—not just in Hollywood but in any career—without losing their faith. He argues that succeeding in the secular arena is a journey that can strengthen your faith if you permit it. He challenges the stereotype among church folk that Hollywood is a land of sin and shame, a place where no good Christian should go for if you do then you may gain the world but you’ll lose your soul. Franklin challenges those stereotypes and deep-rooted belief systems with this one idea and that is, “your faith was designed to thrive in the secular world, and, as a result, transform it.” He argues, “You may never experience the true fulfillment you were created for until you pursue the secular ambitions on your heart.”

Franklin encourages the reader to follow their dreams but consult God first. He emphasizes the importance of staying in tune with God throughout the journey to your dreams because God knows you better than you know yourself. It is important to discern God’s will for your life and live out His plan and purpose whether that means going to Southern California and eventually getting your own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or becoming the best you can be in a more traditional career. He emphasizes the point that this book is a guide to success in any career whether it’s in the spotlight or behind the scenes. He casts the net wide for his readership.

As a creative individual who always dreamed of a successful career in the Arts & Entertainment industry, this reader (me) was encouraged by valuable life lessons Franklin preached through his book. I say “preached” because reading this book in a sense was like going to church and listening to a really good sermon but without limitations. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning ministers in church limit people who are “out of the box” or don’t fit in. If you are one of those people who feel limited or “different” then “Chapter 8: Your Difference Is Your Destiny”, might be the part of this book that resonates most with you. Franklin writes on page 174, “People don’t like what’s different, and sometimes they criticize or ridicule people who insist on being different. It can be lonely. But even in the loneliness, you have to trust God and let your distinctiveness stand out. The moment you begin to exchange what makes you different for what makes you ordinary because you want to fit in, you give away that which God wants to use to elevate you and take you to somewhere extraordinary.” If this were an audible sermon, Franklin could “drop the mic” at the end of that sentence because ultimately that’s his core message.

The words in this book paint a rich and vivid picture of how Franklin made it from his humble beginnings in Oakland (located in Northern California) to the seat of his destiny in Hollywood (located in Southern California). His life story is inspiring, the content of this book is encouraging and the message is meaningful. The readers will appreciate the clear roadmap he shares that shows in great detail, how to navigate the workplace so that you can be a success without losing your faith. His tone is kind yet firm. His style is solid, uplifting and motivational. The editing is flawless and the author’s heart for helping people while pointing them to God is beautiful.

It’s admirable how the author made it clear that he is not the person to tell you how to live your life. While he supports everything in this book with solid evidence and Scripture, he also constantly reminds the reader to get right with God and trust Him to reveal His purpose for your life. The reader can infer that the author knows that no matter how successful he is in this life and no matter how many words of wisdom he has to share from his own life experience, there is someone higher up the ladder than he and that someone is God. The author makes it clear that only God can guide you to your destiny. He knows that this book, while some may say was inspired by God, is not the most authoritative source on how to live your life. He makes it clear that God’s Word (The Holy Bible) is the best guide to your destiny and to succeed in life you must know the Bible and its Author (God, whose Holy Spirit inspired people to write it).

Kudos to the author for allowing his light as a follower of Jesus Christ to not only shine brightly in Hollywood, but through this book, impact the world. His transparent message will resonate with readers and encourage people to seek God’s plan and purpose for their life story.

It’s truly a beautiful message that deserves a five-star rating and a top place on your to-be-read book pile!

* I (Alexis A. Goring), voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book that I received from the author’s publicist. My opinions are my own.

Words of Faith: Sara Ella's story of heartbreak and hope

Brokenhearted Faith
A Words of Faith story by Sara Ella

“The Spirit of YHWH is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;” (Luke 4:18).

Let’s get real here. Because at this point in this year I don’t know how else to be. In some ways, this has been the greatest year of my life. My debut novel recently released, a dream come true. I had the opportunity to go to Nashville to see my friends, attend a writer’s conference, and visit my publishing house. My kids are thriving in homeschool and I’ve gotten to see my out-of-state family more than usual.

But, in many ways, this has also been, by far, the worst year of my life.

I won’t go into all the gory details. But I will say this year has shattered my heart in every way imaginable. I’ve experienced betrayal, loss, feelings of worthlessness, and depression, to name a few. It got to the point at which I felt my Creator had abandoned me. Why was He letting this happen? How could He watch as my heart was trampled, and beaten, and thrown away?

And then that still small voice whispered, “Read Job.”

Of course. I knew exactly what that meant. I knew Job’s story. I didn’t need to read it again to recall what that man went through. I ho-hummed my way to my Bible and opened it. Then I began to read. And here’s the verse that stuck out to me:

“. . . Shall we accept good from Elohim, and not trouble? . . .” Job 2:10.

Just wow. Isn’t it amazing how we can read something we’ve read before, but it has a totally new meaning when set in the current context of our lives? This verse was for me and it’s stayed with me through this horrible, no-good year. Because who am I to say I will only accept the best from my Creator? Am I not his child? And does He not put those He loves through trials only to make us stronger in the end? To sharpen our faith and draw us closer to Him? It’s all a matter of perspective, really. I can look at this year and think, “Wow. God must really hate me.” OR I can choose to “rejoice in all things” and praise Him for molding me. For allowing me this trial, which in the future could even turn into a ministry opportunity. My experience may help others. How can I not be grateful for that?

My heart is still on the mend. I’m healing, hour by hour, and day by day. But through it all, my Messiah has loved me. He’s held my broken heart in His hands and carried me through the storm. And that’s the thing, my friends. The storm. Because for the longest time, I stood on the shores of my situation, afraid to really go through it. But then my King nudged me and I felt Him asking me if I trusted Him to be with me in that storm. It took a while, but I finally stepped off the shore and into His arms. The waves chopped and crashed, my heart nearly drowned, but at last I am beginning to see the beautiful light on the other side. Not once has my Creator abandoned me. As broken as I’ve been, He’s kept me intact. Because that’s what brokenhearted faith is—giving your heart and life over to the One who heals the broken hearted. To the one who carries you through.

Are you experiencing a tragedy or heartbreak? Is your life a storm today? If you’re willing to share in the comments, I would love to pray for you.

~*~
Author bio: 

Not so long ago, SARA ELLA dreamed she would marry a prince (just call her Mrs. Charming) and live in a castle (a.k.a. The Plaza Hotel). Though her fairy tale didn’t quite turn out as planned, she did work for Disney—that was an enchanted moment of its own. 

Now she spends her days throwing living room dance parties for her two princesses and conquering realms of her own imaginings. 

She believes “Happily Ever After is Never Far Away” for those who put their faith in the King of kings.

~*~
Connect with Sara:
Website - http://saraella.com

Twitter - http://twitter.com/saraellawrites
Instagram - http://instagram.com/saraellawrites/
GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/saraella
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/joellesa
Tumblr - http://saraellawrites.tumblr.com
Facebook - http://facebook.com/writinghistruth

Google+ - http://plus.google.com/+SaraElla

A devotional thought for your heart

The Priceless Truth
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

The last time that I was hired as a seasonal sales associate at a mall, my manager asked me to travel throughout the store, making sure that all of the products on display looked neat, orderly and attractive to customers.

One day, while working on a designer display of brand name coats, I realized that a security cord connected the coats so that no one would be able to steal it.

As I struggled to work around the security cord to fluff the jackets and restore order to the display, I realized the priceless truth—we humans are priceless to God! So much so that He put a plan (called the "Gift of Salvation") and a roadmap to life (called The Holy Bible), in place to keep us secure if only we abide in Him. Just like that security cord kept the expensive coats safe, God’s protection keeps us close to His heart. He does this because He believes that we are priceless to Him (Isaiah 43:4) and He loves us. All we need to do is to believe in Him and His Son Jesus Christ then follow (and be obedient to) Him throughout all the days of our life.

God also says that we have an enemy who is a thief (John 10:10) who is the devil and he wants to destroy us! But God is stronger than the enemy and if we choose to stay close to God and follow Him, we will experience eternal life (John 3:16) when He returns to Earth and takes His faith followers home to heaven. Our walk with God is not always going to be like peaches and cream (easy). There will be mountain highs and valley lows. But He promises to walk through the storms of life with us and give us strength to endure.

But how do we fight off the thief who is our enemy? God tells us to submit to Him, resist the devil and the devil will flee from us (James 4:7). So how do you do that? The best way, I believe, is to take God’s advice and guard your heart (Proverbs 4:23-27).

In closing, I’d like for you to listen to a song by 1GN called “Guard Your Heart.” It’s very modern with a timeless message. You can listen to it here.

After you listen to the song, you are invited to leave a comment below to tell me how you plan to guard your heart and stay close to God.

Be blessed by God, dear hearts!

Love,

Alexis

Thankful Thursday: God sees every single tear

It's Thursday and I'm thankful that God sees "Every Single Tear". That's the title to one of my favorite songs performed by Scott Krippayne. But it's also a way that God spoke to me and comforted me last night.

I was trying to sleep but failing because there was a lot on my mind and past wounds were hurting. As tears escaped my eyes, the words "He sees every single tear" started playing in my mind. It didn't take me much time to realize that those are lyrics from one of my favorite old songs. So I reached for my phone and looked up the song on YouTube. I set my phone down and let the music flood my mind, stopping my tears and bringing relief to my soul.

I know that God spoke to me through that song because when I say "old", it is really old. The first time I heard that song, I was in high school and I honestly had not listened to it since then! But now, as a grown adult, that song came to my mind. Only God, I tell you, only God does that! He knows that music is my love language and He often speaks to me through Christian/Gospel music songs. I always know when He speaks to me through music because He often whispers song lyrics to my heart or puts it on replay in my mind and these are songs that I usually have not thought of in years. But it's always right on time and the song lyrics speak to exactly whatever I'm going through. God is AWESOME! :)

"Every Single Tear" served as my lullaby last night and I soon drifted off to sleep with a smile on my face and no tears in sight.

I'm sharing this message with you today because I hope that it will help you whenever you're feeling down or crying over something that hurt you. I hope that you will take refuge and find solace in the fact that God loves you and He cares about every single tear. He wants to comfort you and He feels everything that you're feeling. He's the most understanding force in the universe! His heart of compassion for us mere mortals is amazing and oh so comforting!

May God bless you this Thursday, tomorrow and always! *Jeremiah 29:11*

Love,

Alexis

Interview (Part III) with Summer Pearson, actress/singer/worship leader/missionary for God

Today is the final feature with Summer, for now! I say "for now" because I believe that God has so much more in store for this special Christian music singer. 

I hope that you've enjoyed your time with Summer. 

Remember: If you want to win a copy of "Love Letters" (Summer's debut album), enter the music giveaway contest by selecting the link to yesterday's post with Summer. 

Here's the link,
http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com/2016/10/interview-with-summer-pearson.html

Meanwhile, enjoy this final interview with Summer on my blog...for now! :)

~*~
Interview (Part III) with Summer Pearson, actress/singer/worship leader/missionary for God:

Alexis: How would you describe your style as a musician?

Summer: I would say that it’s “Contemporary Christian with soul” because it definitely has that fresh, kind of clean “Contemporary Christian” sound. But I grew up in the Black church singing gospel music and I listen to R&B so the soul comes through as well. We didn’t want to delete that from it because it’s so much a part of who I am. So again, that word “universal” comes up. Thank God I’m making universal music right now.

Alexis: What’s your favorite radio station?

Summer: I tend to listen to stations that offer diverse types of music. BRITE Radio definitely does that and I love and respect BRITE Radio for that.

Alexis: If you could do lunch with your favorite musician—famous or not—, who would it be and why? Where would you go for lunch?

Summer: I think I would go with Kirk Franklin. I’ve met so many musicians that I love over past year or two, it’s amazing but I got to meet Kirk Franklin this at the beginning of this year, randomly. I came to one of his concerts, was hanging out afterward at a local restaurant and he happened to walk in and meet with somebody I knew.

He is the nicest man and he was so gracious and sweet and he just performed for like three hours straight. So I would have understood if he was just like, “Hi” and kept it moving. But he actually came and sat with us, listened to us tell him how much he means to us and took pictures and all that. So he had to go but I think if I could spend more time with him to understand his journey, how he writes songs, some of the lessons he’s learned, business mixed with ministry, how that all works out. He’s given so many people a start in this business—like look at how well Tamela Mann is doing now.

I just feel that like that would be an afternoon really well spent, just having lunch with him and pulling from all that he has to offer.

Where would we go? Well, I met him at The Hamilton in D.C., so I see us there again. We would go there, they have really good food.

Alexis: What’s next for Summer Pearson as a musician? Where do you want God to take you? Why?

Summer: I want to go around the world. I literally want to touch as many people as I can. I have a real passion for reaching people one-on-one and hearing their stories and inspiring them and praying with them.

I feel like the project gets you in the door, telling people about you who may not have known about your otherwise.

But my passion really is with the direct ministry. So, I pray that this CD will continue to open doors for me to get out and try to touch people in a really personal way. I think that it’s going to be multiplied to the point where I may not be able to do it as much as I want to but it’s something that I prayed for, for so long just to be able to do that. I want to offer myself up basically to be used by God, however He opens doors.

It’s like a friend of mine who says, “God whatever door you open, I will run through it and whatever door you close, I won’t complain.” I’ve adopted that philosophy, that approach as well.

This will not be the last CD, there’s a lot more music that I’m already writing. I was writing even as we were recording “Love Letters.” People should stay tuned! We’re really just getting started.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Summer! Would you like to share any closing thoughts?

Summer: Thank you so much! I encourage people to get “Love Letters.”

~*~
Singer bio: 

Summer is an outstanding recording artist, radio personality, actress, and speaker. Summer is skilled at performing many musical styles, especially Gospel and Contemporary Christian. Her vocals are often described as beautiful, powerful, heartfelt and angelic. 

In Summer, there also lies a wonderful speaker and actress who connects with audiences of all ages and conveys messages with conviction and grace. She is reliable and professional in presentation, timeliness, and responsiveness. 



Summer has experience performing for corporate events, weddings, concerts, funerals, retreats, church services, and other events. She is accepting bookings through 2017 and welcomes the opportunity to work with you on your event.

~*~
Summer's music is available for purchase in your iTunes store. 


~*~

Connect with Summer:


Email - summerpearsonsings@gmail.com


FB - facebook.com/summersofficialpage


IG - summersofficialpage


Twitter - @summertimesings


YouTube- http://www.youtube.com/c/SummerPearsonsings

Song Spotlight: "Promised (Never Alone)" by Summer Pearson

Interview with Cheryl Martin, author of "Distinctly You" (book)

Today, we have a special guest. She's a high-profile broadcast journalist, speaker, communicator and author with a passion for helping women and inspiring audiences. Cheryl Martin is her name and she's here to talk about this book:

Here's what Susan, a reader of Cheryl's book, had to say about it: “Cheryl, I heard you speak on Life Today and ordered your book Distinctly You during the program. God has used many books to help and to heal me but Distinctly You was the timeliest tool He has ever given to me. I had been struggling under jealousy and comparison because I was raised that way. And right as it came to its highest peak yet in my 50 years of living God showed me His answer, "Distinctly You". I have recommended it to numerous friends already. This collection of personal stories along with the biblical accounts has brought healing, much learning and a tool for me to use to help others… Many women need this tool of freedom. God Bless You, precious sister. Susan”

Now guess what? Today, you, my dear blog readers, have the distinct honor of hearing from Cheryl Martin as she's talking about her book Distinctly You in this author interview. 

Guess what else? She wants to giveaway one copy of her book to one of you! Enter the book giveaway contest by filling out the Rafflecopter widget's form below then proceed to read my interview with Cheryl. God bless you! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~*~

Interview with Cheryl Martin about her book, Distinctly You:

Alexis: What led you to write Distinctly You?

Cheryl: I wanted to encourage women to stop fixating on what they are not or do not have and instead, develop their God-given uniqueness. I believed that sharing my journey and my God-stories would inspire them to become ALL God meant them to be.

Alexis: What message do you want your readers to take to heart?

Cheryl: Every woman has a God-given distinction, but on this journey called ‘life,’ we experience attitudes and actions, “blockers” to our distinction. To counter these “blockers,” we must activate “builders.” I mention in Distinctly You, twelve of each.”

Alexis: What do you think of the 3 Cs: comparing, competing, and coveting” that we as women fall victim to? How can we overcome that pitfall?

Cheryl: I like to say that those 3C’s lead to 3Ds: discouragement, discontentment, and depression, and they are deadly. You cannot win when you are consumed with any of the 3C’s because they can prevent you from developing your strengths and distinctions. There is always going to be someone smarter, prettier, younger, and more talented.

We need to remember that someone else’s greatness will take nothing from our God-given distinction. When we believe this, we will applaud and affirm another woman and her giftedness.

We can overcome the 3C’s by remembering that it’s God who determined our talents, looks, and assignments. We exist to glorify Him. He will reward us based on what we do with what we’ve been given. We can get the same commendation as someone multitalented or more beautiful or smarter when we do our best.

I have learned much by studying the great attitudes of John the Baptist, Jonathan, and Elisabeth in the Bible. They applauded the “higher” positions appointed to Jesus, David, and Mary, the mother of Jesus. There was no competition or rivalry. They recognized the sovereign hand of God in choosing whom He would exalt.”

Alexis: Thank you for writing this book. You share your personal stories of the battles you faced in life. In what ways do you hope that your heartfelt transparency will help women readers?

Cheryl: I am by nature a private person, but I believed God wanted me to share my internal struggles with self-acceptance and doubt at certain times in my life to encourage other women. So many times, people think that those who have experienced a certain level of success don’t have to overcome their fears and rejection. So many times, we as women find it difficult to verbalize what we are feeling and experiencing and how we really see ourselves. We don’t open up to anyone about our dislike of our body image or skin tone, or height or weight. I decided to share things I’d only talked to God about because I wanted other women to know I’ve been there and there is a way to breakthrough to freedom and fulfillment.

Alexis: What were the challenges of writing “Distinctly You?

Cheryl: I actually had a lot more material than I thought. I needed to rely on God’s wisdom to know what to keep in and what to take out. Also, it took awhile to get a publishing contract. I had these concepts in my heart for more than seven years, but in God’s perfect timing, the book was picked up by a publisher (Bethany House) that was excited about the project. How the book came to be could easily fit into the premise of what Distinctly You is all about…that God has a distinct path for all of us and He desperately wants to lead us on the best course for our lives.

Alexis: What tips can you share with us to help us discover our distinct God-given purpose in life?

Cheryl: I believe that studying the 12 “blockers” and the 12 “builders” covered in the book will provide great insight on what is holding any woman back from her destiny. All might not apply to each reader, but you can identify the actions and attitudes that need to be discarded and those that need to be developed.”

Alexis: Complete this sentence: At the end of the day, I am _________________________because ________________________.

Cheryl: At the end of the day, I am thrilled that I committed my life to Jesus as a child because this relationship has shaped my life. I have no regrets that I made Him my Savior and Lord.

~*~
Author bio: 

Cheryl Martin is a professional speaker, communications expert, and the host of Excellent Living, a weekly radio broadcast offering practical and relevant principles that assist women in making wise choices. Cheryl Martin was the popular moderator of Lead Story, a Sunday news analysis program on Black Entertainment Television (BET). The show brought together some of the top African-American journalists to discuss the major national and international news events of the week and interview top newsmakers. 

During her tenure at BET, Martin was a news anchor and also reported and produced several half-hour specials for the network: “The Legacy: Dreaming and Living Success,” an inspirational look at successful African Americans and the parents who inspired them to excel; “Mission in the Hood,” a look at initiatives by Black, inner-city churches to curb violence and strengthen the family, and “Passage to Democracy,” a chronicling of Martin’s visit to South Africa to cover the historic first all-race elections.

She is the author of the books: Distinctly You: Trading Comparison & Competition for Freedom & Fulfillment and 1st Class Single: Rules for Dating & Waiting God’s Way.
~*~

Connect with Cheryl:

Facebook - facebook.com/excellentliving
Twitter - twitter.com/excellentliving
Website - cherylmartin.org